It has been over two years since I started the Reflections community and while I wish it was more active, I think that overall it is going pretty well. What I wanted was to have a place where people felt comfortable to post about maybe the more personal aspects of their life, where they can reflect on their experience, whether recent or far in the past, and pull it apart and perhaps discover something about themselves in the process. Reflections can cover many topics of course, and I use the community for many of my posts, from those about my family, my employment situation, and especially for my philosophical meanderings.
First, let's look at the limited numbers I have available to work with.
Subscription to the community is modest at almost 2,500, but there are over 200 active users who are posting or commenting in the community this week, and they have created almost 700 interactions. That doesn't sound like a huge amount, but this is just within this particular community, so it is pretty good. The pending rewards sit at over 700 across all the posts in the community, which is again pretty good. And, no, they aren't all my rewards. And the last one isn't a statistic per se, but indicates the language of the community.
English.
Which is what I want to talk about today, because while I want it to be a place for everyone, there are rules and whether you agree with them or not, since it is my community, they are what I want them to be. And, they aren't very difficult to follow, and they aren't excessively strict. Not only that, I have perhaps been too lackadaisical in moderating the community and ensuring people are sticking to the rules.
Hence this post.
Let's overview the rules.
Rules
- No Plagiarism
- No Reposts
- Keep it in English (mostly)
- No Spamming
- Answer comments
- Engage with others
- Put in some effort
- No AI content (it is plagiarism)
- Don't be a dick
While the last one is the most important rule, I am going to have to start moderating and enforcing a couple of the others, but also make some amendments, as times have changed. The first one I will speak about is AI content.
No AI content
When I created the community, AI images weren't up and running at the time, so this was in relation to text only. However, now with AI images flooding the internet, I have to account for that too. So, while I would much prefer to see people use their own images in their posts, even if they aren't the best quality or perfectly suited to the content, I get that some want to use AI-generated images. If you do use AI images, please mention it. If you use images other than your own, please attribute.
Rule change:
No AI content (it is plagiarism)No AI-generated text
AI-generated images must be clearly marked
In English
Again, this is my community and I want it to be in English. I had the "mostly" there so that some people can throw the odd bit of their mother tongue in or whatever, but that is not what is happening. I don't like "dual language" posts because they aren't a good way to communicate clearly. they are messy in my opinion and far, far too many of them look like they are all using the same template to create from. This makes them visually boring, no matter what the content is. Build a style for yourself.
Too many communities are filled with dual-language posts following that similar template, which means that all of the communities look the same, no matter what their topic is. I like uniformity at the individual level where people have a style they develop that is their own, but I dislike cut and paste styles, with nothing personal in them. They look like they are all coming from the same person, or small group of people.
Perhaps they are?
So, from now on I am going to be moderating as I curate and the posts that don't meet the language rules, will be muted in the community. I will probably leave a comment the first time, similar to what I have done on a few today, but after that, it will be a mute. This is because there are rules and if people aren't following them, then they are breaking the non-negotiable rule of Don't be a Dick.
Rule change:
Keep it in English (mostly)Keep it in English
I hate rules
I like it when people put in effort and create something personal, helping others overcome (perhaps unknowingly) their own challenges. I like it when people share their perspectives from around the world. I like it when people discuss together openly, honestly, and respectfully -even when they disagree. Perhaps, especially when they disagree. I like personality and I like personal, which is why I dislike AI-generated content, because that isn't anyone's, no matter what is said. I like it when people think about what they are communicating, and how they are communicating it, including the styles they use.
Yet, I also like a certain amount of order.
People probably rarely if ever visit my full blog roll, but if you did and scrolled, you will find that for quite a few years now, all the cover images are the same size. They are all 16x10. Also, you will see that the titles are all relatively short and don't go over one line. This is because I while you aren't there, I am - and I like to have a space that is neat and clean and mine. It is part of my experience here, part of my presentation, and part of my overall communication. It isn't just one article after the other, it is a stream of my own creativity that I put out into the world. It is very personal, but also made public.
The images are mine, the text is mine, the thoughts are mine, and the experiences I reflect upon are mine. It is a form of art for me, even though many of the topics might not seem to live within the realms of art.
So while I hate rules imposed on me, I don't mind making up my own rules for myself, and the spaces that are mine. The Reflections community page is a space that is mine. People are welcome to visit, but just like when people take their shoes off when they come into my family's home, there are rules in my digital home too. I can't force anyone to follow them, but I can mute them in the channel.
Thank you
So far, I have received positive responses to the short message about in English only, so I thank you for that. What I do recommend for anyone posting in a community channel though, is to first read the rules of the channel and stick to them. This means that a cross-post also has to stick to the rules of the channel. Sure, mistakes happen, but always try to respect the individual community guidelines, because people do put effort into keeping their spaces tidy.
Communities are great, but I hope they are used as more than just places to dump a post in the hope for votes. I get tired of that kind of behaviour, in the same way I get tired of low-effort comments looking for a vote, because they know I reward comments on my own articles. The funny thing is, if people just put in a little more effort, engaged a bit more with a wider range of people, they would actually get consistent support, and feel far better about what they are creating here. Most won't do that though - the few that do, will be here for a long time.
The community rules have been updated.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I love rules. They're all around and maintain us in a structure. They're a guarantee of shared values, of a standard that is uphold. Communities need rules, or they're going to be disrupted by different values. They have to be balanced of course, again, according to the set of shared values within the community. And they have to be under constant review, open for change if values within the community change. Oh my, I see another post coming.
I love your content more than I love rules! Thanks for this community!
These rules are easy to comply with. I'll focus on my own images from now on, I definitely have enough and a lot of motives around me, thanks to an abundant nature within a chaotic country.
One thing - if with "Reposting" you mean "Cross Posting", I'd put that into the rules to clarify ("No Reposts/Cross posting"). When I read it yesterday, I wasn't sure if it was aimed at cross posting, or at posting the same post via C&P.
Rules for games are good :)
This is what I like on Hive when it happens. One thought drives more thoughts and it spirals out. This is how a community should operate I think.
What I also find is that using personal photos means looking at the world differently also. I like taking photos (though often I only have my phone with me these days), and I often take one and know that it will be used for an article. And also, they can help drive my thoughts. Having it "all mine" helps me feel more connected to the work also.
It is more for reposting, but there are some people who go around dropping their post in many communities through cross. I haven't had an issue with it so far though. If it happens, I will nip it.
That's an interesting view on using personal photos, haven't thought of it that way. Sometimes, I do like AI because I have a certain image in my head that is not available in nature, and since I don't have any drawing skills (my daughter beats me already...), using words to create a picture is something I had always wished for. Words I can do :-)
Things, like community and rules of them evolve, and it is totally understood that if it your space, you want that users that use it make it accordantly with your rules. Fair enough. About the images, when I have a picture (original one) that somehow suits the theme of the reflection, I'll make an effort to use it, off course.
Of course it might just be me. I struggle with the flow when there is the distraction of other text there that I am meant to not pay attention to. It is similar when people use unusual fonts. It isn't dyslexia, but it is something similar since the stroke. It takes so much effort I will just skip reading all together and that is not what I want in my community :)
More then justified, my friend. I'm the one that has to recognize that this minor change in my posts might give me some advantage by trying to build the ideas in English, and afterwards use the spelling check just to avoid some gramatical errors. Thank you for keeping your "baby" (this community) pleasant for everyone :)
I am quite a frequent poster in the community! That said, I feel that reflections are something that can be quite random in nature. When it comes, it comes. And when I find something interesting or meaningful to write about, then there will be a post. Thanks for having this space for us!
You are and you are appreciated!
Sometimes the best reflections come from the most mundane activities. I see it as part of life - many wait for the holiday to arrive, but the majority of life is spent not on holiday.
Agree too!
Sorry to break that round 256 votes number but somebody would have done it anyway.
Being distracted by life, etc. I thought this social network was far less active that what I can extrapolate from your community stats only. I still knew it was my own relative inactivity bias. Cheers to the good impact, anyway.
My attitude towards AI-generated images remains the same as before. They are not generated by Artificial Intelligence, they are plagiarized, shuffled, and rearranged by algorithms. The source date is still somebody's work which was worth no less than written text. Also, good results do not come from poor images.
There is a fair amount of activity still, but inactivity will mean that you will only have an old view of things :) However, I notice you getting into crownrend :)
Yes. The same with the text. It is largely nonsense and reduces the value of things that are crafted.
Well, when it comes to games, they are still psychologically different. They are intriguing until you get the grasp of them. I am thinking more and observing more than the actual action. That too shall pass.
It's mostly an investment tool kind of game, too. And since I feel choked on other fronts, I am looking for such projects.
I read somewhere that in HIVE, certain communities were cleaning house by making a simile to the US government and deportees. Complying with the rules of the house is imperative, but when the hand is loosened most will take the whole arm. I don't deny that I have published in two languages in this community, but lately I have only done so in English, and that's okay, because I have slightly modified the content and title and published it in Spanish making reference to what is found in these spaces.
Clarifying and updating is a healthy way to alert the consequences for abuse of trust, to the detriment of the administrator/moderator's tolerance.
It isn't about the cleaning house, though I would prefer people to post in communities because they actually have something valuable to share in that community, not just in the hope to get a vote. I have let the dual-language slide in the past, but it is starting to flood the community, which I don't like. And, while I don't expect everyone to care that it is mine, I think people should consider the rules. Also, the people who have "suddenly" started writing here remind me of the groups that used to share my name in discords for places to comment in the hope for a vote.
One benefit of moderating more is I will also read, comment and curate more :)
Your community consists of quality content. The quality of the content will increase with the new rules. I don't think there is a word count limit in the rules. There could have been at least a 200 word limit.
You will have a hard time at first because you changed the rules. Because most of them will not notice it unless you warn them.
I say "put in some effort" in regards to work count. If people try to abuse, they will end up more than muted. :)
Yep - so I aim to be actively warning
My Space...
Your title reminded me of that web site from many years ago. Everyone was on My Space before Facecrooks stole the show (literally stolen like all your personal info) And would you look at that! It still functions and signs me in.
:D
Yeah, it was meant to remind you.
I wrote a post a few years ago about myspace and how they are surprisingly active still. There are millions of monthly users :)
Yes, mostly music related content it seems.
I got an awesome playlist there. I should go see if the links still work to them. 😉
I remember how you created this community. I immediately wrote a post then. Even now, sometimes I want to write something in this community, but every time I put it off until later.
Don't put it off, write it on one of your walks - or at least plan it :)
One of these days, I will reflect again. The cougar 8 years my senior, married three times, divorced three times... did you ever see 9 and half weeks?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C2%BD_Weeks
I remember seeing bits of it as a kid. There is a food scene, right?
I was young too, the length of time is the pertinent factor here. Talk about being used, I did get some shags though.
:D :D
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Thanks for this community
awesome post. I wish more community mods would post and explain their rules. Instead I have to be bold and just try to post there, and will sometimes get a downvote for something silly like not having the correct number of pics. :P
Let me reflect on what to post about and I'll give your community a try.. :)
ps. I like ur pic of the Red Light district. 😎😉🤙