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When it first popped up I made an account and took a look. I liked the 'free speech' and 'all are welcome' sales pitch. But at the time it was mostly vacant, and I didn't really like the layout.

I've gone back a couple times to have a quick look, and it's getting ugly. Maybe I'm not setting up my account or preferences or something, but when I logged in and clicked on 'categories' then 'philosophy' and got a page full of images with memes and other empty content. When I clicked on 'science' I got a page filled with discussions about gender or climate change, and nothing else.

Did I accidentally put gab into voat-mode?

Also, it just doesn't have a community feel. More like being in the midst of a mob. There's no compartmentalization, it's all one big group rather than a union of smaller groups.

I don't get it.
What's the appeal, or what am I doing wrong?
When it first popped up I made an account and took a look. I liked the 'free speech' and 'all are welcome' sales pitch. But at the time it was mostly vacant, and I didn't really like the layout. I've gone back a couple times to have a quick look, and it's getting ugly. Maybe I'm not setting up my account or preferences or something, but when I logged in and clicked on 'categories' then 'philosophy' and got a page full of images with memes and other empty content. When I clicked on 'science' I got a page filled with discussions about gender or climate change, and *nothing* else. Did I accidentally put gab into voat-mode? Also, it just doesn't have a community feel. More like being in the midst of a mob. There's no compartmentalization, it's all one big group rather than a union of smaller groups. I don't get it. What's the appeal, or what am I doing wrong?

37 comments

[–] PMYA 8 points (+8|-0)

I think it's just another one of those places that attracts a certain type of user because of the free speech thing. It is unfortunate but there does seem to be a crossover between people very interested in free speech on the internet and people who consistently post shit content.

Maybe that is not the correct way of putting it though. There are plenty of people who want the internet to be a free and open place, but I'm talking about those highly politically focused places like Voat where everyone just seems to group together because people will either remove their content or completely disagree with them on other sites. I suppose once a place like that springs up and attracts more people, they just feed off each other.
[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 4 points (+4|-0)

So it is as it seems. It's a place dominated by the 'lowest common denominator'.

I think forum-like sites need compartmentalization to avoid hive control. People do self-organize in a chaotic way.
If you use the 'highlander' approach, then you get the exact opposite of free or open communication.

One-size-fits-all never does.
[–] PMYA 5 points (+5|-0)

You can't even complain about it either. If you do, you're a Jewish shill, but in reality it's just exhausting and uninteresting for every topic, discussion or piece of content to revolve around something political.

forum-like sites need compartmentalization to avoid hive control

I think there may be some truth to this. Perhaps part of the reason Reddit has gone downhill is because the communities just got too large. Obviously there is a much larger problem with the site administration though.
[–] caliban 5 points (+5|-0) Edited

Yeah, there's been a kerfluffle over on reddit because of the latest round of subreddit-banning. Caught the attention of voat-ers because some redditors listed voat as one of the possible alternatives. voat-ers proceeded to come to reddit and insult everyone (to put it lightly), then claim that if you're not doing the same then you're against free speech. Attempted to take them at their word for a day, and it was just exhausting and at the end there was nothing of value. Maybe I've re-learned the "don't feed the trolls" lesson?

Edit -- I did find, and am now exploring, phuks.co -- so far that seems like a win!
[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

You can't even complain about it either. If you do, you're a Jewish shill

And that's exactly why I feel it is the opposite of a free speech platform. Speech seems to have been weaponized by thrusting everyone into the same pit and declaring 'There can be only one!'

There are other problems that come with a sub type of format, and it does still seem to end in hives. But at least it doesn't start there, and for brief periods balance can be seen.
I'd like to think there is a formula that will be found that encourages balance and free exchange, but until it is found I am content with being on a small site until it gets big, then burn the place to the ground and start over again.
I wandered away from /. when it entered its September.
I lept off the Eddit-train when I saw the first puffs of smoke.
I fled Voat when the noise level drowned out all else.

And one day I will bail on you phukers too. It's the cycle of life.
[–] Owlchemy 5 points (+5|-0)

I did the same thing. Setup an account when I first heard of it and thought it might be cool. But I've had the same experiences. Every time I go there I feel lost and it seems difficult to even navigate around. I've also never seen any content that seemed worth my time. I'm with you on this ... WTF.

[–] GreenTreeFrog 5 points (+5|-0)

Yes I too set up an account ages ago but I found the layout very confusing and couldn't seem to find content so stopped checking it out very quickly.
[–] Owlchemy 3 points (+3|-0)

It's definitely not user friendly. And doesn't seem of much value, at least to me.
[–] GreenTreeFrog 2 points (+2|-0)

Its a real pity there isn't a blatant twitter alternative copy out there so that people could just hop over to that. Not one that brands itself with the free speech label, one that sells itself on being cute but independent. Set one up and divide Twitter followers attention and its content. Sets up a rival stream.

Why is Twitter putting these rules in place anyway? They aren't running ads to fund themselves so they can't use the excuse that they are making the playground safe for the children (for example) to keep the advertisers happy.
[–] Polsaker 3 points (+3|-0)

mostly vacant

That's Phuks' sales pitch there!
[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 3 points (+3|-0)

That's what drew me here. The large open space creates great acoustics for me to hear the sound of my own voice.
I love that sound.
[–] caliban 3 points (+3|-0)

Just poked my head in over there, and at first pass it seems you are right. Unfortunate.

[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

I'm a fan of your username. Is it inspired by the Marvel Caliban?

[–] caliban 3 points (+3|-0)

Hah, yup -- that, plus Netflix's "Penny Dreadful," which you should really check out if you haven't. Supernatural Victorian-era scifi/horror with some really amazing acting (well, if that's your thing). We live in the golden age of tv!
[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

I haven't seen that. I just watched the trailer and it looks like it has potential, so I'll check it out.
Now that the networks are losing their grip on the market, it is great to see an explosion of content.
[–] kromulent 1 points (+1|-0)

I suspect that a good fraction of the really toxic people there are shills; their job is to discredit the site, and make it uninhabitable. Not just by posting the Nazi memes, but the stuff you described that breaks the sense of community - posting the same garbage in every group, arguing, and upvoting each other to create the illusion of support.

I suspect this might be happening to some degree at Voat as well. It seemed pretty clear that they were under concerted attack for a while, with the DOS stuff, and also posts of illegal content that were instantly reported to their hosting company. It seems reasonable that shilling would also be expected.
[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I'm sure you're correct. There has been a largely successful campaign to link all the right with far-right, and to amplify the fringe extremes.
Trying to tell the difference between radicals, nuts, actors, trolls, retards and the genuine gets difficult when there's a lot of overlap.
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