[schneems]

There’s equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. Just because everyone is treated equally doesn’t mean that the end result isn’t biased. Truly: there is no such thing as apolitical technology.

I recommend MIT books Building Successful Online Communities. Also I’m reading the updated version of “Code” which has a bit about online communities I quote a lot:

Lessig (1999) identifies four elements that regulate behavior online: Laws, norms, markets, and technology

- Code/architecture – the physical or technical constraints on activities (e.g. locks on doors or firewalls on the Internet)

- Market – economic forces

- Law – explicit mandates that can be enforced by the government

- Norms – social conventions that one often feels compelled to follow

Regarding the case at hand. I think getting rid of 230 is a really dangerous idea. However I completely reject the “we have no sway over our users” argument and think we should hold online institutions socially (more) accountable for not doing more to encourage and promote high quality non-toxic communities.