I agree with everything you say. But… This site is moderated by two people and has 5 million guests. When you look at it from that perspective, I think the only conclusion you can come to is that they are doing a remarkably good job.

I say this as a person who feels that his political opinions have been treated with disrespect by the site’s community and its moderators. I fervently believe that the moderators are doing their best to be impartial. And I also see people on the opposite side of the political spectrum from me who have the exact same complaints. When I look at it that way, I realize I literally can’t ask for more from the mods.

As far as your making the distinction with platform companies and back bone companies, I think you have it completely right. I detest racist shit on the Internet, but ultimately no good can come from driving it underground. I think it’s much better for us to be able to see and come in time. Plus, my political affiliation, which is the same as Abraham Lincoln‘s, is considered by many of the powers that be to be inherently racist.

When the platform companies start trying to decide who’s wrong and who’s right, they are forced to use extra-constitutional means. Not good.