4 ms·

I always wondered why platforms try to uphold the illusion that they are fair. Why not just say, "There are no rules. There is no fairness. If we think you make

I always wondered why platforms try to uphold the illusion that they are fair. Why not just say, "There are no rules. There is no fairness. If we think you make our site better you are welcome, if you don't we may or may not ban you if we feel like it. No we won't explain ourselves, because we have no rules, we do whatever we want. Don't piss us of, especially not before we have had our morning coffee." Then you would, forgo all the arguments, the arm chair lawyering, all the whataboutism, and trolls wouldn't have rules to push up against. No one could ever "technically not break any rules" by being an ass. When companies try to act like a law institution, they get all the politics of making and enforcing laws dropped in their lap.

spoils19 4y ago
Because companies like to engage in censorship when opinions arise that go against what's popular. That's why HN is one of the best places to discuss, free speech is allowed wholly and there is no censorship or heavy-handed moderation at all.
- sieabahlpark 4y ago
- PartiallyTyped 4y ago
  The same censorship exists when you can’t read a message because it is too gray or white. There is also censorship when a comment is flagged even without actual reason. Another particularly annoying form of censorship is being unable to defend a position when providing something controversial which limits your submission rate. HN often comes out with very tone deaf responses and takes, so I don’t think that it is the best argument. HN is also a rather niche community that caters to a very specific audience.
krapp 4y ago
> Why not just say, "There are no rules. There is no fairness. If we think you make our site better you are welcome, if you don't we may or may not ban you if we feel like it. No we won't explain ourselves, because we have no rules, we do whatever we want. Don't piss us of, especially not before we have had our morning coffee." That is, essentially, what the terms of service for every social media platform (that no one ever bothers to read) have always said.
- mistermann 4y ago
  It isn't what they say in the guidelines people read or when they issue press releases or speak in the media though. They speak as if they are serious, trying to navigate complex terrain, be fair, strike a balance, yadda yadda yadda...standard corporate half-truths.
  - makeitdouble 4y ago
    Because you can’t come on a press event, tell them to read the TOS and go home. The message is adapted to the media and what they want to hear. I think the companies you are rooting for will never be the ones actually giving PR responses.

spoils19 4y ago

Because companies like to engage in censorship when opinions arise that go against what's popular. That's why HN is one of the best places to discuss, free speech is allowed wholly and there is no censorship or heavy-handed moderation at all.

sieabahlpark 4y ago
PartiallyTyped 4y ago
The same censorship exists when you can’t read a message because it is too gray or white. There is also censorship when a comment is flagged even without actual reason. Another particularly annoying form of censorship is being unable to defend a position when providing something controversial which limits your submission rate. HN often comes out with very tone deaf responses and takes, so I don’t think that it is the best argument. HN is also a rather niche community that caters to a very specific audience.

krapp 4y ago

> Why not just say, "There are no rules. There is no fairness. If we think you make our site better you are welcome, if you don't we may or may not ban you if we feel like it. No we won't explain ourselves, because we have no rules, we do whatever we want. Don't piss us of, especially not before we have had our morning coffee." That is, essentially, what the terms of service for every social media platform (that no one ever bothers to read) have always said.

mistermann 4y ago
It isn't what they say in the guidelines people read or when they issue press releases or speak in the media though. They speak as if they are serious, trying to navigate complex terrain, be fair, strike a balance, yadda yadda yadda...standard corporate half-truths.
- makeitdouble 4y ago
  Because you can’t come on a press event, tell them to read the TOS and go home. The message is adapted to the media and what they want to hear. I think the companies you are rooting for will never be the ones actually giving PR responses.