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Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by throwawaylinux on Friday February 24, 2023 @02:55AM (#34922093)
Yeah this is true. Your comment is probably upsetting to people so it can be said in a more feelings-friendly way - "controversy" is mostly frowned upon here, but with more leeway for hard science and technology.

For example I have posted and debated a little about my counter-narrative opinions on "the covid response" here before and had them stay and even gather the occasional upvote, to their credit. But it is also extremely easy to get moderated when walking that line, and likely highly dependent on whether or not the users participating or reading the comments become upset by what they see. This is not just a case of covid in general being an off topic or controversial issue, because you could post until the cows come home about the Covid response if you were cheerleading and parroting the schizophrenic and ever-changing position of western governments and media.

I give them credit at least, I think what they have is better than a lot of places for such debate. You just have to know your place and be extremely careful and polite and factual when you deviate, and you have to be prepared at some point the conversation will be shut down if it is upsetting and angering other users.

I also like that deleted comments can be made visible, another really good transparent part about the moderation. I do agree there is a lot of junk, but it's nice to see what's verboten. I assume posts can be nuked entirely with no trace , I give the benefit of the doubt and hope that's used sparingly.

Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by beebeepka on Friday February 24, 2023 @01:10PM (#34927686)
Oh, the site is much better than anything else I am aware of. I spent years looking for something like it before joining.

My biggest issue is the unavoidable US centrism. Again, much better than what's out there, but it's absolutely real. Real talk gets stuck down immediately for being inflammatory

Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by tptacek on Friday February 24, 2023 @02:44PM (#34929076)
The site is roughly 50% not-American.
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF on Friday February 24, 2023 @03:15PM (#34929491)
> Real talk gets stuck down immediately for being inflammatory

I've noticed that I have to shy away from certain ways of expression when I say things critical of a US-positive narrative. I have to avoid "real talk" as it were. It's kinda frustrating because that's how I prefer to speak but I can also see a difference in the discussion that ensues.

I feel you though. It can be pretty tough when you say something genuinely concerning, which people don't like thinking about, only to have it dismissed with the downvote button. Still, oftentimes such things gain more points while I'm sleeping and seemingly people in other parts of the world view my comments (which I think is kinda telling; it's what it is).

Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by smoyer on Friday February 24, 2023 @04:11PM (#34930202)
I'm a US American ... If we deserve your criticism I'm probably going to agree with you (though I might not like it). At this point, we (the US) need to step up our game in a lot of ways.
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF on Friday February 24, 2023 @04:54PM (#34930655)
I've seen strong counter-arguments to the things I bring up, for what it's worth. The kind of thing which I might disagree with but understand. If nothing else, it helps me remember that it's worth looking for the nuance on controversial topics and that many points of view often make a lot of assumptions. It's common that such topics are controversial for a reason.

(For context, I am a born US citizen.)

Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by xupybd on Saturday February 25, 2023 @06:06AM (#34935684)
My main gripe with the US it the abuse of the word football. The ball is no longer a ball shape and you no longer move it around with your feet.
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by smoyer on Sunday February 26, 2023 @12:45PM (#34947497)
But it is closer to the shape of a foot ;)
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by throwawaylinux on Sunday February 26, 2023 @07:08PM (#34951237)
Well balls are not strictly spherical, including soccer balls. I also have to question to motives of the handegg crowd by what they are willing to overlook in their favored sport. Surely if they were impartial the wanton blatant fraud of calling headfacechestbackstomachpelvisthighkneeshinfootalsoshoulderarmandhandifyouaregoalieorpenaltythrowroundedtruncatedicosahedronwithseams football would be among their top priority.
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by xupybd on Sunday February 26, 2023 @07:37PM (#34951506)
Now we are getting somewhere
Re:Ask Dang: What tools do you use for moderating HN? by telis on Wednesday March 01, 2023 @03:02AM (#34979875)
I came from Digg…