Disclaimer: This is a repost from the deleted sub DRSyourGME. Since this sub got deleted by reddit as did related DRS subs without proper warning, one may wonder how deep reddit is into censoring GME.
Welcome to the ASS.
So, we should find ways to make the community more resilient against censorship, which necessarily needs platforms outside of reddit. Remember, not only does Reddit provide tools to censor, Reddit applies censorship rules for subs by themselves! We need Apes Shitstorm Shelter (ASS).
Quality of the Apes Shitstorm Shelter TM
We already defined censorship as deletion and suppression of content in part 1. Since companies cannot act against the law, we will exclude government ordered censorship. Further our Apes Shitstorm Shelter TM should have free access (registration via email, no payment required, no login required to read), it should be easy to publish content (small text to long from DD), if somehow possible it should already widely be known and accepted (so ado, also it should have a reliable platform (ddos resilient). As a bonus there should be end to end encryption for direct messages (DMs) to allow censorship free communication. Last but not least, we must know who owns a platform, so who has ultimate control over it and could have conflicting interests.
The platforms which may act as Apes Shitstorm Shelter TM
Some weeks ago GreeDplayer asked “What are the current alternatives for reddit?”. So here is the list: Minds, Youtube (Gangnam Style), mastadon, Twitter, Discord. There were also mentions of Telegram, Truth social, DIGG, Myspace Group, Lemmy. I won’t check those out but anyone is invited to do so and contribute.
Some of the biggest GME subs already have a Discord server, the two biggest by early 2022. While some of you might remember when Discord shut down VVSB in Jan 21, maybe it might be new to you that Fidelity became an investor in September 2021.
Rating the ASSes
Please poke holes into what I found. Happy to discuss ASS with you.
Minds and Twitter look promising
Looking at the table “Minds” looks like the perfect fit. I found it very interesting that before GreeDplayers post I haven’t in fact heard of it. Especially, since Patrick Byrne is on the board. Wow. However, the drawback is the comparably tiny user base. So “mental switching” costs might be too high for the majority.
Okay, so looking at the next best alternative this seems to be Twitter. But don’t they eat ASS I hear you say, don’t they delete or suppress content? They themselves say “Freedom of Speech, Not Reach” and define this within their rules and transparency policies. Well, trust is good control is better. Thankfully Twitter added the view count, so I checked Pultes tweets about [GME, $GME, GameStop, DRS] which without replies have about the same number of views as his other tweets (>100k-~600k or more). Additionally, there is GameStop, RC, Pulte and so many more active on twitter with a large active user base which might lead to a lower barrier to create an (additional) GME related account. A drawback certainly is that end to end encryption and long content is only provided for paid twitter blue accounts. Another issue to think about is, there is no content moderation but also no subs. So, everybody has to build up their follows or other techniques.
TL;DR: This post shall contribute in forming a backup communication plan, when shit hits the fan. While “Minds” looks like the optimal Apes Shitstorm Shelter, it is very limited in its user base yet. Twitter looks as it becomes the better solution with least censorship, a great reach already (RC, GameStop, Pulte, …) but end to end encryption and longer content creation has to be bought with twitter blue. Also, as there are no “subs” everyone has to build up their individual follows / news feed.
