# How Sharp Speech Stops Quietly

Sojorn does not fight hostility. It contains it.

---

## The Problem

Most platforms suppress hostile content after it has already spread. They rely on:
- Post-hoc moderation (viral damage before removal)
- Suspensions (creating martyrs)
- Shadowbanning (creating conspiracies)
- Algorithmic dampening (opaque and manipulable)

**This approach fails because it treats hostility as a moderation problem, not a design problem.**

---

## Sojorn's Solution: Structural Containment

Sharp speech stops at three gates, **before it travels**:

### 1. **Tone Detection at Creation**

When a user writes a post or comment, the content passes through tone analysis **before** being stored.

**How it works:**
- Pattern matching detects profanity, hostility, and negative absolutism
- Content is classified: Positive, Neutral, Mixed, Negative, Hostile
- Profane or hostile content is **rejected immediately** with a rewrite suggestion

**What the user sees:**
> "This space works without profanity. Try rephrasing."

> "Sharp speech does not travel here. Consider softening your words."

**Result:** The hostile post never enters the database. No removal, no notification to others, no drama.

---

### 2. **Content Integrity Score (CIS)**

Every post that passes tone detection receives a **Content Integrity Score (0-1)**:
- Positive, calm language → CIS 0.9
- Neutral, factual language → CIS 0.8
- Mixed sentiment → CIS 0.7
- Negative but non-hostile → CIS 0.5

**How CIS affects reach:**
- Posts with CIS < 0.7 have **limited eligibility** in the Sojorn feed
- Posts with CIS < 0.5 are **excluded from Trending**
- Low-CIS posts still appear in Personal feeds (people you follow)

**Result:** Sharp speech is published but does not amplify. The author can express it, but it doesn't spread.

---

### 3. **Harmony Score (Author Trust)**

Each user has a private **Harmony Score (0-100)** that adjusts based on behavior:

**Negative signals (lower score):**
- Multiple blocks received (pattern, not single incident)
- Reports from high-trust users
- High content rejection rate (repeated rewrite prompts)
- Filing false reports

**Positive signals (raise score):**
- Sustained calm participation
- Validated reports (helping moderation)
- Time without issues (natural recovery)

**Harmony score determines:**
- **Posting rate limits** (New: 3/day, Trusted: 10/day, Established: 25/day)
- **Reach multiplier** in feed algorithms (Restricted: 0.2x, Established: 1.4x)
- **Trending eligibility** (must be Trusted or above)

**Result:** Authors who persistently produce sharp speech have reduced reach. Their words don't disappear—they just don't travel far.

---

## How These Gates Work Together

```
User writes post
    ↓
Tone Analysis
    ↓
├─ Hostile/Profane → REJECTED (rewrite prompt)
├─ Negative → Published with CIS 0.5 (limited reach)
├─ Mixed → Published with CIS 0.7 (moderate reach)
└─ Positive/Neutral → Published with CIS 0.8-0.9 (full reach)
    ↓
Post appears in Personal feeds (always)
    ↓
Post eligibility for Sojorn feed (based on CIS + Harmony)
    ↓
├─ High CIS + High Harmony → Wide reach
├─ Mixed CIS or Low Harmony → Limited reach
└─ Low CIS + Low Harmony → Minimal reach
    ↓
Post eligibility for Trending (based on CIS + Harmony + Safety)
    ↓
├─ CIS >= 0.8, Harmony >= 50, No blocks/reports → Eligible
└─ Otherwise → Excluded
```

---

## What This Means for Users

### If you write calm, thoughtful content:
- Your posts pass tone detection instantly
- They receive high CIS scores
- They reach wide audiences
- They may trend
- Your Harmony score grows over time

### If you write sharp, negative content occasionally:
- Some posts may be rejected with rewrite suggestions
- Published posts have reduced reach (CIS penalty)
- You still appear in Personal feeds
- Your Harmony score dips slightly but recovers naturally

### If you persistently write hostile content:
- Most posts are rejected at creation
- Published posts have minimal reach
- Your posting rate is throttled
- Your Harmony score drops, further reducing reach
- **You are never banned**, but your influence diminishes

---

## Why This Works

1. **No viral damage** – Hostile content is stopped before it spreads
2. **No martyrdom** – Authors are not suspended or removed
3. **No opacity** – Users know why reach is limited (CIS, Harmony, tone)
4. **No gaming** – You cannot brigade or spam your way to reach
5. **Natural fit** – People who don't fit this space experience friction, not rejection

---

## Comparison to Traditional Moderation

| Traditional Platforms | Sojorn |
|-----------------------|--------|
| Content spreads first, removed later | Content stopped before it spreads |
| Bans create martyrs | Reduced reach creates natural exits |
| Shadowbanning is opaque | Reach limits are explained transparently |
| Algorithms amplify outrage | Algorithms deprioritize sharp speech |
| Moderation is reactive | Containment is structural |

---

## The Result

**Sharp speech does not travel here.**

Not because it's censored.
Not because it's hidden.
But because the platform is architecturally designed to let it **expire quietly**.

Clean content flows.
Sharp content stops.
Calm is structural.