Reddit’s moderation system is up to its usual shenanigans, this time taking aim at the iconic plumber, Luigi. Yes, the very same Luigi who has been saving princesses and collecting coins for decades is now flagged as potentially violent. You can’t make this stuff up.

On a lovely Friday, the news broke on the r/FreeLuigi subreddit, much to everyone’s bemusement. A user made a post saying, “PSA: the word ‘luigi’ is now flagged by Reddit for violence”. Picture this: a comment discussing ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’ gets a warning to “Check for Violence - [Luigi]”. Because evidently, mentioning a character known for his ghost-hunting skills is a threat to internet safety. Who knew that the only thing more terrifying than Bowser could be the mere mention of Luigi?

For those not in the loop, this peculiar moderation stems from a case involving Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old allegedly connected with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Since his arrest last December, Mangione has gained a strange sort of admiration online, especially amid the growing frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system. Apparently, a dangerous young man has somehow morphed into a sort of folk hero, and now even his name generates a red flag on Reddit.

While some hail him as an attractive martyr for the masses, others are left scratching their heads at the absurdity of it all. Reddit claims this isn’t a blanket ban on Luigi but merely a fluke in their automated moderation tools. So, folks can still talk about Luigi Mangione, but with the understanding that mentioning the name may lead to a community “safety check”.

It’s time to ask whether our digital overseers are swinging the censorship hammer just a tad too hard. What’s next? Flagging Mario as a potential mobster? I mean, why not? After all, he is the one who tends to stomp on enemies without a second thought.

So as we navigate this wild ride of social media moderation, let’s keep it real: luigi or not, the specter of free speech is being shaped by the most unexpected of sources. Remember that when your next gaming conversation turns into a debate over what’s deemed “violent”. We get it, Reddit, protect your users, but let’s also not forget that context matters.

Luigi isn’t lurking under your bed; he’s just here for a friendly game of Mario Kart. So keep racing, folks, and let’s not lose our sanity.