The Rules.
The Carrion Pigeon is a tech and B2B news site for people who want to speak thoughtfully — but candidly. Here's the test: would it feel "too much" for LinkedIn? Fine. Would your drunk uncle post it on Facebook or 4chan? Not fine.
To protect the quality we're after, the first cohort of commenters is invite-only: people with distinct points of view, cutting insight, or just our particular type of weird. It's more art than science, but it's a start.
This cohort can comment as they see fit, subject to the usual guardrails against hate speech, unwarranted vitriol, doxxing, and the like. Break the rules — or basic human decency — and you'll be permanently banned.
Commenters also have a responsibility to the site: vouching for Unverified commenters. Get five vouches and your comments become visible to everyone; you also earn the ability to vouch for others.
Of course, people can also… unvouch for you. It's a word now. Lose your standing and you're back in the queue, starting the process again.
Basic Rules That Seem Embarrassing to Put in Writing, But That's Where We're At Now as a Collective Internet
- 01
No hate speech, in any context. Don't be a jerk.
- 02
Punch up, not down.
- 03
No doxxing — not yourself, your boss, or the company you work for.
- 04
Funny > mean. Again: the bar is not high. Don't be a jerk.