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Culture War Roundup for the week of July 29, 2024

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Waves to all my haters

What level of evidence would be required to convince you that there are good-faith concerns about your recurring behavior instead of just flippantly dismissing the topic whenever it comes up?

I have in the past, more than once, indulged people who wanted another round of "Complain about the moderation" (or me, specifically). It always turns out to be a mistake, because while people do sometimes have valid concerns (and whether you believe this or not, I listen and have changed some of the ways I respond over the years as a result), it is mostly just people who are angry because they don't like how moderation works, and mostly they don't like how moderation works because they think we're being too hard on their tribe and not hard enough on the other tribe.

So no, I don't flippantly dismiss the topic every time it comes up, but on the other hand, the "level of evidence" that would be required to convince me that whatever bad thing you think about me is true would be rather high. For starters, I would have to be convinced it's not coming from personal or tribal animosity, and you'd have to show me where the "recurring behavior" is not "You modded someone I don't think you should mod, and you didn't mod someone I think you should mod, and also I don't like your tone."

You, specifically, would have a particularly high bar, because you are precisely one of those people I've referred to in the past who uses the mod queue as a super-downvote button to report people making arguments you don't like. Thus in my mind, you have fallen into the bucket of "tribal warriors whose complaints are mostly made in bad faith." Trying to convince me otherwise would require you to make an argument that doesn't match that pattern.

Then, I would wonder why, if you think I am such a bad mod, you have not raised these concerns with the other mods. Oh, you say, that would be pointless because we're a clique and will never police each other? Well, while it's certainly true one person (or multiple people) complaining is not going to convince any of us that someone is a bad mod, we do actually discuss it when users complain! And sometimes we have disagreements about how moderation should be done. Sometimes in general, and sometimes about specific people or posts. You will have to take my word for it that if I was out of line, it would be discussed amongst ourselves.

But sure, go ahead. Give it your best shot. What are your good faith concerns about my recurring behavior? I promise to at least give you a non-flippant answer, though it may not be one that satisfies you.