a democratic forum - crazy idea?

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,634
6,014
136
has anyone ever seen or use a democratic forum before? where everyone is a minimod and it takes majority (or certain amount) votes to perform mod functions?

if there is no forum like that then i certainly want to make one. it would be like a utopia project!
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
It wouldnt survive.
Just look at what we have for civilized society in America.
Now imagine everyone had complete anonymity.
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Its called Craigslist and shit gets flagged for no reason sometimes.
 

yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
6,886
0
76
I wish there were more forums with zero moderation. Not like 4chan, a normal legit forum where mods don't exist or don't do anything. The first forum i was ever on was like that and it was fantastic
 

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
23
81
When mods are lazy you get /b/ do you really want /b/ anywhere else but there and even there do you want it there?
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
How would one decide what a majority is? This forum has 100000+ registered members but maybe a couple hundred are active on ATOT.

FWIW I've been on forums that democratically elect moderators every year, but your idea is silly.

I wish there were more forums with zero moderation. Not like 4chan, a normal legit forum where mods don't exist or don't do anything. The first forum i was ever on was like that and it was fantastic

I was on a forum like that. It was great for several months until some worthless idiot came in and spammed literally every thread with tubgirl.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Up voting/down voting and the rest..kind of like on gawker pages and the rest mean a popularity contest, or other forums where people are quick to take offense and call mummy mod type behavior...bad idea.
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
1
0
It would be chaos, because there will be a select few who would screw it up for everyone. A better approach would be a republic, and a democratic/popularity contest held every 6-12 months to select a new mod. Mods can only be running for 2 terms so that their bias or group bias are minimized to a short period of time.

Or, go back the old wild west day when AT had a single forum, no mod/s, and no elite status, but add a fixed number of daily/weekly posts & replies by an individual to stop spam & nef.
 
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HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
It would be chaos, because there will be a select few who would screw it up for everyone. A better approach would be a republic, and a democratic/popularity contest held every 6-12 months to select a new mod. Mods can only be running for 2 terms so that their bias or group bias are minimized to a short term.

What if the mod is a good mod, Eisenhower?
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
1
0
What if the mod is a good mod, Eisenhower?
I agree, at times the process would also weed out the good individuals. However, those individuals are more than contribute their fair share of time to the greater good of the forum, and thus shouldn't have to serve as babysitters for a long period of time.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,634
6,014
136
hmm maybe if you had to be active in the last so many days in order to be a voting member, it would work better. or if votes had a timer, and people just had to vote by a certain time limit.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
A voting system will fail... on the internet dominated by pimple faced teens, the wimmin will always command the majority vote. I'm afraid I can only stand pink sunshine and rainbows for so long before I have to spool up god of war
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
0
A lot of people here seem to wrongly believe that democracy means "majority rule". One of the most important elements of democracy is the protection of unpopular opinions and the protection of the minority from the oppression of the minority. Having a simple vote system wouldn't be democratic - it would be an echo chamber for similar minded people who like to jack off all over each other's popular opinions of things. Like reddit.
 

Lifted

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2004
5,748
2
0
I think they should offer prisoners the chance to be ATOT forum mods in exchange for early release. Most will give up and just serve out their full sentences, but some will make it through, and upon completion they will be put straight into the loony bin with 4 padded walls and a straight jacket.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,182
10,647
126
I prefer a generally anarchic forum, with loose control at the top. Let people police themselves, but have someone step in before it turns into 4chan. If people could control themselves, true anarchy would work fine. That would mean you'd have to ignore trolls, and not let everything devolve into a bitch fest. How many here do you think are up for the task? :^D
 

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
5,070
1
0
Never. Not a chance. Forums are not made to be democratic, they're made to fill a void of some people to feel totalitarian power, control, rule, epenis, etc. Only its more like masturbation. :)