Maintaining the "clipmarks way"

One of the primary reasons we created clipmarks was to tap into the web's potential to connect people from all across the world about topics that interest them.  As i have stated on many occassions, i believe in people's ability to learn from one another and change each other's mind...and i believe in the web's potential to make this happen in ways never before possible.

With Clipmarks, we have a unique approach that allows people connect in a manner that is hopefully natural and spontaneous - rather than forced and phony - as all interaction tends to be in reaction to information that someone has clipped.

For quite some time, people on the site treated each other with great respect.  Disagreement and debate was constant, but it was civilized and mature.  I'd say that many of us began to recognize and appreciate the "clipmarks way" as standing out from the typical nastiness that often develops on social web sites.

Well, lately the interaction on the site has begun to turn nasty.  Sadly, we live in a world that includes hate.  That can not be denied or easily changed.  But in order to realize the potential of clipmarks we can not allow it to disintegrate into a place for people to relentlessly bash one another, for that would deny all open minded people the opportunity to find any benefit in the experience.  Disagreement and debate is the key to learning...i would never suggest otherwise.  But we are going to have to maintain the "clipmarks way" of treating one another or clipmarks will be gone.

So, until things either quiet down or we can create a better system that has room for everyone, any clipmarks that get out of control will be deleted by me, adamc, djkraz or ericw.  There is no definiton for out of control...we'll just take it as it comes.

Our love for the web and for connecting people in a civilized, respectful manner is greater than our desire for a completely open system.  If this is what it takes to maintain an environment we can live with, then this is how it will be.  You have no idea how sad i am that it has come to this, but we simply can not continue to pour our hearts and souls into creating something that is turning into a mean spirited, hateful environment.   

I hope you understand...and i hope that striving for a better way of treating one another is something we can all embrace, regardless of our different opinions or perspectives.

Comments

[marcel]

I haven't been on clipmarks for ages*, so I don't really know what this is about. But my suggestion: Instead of censorship wouldn't it be better to integrate some sort of commentranking like they are doing it on digg.com? Every comment that has more than x negative ranks by users gets not shown for guests. And users can choose their personal threshold in the profile.
Would help I guess. (And would be better in terms of freedom of speech)

*because it still doesn't work on my pc and the site is so slow here, I dunno why. Would love to use it again though..

[Skwirlinator]

Take notice of my NO PORN ON CLIPMARKS clip.