25 votes

I'm new to Tildes. What must I know ?

I come from reddit and I'd like to know what is basically different in the way I should post and comment.

  • Are there any private jokes or slang I should know to understand everything ? (like reddit's "/s", "FBI open up" or the verb "lurk")
  • Are "mods" uncompromising ?
  • Every single post I saw is intelligent. Is this required ?
  • There's no downvote. Do I need to make a thoughtful comment every time I disagree ?

22 comments

  1. [4]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Or better yet (IMO) vote even if you disagree so long as you feel the person you disagree with has made a worthwhile effort at getting their point across and you feel their comment is still worth...

      You don't have to make a comment if you disagree, you can always just move on and not vote

      Or better yet (IMO) vote even if you disagree so long as you feel the person you disagree with has made a worthwhile effort at getting their point across and you feel their comment is still worth reading by other people.

      One of the reasons there was so much contention about even calling it a "vote" to begin with was because by doing so it potentially indicated support for the idea/opinion being expressed when that really doesn't need to be (or even should be) the case. And I still believe we should come up with a better term for it because of that. "kudos" was suggested at one point as a replacement and I really liked that idea.

      18 votes
    2. teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      Another option is to tag the comment. For example if the comment is baiting people into anger, then you should tag the comment as flame.

      There's no downvote. Do I need to make a thoughtful comment every time I disagree?

      That's right, there's no downvote. If you search "downvote" you'll find plenty of topics talking about this. You don't have to make a comment if you disagree, you can always just move on and not vote, however if you think you have something noteworthy to say that adds to the discussion you should feel free to do so.

      Another option is to tag the comment. For example if the comment is baiting people into anger, then you should tag the comment as flame.

      8 votes
  2. [4]
    EightRoundsRapid
    Link
    I think something to bear in mind is "this isn't reddit, and it's not a like for like replacement". It's never going to do what reddit does - memes, GIFs, cat pics and shitposting as a national...

    I think something to bear in mind is "this isn't reddit, and it's not a like for like replacement". It's never going to do what reddit does - memes, GIFs, cat pics and shitposting as a national sport.

    And discussion/conversation here is a real thing, rather than the adversarial "I'm right, you're wrong" gotcha comments on reddit.

    22 votes
    1. [3]
      Archimedes
      Link Parent
      That's the goal anyway. Figuring out how to preserve this when Tildes grows will be the real test.

      And discussion/conversation here is a real thing, rather than the adversarial "I'm right, you're wrong" gotcha comments on reddit.

      That's the goal anyway. Figuring out how to preserve this when Tildes grows will be the real test.

      10 votes
      1. [2]
        Exalt
        Link Parent
        Conventional systems are designed to encourage (as a side effect) the hostility and low-effort spam. There's a lot more power in that than most people realize. I hope tildes ends up like a giant...

        Conventional systems are designed to encourage (as a side effect) the hostility and low-effort spam. There's a lot more power in that than most people realize.

        I hope tildes ends up like a giant /r/changemyview.

        7 votes
        1. CareFactorZero
          Link Parent
          I think /r/gue had some great ideas for civilised debate before it went quiet.

          I think /r/gue had some great ideas for civilised debate before it went quiet.

          1 vote
  3. [4]
    Lynx
    Link
    First of all, read the docs. Not yet, as far as I know (other than the several competing ways to address the users of the site - "Tildoes", "Tilderinos", etc.) There are no mods, just @Deimos...

    First of all, read the docs.

    • Are there any private jokes or slang I should know to understand everything ? (like reddit's "/s", "FBI open up" or the verb "lurk")

    Not yet, as far as I know (other than the several competing ways to address the users of the site - "Tildoes", "Tilderinos", etc.)

    • Are "mods" uncompromising ?

    There are no mods, just @Deimos really. As long as you don't blatantly violate the code of conduct, it's unlikely that anything will be removed or anyone banned.

    • There's no downvote. Do I need to make a thoughtful comment every time I disagree ?

    Good thing there's no downvote then, seeing how you'd abuse it as a "disagree button" ;) yes, if you want to add your opinion, write a comment.

    16 votes
    1. [3]
      SheepWolf
      Link Parent
      This is probably unecessary, but in case you/anyone else missed the winking face, I assume Lynx here meant this as a joke. The heart of the matter lies in the fact that up/downvotes weren't meant...

      Good thing there's no downvote then, seeing how you'd abuse it as a "disagree button" ;)

      This is probably unecessary, but in case you/anyone else missed the winking face, I assume Lynx here meant this as a joke.

      The heart of the matter lies in the fact that up/downvotes weren't meant to be a agree/disagree button for comments. They were supposed to be for answering the question, "Does this comment contribute to the discussion?" This ties in with tags here on Tildes, where not so helpful comments like "This.", "I agree", or one line jokes can be tagged (although the system is still being worked on). We don't know yet how this will affect the visibility of comments but ideally interesting and well-thought out comments (even those you disagree with) should be more easily seen than something people find funny or simply agree upon.

      One thing I want to emphasize from the Code of Conduct:

      "...as long as you treat others with basic civility and try to contribute in good faith, you will be welcome on Tildes"

      10 votes
      1. fifthecho
        Link Parent
        To add to what you've said, in my moderately-short time being here, I've seen a few discussions about using votes to increase visibility of comments you may disagree with but find...

        To add to what you've said, in my moderately-short time being here, I've seen a few discussions about using votes to increase visibility of comments you may disagree with but find intriguing/though provoking in order to increase visibility.

        I like this and have been doing it myself. I hope this is a continued trend within ~ as I find that it helps foster the point of such a site - discussion. I don't have to agree with you...I may even think you're a horrible asshole for believing such a thing, but if it makes me stop and think or pushes me to add to the conversation, it gets a vote from me.

        7 votes
      2. Exalt
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I think downvotes are better then no downvotes but worse than alternative systems to weed out the garbage. One thing I notice on reddit is that once you get to -1 (or even just 0) the...

        Yeah, I think downvotes are better then no downvotes but worse than alternative systems to weed out the garbage. One thing I notice on reddit is that once you get to -1 (or even just 0) the downvotes keep coming. It's like a feeding frenzy.

        3 votes
  4. [11]
    Rocket_Man
    Link
    Just because I hadn't really seen it mentioned. Some specific language you might see is referring to tildes users as waves.

    Just because I hadn't really seen it mentioned. Some specific language you might see is referring to tildes users as waves.

    5 votes
    1. [6]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      And Tilderenos, Tildians, Tildiers, Tildoes (I personally loathe that one), ~s, etc. What people refer to the collective Tildes users as is not really consistent yet and it being different almost...

      Some specific language you might see is referring to tildes users as waves.

      And Tilderenos, Tildians, Tildiers, Tildoes (I personally loathe that one), ~s, etc. What people refer to the collective Tildes users as is not really consistent yet and it being different almost every time someone mentions it is practically an inside joke by itself at this point. ;)

      11 votes
      1. [5]
        BuckeyeSundae
        Link Parent
        The tildarians of this site will rise against your insistence on a single name!

        The tildarians of this site will rise against your insistence on a single name!

        5 votes
        1. [4]
          balooga
          Link Parent
          True tildestins transcend the need for just one name.

          True tildestins transcend the need for just one name.

          1 vote
          1. [3]
            Archimedes
            Link Parent
            I'll stubbornly use "tildenizens" until there's an official word.

            I'll stubbornly use "tildenizens" until there's an official word.

            3 votes
            1. spit-evil-olive-tips
              Link Parent
              I'm going to keep using tildoes, even though everyone hates it, because I don't think we should have an official demonym. We'll never come to community consensus on one term and I don't think...

              I'm going to keep using tildoes, even though everyone hates it, because I don't think we should have an official demonym. We'll never come to community consensus on one term and I don't think Deimos is inclined to issue a dictat on this (if he was, he probably would have done it already). Tildeans, Tildestrians, Tilderinos, Tildites. Looking at this list I'm liking Tildwegian and Tildestani as well...

              3 votes
            2. Emerald_Knight
              Link Parent
              I hadn't seen this one yet. Out of all of them, I like this one the most :)

              Tildenizens

              I hadn't seen this one yet. Out of all of them, I like this one the most :)

              1 vote
    2. [4]
      Exalt
      Link Parent
      What's the connection there? The tilde means origin or home, but I can't think of anything that relates it to water.

      What's the connection there? The tilde means origin or home, but I can't think of anything that relates it to water.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Catt
        Link Parent
        I think it's from the symbol and logo just looking like a wave.

        I think it's from the symbol and logo just looking like a wave.

        6 votes
        1. Deimos
          Link Parent
          Japanese even has a "wave dash" which is pretty much just a big tilde: 〜 vs ~

          Japanese even has a "wave dash" which is pretty much just a big tilde: 〜 vs ~

          6 votes