Comment on [deleted]
skisnow@lemmy.ca 3 weeks agoGo on a linux forum and post “as a windows user…”
Go on PC gamers and post “as a console gamer…”
Would have a problem with being told “this is not for you” then? No, you wouldn’t.
This is a terrible example, because yes absolutely I would indeed consider the mods to be militant over-the-top a-holes if they deleted and blocked all comments from Windows or console users.
zqps@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Consider what the word “majority” means and how that impacts the balance of such discussions. Especially on a platform where people vote on each other’s comments.
In the Linux forum example, the occasional “as a Windows user…” comment isn’t a problem, but it does become one when it makes up 80-90% of comments / visitors. Try to understand how this shapes a community when the fewer directly affected people are annoyed by this and stop contributing.
KombatWombat@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Maybe we are missing some context. Did a target demographics’ contributions get drowned out by others in this or a similar community? Or are you only worried it could happen based on the demographics of the platform?
zqps@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Yes that is absolutely the norm in such communities. It was the same for subreddits that went default.
Obviously you can’t trace every single up-/downvote and comment to a certain gender, but it’s very apparent from the content of comments and the general tone. That’s the whole issue.
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
The person you are replying to never mentioned their stance on the rule in question, only the analogies used by the original commenter… Which are terrible analogies both for skisnow’s reasoning, and your comment as well.
They are not the same thing, because of the power dynamics at play, and I think most people in either a linux forum or PC gaming forum would react negatively if the mods banned people for one comment made while not being the “target demographic”.
Also, someone can use both linux and windows. Someone can play PC games and console. They might have valuable insight having experiences from both.
That doesn’t really apply to a women’s only community. (although I am curious what WomensStuff’s stance on Trans people is - I don’t know of the community that much to be honest).
eupraxia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
vegan communities a closer example. A community of people vastly outnumbered by carnivores that have strong feelings about vegans.
AFAIK WomensStuff is open to trans women and nonbinary folks - pretty much anyone who identifies with womanhood on some level and can speak on it based on their own personal experience.
Ohmmy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
“My favorite linux distro is WSL”
zqps@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I entirely agree. Power dynamics and questions of projected vs chosen identities add whole new dimensions to the matter. I restricted myself to this limited analogy to avoid losing those who aren’t ready for that conversation and insist on focusing on individualist perspectives.