this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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One of the things that annoyed the shit out of me when I was on Reddit is when users would sift through the post/comment history of your account to use as ammunition in an argument they are having with you now. Is there a way to block or limit access to my account history?

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 year ago

Public forum means public

Don't want your history there for people to see, don't make it in the first place

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

Yes, by not posting or commenting anywhere. Everything you do on Lemmy is public.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

If that is being done, either you are the asshole, or they are. In either case it's pointless to continue the discussion.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It's impossible based on how Lemmy works on principle.

I have a rule, that if I'm debating with someone, and they use one of these things against me (or against someone else):

  • calling up the post history (unless the receiver is an actual nazi, spambot etc.)

  • making fun of grammar (unless the receiver deserves it, e.g. doing the same thing first)

  • accusing of something bad or evil without any evidence, or being a total snowflake

  • using "grand" words like disinformation, whataboutism or entitlement completely inappropriately, and to just shut the other person up

Then I consider the discussing immediately done, and I'm likely to block the person outright, because it's clear they only debate in bad faith and just use dirty tactics to make tgemselves feel better; so it's a waste of time to keep talking to them, and best to avoid ever getting into that situation with the person again.

[–] Eezyville 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah I agree. I had to block a few people already for being toxic in one of those ways. I wish I had the programming skills to put in these privacy features myself though. Maybe only show recent posts/comments, only show posts from certain instances or communities. But I can see that being an issue to some.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Nope. I agree that this type of information should not be publicly accessible by default, for privacy reasons. But no, this is not how Lemmy works. If you aren't happy with it then this may not be the platform for you, as it doesn't seem like this will change.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel it should be public and connected to an account, but this account shouldn't be connected to a person unless they explicitly wish so.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

Well, I certainly don't think anyone should be able to look at anyone else's vote or comment history or anything. It nearly always leads to off-topic arguing. Perhaps simply allowing users to opt-out would suffice.

[–] Eezyville 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know of any document that explains "how Lemmy works". From the official website and the Github page all it says is it's a link aggregator and discussion platform that's self hosted. Each instance can moderate itself and impose their own rules. Nowhere does it state that all profiles have to be public. The official site also states that there is no advertising, tracking, or secret algorithms. All I ask for is privacy and I think that would align with what I've found on Lemmy's official stance.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I agree, but thats not how Lemmy was programmed. I feel like Lemmy has other privacy issues, but its better than the alternative of Reddit.

[–] merde 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

are you asking about this because you were fired a month ago?

[–] Eezyville 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is that a genuine question or you trying to be witty?

[–] merde 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

excuse me 😁

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

You didn't, did you?

[–] can 4 points 1 year ago

Make your own instance and post each comment under a new account?

[–] biela 3 points 1 year ago

Posts in this community should be directly related to sh.itjust.works, not just Lemmy in general. With that being said, I think that the question has been answered thoroughly by the folks here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Either don't say shitty things, or stand by the things you post. If you're concerned about things you say being used against you, then you either know that your stances are ethically or morally questionable, or you enjoy bad-faith arguments for the fun of it.

[–] sanpedropeddler 6 points 1 year ago

That's assuming my past mistakes are caused by bad faith and not incompetence

[–] Eezyville 3 points 1 year ago

No it isn't about shitty things being said. It's about you're previous post being used as a strawman to silence your current posts. Like if we were arguing about R Kelly's music royalties going to his victims and you decide to go back in my post history some months to find something I said about the war in Ukraine to use against me in my argument. It is unrelated but you didn't like either arguments so you want to use as dirt instead of arguing your point.

[–] FractalsInfinite 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nope. However you can use alts with connected or duplicate names, that way you can separate post history while avoiding accusations of being a sockpuppet.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And then you get banned if you (even accidentally) upvote something with two accounts.

[–] FractalsInfinite 5 points 1 year ago

That requires the host instance to have set up proper anti alt measures, or the admins of the instance with the upvoted post to be paying close attention. As such I am pretty sure with only 2 accounts the chances of detection are minimal.