[grourk]

I upvoted you before you added the second paragraph because I thought your joke was funny. "But your equivocation between silencing other viewpoints and eliminating unhealthy voices is not useful." Why not? I was making the point that it's often not easy to tell the difference.

[jamesaguilar]

I mean, the body of the blog post you're responding to is claiming a) that it is, and b) that even when it isn't, you can just leave a poorly modded community. In the face of that, I don't find "replace-the-word" rhetoric very compelling.

[stcredzero]

What are the factors that would make it compelling?

[jamesaguilar]

If it were shown that even in good communities with solid mods, a primary use of moderating power was to silence dissent.

For example, in this community, anti-startup articles get posted occasionally. I'd expect to see far more dead comments from people who post agreement with such articles. But I browse with showdead on, and I see no such thing.

Basically, the rhetoric needs to line up with the evidence at hand. If it doesn't, it's unsound.

[stcredzero]

Speaking of moderating power, it appears I've been down-modded for asking a clarifying question out of genuine curiosity.

[jamesaguilar]

'twasn't me. That being said, whoever downmodded you probably felt it should be obvious.

[stcredzero]

It was more obvious, re-reading the parent post and noting the phrase, "In the face of that." My reading of your comment without absorbing the phrase's implications prompted the question.

[wissler]

I can't believe you upvoted him at all, he wasn't joking he was mocking you while failing to comprehend the connection you were making. Given the subject matter here, I find that very ironic indeed.

[grourk]

Which part is ironic? That I upvoted a joke I found funny, even if was mocking me? Or that I upvoted a comment from a person who disagrees with me?

[wissler]

Neither. His remark wasn't funny, it was foolish. The subject here is about fools. Ergo the irony.

[grourk]

Oh, it wasn't funny? My mistake. Thanks for letting me know.

[wissler]

You asked why I found it ironic, I gave an honest answer. And for that you give me rude sarcasm. Classy.