Subverse rules are a feature Voat is implementing to remove subjectivism from moderator actions such as comment and submission deletions as well as user bans. Currently a moderator simply has to provide a “reason” why they are performing such actions, and seeing that often times this reason is made up on the spot, we are not happy with this. Going forward when a moderator performs such actions they will be required to select a rule violation. This requirement will help to establish the validity of the action.
Rules can be created at a subverse level by a moderator and Voat has some basic global rules, both of which are available as a selection on these moderator action screens as well as all report dialogs (comment/submission reports).
Rules will also be used in all domain and user bans going forward.
This feature is now in beta on the preview site and any testing would be greatly appreciated.
What needs testing:
- Subverse Rule creation
- Reporting comment and submissions in a subverse (making sure they show up in the v/sub/about/reports page)
- Moderator user banning and unbanning (all this code has been changed)
- Moderator comment and submission deletions
Test site: https://preview.voat.co/
P.S. The Vote feature is nearly fully implemented on the preview site, meaning you can create them, vote on them, and then manually process them for full lifecycle testing. :)
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go1dfish ago
I strongly oppose this feature particularly for @system subs.
Freedom of speech should be the default.
If people want more heavily curated spaces they are welcome to create one.
I have no desire to vote to restrict what others are allowed to say and may well abstain from these votes on general principle.
Please reconsider the scope of this feature.
Dudicles ago
Even those would be subject to whatever rules Putt decides they have to follow when curating content/users. I see no other real reason for this action other than what I posted elsewhere: it sounds like it's designed to allow for the "legitimate" removal of mods from subverses.
go1dfish ago
To be clearer I don’t think the rule feature and tying mod actions to rules is bad.
What I’m concerned about is the longer term plan to allow users to vote in new rules in @system sub verses and especially /v/whatever
If the voting aspect is limited to non system subs, and system sub rules are only sitewide + off topic then that could be a very good feature IMO.
But if allowed to subsume the site we will end up where Reddit did.
Another feature that might mitigate this is if non global rule violations result in moving a post to /v/whatever or some other catch all rather than removing the post as happens now.
Womb_Raider ago
Frankly, fish, I think this marks the point where a new website must be considered. We cannot trust him to bear the torch if his judgment falters despite overwhelming criticism when this idea was first announced.
We are going the way of reddit.
PuttItOut ago
Actually, it is the exact opposite direction.
Womb_Raider ago
So you'll reply to this comment but not the one I made directly responding to you? Don't feel like answering challenging questions? I'm not trying to be as divisive as Grifter. My criticisms of this proposed system are as valid as anyone else's.