Quote: There is a very interesting trend, at least in the past. The people most against censorship of anykind at all in OTD are from the Americas (for the most part) while the people that want at least some censorship are from Europe (for the most part).
That's a trend I also see, and I agree with you that this probably is a genuine cultural difference. And where there's cultural difference, cultural bias is soon to follow:
Quote: the Americas have always had almost complete freedom of speach, while many countries in Europe do not...
Ya, the USA has all this freedom and Europe does not. Allow me to inversely mirror this with an European viewpoint:
Quote: In America little if anything is done to prevent the crazies and antisocials from dominating the place, whilst in Europe effort is taken to genuinely protect the general population from social extremists.
See the nuance? both the US POV and the EU POV are equally true I believe, and where you place emphasis on freedom of expression my thoughts go out to the right of people to go about their business without needless harrassment, the right of protection by the powers that be.
On the Shroomery level I feel there is too much emphasis on protecting freedom regardless of the cost, and that Shroomery culture suffers because of it. I feel that a large diffuse group of people on the Shroomery feel forced to hold back their self-expression, and the more unusual, less common parts of their lives and views, because they know there will be a backlash of negativity if they open themselves up "too far".
Only those willing to face negativity dare to show their eccentricities, and those unable to bear this will often come to regret confiding in us. There are many beautiful people among these more delicate personalities, and their numbers far exceed the small number of vocal "tough" members, who find their rights to be far better defended in our community.
Because women often tend more towards sensitivity than towards toughness, this part of Shroomery culture directly adds to, and enhances the sausage fest that is our almost exclusively male population.
An example: if you post a picture of yourself on the Shroomery, for instance partying with your friends, there is the very real possibility that you one day see a photo of yourself with a dick in your mouth, montaged into a gay porno picture. On Mycotopia on the other hand there not rarely are photos of female members who feel so comfortable among the crowd that they dare to post a nude photo of themselves. Mycotopia is no utopia, but somehow they have a number of women feeling very comfortable and confident on the boards, while here on our vast community we hardly have any women at all. The difference lies in website culture, neither is superior but they sure are different.
Perhaps one day the Shroomery will be so vast that there will be 1.000 members posting at any given time. With an internet population of one billion people, even that bigger Shroomery can have a completely unique culture. So what should the Shroomery of 2010 be like? I'd say it should be a place of great freedom, but not at the cost of a large group of people being held in check by a less socially inclined minority.
As you see I'm all for freedom of speech, and I feel that by being a bit more restictive more of our members can feel a more free to express themselves, than there are people who are hindered in their intent to express themselves antisocially.
And once more, I do not seek to close or neuter OTD, my concern is for the rest of the site, not what happens behind the very clear disclaimer.
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