Should we ban Link submissions in v/pizzagate? (pizzagatemods)

submitted ago by Vindicator

This is a brainstorming and feedback-gathering thread for the immanent Rules discussion proposed by our board owners. I wanted focus on this single topic before we get into the complexities of the rules.

Currently, our subverse allows users to post either "Link" submissions or "Discuss" submissions. Link submissions are quick and easy, require no thought, and have only a headline that direct-links to the url submitted. They are a quick way of sharing news posted elsewhere. They also look cool, since they grab a thumbnail image of the linked page. They are the easiest way to share something if you are posting from your phone. However...

Six Reasons "Link" submissions suck for v/Pizzagate research

  1. They can't be edited to meet our submission rules, and frequently have to be removed because of this
  2. They can be used by trolls to direct-link to dangerous sites (examples in Removed Submissions)
  3. They make it easy for trolls to spam "PGisStupid" style memes and shitty YouTube videos
  4. They make it impossible for authors to edit posts to incorporate the often stellar crowdsourced research contributed by other users in the Comments.
  5. When shared off-platform such as by retweet, especially by phone where only headlines show depending on screen settings, they inadvertantly bury the crowdsourced analysis and discoveries that shed light on events mentioned in MSM articles, destroying the redpill value. Non-Voat users clicking a Voat submission shared in a tweet, will probably click the headline, taking them directly to the MSM article (for example) and never see the crowdsourced analysis in the Comments.
  6. It seems unfair and inconsistent to require Discuss posts to provide short descriptions of all linked content and their relevance under Rule 3, but allow Link posts that only have a headline from which such matters must often be inferred.

So what can we do instead?

As far as I know, we cannot actually disable this function so it is impossible to share a link, as that is a sitewide feature. But we can

  • edit the CSS so that the button doesn't show unless users have custom CSS disabled
  • edit the rules to disallow Link posts
  • put a warning that Link posts will be removed, along with an invitation to only use Discuss submissions, in the message that pops up on the submit dialogue window.

So, who wants to try this? Who hates the idea? Chime in below and let your thoughts and votes be heard yea or nay.

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carmencita ago

I am in favor of doing away with the link posting but only after we fix the problem with the vote count not showing up if we edit after posting. I do think that the voat count situation is more important, but do want to say I am in favor of doing away with the link posting. AND while I hopefully have everyone's attention, please note that the amount of viewers here at any given moment has been stuck at 113 for at least two days. Another item that should be fixed before the link posting. If we have a low number posted regarding visitors then it will not bode very well for New Visitors.

Vindicator ago

Thanks for letting us know that about the visitors.

Removing the Link button has nothing at all to do with the caching issues Voat-at-large is experiencing, though. It's just a visual change that we can make ourselves.

carmencita ago

Do you mean that nothing can be done about the comment voats not appearing after editing? If that is the case we cannot edit.

Vindicator ago

Where'd you come up with that? I didn't say "nothing can be done" about anything. I said mods have control over making the Link button go away, and editing the rules, with user approval. We can make that happen any time, regardless of how long it takes Putt to finish the new codebase and work out the bugs.

carmencita ago

OK.