I remember CTH when it was less friendly towards ML's, more Bernie soc-dem, it didn't change because of an ML plot to flood the sub with PSL members or anything, it changed because of growth among the userbase and circumstances in the real world changing which lead to revelations. It isn't our fault we're consistently right and thus gain more adherents and clingers. We were right on Venezuela, we were right on Bolivia, on Hong Kong and so on. It isn't the democratic socialists who are here posting theory and educating people with effort posts.
Anywhere at all where there are ML's and we are not downvoted for our "controversial" opinions that place is automatically "infested with tankies" to others in my experience.
What we have here and what has worked for CTH is not balance but non-interference.
Not enforced equality of numbers and posting power nor weighting against a dominant faction because they're more successful, but having no party line, no policy of banning anarchists or trots for example on sight.
Not having a moderation team that slams down the ban-hammer at the slightest deviation from the allowed line. That is anyone (serious anyways, I personally would not extend this to those who have no interest in good faith discussion and are just posting imperialist propaganda) can post, can make their argument and appeal.
And a big pot of course. A big pot with some amount of solidarity for each other despite differences. That doesn't mean people wouldn't call each other a liberal or imperialist but at the end of the day we were there for one another in our shared space. One where anyone can try and win people over.
ML's I believe have been consistent in doing this successfully because of the power of our analysis and predictive tools (and the spectacular failure of Bernie's campaign putting to rest the notion of reformism for those paying attention). But importantly no one is shut out. No anarchist is banned, they might be at worse downvoted or called out for a bad take but they aren't banned, they aren't censored, the moderators don't start cultivating a particular ideology and banning those who don't fit it. They don't try and cultivate a particular blend of plants in their garden so much as pull up the weeds (imperialists, liberals, reactionaries, trolls) and allow the plants themselves to decide.
CTH I think underwent a journey. The userbase and culture that is underwent a journey over the past two years, one that really accelerated and crystallized in the past 7 months. Many joined as liberals, Bernie supporters and were left out in the cold after the ban as communists, as Marxists, as ML's and yes others as well.
It may be the community has already decided the course here and my words are just shouting into the void. But it is my counsel anyways and I've put it down here. For my money splitting things up along these lines stands a chance to lead to more drama (accusations of brigading then you have to decide on rules for that). But maybe the community will mostly stick to main and these will not be problems.
deleted by creator
I remember CTH when it was less friendly towards ML's, more Bernie soc-dem, it didn't change because of an ML plot to flood the sub with PSL members or anything, it changed because of growth among the userbase and circumstances in the real world changing which lead to revelations. It isn't our fault we're consistently right and thus gain more adherents and clingers. We were right on Venezuela, we were right on Bolivia, on Hong Kong and so on. It isn't the democratic socialists who are here posting theory and educating people with effort posts.
Anywhere at all where there are ML's and we are not downvoted for our "controversial" opinions that place is automatically "infested with tankies" to others in my experience.
What we have here and what has worked for CTH is not balance but non-interference. Not enforced equality of numbers and posting power nor weighting against a dominant faction because they're more successful, but having no party line, no policy of banning anarchists or trots for example on sight. Not having a moderation team that slams down the ban-hammer at the slightest deviation from the allowed line. That is anyone (serious anyways, I personally would not extend this to those who have no interest in good faith discussion and are just posting imperialist propaganda) can post, can make their argument and appeal.
And a big pot of course. A big pot with some amount of solidarity for each other despite differences. That doesn't mean people wouldn't call each other a liberal or imperialist but at the end of the day we were there for one another in our shared space. One where anyone can try and win people over.
ML's I believe have been consistent in doing this successfully because of the power of our analysis and predictive tools (and the spectacular failure of Bernie's campaign putting to rest the notion of reformism for those paying attention). But importantly no one is shut out. No anarchist is banned, they might be at worse downvoted or called out for a bad take but they aren't banned, they aren't censored, the moderators don't start cultivating a particular ideology and banning those who don't fit it. They don't try and cultivate a particular blend of plants in their garden so much as pull up the weeds (imperialists, liberals, reactionaries, trolls) and allow the plants themselves to decide.
CTH I think underwent a journey. The userbase and culture that is underwent a journey over the past two years, one that really accelerated and crystallized in the past 7 months. Many joined as liberals, Bernie supporters and were left out in the cold after the ban as communists, as Marxists, as ML's and yes others as well.
It may be the community has already decided the course here and my words are just shouting into the void. But it is my counsel anyways and I've put it down here. For my money splitting things up along these lines stands a chance to lead to more drama (accusations of brigading then you have to decide on rules for that). But maybe the community will mostly stick to main and these will not be problems.
deleted by creator