[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.