In what approximates a "user revolt" against editors at the Slashdot.com online community, a discussion thread questioning the moderation system has become one of the most popular in history despite the editorial "bitchslap of the century" [SlashDot]. A "bitchslap" gives a post a -1 rating (the lowest) making the post virtually invisible. In this case an increasingly popular (if offtopic) and controversial thread was sent to "-1 Hell" only to become more popular: the apparent censorship reinforced the critics' possition. SlashDot.com (or "/.") has long been a bastion of Open Source software discussion, technology news and perenial anti-Microsoft propaganda. A conspiracy among moderators, or the site's administrators, to squelch debate, if proven, would amount to the ultimate of corruption of the community [/. currently hosts an online poll "Favorite ammendment?" in which the 1st has 44% or 8467 votes.]

The phenomenon derives from the particular qualities of /.'s moderation system, which is emulated (with /.'s software) across the net. The system allows moderators to cast votes on posts and comments using predefined categories. The users then recieve "Karma Points" - prestige - based on the rating of their posts which gives advanced rating credibility to their future posts. Users may browse threads and sections based upon the rating of the message (e.g. "don't show me anything less than a 3"). A post which is rated -1 has essentially plummeted into the muck with "Goat Boy's anus" and David Horowitz commentaries and is unlikely to be heard from again.

As of 16:50 01/18/02 The first Slashdot troll post investigation is over 48 hours old, is ranked -1, and is still growing in length and moderator votes. Indymedia.org visitors who imagine a 48-hour old hidden newswire article with 648(and counting) comments will get an impression of what this means to /.

Current moderator votes:
Offtopic=164,
Flamebait=4,
Troll=10,
Redundant=3,
Insightful=31,
Interesting=93,
Informative=26,
Funny=4,
Overrated=7,
Underrated=29,
Total=371