I think this approach is probably appropriate here with two caveats:
First, there should be some sort of objective criterion in the future to potentially trigger this action, to prevent giving the impression that it was being used to inhibit discussion of a topic. Since the apparent intent is to avoid swamping the frontpage, that criterion might be a certain number of posts on the frontpage.
Second, there should be a limited period in which the moderators will approve regular-post status upon request if a poster certifies that they were actively working on a post at the time the policy was activated. People have clearly invested significant time and attention into their posts on this and similar matters with the expectation that their post will receive the standard amount of visibility. Significantly reducing the amount of engagement they will likely receive after they have made that investment seems unfair. Moreover, creating a rush to get your post out there—because you don’t know when new posts will be relegated to personal-blog status without warning—incentivizes hot takes and rushed work, which is undesirable.
Agreed with importance of ensuring fairness between people with different opinions, though I disagree with this: “People have clearly invested significant time and attention into their posts on this and similar matters with the expectation that their post will receive the standard amount of visibility. Significantly reducing the amount of engagement they will likely receive after they have made that investment seems unfair”. If this becomes a standing policy, then people would have been forewarned in advance.
I’d agree with that view if the trigger criteria were sufficiently definite and published in advance (which would have other downsides), or if there were sufficient past practice for people to reasonably understand how the trigger would be applied in new circumstances.
“Mods may decide to cut visibility on high-volume current events” isn’t enough forewarning for me.
I think this approach is probably appropriate here with two caveats:
First, there should be some sort of objective criterion in the future to potentially trigger this action, to prevent giving the impression that it was being used to inhibit discussion of a topic. Since the apparent intent is to avoid swamping the frontpage, that criterion might be a certain number of posts on the frontpage.
Second, there should be a limited period in which the moderators will approve regular-post status upon request if a poster certifies that they were actively working on a post at the time the policy was activated. People have clearly invested significant time and attention into their posts on this and similar matters with the expectation that their post will receive the standard amount of visibility. Significantly reducing the amount of engagement they will likely receive after they have made that investment seems unfair. Moreover, creating a rush to get your post out there—because you don’t know when new posts will be relegated to personal-blog status without warning—incentivizes hot takes and rushed work, which is undesirable.
Agreed with importance of ensuring fairness between people with different opinions, though I disagree with this: “People have clearly invested significant time and attention into their posts on this and similar matters with the expectation that their post will receive the standard amount of visibility. Significantly reducing the amount of engagement they will likely receive after they have made that investment seems unfair”. If this becomes a standing policy, then people would have been forewarned in advance.
I’d agree with that view if the trigger criteria were sufficiently definite and published in advance (which would have other downsides), or if there were sufficient past practice for people to reasonably understand how the trigger would be applied in new circumstances.
“Mods may decide to cut visibility on high-volume current events” isn’t enough forewarning for me.