Transparency - changes to the BBS

[Melizmatic]

Yeah, so I read.

But no one will be able to see those comments anymore, from the way I understand it; and that sucks.

@orenwolf

then the BBS has failed.

Wait.

[TobinL]

@nimelennar

I’ve already seen one discussion disappear into back channels, which is more cliquish and community-separating than a Lounge is

It already kinda is. Any community once it gets large enough is going to form subgroups. It is what it is. As long as we are all happy mutants I am okay with this for now.

[ficuswhisperer]

@orenwolf

BBS was supposed to be a place where mutants could come and have these discussions safe in the knowledge that “we” (the mods) would protect them from bigotry and inequality.

You’re seemingly missing the biggest positive about the #lounge. We don’t need moderation there and things that are posted there are not open to the entire world. Anything else posted on the BBS can be easily searched and captured by anybody. All this will do is push more sensitive conversations “underground” (or somewhere else).

Having a more private place for trusted members has only brought me closer to the community. Yes there’s some specific Members here that aren’t as prolific that I wish could be involved but don’t have Regular status, but it largely kept the riffraff away as well.

[TobinL]

I will miss posting booze/drinking gifs to welcome the new members though.

[SenorSchaffer]

Is this because Congress voted to sell our info to the highest bidder?

[anon35121463]

@ficuswhisperer

Anything else posted on the BBS can be easily searched and captured by anybody.

Fuckin A. Y’all helped me heaps with my mental fuckery there. Wouldn’t posted half the shit I have If I’d know it was being fucking advertised.

Fuck all this shit.

[orenwolf]

@TobinL

I will miss posting booze/drinking gifs to welcome the new members though.

Ah, but there will still be Regular badges given out. Just now it’ll be a deliberate process, not something you “stumble into” by meeting some system requirements.

We’ll work out what that will look like over the next few days.

[nimelennar]

And now, having spoken reasonably, it is time to quote and rant.

@orenwolf

where some of the most invigorating conversations were being held

So you’d rather those invigorating conversations not take place at all? Or, again, be forced into PM-land?

@orenwolf

Worse, we made the poor choice of having moderation conversations mostly in that category, leaving the vast majority of users out of this conversation.

So, one type of conversation is causing you issues in the Lounge, so you’re shutting the whole thing down? Wouldn’t it just be better to, I don’t know, enforce a “No discussing moderation or administration” rule in the Lounge?

@orenwolf

we fully intend to create badges for old-timers, active members, and otherwise celebrate the diverse group we find within our community - many with titles you’ll be able to select between.

I’m a fan of badges, but what you are giving and what you are taking away are not remotely of equal value.

@orenwolf

This does mean that we believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to participate in all discussions, and those discussions - especially administrative discussions - shouldn’t be had away from the majority of our members.

Again, I’ll give you “administrative discussions.” But as for the rest - why not? If we split off into a separate instance of Discourse, and only invited the people we liked, it would have about the same effect as having a Lounge - only it would restrict the voices present until it becomes an echo chamber. Having Regular status and Lounge access as something anyone can achieve through commitment to the community is a great filter on harmful people getting in, while allowing a diversity of views and opinions.

@orenwolf

I agree with you about the lounge! But here’s the thing, BBS was supposed to be a place where mutants could come and have these discussions safe in the knowledge that “we” (the mods) would protect them from bigotry and inequality. If we can’t do that without hiding those same discussions, then the BBS has failed.

I’m not talking about being safe from other people’s voices and threats. I trust the mods to protect me from those. There are things that I’ve said in the Lounge that I don’t want associated with this handle, which I use widely on the Internet.

I don’t want to have to take over @Catharsis every time I want to say something private: I want to talk to the people I trust, and I can’t think of anyone in the #Lounge that doesn’t fit in that category.

[orenwolf]

@M_M

Wouldn’t posted half the shit I have If I’d know it was being fucking advertised.

Nothing you ever posted privately will be made public.I clarified that above as well.

[SenorSchaffer]

Also mad respect to @orenwolf for being the guy that takes the brunt of our complaints. I’m sure this wasn’t an easy decision but fffffffuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkk!!!

[anon6955837]

@orenwolf

If we can’t do that without hiding those same discussions, then the BBS has failed.

Dude, I like you, but do you internet?

[anon35121463]

Aint just about keeping private shit private. Its about having a space to put it in the first place.

[Melizmatic]

@SenorSchaffer

Also mad respect to @orenwolf for being the guy that takes the brunt of our complaints.

I second that.

While I’m not at all happy with this decision, I appreciate the transparency, the professionalism, and the modicum of basic respect @orenwolf has extended to the community, just by not talking down to us or auto-deleting any comments he happens to dislike.

Thank you, Ken.

[d_r]

@SenorSchaffer

Is this because Congress voted to sell our info to the highest bidder?

Maybe it is a subtle form of warrant canary. On reflection, that is obviously what it is. If the mods don’t respond to this suggestion, or go as far as to deny it, then that will be strong confirmation.

[orenwolf]

I do. And I hate the vast, vast majority of places you can comment on the internet.

If the only way to have discussions of worth is in private, than a public forum like the BBS cannot succeed.

I understand the concerns and the benefit that having an elite group of members having a “private place” to talk provided. But such a private place doesn’t further the goals of building a community around Boing Boing. In the end, this is a public place we’ve created in an attempt to have civil, respectful conversations in an era where so very, very few of these places still exist on the internet.

I believe, as the Authers do, that there is a great deal of merit in that. That goal is not consistent with the idea of a private, elite area. And I apologize that we created that divide in the first place.

[SenorSchaffer]

Elseeeeewheeeeere!!!

[anon35121463]

@Melizmatic

Thank you, Ken.

Seconded. I’m legit fucking pissed off at this, but it ain’t personal at Ken.

[anon27822705]

This is going to sound stupid but I’m so upset about this. I know I mentioned asking for a self ban – I need to sleep on it. I don’t want to do anything rash. I know it seemed arbitrary but sharing with Regulars only was fucking huge.

[ficuswhisperer]

@M_M

Aint just about keeping private shit private. Its about having a space to put it in the first place.

[anon6955837]

I think you know some of what this place has done for me, and that’s going away. I’m not happy. I apologize Ken.