# Should The Forum Move to Discord? **URL:** \ **Category:** Governance\ **Created:** [June 22, 2022, 12:33pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298 "2022-06-22T12:33:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nullius](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/nullius/32/20935_2.png) [@nullius](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/nullius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 5:15am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/43 "2022-07-13T05:15:10Z")
Discord is a totally centralized mass-surveillance and censorship silo. It does not belong in open source—let alone in decentralized cryptocurrency—let alone in a privacy project. [https://drewdevault.com/2021/12/28/Dont-use-Discord-for-FOSS.html](https://drewdevault.com/2021/12/28/Dont-use-Discord-for-FOSS.html) Discord is callous towards users with accessibility needs, inaccessible to users who can’t afford the latest expensive gadgets, and hostile to open source. And **Discord is _infamously_ hostile to Tor users.** (Do a Web search.) The Zcash Foundation is friendly with the Tor Project; both projects share many values and many goals. **I suggest that everyone who likes Discord should attempt using it through Tor.** If you take this suggestion, I hope you do not much care about your Discord account. * * * #### Changing the world works one story at a time. What is _your_ Discord horror story? This is mine: The one and only time that I have ever tried to use Discord, their system auto-banned all of my new accounts upon account creation, before I could even use them. That happened even when I shamefully hid my Tor usage behind non-Tor “clean” residential IPs ([which I usually refuse on principle](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zfnd-org-blocks-tor/42476/1#heading--boycott)), when I deigned to waste my limited lifetime repeatedly filling out CAPTCHAs (which I usually also refuse), _and_ when I performed SMS “verification”. I suspect the reason was that I disabled all their “telemetry”, _i.e._ intrusive device fingerprinting and surveillance. The reason could not have been my behaviour: I was always insta-banned before I could even exhibit any behaviour, or engage in any communications whatsoever. After _days_ of struggling with this, I contacted Discord support with a polite and appropriate request about one of those accounts. _Weeks_ later, I finally received a reply saying that the account had been un-banned. I have not even tried logging in. Maybe someday; why should I bother, when I do not even _want_ to use their horrid network? [I care too much about my privacy](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/issues/2707#issuecomment-1182579916) to use Discord—and frankly, I care too much about my sanity. To this day (2022-07-13), I have never posted, sent, or received even a single message on Discord. Filed under: **#PrivacyActivism** ---
**Author:** ![nullius](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/nullius/32/20935_2.png) [@nullius](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/nullius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 6:02am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/44 "2022-07-13T06:02:01Z")
> [@Yaro](#): > > Shifting the discussion to this site is a wasted step that is counter-productive, especially if pre-existing solutions already exist. > [@Yaro](#): > > Try Reddit then. Between Reddit and discord, this site is just reinventing the wheel > [@Yaro](#): > > Instead, almost every zcash discussion is on this site regardless if there is a better mainstream platform for that type of discussion. > [@](#): > > […more of the same…] A centralized, privacy-invasive social media silo that bans Tor users irreconcilably conflicts with the goals for which Zcash was founded. The above-quoted arguments could be re-applied, by analogy: > [@Yaro](#): > > Shifting financial activity to decentralized, permissionless, anonymous cryptocurrency is a wasted step that is counter-productive, especially if pre-existing solutions already exist. > [@Yaro](#): > > Try Venmo then. Between Venmo and Paypal, Zcash is just reinventing the wheel > [@Yaro](#): > > Instead, almost every zcash transaction is on zcash mainnet regardless if there is a better mainstream platform for that type of transaction. I urge all readers of this thread to take this as an opportunity for reflection: **What brought you to Zcash?** Are your reasons for embracing Zcash compatible with a surveillance-capitalist world of centralized social media silos? * * * > [@artkor](#): > > And it will never be if we move the discussion center to other platforms. I’m well familiar with the rules of bitcointalk and understand why they have come to success. [The Bitcoin Forum was founded by a pseudonymous Tor user:](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zfnd-org-blocks-tor/42476/5) **“Satoshi Nakamoto.”** Although I have some criticisms of it, I appreciate its ongoing strong support for Tor—and its [support for no-Javascript users.](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3001981.msg30868325#msg30868325) The old, heavily-patched SMF is clunky, but I much prefer it to Discourse. I usually _avoid_ Discourse forums, which require Javascript (among other issues). I despise Discourse. In 2019, [the Bitcoin Forum’s administrator made an April Fools’ joke out of KYC.](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5124947.0) 😼 I’ve been thinking that I should probably spend some of my time there discussing Zcash in the altcoins section. ---
**Author:** ![Zchurn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/85e7bf/32.png) [@Zchurn](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/Zchurn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/45 "2022-07-13T11:11:00Z")
One reason why this forum is irreplaceable IMO: Discord is _not_ anonymity or Tor friendly. They frequently ask for ‘verification’ with a mobile number which is a significant usability barrier for people who wish to maintain strong anonymity while contributing to the community. ---
**Author:** ![zancas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zancas/32/42011_2.png) [@zancas](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zancas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/46 "2022-12-17T03:59:07Z")
Thanks for speaking out @nullius . I feel compelled to use `discord` because the ZF and ECC insist on it. To me this seems insensitive to a significant populations’ perception of what zcash is all about. It’d be interesting to consider _why_ the ZF and ECC have settled on `discord` as an obligatory communication system. I find myself in the awkward position of relaying information from `discord` to parties that I _CANNOT_ in good conscience recommend _discord_ to, as they are too vulnerable. These vulnerable a parties are effectively excluded from insight into community development processes. ---
**Author:** ![shivholik0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shivholik0](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/shivholik0)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/47 "2022-12-17T08:39:14Z")
es! It would be so useful for Discord to have a method of indexing FAQs automatically. I absolutely hate trying to look through discord channel posts for answers on niche communities. This would be more useful if it could be integrated directly into Discord, so that it was easier to identify if the server had this capability in the first place and make changes directly through the Discord clie ---
**Author:** ![ryan.taylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/ryan.taylor/32/44336_2.png) [@ryan.taylor](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/ryan.taylor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/48 "2022-12-17T13:56:05Z")
What are some good alternatives to the chatroom style of Discord? Not including IRC 😉 Let’s say someone wants to create a new gathering space for ZECheads and Discord is the obvious choice, to them, for their specific needs but the issues surfaced here regarding the centralized, non-private, proprietary and censorship-laden nature of Discord are also very important. Without discussing abandoning any online space that’s already up-and-running, I’m curious about options for communities of expansion rather than migration. ---
**Author:** ![SexDrugsAndZcash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SexDrugsAndZcash](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/SexDrugsAndZcash)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/49 "2022-12-17T14:54:08Z")
this platform is great for the kind of discussions this community has… for me together with Twitter its cool how can Discord make community more active? i saw so many Discords which only say “GM” “GN” or when moon kinds of messages xD ---
**Author:** ![zancas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zancas/32/42011_2.png) [@zancas](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zancas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/50 "2022-12-17T15:17:52Z")
I’m not an expert. I depend on several of the options from the circle on the left, on a daily basis. ![clown](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/original/3X/5/4/54368a744b5ecb3a1e0c9a83f539cae270b370ee.png) ---
**Author:** ![ryan.taylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/ryan.taylor/32/44336_2.png) [@ryan.taylor](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/ryan.taylor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/51 "2022-12-17T15:21:14Z")
Awesome graphic 😃 Thanks! What’s the little lock with three green dots under it? ---
**Author:** ![zancas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zancas/32/42011_2.png) [@zancas](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zancas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/52 "2022-12-17T15:22:30Z")
I was hoping that somebody would tell me! ---
**Author:** ![zancas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zancas/32/42011_2.png) [@zancas](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zancas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/53 "2022-12-17T15:31:29Z")
@Yaro the problem with `discord` is that clown. I suggest this thought experiment: If you’re using those technologies to connect to people, that clown is really in your head. If you’re advocating for other people to use those technologies, you’re advocating that they also put that clown in their head. Maybe you’ll pause for a moment… and think… why do I want people to have a clown in their head?! Maybe it’s because the clown in your head, wants more heads. Then the thought experiment ends, and you realize the clown is just part of an image, and I am just a gadfly. Obviously there’s no cost to using discord, or all these people wouldn’t be using it. Said the fly to the Venus Fly Trap: “Yummy, thanks!” ---
**Author:** ![ryan.taylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/ryan.taylor/32/44336_2.png) [@ryan.taylor](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/ryan.taylor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/54 "2022-12-17T16:06:45Z")
In the country where I live, one must first prove their age is ≥ 18 to the app store (Google/Apple) before downloading the Discord mobile app 😱 ---
**Author:** ![dismad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/dismad/32/18432_2.png) [@dismad](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/dismad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/55 "2022-12-18T01:28:32Z")
> [@zancas](#): > > It’d be interesting to consider _why_ the ZF and ECC have settled on `discord` as an obligatory communication system. I avoided discord when I heard about it too. Then my son started using it and I gave it another shot – glad I did. I get all the reasons why _not_ to use Discord, but at the end of the day, if the next generation of kids are using it, the decision isn’t difficult. The bottom line: kids like it because its fun – something many in this industry overlook. Similar to Voldemort with love, its discarded as unimportant. Think again ♥ With that said, I think we should support all communication apparatuses – connect everything. P.s. ZecHub is collecting and displaying all options available, I’m sure we missed some, create a PR to add > **[The AI workspace that works for you. | Notion](https://zechub.notion.site/Social-Media-Links-05b9df645af54de7a1989d9c4ccc4d05)** > > A tool that connects everyday work into one space. It gives you and your teams AI tools—search, writing, note-taking—inside an all-in-one, flexible workspace. ---
**Author:** ![noamchom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/noamchom/32/20269_2.png) [@noamchom](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/noamchom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/56 "2022-12-20T16:03:42Z")
No, the forum should not move to Discord. The forum participants here should become more active in Zcash’s Discord. ---
**Author:** ![zerodartz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zerodartz/32/26722_2.png) [@zerodartz](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zerodartz)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/57 "2022-12-20T22:35:16Z")
hi. yes agree, we shud use all platforms to decentralize, but each one shud have its own focus/objective. forum for more important/big stuff, discord for smol talk about faster tings, twitter/other for sharing info to outside more? ---
**Author:** ![Autotunafish](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/autotunafish/32/7827_2.png) [@Autotunafish](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/Autotunafish)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/58 "2022-12-20T22:53:51Z")
Here they are btw > **[Join the Zcash Latam Discord Server!](https://discord.com/invite/zcash)** > > Check out the Zcash Latam community on Discord - hang out with 389 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat. > **[Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities](https://discord.com/invite/d6eGbCCK)** > > Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities. > **[Join the ZcashCommunity Discord Server!](https://discord.com/invite/trGdEcgS6M)** > > Check out the ZcashCommunity community on Discord - hang out with 1,116 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat. > **[Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities](https://discord.com/invite/ByKwnkA2)** > > Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities. ---
**Author:** ![egg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/egg/32/17833_2.png) [@egg](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/egg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/59 "2022-12-29T12:16:49Z")
> [@ryan.taylor](#): > > What’s the little lock with three green dots under it? > [@zancas](#): > > I was hoping that somebody would tell me! That’s [Threema](https://threema.ch/). ---
**Author:** ![mowealth28e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mowealth28e](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/mowealth28e)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/60 "2022-12-29T14:39:04Z")
I think it is cool to have both. This forum has been around for years now, people still talk here and come here everyday. Discord is the wave for the younger folks though. And there are people in the Zcash community discord talking everyday as well. I try to invite people but the invites are disabled. Maybe someone can help with that and we can drive more traffic there? ---
**Author:** ![Autotunafish](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/autotunafish/32/7827_2.png) [@Autotunafish](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/Autotunafish)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/61 "2022-12-29T14:57:05Z")
The 3rd one from the top there to the regular discord should be permanent I believe ---
**Author:** ![artkor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/artkor/32/28573_2.png) [@artkor](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/artkor)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298/62 "2022-12-29T17:27:38Z")
Zcash will become a culture, and this forum is legendary. The discord will have one of the many branches. [Previous page](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/should-the-forum-move-to-discord/42298.md?page=4)