I suspended a user’s posting privileges last night. It is the first time I’ve taken any action against a user. In the past, I’ve been able to post a polite reminder to the Infinite Wall, and people calm down. I asked this individual to please chill, and they called me a pig.
I want to emphasize one thing: This individual lost their posting privileges not due to the content of their posts, but due to the quantity of them. Frankly, their stamina was admirable. Over the course of an hour, they managed over 100 posts. That takes dedication (and some serious issues). My thumbs would’ve fallen off.
Now on to the general issue. It appears that the community of Graffitio is reflecting the real world. We have Artists, and we have Vandals. Artists are interested in leaving something beautiful behind for the rest of the world. A common theme I hear from users is leaving messages on a mountain top or in a secluded field in the hopes that someone will come across them later. Others want to leave helpful hints such as where to find cheap parking in a city or power outlets in an airport. Vandals are interested in leaving their mark. The easiest way to get attention is to offend, and the Vandals excel at it. These lines aren’t cut and dry. Sometimes Artists offend, and Vandals inspire. There’s also a bunch of people in between who just want to hang out. (I’m looking at you, Sexy Seven!)
People have asked me about my vision for Graffitio. To me, the beauty of the Internet is the way it lets people share a moment in time across space. I see Graffitio as a place where people can share a point in space across time. When I look at the messages all of you have posted on local walls, I see what I imagined. People are expressing romantic musings, the hotness of their bartender, and how their sandwich tastes like poo. The best part is that these are actual conversations… only a few messages over the span of days, but conversations nonetheless. It is beautiful.
Then there’s the Infinite Wall. It’s quickly becoming more trouble than it’s worth, and I’m working on some features in rel4 that will diminish it’s necessity. I’m disappointed in the vandals, but I expected them. I’m also disappointed in the hateful response to them. These responses, their suspension, and this blog post are all just feeding their ego, and it angers me to be a part of that.
As this gets worse, my patience is wearing thin. I had no choice in this case, but I really wasn’t comfortable suspending someone without having any rules in place. I’m now enacting one: Respect One Another.
