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After experiencing extensive spamming, ad-hominem attacks, and trolling it became necessary to protect the site by preventing all Anonymous Coward (AC) comments by anyone who was not logged in. This was a reluctant measure but it proved to be 99.9% effective. It was however, far from ideal. It partially isolated many of the responsible ACs who contribute regularly to the site and provide a valuable input to many of our discussions. They are still able to use journals for posting as the editors of SoylentNews have no control over the content of journals or the comments made in them.
I sought an alternative solution and provided access to some of the stories on the front page and marked them as AC Friendly. I had hoped by demonstrating to those abusing the site that there was a simple solution that they would perhaps cease, or at least return to previously manageable levels. Unfortunately this was not to be. The abuse restarted almost immediately and has continued in every AC Friendly story that has been published. It has clearly demonstrated that this isn't a case of the abusers defending free speech or any other laudable and justifiable aim but simply an attempt to prevent the majority of the community from holding any form of discussion at all. I am not continuing the AC Friendly stories on the main page with the sole exception of this Meta story.
I next tried to switch the attempts to include our AC community around by providing stories from the front page initially to my own journal, but subsequently to the journal of a new account named 'AC Friendly'. This was rather labour intensive and was not something that I could continue to do in the long term. These efforts have been ignored and do not seem to be of any interest to the AC community. Likewise I will not continue this effort unless there is evidence that it is wanted.
There are many perfectly understandable reasons for wishing to post comments as an Anonymous Coward. This was recognised when the original Slashdot code was written and provision was made for such individuals in the software. It is a straightforward matter to log in to the site and then automatically post as AC from then on. This both protects the site itself and those using it. If your justification is that you do not trust the staff then I must question why you would want to remain on the site.
Free speech is an essential part of our ethos but it is necessary to realise that free speech and anonymity are not necessarily related. We want people to be able to express their views without fear of harassment, abuse, or unfair moderation. Only by doing so can we truly claim to have free speech. It means that even those with whom we strongly disagree have the right to express their opinions. Subsequent attempts to argue against those views should not involve any form of harassment of the individual making them. Any attempt to prevent someone from expressing their views is directly counter to the very concept of 'free speech'.
Likewise, anonymity is something to be valued. Attempts to unmask either named or anonymous accounts is unacceptable to this site's administration and will not be tolerated. Those who publish information that appears credible to us must be deterred from continuing by whatever means are necessary. We cannot verify every claim made regarding the personal information of a community member and we must therefore assume that it is has some basis in truth and is an attempt at doxing. It does not matter where the information stated in the claim originates or whether it has been stated on this site or elsewhere previously. If it has the potential to unmask a community member it will be treated as doxing. The site will do all it can to protect community members. We are also fortunate that in the 8 years we have been operating we have only had one account that felt it was an acceptable thing to do. That account has been closed.
There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the toxic environment that has developed on the site has cost us numerous valued community members - both staff and regular contributors of submissions and comments. It cannot be allowed to continue. There is also no doubt that there is a straightforward and simple solution, and that is to prevent AC participation without the creation of an account. The software was designed to do this and it is wasted effort trying to find alternatives when it is unnecessary to do so.
There has been quite a bit of discussion over the last week or so. We have had a former community member (who was also once a member of staff) return to the site with his own story. Initially he chose to remain anonymous but subsequently decided to continue his comments under his username. I encourage you all to read the link given and the subsequent comments given in reply. I am very grateful that has taken the effort to explain why he has did what he has done and I welcome him back to our community if he choses to stay. As part of my reply to him I made the following statement:
It is vitally important that everyone is able to express their own point of view without harassment or intimidation or even unfair moderation. We do not all agree with each other. That is the same in any community. But by full, frank and honest discussion we can at least understand each others point of view and possibly identify potential solutions. The freedom of expression is still essential on the site - but it can only exist if we can ensure that it can be conducted in a suitable environment.
I stand by that statement. Since that comment was published I have received other views and experiences of the toxicity of our site from a significant number of individuals, including regular community members and both current and former staff. Quite simply, if we do not change then in all likelihood we will not survive much longer. It is not too late to make the necessary changes but time is running out.
I promised you that no changes would be made to how the site operates without first giving you all the chance to express your own opinions. But you have to decide now which path you want the site to follow. This cannot be a simple vote - as an extreme example we have no way of verifying that AC comments are not the result of a single person, or if some sock-puppets are still active on the site. Everyone has the right to be heard. However, let me point out a few rules:
- Any attempt to disrupt this Meta by spamming, ad-hominem attacks or trolling abuse will count as someone expressing an opinion that we should insist on accounts for all those wishing to post as AC. If anyone thinks that by abusing the site they will be helping their case they are mistaken. However, such actions will clearly show to the community that those who have been making the most noise about being prevented from expressing themselves are not actually fighting for free speech, but rather they are determined to prevent you from exercising your right to it.
- It will be pointless to keep repeating the same views as an AC. We cannot separate them. You want to be anonymous, you choose to have the account ID #1, and this, unfortunately, is a direct consequence to that decision.
- All views will be collated and then a decision will be made based upon them by the staff. This will include the SN Board who may accept that decision, but who have the right to choose the path that the site eventually takes. It may not be the decision that any of us want.
This is an important issue. It cannot be a simple vote but I encourage as many people as possible to express their opinions. It might be the last chance for you to do so. The Meta will stay active for several days to at least mid-week - but if it is abused excessively then it will be taken down and we will be forced to make a decision base on whatever views we already have or can get from elsewhere. I will endeavour to move the Meta in the story queue so that it remains on the front page. Many of our community log on at different times of the day or only on specific days. I would like to give everyone a chance to see the Meta story and to make their views known.
This is your opportunity - please do not waste it.
[Ed's Comment: See bold text - warning 2022-07-10 12:36 UTC]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by crafoo on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:01PM (32 children)
I'm on the side of whatever is practical for you guys. If moderating and filtering is too much work, just remove AC posting. Better to have to site continue on than to shut it down due to lack of resources.
There are definitely some bad actors using this site, as I've discovered first-hand. Having an unpopular opinion has always been dangerous. I was actually thinking of posting AC more often.
If AC is banned, discussions will naturally move towards the progressive-majority as people self-moderate. I wouldn't assume all the people posting Hitler memes are not actually leftist, communist activists. They use this tactic frequently to shut down open discussions, as they know their arguments cannot win in that environment.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:06PM (8 children)
Creating an anonymous account isn't very hard. A temporary email account is sufficient it probably works deter spam bots a bit but probably not the two jerks that caused this mess.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:36PM (7 children)
Some have claimed that this is a bridge too far, but it's easy to create a throwaway email with ProtonMail. ProtonMail did give up an IP to the French authorities last year, but I have seen no issues creating and using a ProtonMail account with a VPN. Gmail and others will sometimes detect a VPN as suspicious and demand a phone number.
Anonymity continues to linger on the Web. We might be ten years away from it being legislated out of existence, and then we'll have to move onto horrible decentralized platforms, HAM radio, USB drives in public restrooms or something.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @02:10PM (3 children)
I'd prefer steganography on amateur porn photos published on horrible decentralized platforms that one can access through HAM radio.
I advise against using USB drives, hard to come with a plausible denial if found in one's possession.
Public toilets... ugh, but whatever floats your boat.
(Score: 2) by DECbot on Monday July 11 2022, @08:05PM (2 children)
So, you're not into USB gloryholes [wikipedia.org]? USB type-A connector embedded in the wall for any old PC to jack into it to pilfer the contents.
cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base
(Score: 1) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday July 13 2022, @01:36PM (1 child)
LOL - I'm picturing myself installing USB connectors in all the bathroom stalls. Just the plug, no wiring or anything. Wonder how many people come in, sit down, and plug in, expecting - something.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Thursday July 14 2022, @10:04AM
... a download, perhaps?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @04:54PM (1 child)
and protonmail requires another goddamn email address to set up your account with them. if this were just about requiring accounts why does soylent require an email at all? oh yeah, no programmers for a web site. who knew you needed that? fusking Normals.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @11:33PM
I don't remember needing another email address to set up my last 2 ProtonMail accounts. Did you get trapped by an optional question?
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday July 10 2022, @04:00AM
Why use a real email provider? Wouldn't a pure throwaway like Spamdecoy work?
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Opportunist on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:21PM
Why would you think so?
I have opinions. True, most of them lean towards the left, but that doesn't mean I don't call out a batshit progressive as much as I call out a batshit conservative. This ain't Reddit, so far at least I didn't get squelched for simply stating when someone is batshit insane.
And even if, so what? My ego is big enough that I think this site would lose if it lost me, more than I would lose if I can't post here anymore. I contribute sensible input. Yes, I'm convinced of that. If the owners of this site disagree, I'll leave.
That's the thing about online boards. Always has been, always will be. You will have the audience you shape. If you don't moderate at all, your board will descend into trolling and spamming. Simply because you don't weed out the unwanted crap, people who won't put up with the bullshit leave, until all that's left is spams and trolls. For reference, see some unmoderated newsgroups.
If you moderate anything that doesn't fit your preferred narrative, you'll get your comfy filter bubble. While nice, it is doomed to fail in the long run as well because all you can attract is insecure kids who can't handle a diverging opinion and who need to retreat to their "safespace" filterbubble where everyone only tells them what they want to hear.
Only the boards that can find a moderation in between survive for long. And I'm effin' glad i'm not responsible for that kind of shit this time. So pass the popcorn, please.
(Score: 4, Funny) by srobert on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:34PM (1 child)
There are no paid progressive trolls. But did you know you can save money by bundling your home and auto insurance?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @01:43PM
Money is beyond redemption, there's nothing one can do to save them.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 09 2022, @09:13PM (15 children)
Maybe you are seeing progressive posts, because that is the bulk of the country and you are in the minority?
(Score: 2) by Username on Saturday July 09 2022, @11:45PM (14 children)
The internet is international.
Even if it wasn't, the majority of people lean conservative on every issue. A highly vocal minority, isn't a majority. It's just one guy with a megaphone and money vs 99 without.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday July 10 2022, @12:49AM (4 children)
Thanks for the LOL in a sunny Sunday morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @01:55AM (3 children)
https://soylentnews.org/~c0lo/ [soylentnews.org]
*Tuesday June 07, @11:06AM
*Tuesday June 07, @08:06AM
*Tuesday June 07, @05:05AM
*Tuesday June 07, @05:03AM
*Tuesday June 07, @02:57AM
*Tuesday June 07, @01:26AM
*Tuesday June 07, @01:11AM
*Monday June 06, @10:13PM
*Monday June 06, @09:32PM
*Monday June 06, @06:29PM
*Monday June 06, @05:15PM
*Monday June 06, @05:07PM
*Monday June 06, @03:00PM
*Monday June 06, @02:57PM
The astroturf squad never sleeps. Too cheap to register a separate account for every worker, or what?
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @07:19AM (1 child)
Dear lord you Nazis are insufferable.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @11:08AM
Dear bot, your script is stale. Get an update already.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 12 2022, @01:04AM
Mmmm, so I got at least 8 hours of sleep that night
Other than that, transform those in AEST timezone, that's where I live.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @03:15AM (7 children)
So is progressivism. Progressives in the US didn't blossom in a vacuum. They have a taproot going directly back to Marxism.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday July 10 2022, @05:08PM (6 children)
Can you shrieking cupcakes pearl-clutching about "Marxism" even *define* Marxism?
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @05:59PM
With or without acess the the internet ;) though even more accurate definitions probably will not be sufficiently unhinged for the nazi lovers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @09:00PM (3 children)
Marxists are the ones who want to keep elephants out of their pajamas - even if some shooting is involved.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @09:46PM (2 children)
(Dear nostyle: the above post was not by who you think it was. Cargo pants forever!)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 11 2022, @03:10AM (1 child)
-Sting, It’s Probably Me [genius.com]
(Score: 2) by nostyle on Monday July 11 2022, @03:16AM
I have approved this
messagethread.(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 11 2022, @09:51PM
We know it when we see it. Just like when you shriek about nazis.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by kazzie on Sunday July 10 2022, @07:09AM
This is a good point to remember, and that megaphone-toters may be advocating policy on either side of the political centre.
(It also gets complicated in parts of the world where there's a "Conservative Party", leading people to have to specify "small 'c' conservatism" to describe this phenomenon.)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 10 2022, @03:48AM
Agreed. I like this site, even though all I do is lurk. Do whatever is necessary to stop wasting time dealing with this nonsense.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 11 2022, @05:18PM (2 children)
That someone marked your extremely excellent post "troll" is, for me, the core problem with this site. Or at least the indicator of the problem: ad hominem.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 12 2022, @12:07PM
ad homimem is subject.
And as a "paid progressive troll", WTF happened to my cheque?
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Tuesday July 12 2022, @01:25PM
The system sorted itself out - it is currently 5 insightful. Don't worry about where it is at any instant, let the community take action. You are correct - it never deserved a 'Troll' but maybe a 'Disagree'.