this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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I know, I know, this is the internet and that's not how it works. However, I'm weary of attempting to have a serious discussion only to be met with unserious and intellectually dishonest replies. For example, asking a specific and nuanced question and only getting replies that ignore the details or the question entirely.

Are there any communities where people make an honest effort to have real discussions? Where we take each others points seriously, demonstrate we understand them, and then address them?

There must be some communities like this, right?

Edit: I need to clarify that I am not criticizing or complaining about THIS community! I'm looking for communities focused on specific topics that have this attitude.

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[–] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

For the most part, not that I've found. Occasionally here.

[–] DomeGuy@lemmy.world 7 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Where we take each others points seriously, demonstrate we understand them, and then address them?

This isn't how human discussions work, unfortunately. At least not outside of formal debate clubs.

Humans in general use language to understand or be understood. If you make an assertion and people "ignore" it by trolling, they are expressing that they have disdain for your position--which implies at least a coarse understanding of it.

I've found that essentially any place on the internet can lead to worthwhile discussions, if you simply practice the habits of ignoring the trolls and engaging with those who respond to you.

[–] CallMeAl@piefed.world 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm not talking about trolling.

I'm specifically looking for discussions where Intellectually Honesty is practiced because that's how the people involved would like to engage in discussion.

edit: typos

[–] DomeGuy@lemmy.world 0 points 10 hours ago

While I generally a fan of Wikipedia as a way to explain obscure terms people may not be familiar with, in this case I don't think your linked article reflects a distinct concept worth seeking.

People in general are honest in their discussions. Asserting that you want to have a dedicated space for "intellectual honesty" asserts that it isn't workable in the extant communities, and implies that the rest of us are being "intellectually dishonest" if we are "partisan" or do not pretend our beliefs do not affect how we state facts.

The internet writ large, and social media in particular, is neither a scientific journal nor academic forum nor business back-room. And biases always affect how we state facts.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 13 points 15 hours ago

Yes, there are communities like that. I know of two or three, like you said, focused on specific topics.

But the key to joining a community like that is to demonstrate elsewhere that you are already someone who will participate seriously and civilly in discussion. There's no shortcut for this. Everyone wants to be listened to, but not everyone wants to listen. The people curating these spaces are only looking to add new users who are proven qualities.

[–] gurty@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

Appreciate what you are asking for but the internet is a shit-slinging fest and when you add upvotes and downvotes into the mix, a lot of people try to present the popular opinion. You’d need to have the discussions in person.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 6 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Someone would have to enforce that. Which means they'd have to lay down specific rules to determine what's honest and real and serious. I wouldn't want to be the one to do any of that, especially not without a group of other mods to share the inevitable blame.

[–] CallMeAl@piefed.world 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I think you just described moderation in general :)

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Well, there is a difference between a community dedicated to serious discussion and one for, say, shitposting. The shitposting mod can let a lot more slide that wouldn't fly if you want to achieve deep insights through conversation. And those are just the two ends of a spectrum.

[–] CallMeAl@piefed.world 2 points 12 hours ago

Yes and I'm learning that many serious discussion communities are invite only to make moderation easier.

[–] tangible@piefed.social 4 points 14 hours ago

Tildes might be what you're looking for. It's invite-based, which helps to keep the level of discourse at a somewhat decent level.

[–] etherphon@piefed.world 2 points 13 hours ago

There are a few places like that still left on the internet, I don't really want to mention them by name since they probably like to stay that way not that they would get a huge influx from here but regardless. I will say, I have no had any luck making good friends on the internet after decades of use, but I'm not good at it either and I have a tendency to drift away. Forums are a good place to start though as mentioned.

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Socially, it is much better to look for a small group of friends or hobby group for this in IRL.....not online.

If you want to do this more seriously then you'd be looking for some academic community.....a university or bunch of professionals who are involved in an area of your interest who are willing to talk to you. You would need to have a pretty serious knowledge base to be involved at this level.

If you're dealing with people online, then you're dealing with The Public. There's only so much you can expect.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

If you want to do this more seriously then you'd be looking for some academic community.....a university or bunch of professionals who are involved in an area of your interest who are willing to talk to you.

Those are called "journals."

[–] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 14 hours ago

Depends what the topic is, but generally you want forums. Forums are more geared to this. Reddit (and Lemmy, which is based on the Reddit model) tried to replicate and decentralise forums (whereas on a forum you have a small set of mods and an admin or two; on Reddit, each sub would have its own mods; Lemmy improves upon this with instances (for example, the one I'm on is more freedom of speech/anarchy)), but forums still exist. A lot of them have died out. One forum that tries to take itself pretty seriously is Ars Technica's. They can be a bit of a clannish bunch and they're a little distrusting of newcomers, but some of them have been there for 20 years.

https://arstechnica.com/civis/

Worth noting, when they say forum, they lean pretty heavily into the original definition of a gathering place where people would gather and talk, so there are similar themes throughout the site. But, if you like tech stuff and science, that's their thing (their name is Latin for "The Art of Technology").

I'm not a member. I was, a very long time ago. I had issues with some long standing members and they basically ran me off. But it was like 10-12 years ago. So who knows. Things change. People change. And I don't even remember what I was called then. But, for what it's worth, I would imagine if Arsians have a social network they use, it's probably Lemmy/Piefed, though I imagine it's more Reddit.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think there is. Way too easy to troll people and argue in bad faith.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Create your own sub and mod it how you like. Serious people will come.