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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

[–] 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!
[–] PMYA 4 points (+4|-0)

A lot of the people here started using Voat around the time the Reddit sub blackout happened. Once they scaled up to make room for new users, Voat was actually pretty great for a while. A combination of "normal" Redditors going back to Reddit, the hate sub banning fiasco shifting a ton of users to Voat and the 2016 US election kind of ruined it though.

It's small here and pretty slow in terms of content but it's nice to have a place that is dramaless. Were you one of the users who browsed the gundeals, darknetmartkets etc. subs that recently got banned? Personally I was more pissed off about the fake celebrity porn being banned because that is literally the only reason I still looked at Reddit.
[–] pembo210 3 points (+3|-0) Edited

Welcome,

We're mostly outcasts from both sites that decided to build a similar style site for ourselves. We're not big on advertising because it tends to bring people who want to "test the fence" to see what they can get away with. We pay the bills ourselves so we don't need ads or trackers. We'll squash stuff if you get shitty to other users or spam bad sites full of ads or dangerous stuff. All of our code is open and that site is connected to your account here, so you can ask for features or report bugs and then track the progress. We have some better docs comingsoon, probably, maybe one day..

The chat box on the homepage connects to our dev channel. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions :)
[–] 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.
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