[–] draegspir 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Every time I come here there are consistently ~1k users browsing. I don't think participation has gone down at all. Lack of upvotes could be due to lack of new information. Lower number of content submission could be due to rules resulting in better-groomed posts. Voat recently locked-down signups, so maybe that also contributes to lack of growth.
I haven't been paying attention to all the drama if it exists, but can you or someone point me in a direction that shows mods are compromised here? Like what critical posts were deleted, or who they banned/silenced?
I've mentioned this in a few other places, but I'm currently working on an iOS Voat app over at /v/voatify, so if it gets successfully published, maybe that can drive up participation and exposure.
[–] SpikyAube 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I disagree- I've seen many posts that really undermine the investigation because they have no substance, they have no evidence to back them up at all. Posting a link to a web site that makes a claim is no good unless that website states its sources or links to evidence.
If we don't do it properly and ensure that we are only making claims we can prove or suggestions that have a solid rationale behind them, the whole thing will become a total joke and a mess. I say that as someone who is a professional researcher - I know lots of people working here aren't professionals and haven't been trained so might not know why this way of doing it is so important, but it really really is. I think it's the opposite of what you are suggesting - the fact that mods here are strict about making sure people have evidence to back up their claims and assertions just goes to show that they want the investigation to be seen as legitimate by outside people.
It would be so easy for people to discredit everything and file it away as a lunatic conspiracy theory if they come here and read a ton of posts that are all wild speculation or have no sources or evidence linked. The thing that makes people get that realisation that 'oh my god this is actually true, pizza gate is real, this stuff is really happening' is the EVIDENCE - it's seeing posts that are clearly written by people who are not crazy, people who have done a lot of work and have actually found out real facts, facts they can even see for themselves by following the links to the evidence.
So I think your worries are unfounded. There are other subs where people can post any and every theory- this is the one where the facts go, where we consolidate what it is that we actually know for sure and present it as coherently as possible. I think that makes complete sense.