5 ms·

I don't think it's a partisan thing? The 70's is way past the political event horizon for most people. I think it's simply keeping HN free of memes but I coul

I don't think it's a partisan thing? The 70's is way past the political event horizon for most people. I think it's simply keeping HN free of memes but I couldn't stop giggling the connection. For the broader point about the dangers of political discussions these days, society has lost all of its "ground rules" that keep things civil and level headed. There are no lines left to cross so tempers can run unchecked. I'm at a loss for a solution because I think the anger comes from a lack of resolution in the problems themselves. It's a spiraling feedback loop of despair.

busterarm 6y ago
Most of what's being downvoted isn't memes. This thread is full of brigade downvoted and dead comments. Comments espousing opinions in favor of either "side". We are absurdly divided in our society right now and despite the guidelines of this site, folks seem not to care.
- shadowgovt 6y ago
  There's no reason to expect a forum to be separate from the division in the larger society. Fora are populated by people, after all.
  - busterarm 6y ago
    We can hold ourselves to a high standard. It's a choice.
    - shadowgovt 6y ago
      I'm not convinced that it's holding ourselves to a higher standard to pretend that both sides of the divide are to be granted the assumption of equal good faith. There is too much evidence piled up that assumption is inaccurate at best and dangerous at worst. And pretending technology to be in some way above, apart, or aside from the society using it is an error that has led to all sorts of historical horrors.
      - busterarm 6y ago
        "Assume good faith" is literally in the site guidelines. Whether you believe that to be true or not, that's what's asked of us. If you can't do that, don't respond to the comment.
        shadowgovt 6y ago
        While that is true, I am still unconvinced it's actually holding ourselves to a higher standard. The site is definitely allowed to demand its users hold themselves to a lower standard. "Higher" implies "better," and giving, for example, Q-truthers bits and digital column inches may be counter-productive to the goals of this site long-term. Can't have as much cool technology talk when conspiracy theorists have disassembled Silicon Valley brick-by-brick as a side-effect of demolishing American democracy.

busterarm 6y ago

Most of what's being downvoted isn't memes. This thread is full of brigade downvoted and dead comments. Comments espousing opinions in favor of either "side". We are absurdly divided in our society right now and despite the guidelines of this site, folks seem not to care.

shadowgovt 6y ago
There's no reason to expect a forum to be separate from the division in the larger society. Fora are populated by people, after all.
- busterarm 6y ago
  We can hold ourselves to a high standard. It's a choice.
  - shadowgovt 6y ago
    I'm not convinced that it's holding ourselves to a higher standard to pretend that both sides of the divide are to be granted the assumption of equal good faith. There is too much evidence piled up that assumption is inaccurate at best and dangerous at worst. And pretending technology to be in some way above, apart, or aside from the society using it is an error that has led to all sorts of historical horrors.
    - busterarm 6y ago
      "Assume good faith" is literally in the site guidelines. Whether you believe that to be true or not, that's what's asked of us. If you can't do that, don't respond to the comment.
      - shadowgovt 6y ago
        While that is true, I am still unconvinced it's actually holding ourselves to a higher standard. The site is definitely allowed to demand its users hold themselves to a lower standard. "Higher" implies "better," and giving, for example, Q-truthers bits and digital column inches may be counter-productive to the goals of this site long-term. Can't have as much cool technology talk when conspiracy theorists have disassembled Silicon Valley brick-by-brick as a side-effect of demolishing American democracy.