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> If there is one thing I wish I could beat into people's heads with a stick about online discourse, is that any place free of moderation is not going to be a f
by baud147258 8y ago
> If there is one thing I wish I could beat into people's heads with a stick about online discourse, is that any place free of moderation is not going to be a free speech haven, but a cesspit where the people with the most free time will dominate and drive out others.
It depends. One forum where I spend some of my time has very hands-off moderation and it does have a) some quality conversations b) diversity of opinions. Of course it descends regularly in low-quality drivel, insults and/or shitposting, especially on controversial subjects, but it works.
Edit: But I can't say that it works everywehre, just that it can work.
- pavel_lishin 8y agoIt can definitely work in certain cases, especially when there's a single very clear focus or purpose for the forum, or some sort of accountability for your opinions.
- baud147258 8y ago> single very clear focus or purpose for the forum It's the case on that forum and the off-topic discussions (religion & politics) are accesible only to accounts older than 1 year, so it helps to limit shitposting in those discussions. Accountability for your opinions in that case just mean getting mocked by other people (I said free speech, not nice speech). I just wanted to show an counter-example disagreeing with your (apparently) absolute position.
- pavel_lishin 8y ago> Accountability for your opinions in that case just mean getting mocked by other people Yup! That's one of the good ways of holding people accountable.
- baud147258 8y agoAlso they have tags that will appear above the user portrait, to indicate the more troublesome members. They are applied by the few moderators. They include shiposter, idiot, edgy...