Grants:IdeaLab/Disincentivizing Harassment of Wikimedia Contributors

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Disincentivizing Harassment of Wikimedia Contributors

Give the perpetrators of harassment exactly what they want - an audience - and allow them to harass until the cows come home. The catch, however, is that the audience isn't real. When a harassment situation is identified, tag the perpetrator so that future attempts to harass are rerouted to a clever talkbot disguised as the perpetrator's original target. With decent AI, the talkbot would function to exhaust the aggressor by always responding, but never fully taking their bait. Ignoring harassment can cause perpetrators to "up the ante" as rejection may, at least temporarily, fuel the desire for a response and lead to actions of greater consequence. Playing the waiting game also puts the onus on the victim, and creates a small victory for the perpetrator. Directing perpetrators of harassment to a cleverly disguised, emotionless punching bag protects the freedom of potential victims, deescalates the situation by removing it from a public venue, and creates an environment that discourages future attacks.

idea creator• James scott taylor

created on00:33, Monday, June 6, 2016 (UTC)

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•  Oppose "When a harassment situation is identified, tag the perpetrator so that future attempts to harass are rerouted to a clever talkbot disguised as the perpetrator's original target. With decent AI, the talkbot would function to exhaust the aggressor by always responding, but never fully taking their bait." This idea would probably require major breakthroughs in current AI technology to actually work. Infeasible. --Doveofsymplegades (talk) 08:22, 6 June 2016 (UTC)

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