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The old internet with webforums for particular topics, where the moderators knew the posters, was a better model.

cbozeman 6y ago
It really was, but we've largely abandoned that model. The new model is going to require understanding that there are people who are totally opposed to almost everything you hold dear... and finding a way to interact with them.
- sterlind 6y ago
  Discord (and Reddit, mostly) moderation still works in the old ways. Whenever there's something like a server or channel or subreddit moderation can be delegated, at least somewhat. Maybe vast unstructured oceans like Twitter aren't the way forward?
  - cbozeman 6y ago
    > Maybe vast unstructured oceans like Twitter aren't the way forward? Maybe people just need to learn how to use their block buttons and maybe people that own these platforms need to grow some balls and tell those same people to get the fuck over it and that not everyone believes what they believe.
- lmm 6y ago
  No we haven't. Twitter isn't the internet; it's overrepresented in the news because journalists use it, but it's not actually where normal people hang out. Most of the internet (including most social media) doesn't have these problems.
pixl97 6y ago
Old internet still had problems that we just didn't recognize at the time. Astroturfing in full blast back then, and 4chan like floods happened commonly. And getting popular was a great way to ruin the place.
nicbou 6y ago
This works well with reddit. Each community has a different moderation style, often aided by bots. If you don't like a community or its moderation, you can look for another community or create your own, as it frequently happens. Reddit has its problems, but I think such a federated moderation system is a decent solution for larger websites. However, you need to provide the moderators with the right tools to enforce their rules. Throwaways were a bit of a problem on our humble subreddit, as were link spammers.
rootusrootus 6y ago
I don't know that I entirely agree. The old Internet isn't gone, I spend more time at a couple topic-specific vBulletin forums than I do on HN or Reddit. The only aspect that might be better is the subtopic division. But I'm not entirely convinced about that, either.

It really was, but we've largely abandoned that model. The new model is going to require understanding that there are people who are totally opposed to almost everything you hold dear... and finding a way to interact with them.

sterlind 6y ago
Discord (and Reddit, mostly) moderation still works in the old ways. Whenever there's something like a server or channel or subreddit moderation can be delegated, at least somewhat. Maybe vast unstructured oceans like Twitter aren't the way forward?
- cbozeman 6y ago
  > Maybe vast unstructured oceans like Twitter aren't the way forward? Maybe people just need to learn how to use their block buttons and maybe people that own these platforms need to grow some balls and tell those same people to get the fuck over it and that not everyone believes what they believe.
lmm 6y ago
No we haven't. Twitter isn't the internet; it's overrepresented in the news because journalists use it, but it's not actually where normal people hang out. Most of the internet (including most social media) doesn't have these problems.

pixl97 6y ago

Old internet still had problems that we just didn't recognize at the time. Astroturfing in full blast back then, and 4chan like floods happened commonly. And getting popular was a great way to ruin the place.

nicbou 6y ago

This works well with reddit. Each community has a different moderation style, often aided by bots. If you don't like a community or its moderation, you can look for another community or create your own, as it frequently happens. Reddit has its problems, but I think such a federated moderation system is a decent solution for larger websites. However, you need to provide the moderators with the right tools to enforce their rules. Throwaways were a bit of a problem on our humble subreddit, as were link spammers.

rootusrootus 6y ago

I don't know that I entirely agree. The old Internet isn't gone, I spend more time at a couple topic-specific vBulletin forums than I do on HN or Reddit. The only aspect that might be better is the subtopic division. But I'm not entirely convinced about that, either.