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There has been a slew of almost meta-conversational discussion over in the Policy forum recently regarding posts here in Conversation, mostly, this has, in my humblest opinion, merely been the visible side of what is happening on Barbelith at the moment.
I realised, while reading these and others, that I can't hide behind the "Sorry, I'm new" posting caveat any more - although I'm not sure how I've managed to post 84 times, and I read the boards for a long time before applying to join them. It may sound silly, but this recent, extended round of, well, strangeness and fighting worries me.
Firstly, the 'Distributed Moderation' system.
I've seen this come under a lot of fire recently - the Mods seem to have been taking a fair amound of flak over several threads. For the record, I find Stump or "Semi-Troll" or even Uncle/Mother Interface a little odd, but not particularly offensive - but I really can see how people would.
The Mods are not The All Powerful Gods, sitting in high judgement above us. They are, however, one of the main reasons I applied to join Barbelith. The main reason I applied to join was, prosaically, to 'learn in many directions', and in a quasi-social forum. The way I understand Barbelith is this: You can post anything - anything - that you want. Really. But you will be called on it and expected to explain. Just because the Mods have the job of stepping in and asking, first politely, for an explanation of why the forum needs a specific post, does not mean that they should get stick for being the Administrators.
Secondly; Freedom of Speech.
This all depends on how you view the terms, in my humble opinion. As said above, you can say anything if you're prepared to be called on it and have it dissected. Just because you are free to say anything here, however, doesn't mean that you have to. This is not a specific dig at anyone in particular; but some of the disputed threads had me scratching my head as to why they were thrown out into the Barb-ether to see what response came back. In conversation, Some were rechannelled into humour, some were derailed for their own sake, and some were dissected completely. Outside of conversation, things tend to get a little more sketchy, but do resolve themselves, more or less. The freedom of speech, however, is another of the main reasons I applied to join here - but in conjunction with No. 1 above. Anyone can say what they want to say here, but it will be taken up, and if it's truly offensive then the moderation system will ensure that, for better or worse, the offensive post will be allowed to continue, be modified, or be locked.
Call me dumb, but I trust the moderators here - they've been doing it for a while now, and know what they're dealing with and how to do what they do well.
Lastly, Twitchiness.
No bones about it, really - we're all a bit twitchy recently around here, where the smallest thing can set off an avalanche of posting. This results in many interesting and beneficial threads, as well as some really sweet ones too. But then, it also occasionally comes back to Neo and Anger too. Both threads are, at least, mildly therapeutic in their output for the user and, often, the reader, though.
I've wandered on for way too long now, but in summary and in my humblest opinion, the Moderation system works but has had a bit too much flak recently; Freedom of Speech is still guaranteed, but so is Freedom of Criticism; and if there's any way that the inherent twitchiness -
Digression (I'm sorry if that word carries negative connotations for a lot of people like it does me - I merely mean the desire to react swiftly and defend, which, mostly, is admirable, but can occasionably be misplaced)
- can be soothed, then please bring it forward.
I love this place. I really do. I don't think that the 'anger' around here will last so much longer, if indeed it's not simple misinterpretation on my part. I just felt like stepping out from behind my "new!" coat-tails and actually casting out my opinion, for what it will ever be worth.
(For those curious enough; St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3. Maybe a little OTT, but it seemed like a good idea.) |
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