illuminesce

Queer indie dev. Kinda feral.

I co-run a video game cooperative called Studio Terranova with @mabbees.


💚 blog 💚
illuminesce.net/blog/
interface drama + games discord
discord.gg/NUg8ny8Qv2

I’ve been really pleased with the way cohost has been handling their community guidelines so far in terms of transparency, communication and community input.

Compare this with the glory days of LiveJournal, where the content policy was laissez-faire and then a sudden purge when certain interested parties were able to bend a LiveJournal staff’s ear.

Or to Tumblr, where a ban was enacted, a lawsuit was filed and settled on the ban disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ people, and now Tumblr staff posts and Tumblr staff are saying two different things. (Note: I love Tumblr, and I believe the staff is trying to do right by the community, but I sense that there’s some friction going on between what some staff want and what other staff believe will make money.)

Making community guidelines:

  • transparent
  • as clear as possible as to what content is allowed and who can see what content
  • up front about uncertainty (because there always will be)
  • able to consult your user base

…is what makes a community thrive, adopt, love and hold each other accountable.

Anyway, thanks y’all.


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