The Cellar - View Single Post

hot_pastrami · 01-30-2004, 12:18 PM

The Cellar is an excellent example of Free Speech. Anybody can say anything they want to. All are equal. Any perceived "weight" any of the older members have is because they have been around longer, proven themselves intelligent, likable, and worth listening to for whatever reason. Consequently, when someone who hasn't proven themselves challenges the "older member," the other members will throw in with the one they know, like, and trust. If the one they know and trust seems misguided, they'll advise change, and if change doesn't occur, that person will lose some status. That's how social systems work.

Yes, a member may be discouraged from saying certain things from time to time, but that person is free to ignore the discouragement. If someone can't weather some advice on how the community has evolved to work, then maybe they don't belong there. If the majority discourages a person, then it's safe bet that the person won't fit well with the community anyway. But even then, that person can still let the comments of older members bounce off like bullets off of Superman, and the consequence may be that people dislike them.

You say you don't like it when members try to censor each other, but isn't that exactly what you're trying to do when you post things like "...don't post a shitty comment that could make others think twice about contributing their thoughts...?" It's all subjective. To the one who posts it, it's helpful advice, trying to improve the community. To the reader, it can be criticism, censorship, etc. An open mind and thick skin are the best tools here.

The rulebook? There's only one rule I know of. You can say whatever you want. but so can everyone else. That means you may see some things you don't like once in a while. Feel free to tell them you don't like it, tell them they're an asshole. But if they disagree, they don't have to stop. The essense of Free speech, my friend.

I know where you're coming from with your message, but I think you're looking at this from a pretty limited perspective this time.

01-30-2004, 12:18 PM	#2
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	The Cellar is an excellent example of Free Speech. Anybody can say anything they want to. All are equal. Any perceived "weight" any of the older members have is because they have been around longer, proven themselves intelligent, likable, and worth listening to for whatever reason. Consequently, when someone who hasn't proven themselves challenges the "older member," the other members will throw in with the one they know, like, and trust. If the one they know and trust seems misguided, they'll advise change, and if change doesn't occur, that person will lose some status. That's how social systems work. Yes, a member may be discouraged from saying certain things from time to time, but that person is free to ignore the discouragement. If someone can't weather some advice on how the community has evolved to work, then maybe they don't belong there. If the majority discourages a person, then it's safe bet that the person won't fit well with the community anyway. But even then, that person can still let the comments of older members bounce off like bullets off of Superman, and the consequence may be that people dislike them. You say you don't like it when members try to censor each other, but isn't that exactly what you're trying to do when you post things like "...don't post a shitty comment that could make others think twice about contributing their thoughts...?" It's all subjective. To the one who posts it, it's helpful advice, trying to improve the community. To the reader, it can be criticism, censorship, etc. An open mind and thick skin are the best tools here. The rulebook? There's only one rule I know of. You can say whatever you want. but so can everyone else. That means you may see some things you don't like once in a while. Feel free to tell them you don't like it, tell them they're an asshole. But if they disagree, they don't have to stop. The essense of Free speech, my friend. I know where you're coming from with your message, but I think you're looking at this from a pretty limited perspective this time. __________________ Hot Pastrami!