Hatemongering Becoming A Problem On Orkut

jaquesparrow writes "Orkut is a well known beta experiment, an invite only environment based on social networks. Recently it has been reported that hate and racism is proliferating on Orkut. Besides the story in the Wilmington Star, the International Herald Tribune also has commentary on the situation." From the article: "For Google, the trouble on Orkut - which is still in beta, or test, form - could easily escalate. A prosecutor in Brazil, where the service is especially popular, has already initiated an investigation into some of the more virulent Orkut sites."

Comments

Some things I know about moderating conversations

[maggard]

Theresa Neilson Hayden, who maintains a lively, smart, community on her Making Light blog, was invited by the South by Southwest Conference to sit on their "Spammers, Trolls and Stalkers: The Pandora's Box of Community" panel. Instead she submitted her suggestions, a magnificent set of common-sense policies for maintaining a virtual community from the host's viewpoint:

Some things I know about moderating conversations in virtual space .

Suggestions include:

1. There can be no ongoing discourse without some degree of moderation, if only to kill off the hardcore trolls. It takes rather more moderation than that to create a complex, nuanced, civil discourse. If you want that to happen, you have to give of yourself. Providing the space but not tending the conversation is like expecting that your front yard will automatically turn itself into a garden.

5. Over-specific rules are an invitation to people who get off on gaming the system.

6. Civil speech and impassioned speech are not opposed and mutually exclusive sets. Being interesting trumps any amount of conventional politeness.

The rest of the list is also quite good, including a comment on /.

Also in the New York Times Feb 7th

[Linuxathome]

Hate Messages on Google Site Draw Concern.