(I should say “widely-agreed-with outside The Refuge.” I wouldn’t say he has a groundswell of support here. 
)
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@alexshreff I love this place as much as you do, and I agree with your statements about “community guidelines”. I’m not sure that moderation is the answer, but I hear where you’re coming from.
As for another solution proposal - maybe we (the community) should put our heads together, thread or otherwise, and try to write up a more Refuge-specific set of “guidelines” that’s easy accessible? But at the same time, maybe the lack of guidelines is what makes this place so creative and unique?
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I volunteer as community moderator.
I will ban everyone. Capriciously.
All will share.
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COMMUNITY GUIDELINE NO. 1:
If you don’t want to engage with someone… don’t.
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I think that’s it, all we need, we can cut the list off now.
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and no duplicate threads…
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If you don’t like duplicate threads, just read one. I honestly don’t see why anyone cares if someone starts a duplicate thread.
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What is an example for a guideline you think is needed?
Just because you disagree with someone doesn’t mean they are doing something wrong.
I completely agree with you, and I think it’s an essential nuance. Hence why I posited the idea to the open forum. I’m out on “content” moderation.
I thought it was don’t be a scumbag
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I fully understand all 5 of you guys have different viewpoints on the subject, and understandably so.
I was wrong to single out ED, because he does make some thoughtful contributions and it’s not just him (although seems to be a common denominator). I also think that going down rabbit holes is what makes this place so fun. BUT…people here can’t just not respond to something that triggers them. And while free flowing conversation on different topics is great (and I’m not just talking about this one, there are others recently that have ended up much worse), it continues to escalate to a point where a handful of people are arguing just for the sake of hearing their own internet-voice.
I get your side too. Does anything need to be done? Not really.
But people who were once regulars on here are now choosing large group chats instead to avoid the bullshit, and I can’t speak for new members but have to imagine it’s a little intimidating to jump in the Strapped thread and say how much you love it for your first post when there’s a heated discussion about everything but Strapped going on. Maybe that’s not really a problem that needs solved. Maybe it is.
I don’t know what the answer is here or if there is one, I just know this place would be better off without all of the noise and hostility.
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I feel like we have this discussion every other month. I don’t disagree with any of what you are saying.
I also don’t see what the solution is.
This is probably the toughest part to swallow. Seems like a waiving the flag situation instead of coming here like you have in this thread to give actual feedback. We missed our chance for a Festivus airing of grievances.
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Please invite me to the large group chats so I can spread my bullshit there.
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Apparently they don’t want my bullshit either.
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I hear you. But, as far as I’ve seen, this whole conversation has been about Baltimore. Isn’t that the point?
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Discussion about Baltimore is great. The problem is the wholly predictable turn to one guy getting called a racist troll and the other getting called a Trotskyite snowflake over and over.
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You’re right. I think the challenge is that most people realize that’s it ok to disagree and then after a few back/forth exchanges, move on from the conversation and get back on track.
Pages of back and forth tirades…those are annoying, imo.
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Admittedly I haven’t read every single post. But I only had to go a few posts up to find one used to try and make a point, that did nothing to further the discussion.
This is the kind of thing that causes threads to devolve that I’m referring to. Is it Baltimore adjacent? Kind of. Is it necessary? Definitely not.
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I knew someone would try to use that silly jokey post as ammunition against me.
If you followed the discussion everything I said in the post above was a reference to what others had said in the thread. Andy mentioned “treating people like people”, Ouimet mentioned going where the most white people are, Andy again brought up small farming towns, etc.
No one even responded to it. It’s not a big deal.