For the same reason reddit became what it became. No matter how hard anyone on reddit tries, people are going to continue using up/downvotes to roughly mean "like/dislike" or "agree/disagree". ignore/mute/hush are a hell of a lot more powerful than a single like/dislike, and people are going to use them to simply mean "I don't want to hear your opinion anymore". And they already do. The reason those of you who have been here longer don't experience it to the level that the new people do is simply because you're dealing with people you're familiar with, and those people are less likely to mute you for your opinion than someone they are unfamiliar with. That's just how people work, but it's not an environment where a lot of good discussion can take place. As much as people complain about reddit, I've experienced more blatant censorship of my thoughts on this site than I ever have on reddit.
I do think the way mute functions has the potential to hurt discourse. We should not create functionality that allows one person to prevent someone from participating with everyone else. I think this is an attempt at passive moderation, and it will probably hurt the site. Not in a major way to the core group of Hubski (of which I don't include myself), but in a meaningful way. I have a feeling that it will eventually be changed or removed, but maybe not for another few influxes. But on the whole, I don't think it's going to prevent good discussion from taking place. If someone doesn't care for what you have to say, they're going to disregard you whether or not they have the site do it for them. I think you're right about the familiarity -- because of the way hubski interacts with itself, someone who does not come here with the social pleasantries of meeting someone for the first time is prone to be muted. I doubt this will be a permanent state as growth continues, and I don't think it dooms us to becoming reddit. Aside from mute, these things are less about Hubski and more about people. I don't think it's possible to create a website that forces good discussion by design. The key element to making it happen is the community, which is why the people here are generally on the defensive toward newcomers. But what's great about hubski is that they're dead set on trying to make it a reality. Even though you've had a relatively poor experience so far, the staff are willing to listen and consider the issues you bring up. I think you know it and that's why you're still here, as opposed to the majority of the reddit influx you came with.
It's also much harder to ingratiate yourself with people if they're too busy muting you and shutting you out of conversations, it's happened to me a few times already. So it sounds like it's a closed off community where the "new people" (like myself, a refugee from Reddit) are stuck wondering what the hell is going on when we can no longer reply or even interact with someone. Although I haven't had any experience with your very last point regarding censorship....
Also, the amount of "muting and ignoring" that is said to occur vs. what actually occurs is different. There are many people that never get muted/ignored -the VAST majority. If you're someone that does get muted/ignored often, perhaps the system is working and Hubski isn't for you. -Not saying this about you, I've enjoyed talking w you, but for those that are angry that they've been "censored," perhaps the community at large is telling them something? Perhaps the system is working perfectly for Hubski, just not for them. It's not for everybody. Edit: also, fwiw I too find it silly when people point out spelling/grammar errors in a debate or argument. But then, I have horrible spelling and grammar :)It's also much harder to ingratiate yourself with people if they're too busy muting you and shutting you out of conversations, it's happened to me a few times already. So it sounds like it's a closed off community
as someone that (I believe) personally welcomed you and has enjoyed some conversations with you, I'm curious if you can point me towards the places where you are being shut out of conversations. -not saying you weren't, it's just a curiosity. Thanks.
Yeah you did personally welcome me, and I appreciate that very much - conversations with you are always entertaining, how are you doing these days by the way? I'd buy you a beer but I don't know if you're anywhere near me... East Coast is all I'll say. You would know these things, and the "mutes" I was referring to were just one post like 7 or 8 days ago. So I don't remember exactly where it happened - I just saw it on my notifications one afternoon where was like so and so replied to your post and as I went to hit reply, it said "muted". Anyway I was just blowing smoke (something I seem good at these days).
I am good, thanks. I live in Chapel Hill NC and if you are in the neighborhood, beers would certainly be in order.
I live in the Tidewater region of Virginia so if you're ever up that way, PM me and we'll see if we can meet up around the beach or something at one of the bars on the strip or something. I mean sheez you're a lot closer to me than I thought. Google says ~3.5 hours.
Pm me who muted you I will take them out ;) Not like a date like the mafia.
Well the thing is, I don't remember who or why at this point I just thought it was kind of interesting. I had mentioned something re; the whole ignore/mute system to insomniasex 2 or 3 days into my being here (about a day after it happened) and it was explained pretty much the same way we're discussing it here. Something something beating a dead horse with a new user who's working out the kinks in his experience.
Maybe subconsciously but not that I can think of.
The quote is gone? From your mind? Dissatisfaction I was hoping I remembered something.