Why WikiPraxis

The purpose of this platform is to provide a venue for constructive political dialogue and activism. The first phase involves the Discourse tool, where users collaborate to summarize the arguments of common debate topics, to be used as a reference for the general public. Political discussions on existing social media platforms are often chaotic and lead nowhere. Below we’ve listed a number of problems with existing systems, and how our approach addresses them.

Problems and Solutions

Problem

Repetitive Discussions

Users of existing social media platforms repeat the same discussions over and over as they engage with different people.

Solution

Create an archive of frequently discussed topics, and have collaboratively edited summaries of talking points available for users to review when needed.

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Problem

Defensive Resistance and Partisanship

Users of existing platforms often encounter resistance from those with an opposing view, who tend to become defensive because of assumed partisanship or other factors.

Solution

Shift the persuasion mechanism to an impersonal, impartial summary of talking points which covers both sides of a topic. Because the summary is edited by the community, it has no partisan loyalty. Therefore, those reading it will not feel as if they are losing an argument. This will allow them to approach the topic with an open mind.

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Problem

Algorithmic Echo Chambers ("Bubbles")

Social media algorithms and other factors have sorted people into "bubbles"—echo chambers of positive reinforcement where they only get information and commentary that supports their preexisting views.

Solution

Placing both sides of each issue side-by-side will (benevolently) burst all of these bubbles in a neutral environment that is moderated by the people rather than exploited for profit.

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Problem

Media Consolidation and Censorship

Concentration of media ownership has led to the suppression of views outside the mainstream.

Solution

By placing opposing views on equal footing, all points of view (except for hate speech) will have a chance to be heard.

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Problem

Prevalence of Propaganda

A steady stream of propaganda has led the public to believe many things that are not true.

Solution

Placing these propaganda arguments on equal footing with (properly sourced) arguments debunking them will allow the public to find the truth.

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Problem

Extremist Takeovers of Forums

Online forums are often hijacked by those with extreme views, drowning out more sensible voices.

Solution

When the sensible views are placed next to those of the extremists, it will become clear which viewpoint to subscribe to.

In theory, the left and the right can use these tools to work through their differences, with no violence whatsoever.