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Patnet and censorship: Performance Art?


 invite response                
2017 Nov 14, 11:22am   36,967 views  160 comments

by justme   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

I wonder if @Patrick has just staged a piece of censorship Performance Art by instituting omnipotent censorship, under the guise of "moderation", and crowd-sourced mass-silencing (encouraging the use of the "uncivil" button) on patrick.net. The aforementioned scheme of blog control is so far removed from Patrick's former free-speech self that I am starting to wonder. Perhaps this is just an exercise in showing what happens when you give absolute power over some domain of life to ONE semi-random person, even one that otherwise professes to love liberty and freedom?

It is more than a little ironic (but should not be surprising to any serious student of human nature) that right-wingers appear to be every bit as eager to censor their opponents as they have recently been accusing the left-wingers of being. And by that I mean the last several years of talk about liberals and their desire for "safe spaces" on and off university campuses, calling them "special snowflakes", and so on.

Well, the right-wing has in recent days been out in force on Patnet, trying to enforce a "safe space" , free of "uncivility" and "NSFW" material, and acting like special snowflakes themselves. And boy, are these right-wing special snowflakes melting down Patnet in a volcanic eruption of censorship actions.

The famous 1960s psychological experiment known as the Stanford Prisoner Project comes to mind as an analogy of sorts. That experiment showed what happens when you give authority for random people to control other random people. What soon happened was not pretty. Read up on it if you want.

Finally, I will revisit and highlight a suggestion I have made several times this year:

What I would like to see is to have free speech, and at the same time avoid massive storms of low-quality comments. For a blog, I think that means to make threads and comments a limited commodity for all posters. Specifically, to limit the number of threads that a user can post on any given day to 1 or 2, and to limit how many comments every user can post on every thread to 10, or 10% of the total number of comments on the thread, whichever is larger.

The purpose of moderation should not be to censor certain forms of expression, but rather to make everyone's time (or space) on the proverbial soapbox a valuable commodity. That way, users are more likely to spend their posting currency wisely. Users who wastes their currency by posting low-quality drivel will lose esteem, or at the very least not be able to dominate the discussion based on volume posted only.

Think of it as rules of order, a very lightweight and blog-adapted version of Robert's rules of order. (By the way, a quite well-known now former pat-netter just mentioned Robert's rules just days ago, and is hereby recognized.)

PS: I very well understand the meta-question as to whether the impact of a blog, as measured by commercial value or informative value, or even political/propaganda value(!), is reduced when the number of threads or comments are somewhat limited. I think many people may think so, perhaps even Patrick himself. Personally, I will take quality over quantity any day.

#misc

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56   Y   2017 Nov 18, 10:40am  

But you do go to Chile looking for them, by your own words...

anon_13ce6 says
I don't go to the local mall looking for 14 year olds.
57   Patrick   2017 Nov 18, 10:42am  

errc says
Patrick says
Working on all that today!


Your “moderator “ goron is lying again. He said everyone has a “mark as uncivil “ button. I don’t have one @Patrick


Goran did not lie. He was just unaware that I temporarily removed the uncivil link from some users because they were deliberately using it on perfectly valid comments.
58   Y   2017 Nov 18, 10:44am  

Some of the anons are too obvious to not call out by name due to their posting pattern, obscure references only long term posters would have knowledge of, and finally, their pet phrases that slip through every now and then....
errc says
It seems uncivil and unhinged to call every anon by a pet name in reference to past members
59   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 10:47am  

Patrick says
errc says
Patrick says
Working on all that today!


Your “moderator “ goron is lying again. He said everyone has a “mark as uncivil “ button. I don’t have one @Patrick


Goran did not lie. He was just unaware that I temporarily removed the uncivil link from some users because they were deliberately using it on perfectly valid comments.


Except I’ve never done that

I’ve only ever marked posts as uncivil where I viewed them as such, as you requested. Your own words are to mark uncivil posts as uncivil.Try to be consistent, i know you can
60   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 10:48am  

BlueSardine says
Some of the anons are too obvious to not call out by name due to their posting pattern, obscure references only long term posters would have knowledge of, and finally, their pet phrases that slip through every now and then....
errc says
It seems uncivil and unhinged to call every anon by a pet name in reference to past members


Are you referring to CiC/Ironman/Sniper?
61   Y   2017 Nov 18, 10:52am  

Alternate 'handles' are also easy to spot.

errc says
Are you referring to CiC/Ironman/Sniper?
62   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 12:27pm  

BlueSardine says
Some of the anons are too obvious to not call out by name due to their posting pattern, obscure references only long term posters would have knowledge of, and finally, their pet phrases that slip through every now and then....
errc says
It seems uncivil and unhinged to call every anon by a pet name in reference to past members


Wouldn't it be possible for an anon to exhibit that trait or characteristic just to trough you off their true identity?
63   Y   2017 Nov 18, 1:08pm  

Who mentioned gardening?
anon_30423 says
Wouldn't it be possible for an anon to exhibit that trait or characteristic just to trough you off their true identity?
64   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 1:10pm  

Sniper says
errc says
He said everyone has a “mark as uncivil “ button. I don’t have one


That's because you wore yours out the other day. It was so used, Patrick has to build a new one for you.


From using it two or three times? I doubt it.

Maybe you should respect Patrick wishes and leave his site.

Why did you come back after he banned you the last time with your Ironman alt? Returning after banning is as uncivil as it gets
65   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 1:41pm  

Sniper says
errc says
From using it two or three times? I doubt it.

Maybe you should respect Patrick wishes and leave his site.


What happens to you on a Saturday? You become extremely uncivil. Is today a repeat of last Saturday?


How am I being uncivil?

For pointing out facts that expose you for the uncivil poster that you are? I don’t find that in any way uncivil, it’s actually the pathway to a return to civility
67   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 1:51pm  

Sniper says
errc says
I don’t find that in any way uncivil, it’s actually the pathway to a return to civility


So, you feel calling people liars all day today with ZERO evidence or proof is a "pathway to a return to civility"??

You really follow a strange pathway.


Like Patrick said, it’s important to speak the truth.

Ridding his site of uncivil trash is the only path to a return to incivility.

It’s hilarious you still haven’t realized all I’m doing is my best Sniper impersonation, so that everyone is reminded what you’re all about.
68   FuckTheMainstreamMedia   2017 Nov 18, 2:28pm  

This thread is so much lulz.

Rin, can you secure some hookers? Half of Pat.net needs to get laid.
69   mell   2017 Nov 18, 2:33pm  

Fucking White Male says
This thread is so much lulz.

Rin, can you secure some hookers? Half of Pat.net needs to get laid.

Agreed. That anon stuff is like keyboard cat.
70   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 3:13pm  

I understand now. Onvacation is goran's sock puppet account. keeps getting better and better!
71   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 3:15pm  

Goran_K says
I saw him claim that ice would be gone in 5 years.


You did? That's strange because onvacations link is still up and it points to a thread, not a quote.
73   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 3:28pm  

Sniper says

You should really learn how to spell his name correctly.


Yes @errc you should really try to spell Goron's name correctly
74   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 3:28pm  

errc, I can't post links but you can. Google: "coastal flooding" patrick.net then click the little arrow that pulls up the cached image. It proves both onvacation and Goran lied about this.
75   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 3:53pm  

So who is putting the civil comments in jail today?
76   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 4:07pm  

anon_30423 says
So who is putting the civil comments in jail today?


Good question, I just looked, it seems that someone formerly known as Ironman is #triggered bigly. Seems someone hit a nerve
77   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 4:12pm  

errc says
anon_30423 says
So who is putting the civil comments in jail today?


Good question, I just looked, it seems that someone formerly known as Ironman is #triggered bigly. Seems someone hit a nerve
must be the wife comments, those were the first to go.
78   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 4:17pm  

errc says
#triggered bigly.


Looks like he jailed one of his own comments to throw us off the trail.
79   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 4:21pm  

anon_30423 says
errc says
anon_30423 says
So who is putting the civil comments in jail today?


Good question, I just looked, it seems that someone formerly known as Ironman is #triggered bigly. Seems someone hit a nerve
must be the wife comments, those were the first to go.


Ever since Patrick came in and told Goron that he never censored Ironman/Sniper comment where he called Obama a nigger boy, they’ve been on a meltdown. Rather than just be true to his word and admitting he was wrong, and apologizing for falsely accusing someone for lying. It’s typical behavior of right wingers
80   Y   2017 Nov 18, 4:25pm  

Why does there have to be a 'trail'?
Why not random patio squares?
anon_30423 says
Looks like he jailed one of his own comments to throw us off the trail.
81   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 9:45pm  

Fucking White Male says
He loudly proclaimed his departure, but comes back and posts anon.


Yeah but somehow he's been cloned in 8 or more simultaneous users. It's pretty amazing to see especially when goran starts trolling all of them.
82   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 10:17pm  

Or are you not-Gary I think I see some sort of conspiracy here. Is this just all being staged by Patrick?
83   anonymous   2017 Nov 18, 10:18pm  

Don't tell me you're not-Patrick.
84   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 7:24am  

Goran_K says
Claimed he would leave rather than post under moderation and rules. Returned under anon. Fairly easy to spot.


So which is it?
85   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 9:01am  

Have we figured out who I am?
86   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 9:06am  

Sorry I thought I was posting in guess the anonymous hope I wasn't off topic
87   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 9:31am  

To be or not to be that is the question?

Acting!
88   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 3:11pm  

Goron is never wrong.
89   Patrick   2017 Nov 19, 3:46pm  

mell says
Time for Patrick to disable anons ;)


I did for a while, but brought it back, because it does seem to bring in a few new users.

Soon will have anon comments going through approval by moderators first. I took some time to make most of the site's functions pure, which should help me move faster in the future.
90   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 3:58pm  

You will get your pure site soon enough. There is so much bad will here now that I think serious debate is gone for good.
91   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 4:40pm  

anon_25c83 says
You will get your pure site soon enough. There is so much bad will here now that I think serious debate is gone for good.


Yes it is soon to be swallowed by the darkness. To bad so sad. We begged you @patrick to listen but you choose not to.

I get it, that's your choice.

Didn't expect you to take it in this direction.

Don't kid yourself, there is nobody new here, personally I'm probably 20 or 30 of those anons. Soon nobody from the left will be left and the right will have that echo chamber that they were accusing the left of try to have. Funny how that works.
92   MisdemeanorRebel   2017 Nov 19, 5:01pm  

anon_a0898 says

Don't kid yourself, there is nobody new here, personally I'm probably 20 or 30 of those anons. Soon nobody from the left will be left and the right will have that echo chamber that they were accusing the left of try to have. Funny how that works.


Trump winning caused the Left to go full bore nuts, especially re: the Russian Conspiracy Theory, which states the Russians hacked the Election by revealing email evidence that proved the DNC rigged the Primaries for Hillary.

People who bitch about all the ad homing have been ad homing at me since the Election, they didn't do so before.
93   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 5:15pm  

TwoScoopsMcGee says
People who bitch about all the ad homing have been ad homing at me since the Election, they didn't do so before


I've never been uncivil towards you.
94   FortWayne   2017 Nov 19, 5:41pm  

World Isn't left or right. I don't consider myself right, although get called that on these forums.

It's the only forum where free speech lives.

anon_a0898 says
anon_25c83 says
You will get your pure site soon enough. There is so much bad will here now that I think serious debate is gone for good.


Yes it is soon to be swallowed by the darkness. To bad so sad. We begged you @patrick to listen but you choose not to.

I get it, that's your choice.

Didn't expect you to take it in this direction.

Don't kid yourself, there is nobody new here, personally I'm probably 20 or 30 of those anons. Soon nobody from the left will be left and the right will have that echo chamber that they were accusing the left of try to have. Funny how that works.
95   anonymous   2017 Nov 19, 5:52pm  

FortWayne says
It's the only forum where free speech lives.


Icing on the cake this comment. Fuck this place. It's where free speech goes to die.

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