4 ms·

I run an online community. Building a safe space is extremely difficult and full of grey area, online or offline. There's a fine line between the freedom to ex

I run an online community. Building a safe space is extremely difficult and full of grey area, online or offline. There's a fine line between the freedom to express yourself and offending someone else. As a community moderator, choosing what is and isn't offensive is by definition subjective. It's an impossible task for a global, multi-cultural community. You end up with a vanilla message board where most interesting thought/debate is stifled. Reminds me of the campus "safe space" debate.

prodmerc 9y ago
You really don't want to cater to the easily offendable, imo. I remember writing an ebook on affiliate marketing when it was a new thing (free for email subscribers), which had the word Bullshit stamped on an image. Two people said maybe I should tone down the language heh. Fuck right off, buddy :D
- rexpop 9y ago
  > You really don't want to cater to the easily offendable, imo. This attitude rings with the dismissive tone of the unapologetically privileged who — rebelling against the slightest whiff of shame — are quick to marginalize any and every voice with whom empathizing would require their stingily hoarded emotional labor and energy. Ironically, communities populated by such misers enthusiastically take umbrage with the peculiar struggles of their own, insular milieu. Twinkle, twinkle, little snowflake.
  - 55555 9y ago
    I feel that you're making a lot of assumptions about a stranger. Also, the groups of 'oppressed' and 'easily offended' people don't perfectly overlap. Overall I find your comment confusing because I'm not as 'caught up' with this movement but I'd love to hear more of your thoughts if you feel like elaborating. Maybe try using small words like Trump does.
  - stale2002 9y ago
    The advantage of being someone who doesn't cater to the offended is you can respond to something like this by saying: "Lol! You nailed it. Fortunately for me, I don't care. You mad bro?"
  - dang 9y ago
    Please don't post ideological rants to HN. It degrades discussion regardless of how correct your underlying point is.
- CM30 9y ago
  This. The easily offended are a tiny minority, and those who attempt to cater for them too much have usually had their product or business fail. Don't worry about people in a community who get easily offended. If they like the community they'll stay, if not then there's not really anything lost.

prodmerc 9y ago

You really don't want to cater to the easily offendable, imo. I remember writing an ebook on affiliate marketing when it was a new thing (free for email subscribers), which had the word Bullshit stamped on an image. Two people said maybe I should tone down the language heh. Fuck right off, buddy :D

rexpop 9y ago
> You really don't want to cater to the easily offendable, imo. This attitude rings with the dismissive tone of the unapologetically privileged who — rebelling against the slightest whiff of shame — are quick to marginalize any and every voice with whom empathizing would require their stingily hoarded emotional labor and energy. Ironically, communities populated by such misers enthusiastically take umbrage with the peculiar struggles of their own, insular milieu. Twinkle, twinkle, little snowflake.
- 55555 9y ago
  I feel that you're making a lot of assumptions about a stranger. Also, the groups of 'oppressed' and 'easily offended' people don't perfectly overlap. Overall I find your comment confusing because I'm not as 'caught up' with this movement but I'd love to hear more of your thoughts if you feel like elaborating. Maybe try using small words like Trump does.
- stale2002 9y ago
  The advantage of being someone who doesn't cater to the offended is you can respond to something like this by saying: "Lol! You nailed it. Fortunately for me, I don't care. You mad bro?"
- dang 9y ago
  Please don't post ideological rants to HN. It degrades discussion regardless of how correct your underlying point is.
CM30 9y ago
This. The easily offended are a tiny minority, and those who attempt to cater for them too much have usually had their product or business fail. Don't worry about people in a community who get easily offended. If they like the community they'll stay, if not then there's not really anything lost.