Is Void Linux a pro-censorship distro ?

[thealio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cpqd9T2rCg

Is Void Linux a pro-censorship distro ?

And, if yes, why a user should use Void , if packages are censored for political reasons?

[dogknowsnx]

#46920

[thealio]

@dogknowsnx #46920 is a point, but, going deeper about my concerns :

• Does Void Linux Developers support software censorship?
• If yes, has the Void Project a declared (or just internal) censorship policy?
• What are the bases and the requisites that made a package worth of being censored?
• Shuould a user feel discriminated by Void devs if he use a packages censored by them ( on the discussed example, xlibre screenshoots were censored, while wayland / xorg screenshots weren't, so this seems to me discriminatory for Void Linux xlibre users, because their screenshots are censored, while the other user's ones aren't , for no apparent reasons)
• Why a user should be involved in (and donate to) a software project that adopt this kind of silent but effective censorship?

I'm waiting an answer by Void Dev team, so we could be officially (and publically) informed about their policies

[Clos3y]

@dogknowsnx #46920 is a point, but, going deeper about my concerns :

I cannot see how that is a related point at all: if anything it's showing the complete opposite, since the devs refused to censor a package on political or moral grounds, which is what prudish user was calling for in that issue.

[dogknowsnx]

???

[Clos3y]

cowsay ships bong.cow by default: removing it (as the issue linked requested) would be censoring the package i.e. you're making a change the package or associated files that is politically or morally motivated. There's not practical reason why the maintainer should remove bong.cow with a patch.

[dogknowsnx]

????

[Duncaen]

The subreddit is being moderated to keep it technical and Void Linux related. The deleted post had no content besides a screenshot of third party software.

[thealio]

Hi @Duncaen
Regarding what you said:

• If a screenshoot regarding xlibre xserver correcttly running on Void Linux was deleted to keep the subreddit technical , you should also perform the same mass deletion posts on the screenshoots reharding xorg and wayland running on Void Linux, because they have the same technical value, just running a different graphical server. I'm not aware about wayland and xorg screenshoot deletion, so, I'm asking you on what kind of base xlibre (xorg fork) have less technical value than wayland and xorg.
• In a sort of way, an xlibre server running on Void screenshoot could be considered to currently have an higer technical value than a xorg or wayland screenshoot: since xlibre is "fresh and new software" , a screenshoot demostrating it can correctly run on Void linux could be considered having a higer techinical interest.
• If you delete the screenshot because xlibre is currently 3rd party software, you should delete all the Void linux containing 3rd party software, including compiled software and flatpak software, because they are 3rd party. And after that, you should explain why those have not techical value and why they have been removed.
• If screenshoots regarding Void in general have no technical value, you should delete all the screenshoots posted in the subreddit, exept those that are about a real issue about Void .
• After that, you should declare and explain what are the right content to "keep it technical" , and daily delete the content that don't respect those politics regarding techinical valuable contents in the Void subreeddit.
• A personal suggestin: If you wana keep screenshoot separate from technical argumentation, just create a subreddit for screenshots

[thealio]

Also, I'm waiting an answer abou my previoous concerns:

• Does Void Linux Developers support software censorship?
• If yes, has the Void Project a declared (or just internal) censorship policy?
• What are the bases and the requisites that made a package worth of being censored?
• Shuould a user feel discriminated by Void devs if he use a packages censored by them ( on the discussed example, xlibre screenshoots were censored, while wayland / xorg screenshots weren't, so this seems to me discriminatory for Void Linux xlibre users, because their screenshots are censored, while the other user's ones aren't , for no apparent reasons)
• Why a user should be involved in (and donate to) a software project that adopt this kind of silent but effective censorship?

[Duncaen]

Hi @Duncaen Regarding what you said:

• If a screenshoot regarding xlibre xserver correcttly running on Void Linux was deleted to keep the subreddit technical , you should also perform the same mass deletion posts on the screenshoots reharding xorg and wayland running on Void Linux, because they have the same technical value, just running a different graphical server. I'm not aware about wayland and xorg screenshoot deletion, so, I'm asking you on what kind of base xlibre (xorg fork) have less technical value than wayland and xorg.

Screenshot threads get deleted all the time (here are same of the latest examples):

• https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n7op8e/rate_my_setup/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n6ap1r/installed_void_linux_on_this_old_laptop_yesterday/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n4e4p2/ultimately_my_minimal_installation_of_void_linux/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n2gqtm/void_dwm_is_amazing/

• If you delete the screenshot because xlibre is currently 3rd party software, you should delete all the Void linux containing 3rd party software, including compiled software and flatpak software, because they are 3rd party. And after that, you should explain why those have not techical value and why they have been removed.

There are auto mod rule that deleted any mentions of xdeb (converts debian packages to xbps packages, potentially breaking systems) or voidbuilds.xyz (third party iso's of void) and we probably deleted links to third party repositories or forks of void linux. Screenshots of flatpaks would get deleted too.

• If screenshoots regarding Void in general have no technical value, you should delete all the screenshoots posted in the subreddit, exept those that are about a real issue abou Void .

The examples show that.

• After that, you should declare and explain what are the right content to "keep it technical" , and daily delete the content that don't respect those politics regarding techinical valuable contents in the Void subreeddit.

Again, we moderate the subreddit, and a lot of things get deleted, including screenshots and questions about software that is not strictly void related.

[Duncaen]

Also, I'm waiting an answer abou my previoous concerns:

• Does Void Linux Developers support software censorship?

No?

• If yes, has the Void Project a declared (or just internal) censorship policy?

No? There is no censorship policy.

• What are the bases and the requisites that made a package worth of being censored?

There is no censorship of packages, we have no control over what you install or use.

• Shuould a user feel discriminated by Void devs if he use a packages censored by them ( on the discussed example, xlibre screenshoots were censored, while wayland / xorg screenshots weren't, so this seems to me discriminatory for Void Linux xlibre users, because their screenshots are censored, while the other user's ones aren't , for no apparent reasons)

No they shouldn't, there was no discrimination based on desktop environment, window system, window server, window manager, xorg, wayland or whatever you want to use.

• Why a user should be involved in (and donate to) a software project that adopt this kind of silent but effective censorship?

Users should be involved, because they like void linux, there are no donations, you would probably know that if you weren't someone coming from a drama youtube video about a deleted screenshot post.

[thealio]

I found you answers formally correct , exept the last point regarding project support.
We use or support any project , so users have to make a choice regarding to what projects to support. So, in my opinion, a accurate evaluation regarding declared policies, actual behavior and technical value of a project should be made, the fact that there could be some concerns about the project's conduct won't help at all.

Reagrding Void , it's a very technical valid project, no doubt, maybe there are some packages that can be better packaged, but I think it's a good distro, and It's a shame that some kind of behaviors and decisions by the team can rise a shade on the entire project.

Regardind the video source itself, it's only taking an exemple from those xlibre screenshoots removed , to criticize a policy that maybe begins to be harmful for the project, and surely have to be revisioned .

I appreciate the point-by-point answer btw

[bitterhalt]

Void has become another political meme distro. Users should not suffer from the political views of the maintainers..

[Duncaen]

Nobody is suffering. A post with just a screenshot was deleted, like many other posts.

[dogknowsnx]

I beg to differ - "users" should rather be grateful that there are "maintainers" making decisions/selections and doing the work for free in their spare time.

[bitterhalt]

Yeah, nobody is suffering if they share same political views. Like in already deleted post in Reddit your ex.maintainer calls Void users "shitters" without any sanctions, while last one who commented that gets permanent ban. https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1nd2uam/

Very hypocritical, if you ask me.

[Duncaen]

I think the only people who got permanently banned were calling people mentally ill or sending private messages with slurs. But yes "shitter" is pretty harsh in comparsion.

[dogknowsnx]

You're quoting out of context, I happened to have read that post before it got removed. I'm a Void user and nobody called me names.

[tuxbreak]

I started using Void Linux in 2015 and never imagined we could get to this point of censorship and repression. I am very upset with what is happening on Reddit.

I ask you, developers, what is the need for this censorship? Why not allow Xlibre to have its rightful place in Void Linux? Why is this necessary? I'm upset because, all these years, I've always liked the Void Linux approach, but with all this censorship, it's become something I don't want to use anymore.

As users, we have the habit of sharing our experiences with Void and with other users, regardless of which software or services we use. The project should adopt a more flexible stance on this, with the aim of keeping Void Linux open to everyone, not just a selective group of people, as this loses the meaning of collaboration. This aggressive censorship needs to end right now. You are willing to lose your users by insisting on censoring packages that were made by users, just because you are defending a political side.

Please be understanding and don't go down that path. There are many users who love Void. I am one of those users who have always used Void Linux, but all this aggressive censorship is killing Void Linux as a project. If it continues down this path of censoring packages, I don't think this is the way to go for a project like this, but it's actually getting there. You guys aren't handling it wisely.

[thealio]

Regarding what you said, you should also delete:
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1nde3l0/void_linux_proot/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n7kq9m/jumping_on_the_void/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n8i1xh/a_void_linux_themed_plymouth_boot_splash_screen/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1mr6zl4/well_i_saw_that_comming_i_can_login_at_least/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1mjhdj0/void_linux_splash_for_dark_background/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1mcawee/installed_on_a_d630_freebsd_void/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1n610mw/void_vs_arch_why_void_linux_is_the_superior/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1m5sy3x/hlwm_on_void/
https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1lwdfgj/just_moved_from_gentoo_to_void/

Maybe other stuff

[thealio]

@Duncaen @classabbyamp
Regarding the managing of the subreddit
I truly propose a second subreddit dedicated to screenshoots and other "no technical stuff" , so posts can be just posted or moved here (dunno if it's possible to move a post to another sbureddit BTW).

This surely can help to avoid confusion about "censorship" and "software political stuff" (thing I'm personally against of)

I'd like to know what you devs think about this propose

[classabbyamp]

r/unixporn exists for screenshots

[thealio]

Yeah,
but screenshoots and other "no technical stuff" removed are causing issues and time waste to the Void project , having those issues is harmful to the project, and those things need a solution.
Find a solutiton is about you , we colud stay here to talk about "Void censorship" forever, or you could try to adopt a solution that will not consist to remove stuff posted by users.
Choose your preferred option about

[dogknowsnx]

no package has a "rightful place" in any distro. We make decisions about inclusion based on the features provided by a package, the stability of the software, and whether it is possible to work productively with an upstream source.

Marked as answer - moved on with life.

[dogknowsnx]

Github, how many times do I have to unsubscribe from this?
EDIT: Answer: Every time I had been tempted to leave another comment! Problem solved..

[zdykstra]

It'd be censorship to allow you to unsubscribe. Sorry, I don't make the rules.

[HaplessIdiot]

you guys are losing rank on distrowatch because you dont wanna make an xlibre variant or listen to your users... artix has passed you up lmao

[dogknowsnx]

Let me rephrase that part: Quoting a meaningless cat-biting-its-tail ranking from some website.. Aaaand unsubbed EDIT from this pointless and defamatory waste of time.

[HaplessIdiot]

Let me rephrase that part: Quoting a meaningless cat-biting-its-tail ranking from some website.. Aaaand unsubbed.

you werent useful in the discussion anyway who cares if you unsub you didnt contribute anthing besides sassy attitude that i can tell.

[Duncaen]

When asked if Void Linux supports software censorship, the maintainer says “No… there is no censorship policy” and “we have no control over what you install or use.”
However, in the same thread, they defend deleting posts about certain software and blocking links to certain repos which is a form of gatekeeping information about those tools.
you guys wanna look like you are open and free but abuse admin powers when you wanna hide stuff. You are contradicting yourselves in this very discussion give it a reread.

The subreddit is more or less moderated like we would moderate an issue tracker. Posts with "look at my fancy desktop" are regularly deleted. Posts that seek support for programs that are not strictly void linux specific get deleted. Posts that promote installing debian packages on void linux with xdeb are automatically deleted.

We simply do not care about non technical posts or posts that provide non-official resources. We have better things to do than having to filter through what is official and what not. And people coming here or to the subreddit because a drama youtuber made a video ranting about how "woke" wayland is because a post consisting of a screenshot got deleted, without considering why it was deleted is pretty annoying and distracting.

[thealio]

Actulal fact is: deleting post from users without advice is causing issues and harming the project.

You have two options, in my opinion:

• Continue following this path means going aganst a part of the userbase , gaining concerns and controversies
• Adopt a solution that can be acceptable for both parts, users & devs : create a parallel subreddit , for screenshots , no-techinal stuff and "respectful fun" , in the good spirit of opensource (because , you know, libre sotware is also for fun , not only for technical stuff, even forums have sessions for artwork, screenshoots etc.) .This solution can make happy both sides without harm any of them

I think the users are expessing their concerns , and you answered to most of the question , exept those ones:

• Why an user would like to be involved in a project that delete (or censor, for some people) what they publish, without any advice or explaination?
• Have you intention to do something to mitigate the issues you having with part of the community ? (in my opinion, a I said before : create a 2nd subreddit for no-technical stuff would demostrate your will to resolve the issue, and seems to me a good solution for stop all this negative buzz around Void).

Of course, is your distro, do what you want with it ; we , the users, are expressing our concern because we care about a sane and fair libre software environment.

I'm waiting your final decision about how do you want to resolve this issue and stop the criticisms

[Duncaen]

Me and I would guess most other contributors don't want to moderate a non-technical community.

[thealio]

Again, it's your distro , do what you want with it. Just , take the good and also the bad coming from your choices, without blaming users and youtubers that have concerns  about those choices. 2025-09-10T21:43:22Z Duncan Overbruck ***@***.***>:

…

Me and I would guess most other contributors don't want to moderate a non-technical community. —

[ahesford]

The magnitude of hubris on display in this discussion is matched only by the depth of ignorance. The Void team is uninterested in climbing to top the DistroWatch popularity list. We are unconcerned about moral panic expressed by users who have no understanding of our internal discussions and decision processes. We are unwilling to cede editorial control to the screaming masses.

Void Linux is maintained by a group of individuals more interested in producing a distribution that we are happy to use than in developing and publicizing formal standards for operation. If you want more formal and public structure, go use another distribution. If you are unhappy with the package selection, go use another distribution. If you infer motives with which you disagree, go use another distribution. We invite you to use Void as exactly long as you are happy with it.

[hippi777]

probably its not the right goal to be the 1st on dw, it leads to crary things... things like those that the then cool Lunduke titled as "linux sucks" (or something like)... also, void is the sweet spot of being able to customize everything, enough batteries are included, but without unmaganeable bloat... ppl should be happy with the strong groundwork done, and a userbase like dw#1 is only weigh on the shoulders of the core team, beyond what they are already happy with... otherwise i see sane and smart people on both sides of this intensive conversation, and i think it should be played down, with some answers (most already given), but a coc wouldnt lead to much good imho, maybe a loose best effort guideline without strict rules could be good, but i dunno whether that would evolve into an overkilled coc which is kinda poisonous, and all sort of **** propaganda can find their way bit-by-bit into such...

ps: i didnt know where to jump in, i read these in my email and then opened gh and saw the real mess of parallel threads... (good job m$. :D )

[thealio]

That's what's emerging from this discussion

• Void linux devs declares to not promote censorchip of any sort
• Void Linux devs can delete posts & screenshoot that they value as not techincal
• Void Linux devs will not give any explaination about why the post is considered not technical
• They also can target as npt techical wathever they want, because there's no guide lines about
• Void linux devs currently refuses to create a subreddit and a place for " not tecnical stuff" , for demostrate they don't want to censor anyone and anyhing
• They also are very vague about topics like Hyperland or Xlibre, and also very vague about what they consider techical stuff to post and what they don't
• Void Linux devs suggest that those concers among users are "drama" made "youtubers"
• For Void Linux devs, evrything is good as it is , that's users' issue, not their issue at all

For me that is enough , I hope some internal policies will be revisioned, I hope that for the project's healt

I will not close the discussion , so people could continue to express their opinions about

[thealio]

I see someone close the discussion

Unfair move, since there are some questions without any response and people may want to mintain this discussion open

Why all this urge to close the discussion?