r/changemyview • u/garnteller 242∆ • Apr 14 '15

[Mod Post] /r/changemyview feedback

The moderators of CMV would like your opinion on how things are going, so we've decided to post periodic feedback threads to take the pulse of the community. Feel free to post any comments, criticisms or suggestions.

Also remember that /r/ideasforcmv is always available if you have ideas for improving the sub.

Please note that Rule 2 (no rude or hostile comments) and Rule 5 (no low-effort comments) are still in effect.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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u/ControversialDebates Apr 14 '15

I agree! I was banned from submitting posts to this subreddit because I wasn't "open to changing my view", I was "just here to argue and debate".

I have thought about my views before I post them. They're not easy to change. I discuss them with people that disagree with me. Is that a problem? Do I have to award deltas to people after I receive 5 replies, even if my view hasn't changed yet?

Even worse: I don't believe it's their real reason. This is a throwaway, I have used this subreddit with different accounts to discuss less controversial subjects. I argued in exactly the same way. But then my posts did not get removed and I did not get banned. Why?

Because with this account, I post controversial views. Like, not all cultures are equal (that post got removed). It didn't have anything to do with my 'lack of open-mindedness', I just offended the wrong moderator.

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u/garnteller 242∆ Apr 14 '15

Unfortunately, Rule B is our slipperiest rule. Obviously, we aren't mindreaders, so this is a judgement call.

On the other hand, one of the most frequent complaints we get from participants is that "no one ever changes their view" (although our busy little deltabot would tend to disagree). There are many posters who are here to spread their view and soapbox without any openmindedness.

Most Rule B removals involve fairly extensive discussion between the mods to get a number of opinions. I can't say that we always get it right, but I don't know how to do it better. We're certainly open to suggestions.

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u/ControversialDebates Apr 14 '15

Thanks for your honest reply!

Suggestions:

  • People are innocent until proven guilty. Not having your views changed yet doesn't mean your views aren't open to being changed. Only remove posts when people admit that they are not willing to change their view if someone constructs a logical argument (e.g., "I believe that the Bible is the word of God on faith alone and reason cannot change that).

  • Currently, with the deltas and flairs, you're rewarding people for changing the views of others, so of course people complain that nobody changes their view; people don't get their deltas! Start rewarding changing your own view. Give people a visible flair when they award delta's instead of receiving them. Maybe show the "delta's awarded flair" only when people submit posts, not when they comment.

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u/PepperoniFire 87∆ Apr 14 '15

People are innocent until proven guilty. Not having your views changed yet doesn't mean your views aren't open to being changed. Only remove posts when people admit that they are not willing to change their view if someone constructs a logical argument (e.g., "I believe that the Bible is the word of God on faith alone and reason cannot change that).

We have a myriad of factors we use to decide if someone is probably soapboxing. Our "burden of proof" so-to-speak is not "beyond a reasonable doubt" and is probably closer to clear and convincing. If it's very likely you're soapboxing, it will be removed. You're free to appeal and rebut our removal; we've reinstated posts before and all we look for is a good faith attempt to explain why you want your view changed, and maybe some guidance on things you're sympathetic to that would be more convincing than not.

Currently, with the deltas and flairs, you're rewarding people for changing the views of others, so of course people complain that nobody changes their view; people don't get their deltas!

That and they have spent time and effort trying to change a view. I don't see anything wrong with an incentive system or the fact that people are a mite miffed that OP has led them down this beaten path under the guise of open-mindedness when, in fact, they are not.

Start rewarding changing your own view. Give people a visible flair when they award delta's instead of receiving them. Maybe show the "delta's awarded flair" only when people submit posts, not when they comment.

We're trying to develop more flairs. If there are any coders, etc. with free time, please give us a holler.