As it stands now, this community serves mostly as a way to get money. That isn’t a bad thing, but cash is not a 1-size-fits-all solution to every problem. Taking care of a persons needs is always priority #1, but at times, said person is unfit to handle money in a way that reliably alleviates those needs. Traditional, local, mutual-aid networks can usually address this in the form of community pot lucks, clothing exchange, etc. Here we are more or less limited to advice and more money.
Making a rule about unsolicited advice and being critical of users, limits us to just money as a tool to solve problems. Sometimes people need a tough conversation to grow as a person, sometimes people need to be reminded of the situation they are in. Yes, the capitalist system is oppressive. Yes, there are systemic issues that prevent us all from succeeding. That doesn’t mean there is no situation where decision making is a factor. Sometimes, you do actually need help making better choices. This isn’t to shame people for making bad decisions, sometimes there are psychiatric reasons, sometimes they genuinely don’t know any better, but you still should speak up so they can potentially correct the problem and learn.
This rule effectively creates a hug-box where we all pretend that personal responsibility doesn’t exist, that there is simply nothing to be done. It’s incredibly infantile, it’s a cope, and the people in this community deserve better than that.
EDIT: I feel I may have had a change of heart after reading the comments left by @EelBolshevikism If you are looking for a somewhat comprehensive response, those comments are likely a good starting point.
It’s not a matter of entitlement, its a matter of making sure peoples needs are met. That is the entire point of mutual aid. Throwing money at problems indiscriminately is not a solution. If you feel like giving someone money, give someone money. That is not what this post is about.
Somewhat understandable but you are advocating for witch trials instead of an outright ban which would be a much more sensible solution… which leads me to believe you haven’t thought this through at all or aren’t serious.
If it makes you ideologically mad that resources aren’t being perfectly allocated or whatever… Maybe unsubscribe from the comm or at least propose a solution with some thought behind it. Jesus.
you are advocating for witch trials
Who is advocating for witch trials and where did they advocate such a thing?
Ok are we going to appoint someone to vet everyone’s claims or what. This is what I mean. Not a serious solution.
How is it advocating for witch trials? As far as I’m aware this wasn’t even perceived as a problem until a 1 off situation. That 1 off situation being highly controversial in this community. I would rather people talk these things over and actively learn from each other, than to blanket ban criticism. Criticism is not inherently malicious, and its not saying “don’t send money to this person” (and saying this IS wrong).
This is an online community, it has very little capacity to help, but one of the ways it can help is through conversations. Limiting the type of conversation, limits that capacity further. That is the point I am making.
As far as I’m aware this wasn’t even perceived as a problem until a 1 off situation. That 1 off situation being highly controversial in this community.
You’d be wrong there, a similar situation with the same user (to my knowledge) being involved that happened at the start of hexbear/chapo.chat and a bunch of users got banned, including the user people donated/gave the money to. It’s been ongoing since the chapotraphouse subreddit days.
