I think hexbear like every leftist space ever hasn't actually worked out how it does social reproduction outside of posting memes. The difficulty of social reproduction in these types of spaces is always rife with problems because the expectation of a collapsed cultural context means that people have to be onerously careful in how they word things so people misrepresent what they say (e.g. when having a deep discussion people have different definitions of fascism and different understandings of "what is to be done" and depending on how you phrase it that breaks the hugbox rules) or they otherwise they break bad word rules some of which are lulzy and often get lulzier by the day (e.g. the TW gossip is a sexist word post).

I've seen mods overreact entirely on this site based on literally a meme said to the wrong person. Likewise mods/admins very often get to get away with their bad behavior and enforce completely different rules on users (e.g. its ban evasion when you do it, but it's "privacy" when they do it).

In practice what you're asking for is typically unrealistic of these kinds of spaces because very often the lowest common denominator isn't effort posting because it's risky, but memes and trying on hats. This place reminds me a lot of Shit Reddit Says back in it's heyday, but it doesn't have anything to really gawk at.

Meanwhile the admins like to pretend they want people to start effort posting more but don't have any understanding or experience in managing a community of anything but shitposters.

As Mao said

With regard to comrades who have erred, some people say we must observe them and see if they are going to correct their mistakes. I would say just observing them will not do, we must help them correct their mistakes. That is to say, first we must observe and second we must give help. Everybody needs help; those who have not done wrong need it and those who have need it still more. Probably no one is free from mistakes, only some make more and some less, and once they do they need help. It is passive just to observe; conditions must be created to help those who have erred to mend their ways. A clear distinction must be drawn between right and wrong, for inner-Party controversies over principle are a reflection inside the Party of the class struggle in society, and no equivocation is to be tolerated. It is normal, in accordance with the merits of the case, to mete out appropriate and well grounded criticism to comrades who have erred, and even to conduct necessary struggle against them; this is to help them correct mistakes. To deny them help and, what is worse, to gloat over their mistakes, is sectarianism.

When I originally suggested the self crit comm, conceived of it as something someone coming off a temp ban for reactionary speech would have to do. In it's current form it's completely optional, and I think it's good to have a place where people can grow and restore a harm to the community if they feel they need to

I honestly don't get how self crit is supposed in an anonymous community. There's really no effective way to properly monitor the process and ensure accountability.

not regulating bigotry on the site hurts disabled people, and banning people for bigotry with no recourse hurts disabled people, recourse for bigotry.... also hurts disabled people? i am adhd and autistic and i just dont get it. it seems like most people want the bigotry and its actully a small minority of people who have a problem with it (just the poc users) idk. it just feels like everyone only cares about this space being for a very small group of white autisitc people and anything that MAY make them slightly uncomfortable (meaning calling out their bigotry or having any expectations for them not to promote bigotry) is more serious a matter than the actual bigotry. also the comm is half formed due to the struggle sessions.

Self crit is good, just because nothings perfect doesn't mean we shouldn't try to have anything like it

Self crit is a very good thing to do

Self crit as a comm feels sort of like "I publicly apologise to the community and accept my ritual humiliation"

I get the idea behind it, but in practice the message it's sending to everyone else is "get in line or else you'll be posting here if you want to keep using the site", which feels and functions like a social threat. It will be sending the anxiety of some comrades through the roof and it will be suppressing well-meaning but less well read comrades from speaking their minds in a way that will get any brainworms they have out into the open where they can actually be addressed.

I think this impression is given because it feels like people are being forced to go post there after moderator action - that's based entirely on an assumption though. Maybe it wouldn't feel that way if it felt like something people were doing entirely of their own.

I think you’re missing a small bit of the point of the comm. In my eyes, it’s not really specifically for self-flagellating and I think anyone that uses it in that manner is using it incorrectly. To me it starts an inner conversation about why the actions that individual took to help them understand why it was bad. In conjunction with this, it most certainly can help other folks understand that this particular thought or opinion is problematic and why, so it can help them start that inner monologue with themselves to help them along.

For example, the most recent post my SorosFootSoldier doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence that, overnight, they suddenly see the error of their ways in regards to homophobia and will be rid of it immediately. Instead, it is an acknowledgement of their action and a start to understanding why that was wrong. And, hopefully, others that took the same action in that thread will read what was posted and do the same. Hopefully.

I do understand your concerns though. They are very valid and I can’t blame you for feeling the way you feel on the matter. I just wish that the content on that specific comm was a little more tightly controlled.

Honestly every time I see a post on selfcrit I'm just kind of like "...OK?", so I can relate to this to some extent.

I can't really imagine myself posting to selfcrit any time soon. I am certainly going to be ignorantly wrong plenty a time, I'm going to cause offense plenty a time, but the way I generally handle causing offense is to apologize for the offense caused to the parties so offended, and the way I handle ignorance is to have faith that later behavior will demonstrate on its own any development of character. Should I ever feel the need to spill paragraphs over some error on selfcrit, then that critique must be of use for people in general — it must be something educational that is best taught with words, and with myself as the case study. The simple fact of reform does not warrant public broadcasting.

The actual posts on selfcrit, on the other hand, have tended to feel like self-flagellation carried out as a formality to show reform, coming across as disingenuous "virtue signaling" at worst, and just strange and uncomfortable at best. As you have said.

I just blocked the comm. I have no interest in reading anyone's self-crit. Site residents aren't my comrades, they're pseudonyms on the internet. Presumably it exists for the power users who feel differently.

Out if curiosity, Are you hyper empathetic? Just asking as i didn't feel the same way about the mod self-crit you're referencing here, and my empathy is projecting the possibility you are taking damage from reading those posts.

To be fair c/selfcrit hasn't been in my field of view since the upvote struggle session (that was posted to c/selfcrit right?). Speaking from the perspective of someone who doesn't seek out their content, i don't see the comm as problematic.

What i mean is, far's i know no one's forcing brainworm'd bears to confess in c/selfcrit for absolution. If someone feels like sharing mistakes in their thinking and the thought process they used getting there, it can only be good for people to write and people to read.

Sometimes writing it down is enough to make it make sense in your head, or maybe they want further criticism/validation of their thought process after feeling they were in the wrong.

Guess my long-winded short-point is since it's not a requirement it isn't a problem, and reading someone's else's thought process could even help other peeps see things in a new light.

Anecdotally: I've got told off here, told to self-crit, and while I did take the time to read and reread the best criticisms, really attack my brainworms (and cry ngl) no one ever told me i needed to share that journey with anyone.

Tone check, i like this post, your thoughts, and this different perspective even if i don't see it same as you :)

I've never thought about this but this feels like a really good point. This site has a loooot of issues with it's user-friendliness to neurodivergent people and I guess this is another to throw on the pile. We really need a militant neurodivergent radical reconsideration of most of the site.