Re:Study finds Reddit’s ban of its most toxic subreddits wor...
by ThrowawayR2 on Sunday April 28, 2019 @10:53AM
(#19771393)
> Marginalizing it certainly makes it less appealing because it's clear it's not widely socially acceptable.
So, how did the 18th Amendment in the United States, i.e. Prohibition, work out? Surely, the broad public support and commitment to marginalizing alcohol, enough to get a constitutional amendment passed (no small feat), has been successful in making the US a booze-free country today? No?
Marginalization only works if it's something people aren't deeply committed to and tribalism, the root of many of these toxic behaviors, is far too deeply ingrained in human nature for marginalization to work.
Re:Study finds Reddit’s ban of its most toxic subreddits wor...
by nkozyra on Sunday April 28, 2019 @12:28PM
(#19772012)
Alcohol is a physically addictive product that was already engrained in acceptable culture. This isn't really a fair comparison.
Even so, cigarette smoking was similarly marginalized (though not outlawed, making it a better analog) to great effect.
I think expecting the behavior to disappear is an unrealistic goal. Marginalizing it certainly makes it less appealing because it's clear it's not widely socially acceptable.
> Except that, these people are now relegated to an echo chamber far from public discourse where they will only reinforce their views without challenge. An echo chamber that is now suddenly more appealing, because it's forbidden.
Again, this has always existed in society and always will. The less chance of people being exposed to it via a big public outlet, the less chance new people will be intrigued.
The aim isn't to end extremism, it's to make it clear it's not acceptable via the platform.