Dear members,
As we build this community with your contributions, we want to set standards that match the quality of discourse you deserve.
We want this subreddit to stand apart from the Indian focused subs that often feel like echo chambers of one side or the other. That is not healthy for our growth as a country. We need quality discussions - ones where we understand each other better, empathize with each other, and come together. Critical Thinking India is not just a name. It is the expectation and the foundation of this sub.
Building on top of the previously shared guidelines, this post outlines what good participation looks like, what we expect from you, what you can expect from us, and how we plan to maintain it.
1. Post Standards
Every post should meet a basic quality threshold:
- A clear, descriptive title. No low-effort, clickbait, or ragebait titles. They are not a good starting point for meaningful engagement.
- Your own reasoning is required. Whether you share a news article, a video, or a picture - you must include text where you present your own opinion, analysis, or argument. A link dump with no-explanation does not qualify as a post.
- Steelman the opposing side. This is what sets this subreddit apart. When you make an argument, make a genuine effort to understand and present the strongest version of the opposing viewpoint - not a strawman. Show that you actually understand why someone might disagree with you, and then explain why you still hold your position.
1.1 Recognizing Quality Contributions
Posts that genuinely engage with opposing arguments in good faith will be recognized by the mod team with a special post flair. This is our way of signaling to the community that a post is worth engaging with deeply. If you believe your post presents honest arguments and addresses a steelmanned version of opposing views, you can appeal for this flair at the bottom of your post.
Beyond individual posts, we are introducing a tiered contributor flair system. Members who consistently produce well-reasoned posts and comments will earn progressively higher contributor levels/'reputation' within the sub, assigned by the mod team based on sustained quality over time. These are not something you can assign yourself. They are earned through rigorous, honest contributions with sound analysis and respectful argumentation.
Note: Upvotes and downvotes do not seriously factor into this. What matters is how well you understand opposing views and how respectfully and clearly you present your own.
Details on the exact tiers will come as the system takes shape. The principle is very simple: put in the effort to think critically and fairly, make contributions that add nuance, clarity, and better understanding, and it will not go unnoticed.
2. Comment Standards
When engaging in the comments:
Focus on ideas, not people. You have freedom of speech. We do not gatekeep you from discussing any topic or ideology. You can criticize an ideology, but you are not allowed to generalize about the people who associate with it. Attacking people, groups, or individuals by name-calling is not permitted. Disagree with arguments and ideas, not the person making them. You can criticize politicians and other public figures/influencers, but with respect.
Back your claims. Wherever possible, cite your sources and explain how you arrived at your conclusions.
Stay on topic. Derailing a discussion with unrelated tangents or bad-faith engagement is not allowed.
Don't retaliate, report. If you see someone breaking these rules - personal attacks, derailing, uncivil behavior - do not join them. Use the report button with the appropriate rule. Let the mod team handle it.
3. Enforcement
We keep track of rule violations. The process is straightforward:
- Initial violations result in warnings and content removal.
- Repeated violations, despite warnings, lead to temporary bans.
- Continued disregard for the rules results in a permanent ban.
We intend to make sure disagreements here are productive, evidence-based, and respectful.
Why This Matters
We know the majority of people are not firmly right-wing or left-wing. Most people understand that there are nuances - whether it is government decisions, world affairs, religious tensions, private sector actions, or infrastructure issues, etc. Most people know that there are good things and bad things in every person and situation.
With these standards, we want to bring out those nuances so more people are informed enough to form their own opinions about society, culture, politics, and everything around them.
This space is not for extremes. It is for those in the middle who appreciate nuance, who want to understand the world they live in better. That is the purpose of this subreddit, and we want to give and maintain space for nuanced agreements and disagreements to exist.
We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to better discussions.
- The Mod Team, r/CriticalThinkingIndia
