Subj : Re: Deadposting
To   : Nick Andre
From : Arelor
Date : Thu Mar 17 2022 18:32:35

  Re: Re: Deadposting
  By: Nick Andre to Arelor on Thu Mar 17 2022 06:30 pm

 > On 17 Mar 22  12:26:39, Arelor said the following to Jas Hud:
 > 
 > A> On the other hand, FSXNet seems like a special case. It is very active, b
 > A> network enforces happy-flower conversation by removing any subject that m
 > A> cause friction, so it is less of a fun place to visit. Plus some people s
 > A> alowed to force the boundaries of the rules more than other, which is a b
 > A> meh.
 > 
 > This 100%. I get the "fun" part of Fsx but whats fun about being told what y
 > can and can't say. Its moderated more than Micronet or Fido and usually more
 > heavy-handed towards those who do not share liberal beliefs.
 > 
 > Nick

Actually, I have seen the FSXNet approach used in specialized web forums and it
works ok. "This is a Building Engineering forum, so any thread about politics
will be deleted unless it directly affects Building Engineering." THe core
difference is that those are services with specific, non-fun goals. Students go
to an Engineering forum because they need help with some design, so talks about
COVID policies and whatever are just pollution.

The problem with banning friction-causing subjects in a general message board
is that, ultimately, most generalist subjects have the potential to cause
friction. The thread about SSD performance comes to mind, for example. THe
implication is that if you are serious about removing friction then you cannot
even talk about the weather in the board.

Of course, what happens in practice is that controversial subjects seem to be
allowed as long as they echo the beliefs of the administration and are labeled
as banned as soon as somebody voices an opposing view. The best example that
comes to mind was that thread about fucking Russia and Putin... the thread was
as political as it gets and was active for more than a day before I reminded
them that politics are not allowed, and still one of the regulars got pissed by
the reminder.

FSXNet is still useful as of now. It has a very active userbase and an
interesting subject pops out every now and then. However, they remind me of so
many forums that ended up turning into echo chambers that I find it concerning.


--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
 * Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

.