We used to have a strong libertarian contingent. Most either joined the Left or left the forum. The shift of youthful energy from Ron Paul c. 2007 to Bernie Sanders c. 2015 must be related. Young people over time focused less about freedom from war and surveillance, and more on making government a source of socioeconomic advancement and affirmation of their identities.
The forum seemed to get nastier and more cynical in general around 2012-2013 or so, in a way likely to reinforce groupthink. I think that's about when culture war issues really started to be framed more as all-or-nothing propositions in our politics (ex. the claim that Romney was waging a 'War on Women' as a major theme of the Obama campaign), and this supercharged by the Great Awokening and its reactions. So then many on the right and the dissident left (who may be seen as traitors to the left/liberal cause) have gotten the message their views are not especially welcome here and interesting thoughtful discussion is impossible. That trend has only increased. Moderators gradually increasing the grounds for censorship and banning has contributed to it as well.
The mod actions does have some truth to it, the mods have made it clear that they’re dogmatic believers of the horseshoe.
Still, am conflicted at times whether I can understand their actions, but no doubt has some interesting and needed discussions been surpressed.
