A long-running network of accounts, known as Spamouflage, is using A.I.-generated images to amplify negative narratives involving the presidential race.
The problem is that ‘blocking’ as currently implemented just means that you can’t see what the other person posts/comments. So they can follow you around with comments that you don’t see, but which are really damaging.
Moderator action can help, but that’s a lot more limited, and only applies to a single community unless you can get the whole federation to ban them.
And nothing keeps somebody from creating new accounts on another server and continuing the bad behavior.
The problems you’re describing are a feature of every social media platform. You can’t force someone to stop being a bad actor, and bad actors will always act in bad faith and try to circumvent moderation.
Downvoting does nothing to address the problem, because having negative votes doesn’t actually do anything; at least with blocking, you don’t have to see them anymore, and that’s at least one person who they can’t share their bullshit with.
The best way to stop people spreading bad-faith messages is to engage and demonstrate why their argument is stupid. Otherwise, block/mute/report them and let them scream into the void. You are not required to babysit their bad behavior, because attention is what they want in the first place.
The problem is that ‘blocking’ as currently implemented just means that you can’t see what the other person posts/comments. So they can follow you around with comments that you don’t see, but which are really damaging.
Moderator action can help, but that’s a lot more limited, and only applies to a single community unless you can get the whole federation to ban them.
And nothing keeps somebody from creating new accounts on another server and continuing the bad behavior.
The problems you’re describing are a feature of every social media platform. You can’t force someone to stop being a bad actor, and bad actors will always act in bad faith and try to circumvent moderation.
Downvoting does nothing to address the problem, because having negative votes doesn’t actually do anything; at least with blocking, you don’t have to see them anymore, and that’s at least one person who they can’t share their bullshit with.
The best way to stop people spreading bad-faith messages is to engage and demonstrate why their argument is stupid. Otherwise, block/mute/report them and let them scream into the void. You are not required to babysit their bad behavior, because attention is what they want in the first place.
There are other platforms where:
You can’t defeat bad faith action at scale using legitimate techniques without those.