I get that you don't like it. But you are saying that I shouldn't be allowed such a feature? Or that someone else who routinely gets a lot of abuse from trolls shouldn't be allowed to exercise that choice? We have carefully weighed up the competing merits. Do you have a study we may have missed? - ThreadSky

stephenstroud.bsky.social • 45 days ago

I get that you don't like it. But you are saying that I shouldn't be allowed such a feature? Or that someone else who routinely gets a lot of abuse from trolls shouldn't be allowed to exercise that choice?
We have carefully weighed up the competing merits. Do you have a study we may have missed?

Comments

jonworth.eu•45 days ago

What for you is “protection” is as I see it “keep disadvantaged groups who might need to post anonymously out of my timeline”.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•45 days ago

I can already keep them out of my timeline for most purposes simply by not following them. Our proposal is about users being able to protect themselves from others who would aggressively invade their timeline. I struggle to see the objection to that.

abigaildombey.bsky.social•44 days ago

Why on earth are you assuming that it’s the unverified users that’s the issue?

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

I’m not. Our proposal and the reasons for it are on our site.

abigaildombey.bsky.social•44 days ago

Maybe you should offer the choice to block all men?
I bet most trolls are male.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

If you think that would be a good idea then by all means campaign for it but you don’t counter an argument by inventing a ludicrous straw man.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•45 days ago

So, you would insist that a vulnerable person who is trolled has to block each one individually, even if the same troll keeps coming back with further anonymous accounts?
Again, if you have any studies on the impact we would welcome seeing them, though we have looked.

nicolekidmansnose.bsky.social•44 days ago

Having to individually block people does not sound like that heavy a cross to bear unless you're a major celebrity here.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

You still have to face the abuse and then block. Turning it around, if you’re not a major celeb or political figure why should you have to go through that?
If you don’t get abuse then maybe you don’t need the protection.

nicolekidmansnose.bsky.social•44 days ago

Use block lists maybe. There are hundreds doing the rounds here.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

Good point but I keep getting told that one drawback is someone else has control of the list. There are plenty of options but we believe ours has added value.

paulbernal.bsky.social•45 days ago

Why assume trolls are anonymous? Most aren’t.

randomvariable.co.uk•44 days ago

When the only threats to my livelihood I have ever received have been from British journalists sending threatening letters to my employer for having the temerity to run a blog criticising Boris Johnson, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of anonymity.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

You do understand that our proposal is explicitly about preserving the right of people to use unverified accounts if they choose?

paulbernal.bsky.social•44 days ago

Yes, but you’re suggesting that blocking those accounts would be an appropriate tool to make someone safer, and hence that the unverified accounts are inherently dangerous.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•45 days ago

I didn’t, though I haven’t seen data showing that “most” are not. But in either case would that undermine a right to choose not to hear from those who are?

paulbernal.bsky.social•44 days ago

But you’re perpetuating a myth that the anonymity is the problem, rather than the trolling.

paulbernal.bsky.social•44 days ago

And this is what Jon is talking about: if you push the narrative that anonymity is a problem *by default* you discriminate against those for whom anonymity is a necessary protection, as well as those for whom it is a valid choice.

rmgriffiths.bsky.social•44 days ago

Indeed. Facebook isn’t anonymous and that’s hardly the bastion of well-mannered discussion.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•44 days ago

I have heard many figures bandied about for what % of supposedly "real person" FB accounts are fake.
Solutions will need to be tailored to the characteristics of the platforms, and that is as it should be.

gabrielstravels.bsky.social•44 days ago

I agree . Lots of people probably find the DMs in two separate piles useful but I find it a nuisance

atomictriangles.bsky.social•45 days ago

Would I be allowed a feature to eliminate anyone who selects that option from my timeline? It seems like it would be a balancing feature and of value to me should the feature you proposed be in place.

stephenstroud.bsky.social•45 days ago

I don’t see why not. Our proposal is entirely about giving users more choice.

If there’s a right to free speech, which we support, there should also be a right not to listen.

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