Hello users of hexbear:

Due to recent meta posts in our mutual aid community we wanted to open up discussion about the community [email protected]

We will never require explanation or justification from a user asking for aid in the community, and the mod and admin team continue to commit to not featuring an individual’s mutual aid request to prevent unfair exposure.

In addition, we will maintain a strict “No critical comments or meta comments” on a mutual aid post.

This post is to discuss the mutual aid community’s rule of allowing meta posts: mutual aid as a community, those making posts in it and those commenting on posts.

We are considering removing the exception allowing meta posts but wanted to involve the userbase before committing to a change.

Please comment with any thoughts, feelings, or suggestions regarding this change.

Thank you

  • Damarcusart [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    16·
    15 hours ago

    do you think there should be a weekly limit on amount requested?

    I don’t think this is very helpful, different people will have different financial situations, and if we are trying to focus more on emergency aid, some emergencies are much more costly than others. I think this will actively encourage “spamming” at the start of a week and the comm will get flooded with requests all at once, making it much easier for some to slip through the cracks.

    do you think there should be a weekly limit on amount of posts?

    This one I agree with, especially with a focus on emergency aid, though I think the mods may have to make exceptions in very specific circumstances, someone having two massive disasters in one week is rare, but not unheard of. I doubt it will ever actually come up though.

    do you think mods should keep track of amounts received via user reports after donating?

    I like this idea a lot. I would rather donations not be loud public displays, I don’t feel comfortable donating in such a way, but just a simple tracking system will go a long way, while not actively spotlighting anyone, plus I think seeing locked posts that have had their goals met will be good for morale.

    do you think we change the name from mutual_aid to emergency aid?

    I think since mutual aid is probably a bit too difficult to do over an online anonymous system like this, it is probably better phrased that way.

    do you think we should allow meta posts?

    I think a monthly meta thread could be good, one that enables people to ask for aid that isn’t necessarily financial, more things like advice and support. It could also be a good way to “allow” meta discussion without it taking over the comm.

    • bort [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      17·
      15 hours ago

      I think a monthly meta thread could be good, one that enables people to ask for aid that isn’t necessarily financial, more things like advice and support. It could also be a good way to “allow” meta discussion without it taking over the comm.

      I like this idea. A regular megathread of advice and resources would actually feel more like mutual aid than just charity.