Why is this sub blocking mentions of Graph3n3 OS?

[u/tron_cruise]

I mentioned it in a COMMENT and it was only one bullet point out of many, but the automod literally deleted the whole comment. That seems batshit crazy. What is going on here?

[u/lugh]

Addressed before: https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1cq7cuh/abolish_rule_14/l3pl3si/

A few reasons this rule is in place

Before this rule:

1. It causes fighting between fans of Android OS versions that we end up having to mod a lot and temp ban people who were getting verbally abusive.
2. We had repeated demands from one set of developers to censor posts they did not like.
3. We had threats from one set of developers that they would go to reddit admins and have users whose comments they did not agreet with banned as we would not entertain requests to remove posts they did not like.
4. We had threats from one set of developers that they would go to reddit admins and have us removed as we would not entertain requests to remove posts they did not like.
5. We have had several threats of being sued by one set of developers as they did not like our modding practices and our responses to them.
6. Even despite the ban we see one particular OS having new, very rarely used accounts or first time posters to /r/privacy responding to any topic that vaguely is phone related saying to use their OS even when wildly unrelated.

We would like to be able to have level headed discussion but that has not shown to be possible.

Not to show favorites or single out any one OS, discussion of all alternative Android ROMs / OSes is not permitted (to by all means report any we missed).

Options you have:

• Pixel phones: /r/GrapheneOS
• A range of Android phones: /r/DivestOS / /r/calyxos / /r/LineageOS / /r/eelo/ / others I am sure I have missed
• https://discuss.privacyguides.net/

tl;dr grapheneOS thanks to their fans and their poor handling of dealing with others are quickly burning bridges.

GrapheneOS team, please please hire a PR person who can sanely deal your beefs...

We are not a grapheneOS sub as much as the fans try to make it one by post it about it and insisting it is the only option at every possible chance they get, even when not relevant.

---

Also see Privacy Guides recent article, in which they bring up similar issues.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2024/09/09/bad-faith-arguments/

[u/CovertSignals]

I understand not wanting alternate ROMs the focus of the sub, but deleting content at the mere mention of the focal point of a lot of people's privacy journey in the mobile phone space is wild and inappropriate for a privacy sub.

[u/tron_cruise → u/CovertSignals]

Exactly, if you can't even mention it in a comment, then anyone coming here who's new isn't going to hear about it. It also ruins the conversation in comment threads, my whole comment was removed so the person doesn't get to see the rest of the comment either unless I go back through my history, find the thread, recreate the comment without mentioning it. All of that is unacceptable for a public forum.

[u/PrivacySubredditGuy → u/CovertSignals]

Seconded.

[u/JustMrNic3 → u/CovertSignals]

Exactly!

I couldn't agree more with this.

Not having even the freedom of speech to talk about whatever we want clearly hinders constructive critique and development.

[u/CovertSignals → u/JustMrNic3]

I was wrong as u/Chongulator pointed out, I've never moderated a large forum and clearly can't comprehend how difficult it could be. Censorship is the right answer and we should just shut the hell up and stick to the approved topics.

[u/aginsudicedmyshoe → u/[deleted]]

Isn't LineageOS also considered a privacy mobile OS?

[u/tron_cruise → u/[deleted]]

The nature of running a public forum like this is they're involved. If they don't want to be involved just hand over the sub to someone who can mentally handle it.

[u/unapologeticjerk → u/tron_cruise]

You know what else is the nature of running a public sub? Setting rules and expecting users to follow. Just like Wal-Mart, Reddit, your local pizza shop and Uber, this ain't a democracy. Bring the downvotes, lets hit 50.

[u/Globellai → u/tron_cruise]

If you want to be a mod you can start your own sub to compete with this one.

[u/guccigraves → u/Globellai]

good one

[u/JustMrNic3 → u/[deleted]]

Even so we have downvotes and report buttons to solve such issue if they arrive.

[u/TheeDynamikOne]

The first time I ever positively identified bot activity on Reddit, was on this sub. Be careful out there, I'm sure some of the richest companies on Earth, who made their name by exploiting their user base, have an army of disinformation bots working to protect their insane profit margin. The more we protect our privacy, the more money they lose.

[u/Busy-Measurement8893 → u/TheeDynamikOne]

If you see obvious bot posts feel free to report them. I clean them up as well as I can but no way can I/we read every post.

[u/trevor3431]

It’s so odd a privacy oriented sub is ok with censorship. The mods lack a backbone.

[u/Chongulator → u/trevor3431]

They "lack a backbone" because they won't do what you ask? Hmm.....

[u/Flimsy-Mix-190 → u/Chongulator]

No, they "lack a backbone" because if one set of developers can have this much power over what's said in here, then Google can come in here too and do the same thing. When will it stop? Soon none of us will be able to mention any corporation that is stealing our data or invading our privacy because the entire sub would be essentially, bought, sold and useless.

When you run a sub like this, which is basically exposing the bad players, you have to be ready for a fight because you will get push back. There is a lot of money at stake in taking people's privacy so you better believe these corporations won't take being outed lying down, depending on the size of the sub and how much of an impact it's having in making people aware this is going on. A backbone is a requirement because censoring is unacceptable.

[u/CovertSignals → u/Chongulator]

They clearly and indisputably lack backbone. A crazy dev apparently controlled them into submission over "threats" that likely lack standing.

[u/JustMrNic3 → u/trevor3431]

It would've been good if we coud've reported the mods for encorship and not obeying the freedom of speech.

[u/unapologeticjerk → u/JustMrNic3]

"Freedom of speech" doesn't exist the way you wish it did. This is a privately-owned website and a private-run sub. Just like you can't sit and call the mods assholes and expect it to be covered by the first amendment, you don't get to break the rules and cry foul. Surely this can't be lost on you. Have you ever been to a store? Literally any store in America. Right above the door there should be "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" and extending that, for any reason.

[u/titoscoachspeecher]

Im glad someone made a post, I too made a comment and it was completely nuked due to 'the author of the OS doesnt want it to be discussed here' or something of the like. Kind of interesting if its true

[u/JustMrNic3]

Indeed?

This is a very stupid rule!

We cannot even comparare it with other options.

Just because the developers of Graph3n3 doesn't want to use a closed-source chinese networks is not a good excuse!

[u/Legal-Elevator-9413]

https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1cq7cuh/comment/l3pl3si/

[u/CovertSignals → u/Legal-Elevator-9413]

Bullshit response. Erratic devs are not reasons to silence people.

[u/Chongulator → u/CovertSignals]

Spoken like someone who has never moderated a big sub.

[u/CovertSignals → u/Chongulator]

Oh wow, got me there.

[u/Flimsy-Mix-190 → u/Legal-Elevator-9413]

That basically admits that rogue developers run this subreddit and censor at will. So this means anti-privacy developers can come in here, threaten to report the sub to Reddit, get mods banned or wave around a potential lawsuit if they don't like what's said about them. Makes you wonder if you can trust anything that's being said here......

[u/Suzumebachii]

You come to reddit and expect some kind of freedom of speech ?

[u/[deleted]]

It's to avoid risks of privacy devs coming in here to talk about why they're better than everyone else.

It's the equivalent of turning on a bat signal.

[u/ThePortableSCRPN]

Hey. Psst! Look! To the right! Point 14 of the rules...

[u/salimxav1er → u/ThePortableSCRPN]

ok but why

[u/[deleted] → u/ThePortableSCRPN]

A mention is not a discussion.

[u/ThePortableSCRPN → u/[deleted]]

Right. The automod may have gone overboard there.

[u/tron_cruise → u/ThePortableSCRPN]

Exactly, remove it!

[u/[deleted]]

Read the sub rules and you'll find out.

[u/tron_cruise → u/[deleted]]

I wasn't discussing it, it was a COMMENT. Also, those rules are created by the mods, just remove that rule. They don't have to run this sub if they don't want to.

[u/GoodSamIAm]

Have u see the Health Services app ? just curious