True Inclusivity: Open Spaces, Closed Minds

package moderation

func Moderate(content string, decentralized bool) bool {
    return decentralized && !isOffensive(content)
}

“We’re inclusive, so please, don’t speak politics.”

This is where we are. Inclusivity as long as it’s comfortable. You can be part of the group, as long as you don’t rock the boat. Don’t bring your messy, complicated self. No controversial opinions. No uncomfortable truths. Just smile, nod, and keep it chill.

But here’s the catch—if a space only includes people who follow the unspoken rules of “don’t talk about that,” is it really inclusive? Or is it just censorship dressed up in pastels?

Let’s call this what it is: sanitized exclusivity. Spaces like these aren’t built for dialogue or growth. They’re built for comfort. And comfort isn’t the same thing as connection.

Inclusivity Isn’t Playing by Their Rules

The other side of this is no better. Most platforms push a version of inclusivity that’s less about inclusion and more about control. They say things like “be respectful” and “no hate speech,” but when you dig into it, what they really mean is “agree with us or leave.” Centralized moderation turns inclusivity into an algorithm—rules that are supposed to protect people but end up creating echo chambers instead.

Inclusivity can’t just be “stick to the rules.” It has to be messy. It has to allow disagreement, discomfort, and complexity. Otherwise, it’s just another version of gatekeeping.

Decentralized Spaces: Where Inclusivity Gets Real

This is why decentralized moderation matters. Instead of a few people deciding what’s okay, the community sets the tone. Rules don’t get handed down from on high; they grow from the ground up. It’s harder, sure. People will argue. Mistakes will happen. But it’s real.

When you give people the power to shape their spaces, inclusivity stops being a buzzword and starts being something tangible. It stops being about following someone else’s rules and starts being about creating something together.

graph TD
    A[Centralized Moderation] --> B[Controlled Speech]
    C[Decentralized Moderation] --> D[Messy, Real Inclusivity]

True Inclusivity: Let It Be Messy

Inclusivity isn’t easy. It’s not about finding the perfect rules or silencing the uncomfortable. It’s about creating spaces where people can bring their whole selves, where disagreements spark growth instead of exile. It’s about leaning into the mess, not running from it.

So let’s stop pretending that inclusivity is a finished product. It’s not. It’s a process. It’s messy and imperfect and uncomfortable—and that’s what makes it worth doing.

“Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself.” – Potter Stewart