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The anti-Muslim/Islam nonsense needs to stop

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Look, I get it. Many of you don’t like Islam and some of you don’t personally like Muslims. It’s not so much that personal opinions regarding Islam that bothers me (because 90% of the people here critiquing Islam know diddly squat on Islam), it’s the fact that “the powers that be” posts these same anti-Islam threads as featured threads on the website.

I, at least in the past spread the criticism around to different religions yet I rarely see those threads pop up as a featured thread. The issues that I see with those threads becoming featured discussions is that you’re featuring these “critiques” but these are redundant issues that have been regurgitated and talked about.

All I am saying is if I criticize Judaism, or Hinduism, or any other faith let that be a featured thread as well. I’m not saying that threads I’ve made in the past weren’t featured but it seems that more likely than not, anything critiquing Islam or the Muslim community at large more commonly gets featured over threads that question the validity of other faiths.

That to me displays the level of bias by the website itself or those who are in control of featuring threads. This to me is not fairness. Not to mention featuring threads that continually bash Islam or Muslims just draws people who already have a negative view of the faith into discussion, making it not an actual intelligent discussion, but an echo chamber.

If it’s going to be about religion let it be about it, but stop always featuring threads that criticize Islam. This is one of the main reasons why the only moderate Muslim who was a moderator left. It just fosters the level of toxicity that makes actual discussion impossible.
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
it’s the fact that “the powers that be” posts these same anti-Islam threads as featured threads on the website

These "powers that be" that you speak off, are very likely blind algorithms that automatically shows threads on the "featured" page if and when they match certain parameters like for example amount of views or replies, perhaps cross referenced with the amount of "up time" so that "popularity" plays a role as well.

I don't think there is a human hand-picking these threads and flagging them as "featured".
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
These "powers that be" that you speak off, are very likely blind algorithms that automatically shows threads on the "featured" page if and when they match certain parameters like for example amount of views or replies, perhaps cross referenced with the amount of "up time" so that "popularity" plays a role as well.

I don't think there is a human hand-picking these threads and flagging them as "featured".

I disagree and whether that’s true or not these algorithms you speak of in producing these threads as featured display the same “behavior” as YouTube and Facebook. Many YOuTubers has had the same issues when they create videos that are controversial and are flagged which affects their monetization.

The problem I see is that it is displaying a bias from observing it.
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
I disagree and whether that’s true or not these algorithms you speak of in producing these threads as featured display the same “behavior” as YouTube and Facebook.

Not sure what you mean by that.
I'm inclined to disagree. On failbook and youtube, the links you are displayed are based on your browsing history etc. They are personally tailored to your person.

That is not the case here. It seems completely consistent with hard coded parameters like amount of views and replies - whatever the subject.

Many YOuTubers has had the same issues when they create videos that are controversial and are flagged which affects their monetization.
How does that relate to the process by which the software of the forum puts threads on the featured page?

The problem I see is that it is displaying a bias from observing it.

It seems to me that the problem here, is rather you engaging in confirmation bias and thinking there is "more" to it then just a blind algorithm promoting certain threads based on amount of views/replies, not keeping into account the subject or content of the posts at all.
 

dybmh

דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
FWIW: I view those threads as opposition research... but lately I've been avoiding them.
 

Lyndon

"Peace is the answer" quote: GOD, 2014
Premium Member
moderators decide if a thread is featured or not even though the initial process is an algorythm
 

A Vestigial Mote

Well-Known Member
I disagree and whether that’s true or not these algorithms you speak of in producing these threads as featured display the same “behavior” as YouTube and Facebook. Many YOuTubers has had the same issues when they create videos that are controversial and are flagged which affects their monetization.
Seems like you're saying that YouTube and Facebook act opposite what you're claiming RF is doing. Are you saying that "controversial" videos end up being pushed to the fore as "featured?" And that then, once featured, they get negative feedback and "flagging" which affects the YouTubers monetization? You see my confusion? Getting "featured" here means that a thread gets a lot of attention - which is the problem you see with it because anti-Islam threads end up being featured due to "whatever" is going on in the background. However - you're comparing this to a system within which the same type of controversial content is flagged and the attention ends up hurting the video's status.
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
I'm inclined to disagree. On failbook and youtube, the links you are displayed are based on your browsing history etc.

No. I’m talking about YOuTubers making videos and YouTube taking it down sending warnings to the creators for community violations. It happens a lot to Muslims on YouTube who are creating interesting content and while others who commit copyright infringement stay online.

For example I can post a video of the movie “The Passion of the Christ” so long as I tweak it a little. Or post the full video of “The Young Messiah” movie, yet if I’m posting content on Islam or something else more likely than not, it gets flagged and taken down. So I’m saying certain websites and social media platforms have biases. It’s not algorithms it’s people behind the scenes.

It seems to me that the problem here, is rather you engaging in confirmation bias and thinking there is "more" to it then just a blind algorithm promoting certain threads based on amount of views/replies, not keeping into account the subject or content of the posts at all.

Hardly. Been an off and on member since 2013 when I really started posting one of the threads I made was critiquing Islamic determinism. It immediately was a featured thread. Not to mention I was really close to one of the moderators who happened to be Muslim and one of her reasons leaving was the environment here so don’t tell me about what I know.
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Seems like you're saying that YouTube and Facebook act opposite what you're claiming RF is doing. Are you saying that "controversial" videos end up being pushed to the fore as "featured?" And that then, once featured, they get negative feedback and "flagging" which affects the YouTubers monetization? You see my confusion? Getting "featured" here means that a thread gets a lot of attention - which is the problem you see with it because anti-Islam threads end up being featured due to "whatever" is going on in the background. However - you're comparing this to a system within which the same type of controversial content is flagged and the attention ends up hurting the video's status.

For my own personal intellectual enrichment I look at popular videos on YouTube. For example “The merciful servant” which is an Islamic platform. For whatever reason anti-Muslims tend to flag their videos which resulted in them losing monetization in addition to videos being taken down while anti-Muslim videos are plentiful.

ultimately what I’m saying is that there is bias in the background on approving threads that are featured. More often than not, I see Muslim threads that either border anti-muslim rhetoric, or critique it either way the redundant issues that we constantly talk about are always popular where as original ideas that aren’t always discussed are not.

That says a lot about THIS environment. You see, we can talk all day about Muhammad and 9 year old Aisha all day, but we won’t talk about the issues women face in Judaism when it comes to them trying to get a divorce and they can’t.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Look, I get it. Many of you don’t like Islam and some of you don’t personally like Muslims. It’s not so much that personal opinions regarding Islam that bothers me (because 90% of the people here critiquing Islam know diddly squat on Islam), it’s the fact that “the powers that be” posts these same anti-Islam threads as featured threads on the website.

I, at least in the past spread the criticism around to different religions yet I rarely see those threads pop up as a featured thread. The issues that I see with those threads becoming featured discussions is that you’re featuring these “critiques” but these are redundant issues that have been regurgitated and talked about.

All I am saying is if I criticize Judaism, or Hinduism, or any other faith let that be a featured thread as well. I’m not saying that threads I’ve made in the past weren’t featured but it seems that more likely than not, anything critiquing Islam or the Muslim community at large more commonly gets featured over threads that question the validity of other faiths.

That to me displays the level of bias by the website itself or those who are in control of featuring threads. This to me is not fairness. Not to mention featuring threads that continually bash Islam or Muslims just draws people who already have a negative view of the faith into discussion, making it not an actual intelligent discussion, but an echo chamber.

If it’s going to be about religion let it be about it, but stop always featuring threads that criticize Islam. This is one of the main reasons why the only moderate Muslim who was a moderator left. It just fosters the level of toxicity that makes actual discussion impossible.

Threads are featured by algorithm, no human intervention is used. However i believe that if a featured thread is reported as offensive then with with a consensus decision a featured thread may be taken down. If it offends then report it
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
No. I’m talking about YOuTubers making videos and YouTube taking it down sending warnings to the creators for community violations.

I'ld think that such things will only happen after some viewer reported the video, after which youtube staff would review it and see if the report is idd in violation of terms or not. And take action if it is.

It happens a lot to Muslims on YouTube who are creating interesting content and while others who commit copyright infringement stay online.

You mean, those videos with such infringement wich aren't being reported by viewers stay online?

Every day, millions upon millions of hours worth of video's are being uploaded to youtube. It's patently insane to think that youtube staff is reviewing it all. While they certainly will also have some automation AI processes running to try and detect certain types of violation (like porn and stuff), for most kinds of violations, especially speech contents, they will depend on the commity reporting it for the most part.

For example I can post a video of the movie “The Passion of the Christ” so long as I tweak it a little. Or post the full video of “The Young Messiah” movie, yet if I’m posting content on Islam or something else more likely than not, it gets flagged and taken down. So I’m saying certain websites and social media platforms have biases. It’s not algorithms it’s people behind the scenes.

All this means, based on the info you are giving, is that people are quicker to flag things concerning islam then other things.

If you are going to claim that youtube staff is giving special treatment to certain video's over others in terms of reported violations, then I'm just going to ask you for statistical evidence of that.

Which I don't think you'll be able to share as it would necessarily require "inside" information from google concerning the amount of reportings and resulting take-downs, ranked by subject.

Hardly. Been an off and on member since 2013 when I really started posting one of the threads I made was critiquing Islamic determinism. It immediately was a featured thread. Not to mention I was really close to one of the moderators who happened to be Muslim and one of her reasons leaving was the environment here so don’t tell me about what I know.

You say "hardly", but what followed after that was a textbook case of something that would completely fit confirmation bias....
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
Look, I get it. Many of you don’t like Islam and some of you don’t personally like Muslims. It’s not so much that personal opinions regarding Islam that bothers me (because 90% of the people here critiquing Islam know diddly squat on Islam), it’s the fact that “the powers that be” posts these same anti-Islam threads as featured threads on the website.

I, at least in the past spread the criticism around to different religions yet I rarely see those threads pop up as a featured thread. The issues that I see with those threads becoming featured discussions is that you’re featuring these “critiques” but these are redundant issues that have been regurgitated and talked about.

All I am saying is if I criticize Judaism, or Hinduism, or any other faith let that be a featured thread as well. I’m not saying that threads I’ve made in the past weren’t featured but it seems that more likely than not, anything critiquing Islam or the Muslim community at large more commonly gets featured over threads that question the validity of other faiths.

That to me displays the level of bias by the website itself or those who are in control of featuring threads. This to me is not fairness. Not to mention featuring threads that continually bash Islam or Muslims just draws people who already have a negative view of the faith into discussion, making it not an actual intelligent discussion, but an echo chamber.

If it’s going to be about religion let it be about it, but stop always featuring threads that criticize Islam. This is one of the main reasons why the only moderate Muslim who was a moderator left. It just fosters the level of toxicity that makes actual discussion impossible.
As a Christian, I assume that what Islam should be is shown in itś holy books, just as what Christianity should be is clear from itś holy book, the New Testament.

Further, history shows how Christianity went of the rails, and betrayed itś fundamentals in the NT.

History shows the actions of Islam.

To me, the Koran and Hadith portray a religion that doesn´t respect individual freedom to choose a faith, and is violent. I am not a Muslim scholar, I can only read the books.

Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, all the other isms do not seem to be based in violence, they quietly go about their faith, without demands or agitation to others.

I have known Muslims, not as friends, but in passing, and they were always polite and kind. Yet, I knew what their Holy books said.

So, I could be completely wrong, yet I suspect Islam as a faith. I admire the Sikhś, and I know what Islam did to them when it invaded their homeland.

I would be happy for you to tell me where I am wrong
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
To me, the Koran and Hadith portray a religion that doesn´t respect individual freedom to choose a faith, and is violent. I am not a Muslim scholar, I can only read the books.

First, anyone who takes the trouble to actually read the scriptures of a religion to understand what it teaches is ahead of too many others who don't take the trouble.

But balance is needed is to not focus on only some passages but read those that have the opposite message. I can find passages of both peaceful and warlike kind in Islam. I can find very positive and loving messages in strong Hadith.

Also, it's important what people who follow a religion actually do. When Buddhists use violence to attack Muslims, they betray their beliefs. When Christians do the opposite of what is in the Sermon on the Mount, they betray their beliefs. And this is true of Islam as well.
 

Lyndon

"Peace is the answer" quote: GOD, 2014
Premium Member
This was explained in "Ask the staff anything" thread. The volunteer staff have no control over it.
Tom
that is not true, the staff have the option of blocking any thread from being featured for any reason
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
It's just ridiculous that many like SA don't look in the mirror when criticising other religions and seem to cling almost dementedly to their own belief system
It's profoundly hypocritical when Christians use the "no true Scotsman" fallacy when subjects like the crusades, EuroChristian colonialism, slavery, the Holocaust, or the invasions of Iran and Iraq are mentioned. But then go on to viciously criticise Islam for violent elements.
Tom
 

Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
Look, I get it. Many of you don’t like Islam and some of you don’t personally like Muslims. It’s not so much that personal opinions regarding Islam that bothers me (because 90% of the people here critiquing Islam know diddly squat on Islam), it’s the fact that “the powers that be” posts these same anti-Islam threads as featured threads on the website.

Sadly, crazy people make Islam what they want it to be, but it's not supported by the Quran. Big problem.
 
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