Many on Nostr are genuinely passionate about humanity. Yet, as I've been developing features for content warnings, moderation, and user filtering, I've had to immerse myself in the less pleasant side of the platform. For testing, I set up an account that follows a spectrum of voices, some of which constantly spill hate and trollish remarks. Regardless of their true intent, their aim seems clear: to turn the platform into a hostile environment for certain users.
Now, there's a significant difference between censorship and personal autonomy. Censorship restricts expression, while personal autonomy is about choosing who we invite into our intimate spaces, like our living rooms. Social media is a paradox; it's both a bustling town square and our private living room. It has the power to connect us to the masses or bridge a conversation with someone miles away. This duality makes it even more imperative to equip users with tools to shape their online environments and manage their digital communities. It's not about stifling voices, but ensuring our living rooms remain our sanctuaries.
In essence, and to misquote Clint Eastwood, while the world is vast, when it comes to my online living room, I demand the right to tell trolls to "get off my front lawn," and I desire the mechanisms to uphold that boundary.