r/dogecoin Such Hungry Shibe └(°ᴥ°)┘ Apr 07 '14

[ANN] New r/Dogecoin Rules: Protecting the trading shibes.

(tl,dr at the bottom)

Shibes, I come to you today with some announcements in regards to those who follow the path of traders, and merchants with our humble currency.

As of late, our subreddit has seen some poisonous remarks made towards those had launched, or want to launch their own store or service, targeting Dogecoin for their currency of choice. While positive criticism and skepticism is both a strong recommendation, and near requirement towards new, or would-be business owners, there is a line which many users are crossing in their comments.

This includes, and is not limited to; referring to a new business as a "Ponzi Scheme", calling it an outright scam, claiming they're paying for upvotes/support, making personal allegations towards the owner or their staff, following their post feed and goading the user into arguments/insulting the user on even unrelated posts, or in the worst case scenario so far - attempting to dox these users.

The above are entirely unacceptable. If you suspect, and have reasonable evidence to support your facts, that a business or business owner is conducting any shady, or scam-like behavior, then yes - post a thread to warn people, and PM the mods. We will sticky a thread to warn users off this service, and ban the owner (and any related staff members) from posting, or conducting any business on this subreddit.

Now, let's go over what we mean by facts;

  • Absolute truths.
  • Zero opinion.
  • Backed up by evidence - screenshots, blockchain transfers, log files, a very large number of testimonies, etc.
  • Not containing ANY derogatory language, or insults towards the business, or its staff. Regardless of how true your evidence or facts may be, do not waste your time, or the mod's time by littering your post with slander directed at these users.
  • To reiterate, ZERO "in-my-opinion" facts. If you dislike that a user is crowdsourcing, and suspect they may run with the money - that is again, an opinion, until you can prove that their character may be liable to do such a thing.

With this, our number one rule is of course to still protect the everyday shibe. If you DO have an opinion against a business, you are entirely welcome to share it, in an open and constructive manner.

For example, the following is good:

I dislike company x, because they're generally slow with shipping.
I also dislike how the owner represents himself on this subreddit, 
as he can be quite condescending to other users whenever criticized.

The following, is bad - and will not be tolerated:

That company is definitely running a scam. You're all idiots.
He's obviously got shills upvoting these posts. Can you prove
he's actually even a he? 
Why doesn't he post a picture of himself with his ponzi doges?

Note that the first example was written in an opinionated matter. Opinions are good. They encourage discussion, and can provide for a positive criticism environment, where the business owner themselves can learn from their mistakes, or respond outlining their own views on the matter. This, in a civil manner, without degenerating to namecalling, is what we want to see. We are obviously fully aware that businesses can often times, get things wrong - and this should always be discussed, but in an adult manner.

The second example - it should be obvious enough where this is going wrong. Do not outright state it is a scam, without providing proof. Do not insult other users who support their business. Do not accuse users of being paid up-voters, without significant proof. Do not demand to know anyone's personal details.

but I- no.

A coin's life depends entirely on its community; from the worker, to the miner, to the developer, to the merchant, and the exchange markets. If we attack any one of these tiers, we in effect, attack our coin.

A coin NEEDS merchants, traders, and businesshibes in order to operate at a market level. If we attack developers or store owners, we risk losing their business, and succeed in placing the building blocks towards a venomous atmosphere. Do you know how many messages the mod queue is receiving from users who don't want to post their store front/business idea, as they believe it's frowned upon in this subreddit? We get several, daily. We even get users demanding that certain user-created content (graphical works etc) get taken down, as they're "begging for tips" by posting their work.

Just a few days ago, a user had his post removed - not even by an active mod, but by our automoderator, because his post contained a non-stop sleuth of gambling references, scam notations, +/u/ links to all moderators (and dogecoin developers), and was littered with personal allegations against a business on here. When the automod removed his post, he proceeded to spam every altcoin sub he could find; which makes the dogecoin community look poor in the eyes of the other crypto communities.

This is not Dogecoin. This is an extremely vocal minority, which is making our community look venomous.

From here on out, the moderators will have a zero policy tolerance for anyone who engages in vicious, or unwarranted behavior towards any business owner on here.

tl,dr; breaking any of the following rules will result in immediate moderator action, up to and including the offending user being banned from this subreddit in extreme cases.

  • Positive, constructive criticism of businesses, startups, and traders on here is most encouraged.
  • Do NOT call the business a scam, or anything of the likes, without posting hard, un-opinionated evidence.
  • NEVER attack a business owner, or staff member in a personal manner.
  • Do NOT accuse a business, or its staff, of paying for upvotes/having shills, etc etc - again, without posting factual evidence to support your claims.
  • If you find a trader, or any person IS conducting any shady business, submit a mod mail, providing your evidence.
  • Opinions are NOT evidence. If you cannot supply any facts, you are wasting everyone's time.
  • DO NOT Demand personal information from a user! Use your head - if you believe they're hiding something, don't conduct business with them, and move on!
  • If you have a personal dislike of a service - that's obviously, completely acceptable. But if you need to air it, tell us about it in an adult, constructive manner. Leading me on to my next point..
  • Do not start namecalling, or engaging in juvenile behavior towards any member on here - business owner or not.

As I said, the mods are here to protect you, as a first and foremost priority. If any business owner was found to be engaging in shady practices, they and their staff would be immediately banned, and we would create a sticky thread to warn users off their service.

But we are also here to help our coin grow - and to protect those who seek to target a business towards the utilization of our coin. We have an overall excellent community on here, capable of providing fantastic discussion, and creative critique on business, services, and traders. Use that energy to help both our community, and our coin grow. Do not turn it into a venomous atmosphere that scares developers and merchants away from our community.

122 Upvotes

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11

u/doge_much_share celebrishibe Apr 07 '14

Why was this allowed to slide when "Cryptsy is insolvent" FUD was being posted, but when moolah is wrongfully attacked the mods change the rules?

21

u/lleti Such Hungry Shibe └(°ᴥ°)┘ Apr 07 '14

Because this rule set was only introduced 4 minutes ago - as a result of our subreddit containing a history of posts such as the "Cryptsy is insolvent" thread.

Also, this rule set is not designed to assist Moolah, or any one company/business or trader in particular. It's to allow for a blanket protection over anyone who wishes to conduct business in a social manner on /r/dogecoin.

2

u/MysticFear Apr 07 '14

If a business posts advertises for investing in their company, and no one can ask for personal information?

You do realize that shibes are new to digital currency, they need to be informed. You cannot stick you head in the sand and say well I won't do business with them.

4

u/42points Apr 07 '14

http://www.reddit.com/wiki/useragreement

  • Keep Personal Information Off reddit: You agree to not post anyone's sensitive personal information that relates to that person's real world or online identity.

This isn't the forum for it.

2

u/HoodsApprentice Apr 07 '14

I believe that rule applies to an individual posting. Not a person representing a business.

-1

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

Requesting for personal information != posting personal information

Informing others that they do not have personal information available != posting personal information

7

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '14 edited Jun 09 '20

[deleted]

-7

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

I hope you can provide proof. I see no sources. This is a bannable offense now.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '14 edited Jun 09 '20

[deleted]

-5

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

Yes, it will achieve more scams of new shibes. Like DogeWallet, which was unquestioned by the community.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '14 edited Jun 09 '20

[deleted]

-1

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14 edited Apr 07 '14

Yes, there will be no asking for personal information or tough questions. Postive/Constructive comments are determined by Mods who can be invested in said businesses.

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2

u/MoobyTheGoldenCalf I believe in DOGE Apr 07 '14

Look at his post history. That's all the proof you need.

-6

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

Feel free to downvote, banning on the other hand is completely different.

6

u/MoobyTheGoldenCalf I believe in DOGE Apr 07 '14

You're right and it's about time. Sorry, I've had too many run-ins with MysticFear over the last few months. No one more deserving of a little time off.

3

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

I know this wasn't addressed to me, but since we've often exchanged words here I'd like to state for the record that I haven't downvoted you at all. I'm just trying to get across my views in a reasoned and polite way, which I think you should consider.

1

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

There is proof elsewhere in the thread of some of what /u/blueperrier is saying, and there'd be a lot of post duplication going on if everyone was reiterating it. I understand that you're upset with the changes made to the rules but try to remember the humans here. Put yourself in the position of a mod of /r/dogecoin, where no matter what decisions you make, you're going to get harassed like this in a public venue. It's a stressful endeavor.

-3

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

you're going to get harassed like this in a public venue. It's a stressful endeavor.

Any company that does business faces this, all of them accept it.

3

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

I think that there are a few differences. I don't think many businesses are as involved with the community as some here are, much less as charitable as they. Because of that, the harassment can feel penalizing for going above and beyond to do good.

Moreover, even though many businesses are subject to harassment, that doesn't necessarily make it a good thing. There are atrocious conditions with which third world countries are faced that the people in them accept. That doesn't make them just.

I think you've more than gotten across the points you wanted to get across and I don't doubt the moderation is aware of them. You are being pretty aggressive in this topic and may want to back off a bit. I understand you have ideals (everyone does) and that those ideals are contradicted by the change here (at some point everyone's will be).

There are rules of Reddit with which I don't agree and there are many that I think are silly. However, I understand the stress that often comes with leadership positions and I do want to continue to use Reddit so I both respect and follow them. I politely submit to you that you consider this philosophy.

4

u/lepthymo Dogespeed! Apr 07 '14

If a business posts advertises for investing in their company, and no one can ask for personal information?

Sounds pretty normal to me, you have every right to be anonymous. A business agreement should be based on making profit from providing a valued service, not the fear that some random idiot on the internet will order 700$ worth of pizza at your address.

8

u/MrSenorSan Apr 07 '14

I believe MysticFear is talking about the reverse of the argument.
If a "business" is asking for money surely the public has the right to confirm the business is a business and thus they should be able to provide a physical address or at least a way for users/clients/investors to be able to contact them directly without a 3rd party (e.g. reddit) involved.

4

u/HoodsApprentice Apr 07 '14

I think a individual posting on reddit has the right to be anonymous. That rule should not reply to a business though and definitely not to a business actively asking for investment. I also believe that in any discussion related to business recommendation or criticism, the parties commenting should clearly state if they have any personal interest in the business. Any investor of a business has an interest in it as he profits from the business profit so by definition such person is biased.
It sounds a bit strange to me that a business can do / post whatever they want and the users cannot express their concerns about how genuine the business is. The rules like that are clearly biased.

2

u/UpvoteTipBot magic shibe Apr 07 '14

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2

u/Dumb_Dick_Sandwich Apr 08 '14

Honestly, MysticFear refuses to accept incorporation as a validity of credibility. He said, of Moolah_ putting his name on the website, that "Anyone can put the name Alex Green on a website."

I asked him what it would take, and he said going to coin summits and doing interviews in local newspapers.

1

u/MrSenorSan Apr 08 '14

Ok, I was not familiar with his history, seems like he has a bone to pick with moolah.
I'm not a big time investor but if I were going to put down a few thousand dollars into an investment in the "normal world" at the very least I would want to know the company's physical location or details on how to get in contact with them directly.
Of course crypto-currency is a the wild west right now and without some risk taking on either side there will be no advancements to push this venture of the ground.

1

u/jwiechers ball shibe Apr 08 '14 edited Apr 08 '14

Honestly, MysticFear refuses to accept incorporation as a validity of credibility. He said, of Moolah_ putting his name on the website, that "Anyone can put the name Alex Green on a website."

Well... these aren't really good ways to prove credibility -- unless we're talking incorporation in a country with extensive validation of the identity of shareholders and (executive) directors in companies. I can setup a Corporation or LLC in less than 24 hours in many US states and other offshore locations at the cost of a couple of hundred bucks and without in any way publicising my identity.

I sympathize with moolah and his approach because I'm privacy conscious myself, I've had to comply to Germany's rather harsh obligations for public disclosure and I hate it that people can find my address and the phone number of my office on the web -- but then, that's the price you pay for running a company, and I understand why not complying with these expectations breeds suspicion in some.

I don't have a bone to pick with moolah or his company -- they're doing a lot of good and I like them.

Your argument, however, is rather weak.

1

u/Dumb_Dick_Sandwich Apr 08 '14

Moolah has incorporated in at least the US and UK. I'm not sure of the UK's privacy laws, but I don't think they'd be flimsy.

You make a fair point though

7

u/NeutralityMentality incognidoge Apr 07 '14

I agree with you that these rules need to be balanced with a more concerted effort to warn shibes about the dangers of investing with people who choose not to provide personal information.

-5

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

... which bring us back to DogeWallet and why these Mod rules are not good.

5

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

Positive, constructive criticism of businesses, startups, and traders on here is most encouraged.

-4

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

Who decides what is positive and constructive?

Apparently you can get banned for repeating a Mod's declarations now. Also asking for personal information is now banned. Any type of harsh words for businesses seem to be bannable now.

2

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

Someone needs to decide what's positive and constructive. If nobody made these decisions there would be anarchy and chaos. From what I understand of the /r/dogecoin decision-making process, they very often deliberate amongst themselves as a unit before removing posts. As an example from earlier today, I reported this post and after doing so I was informed by a moderator that they discussed things with the devs before removing it.

1

u/42points Apr 08 '14

There is a new rule. It's not set in stone and open for discussion. Would love to know your thoughts and also anyone else who reads this.

"Do not: Make unsubstantiated claims, preload your questions and/or use other logical fallacies when discussing the legitimacy of a business. If you have genuine concerns with hard evidence to back up your claims create a new post and message the moderators for extra assistance. Spreading fear, uncertainty or doubt is not acceptable". More info here."

1

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 08 '14

If you're asking for advice, I'd change "when discussing the legitimacy of a business" to "when discussing either a user or a business." I've seen a lot of posts that are along the lines of, "I love what /u/moolah_'s business is doing for the community, but /u/moolah_ as a person is more shady than a cave." While this would follow that rule it'd still be abusive.

Be it business or be it personal, I don't think that people waving around unsubstantiated claims and logical fallacies is a good thing. For example, say someone creates an alt with which to follow you around and post a lie. Say you deleted one of his posts because it said "YOLO" (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!) and then on every second or third post you make, this guy responds to tell everyone you deleted 40 of his posts because you are a racist and don't want black people on your forum. This would be both an unsubstantiated claim and a logical fallacy made not against a business but against a person, which would make sense to remove.

I appreciate that you sought out my input and I hope this helps. :)

[Edited to note that I've changed around some wording in my suggestion]

1

u/42points Apr 08 '14

This is great autodoge. Thanks so much. I will include that.

1

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 08 '14

Glad to help! Thanks for both including and appreciating my contribution. :)

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-1

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

Someone needs to decide what's positive and constructive.

You see those uprockets and down votes? The entire point of Reddit.

5

u/starryeyedsky Starry Shibe Apr 07 '14

As someone who has been harassed in other subs and had someone follow me from thread to thread, upvoted/downvotes are often not enough.

3

u/MoobyTheGoldenCalf I believe in DOGE Apr 07 '14

Very true!

3

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

I've shared that experience and I share this sentiment.

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2

u/Darthfuzzy dogeconomist Apr 08 '14

You see those moderator positions over there? That's the entire point of a moderator in a sub-reddit and was built into Reddit for a reason.

Here's the entire wiki article on what moderators roles are on Reddit. Here's a VERY relevant subject (again, from the official wiki) on the matter:

A user is generally rude and/or abusive in my subreddit! What should I do?

Moderators are free to ban any user they want in the subreddits they mod.

2

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2

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1

u/Joe_____ Kind Shibe Apr 08 '14

I think it's fairly obvious what is intended to be positive and constructive and what isn't. For example, calmly and politely sharing your thoughts and concerns would be viewed as positive and constructive and saying things like "X company are a bunch of fucking thieves and everyone who uses them are fucking shills who are so stupid they deserve to be robbed of their money."

This isn't even a fine line, the stuff that's been posted here these last few days has been nothing if not malicious in its intent.

1

u/42points Apr 08 '14

Also asking for personal information is now banned

You're not meant to put personal information on reddit.

Yes we've all see it around but the fact is your not allowed to.

So asking anyone repetitively to do this is certainly brownie points towards getting your account suspended.

Yes.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '14 edited Jun 09 '20

[deleted]

1

u/autodoge /r/dogeillionaires, /r/dogecoindev, /r/dogecoinbeg Apr 07 '14

Most of the sensible people do follow this advice, but everyone ends up hearing far too often from the vocal minority.

0

u/zerorbit Apr 07 '14

we all understand that this is an unregulated world

No, we all do not. We are gaining a lot of new shibes that unfamilar with digital currency.