Update regarding Hexbear's misogyny problem - planned actions and request for feedback
Update regarding Hexbear's misogyny problem - planned actions and request for feedback
Hi comrades, want to give you all an informal update on the discussions around the site's misogyny problems that've been happening over the last several days. I wanna make sure you know that the admin/mod team has seen all of that discourse and we've been actively discussing solutions in the matrix mod chat. We're taking this shit very seriously and acknowledge that we haven't used a heavy enough hand on misogynistic rhetoric. As some of you saw we nuked that cheating thread from a couple weeks ago and handed out temp bans to the most egregious offenders. Idk how that was allowed to run it's course but we apologize for that oversight. We're going to do better.
We've come up with some ideas for how to improve this part of the site culture and we want to get suggestions from y'all as well, since the alarm was sounded on this by our beautiful c/traa posters to begin with. Our ideas so far include:
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A zero-tolerance policy towards any even remotely misogynistic/patriarchal posts or comments, as too much has slipped through the cracks on that, establishing a clear protocol for bans for violating rules against misogyny, and ideally tracking repeat offenders in a way that makes deciding a course of action easy when they reoffend.
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Uphold TC69 thought by starting up a book club (and hopefully more to follow) on feminist theory and encouraging mass participation, particularly from the he/him's on the site. "The Will to Change" by bell hooks has been suggested by multiple people as a great starting point but please feel free to suggest any other works.
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Relaunching /c/menby with a trusted educated mod team and a specific focus on countering mainstream narratives about masculinity, relationships and sex that breed reactionary, patriarchal attitudes
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Encouraging [namely femme] participation in /c/womenby and taking steps to revitalize that sub as an excellent source of discussion on feminism and intersectionality
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Holding another mod drive to get more folks into mod positions in our communities who can help weed out reactionary attitudes
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Encouraging users to use the report button often on any post that seems even remotely sus, with the promise that no one's going to be punished for "report abuse" for reporting posts in obvious good faith
Please let me know your thoughts on the above or any other ideas you have for making the site better, safer and more inclusive for our femme comrades. Once we've fully hammered out plans and updated policy we plan to make an announcement post highlighting these changes for the whole userbase. Thank you all for being here and being who you are 
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Can you have someone ping me for the bookclub when that gets off the ground? I need to do more group activities like that. It's just good even as self care, because you get to reflect on the conditions on the ground as you use feminist theory to look at them. Idk, I just that sort of self criticism would be good as part of that sort of process to make me a better person.
There's theory over on c/womenby already!
Same here, I always forget to do these things
It wouldn't be wrong if someone wants to do that kind of secretarial work for you. Maybe you'll get lucky.
but I will point out that men relying on others to take responsibility for things like reminding them of this or that is a pretty classic small but annoying misogynistic habit.
feminism means being your own secretary. at least.
Sometimes I need reminders from other people. I get easily distracted sometimes and that can lead to debilitating procrastination spirals. Really eats into my self esteem and is a big reason why I try to not bother anyone (because of the fear that my incompetence will make me a burden).
But, really I don't want anyone to do that for me anyways, I was really just expressing my approval and interest in the idea. I guess it's kind of like saying "Sign me up!" when other people suggest an idea.
But, your suggestion is noted and appreciated, as I should work harder to apply it when I think of how others have done that sort of work in the past for me.