Hello users of Hexbear, there have been many changes and some drama the past few months.
The recent changes we've been making have been an attempt to create a more safe and welcoming environment for many demographics that have been overlooked in the past.
For any of our comrades that have been unintentionally hurt in this process, we apologise and hope to find a solution that accommodates as many people as possible while still meeting the needs of the marginalised groups who need a space like this the most.
The intent of this post is to provide a space for all users to air grievances with regard to the site. As well as provide suggestions for specific things that could be changed to address your grievance. Comments insulting the mod team or those without a specific means to address your problem may be removed. No commenter will be sitebanned, unless it clearly breaks the code of conduct.
It would be a good idea to have something like a hexbear ambassador account on a more "big tent" instance like lemmy.ml. This account would post tailored responses specifically to posts and answer questions in other instances which have to do with hexbear. It would also in a very neutral and un-bannable, but firm tone correct posts in other instances which promote obvious and provable misinformation about our community.
This account would "explain, while not necessarily promoting, the hexbear line" and flatly refuse to engage in any form of "debate" as being "out of scope for this account". This would get it past liberal tone-policing moderation, which silences hexbear voices and leaves "civil-toned" lies and implications.
I nominate @Civility@hexbear.net to run this account (/j)
I actually propose an @bureaucrat-type account run by a small number of hexbears.
A major issue we had with the bureaucrat account was its lack of accountability though. People could hop on that account whenever they wanted to instigate a fight or avoid consequences.
There's also the fact that alot of people seem to have an issue with "mod anonymity" and such a thing could further exacerbate that issue.
I think it's better to get to know the mods on a more personal level. You can find out who they are in the comm information section. If you have any issues with how a situation has been addressed, feel free to reach out to someone and air your grievances.
I think the whole account should be treated like any other, and held accountable for any of its actions, no matter who was behind it. Bureaucrat went a surprisingly long time without issue, and was adding new people constantly. There were probably dozens of people who had access by the end.
I second this but suggest it instead be operated in the same way Bureaucrat was operated because it will be really really really funny.
I do wonder why bureaucrat is so controversial here. Like nothing that bad happened with it unless the modlog was wiped. I think people were bracing for the gamer words that you would have seen come out of that account in any other community, but not here. Wasn't it more banned because the bit was over and getting annoying?
I don't think 3-5 hexbears in a trench coat are likely to go off the rails and make us look bad, and if they do it would be easily fixed.
I know that's out of context but you're the most recent reply so you get it
I heard the account was used to say some stuff that shouldn't have been said. I was directly asked whether it was me at the time since I was on my temp ban the accusations were flying. I enjoyed that account a lot though, I would never destroy the fun for everyone like that.
One of the members shut it down without mod intervention. Someone was using it to have a struggle session and everybody kinda took a step back and started debating whether it was still a good idea. One of the many people with the ability to delete it did. That's all there is to tell.
This is a great idea.
If it's a @bureaucrat-type account, though, it needs accountability. There needs to be a record of who wrote what as that account.
Just some musing: I also think the tone should not be too stiff or formal. It should feel like a human being behind the account. We aim for a queer commie dive bar vibe here, and the ambassador(s) should represent that too. The tone should be knowledgeable but not self-important. This also helps undermine the stereotype of communists as dogmatic fanatics.
It would be accountable in the same way @bureaucrat was, just like any account is. If anyone with access the account pops off you just ban the whole thing.
Wouldn't it look bad if we banned our own ambassador account?
I don't expect we would have to. Cut it off after 5 people or something. I don't think people would really care much if we did anyway.
Make it public who the people are as well.
fuck if I kept up with my art I would totally wanna draw the queer commie dive bar with a bunch of hexbear posters illustrated in it. Nerdy-ass thing to do but would be so cute
That would be cute, you should give it a shot!