And that's just scratching the surface. Saidit grew substantially 2 or 3 years ago when it gained a reputation for free speech and the users here were therefore inviting other Reddit users (while there were also problems with a number of Reddit subs and while new Reddit alternatives were also becomming popular). Though there have been significant problems with unhinged users, mods and admins, my view is that the primary missing ingredient is the lack of active users willing to bring other users from Reddit and other websites. Users will continue to use multiple social media platforms (like Reddit, communities.win, &c) and Saiditors who want Saidit to grow should try to increase the number of users here as a place for another kind of conversation, one that is not already as open to free speech elsewhere. Part of the problem is that Saidit also needs a critical mass of users to help determine what that alternative conversation can be. So, yes, more mods and admins can help keep that conversation civil, while Saidit could try to be more interesting and tolerant. External review websites see Saidit as a place for political discussion, but there are only 3 users here who are centrists, and they are not tolerated or appreciated. I am not sure if that will change, but it will have to change if there is any hope of a different kind of political discussion on Saidit, one that's much more 'free speech' oriented than Reddit's highly restrictive options for political discussions. Others may see Saidit as useful for other kinds of conversations (eg. previously anti-vax, and recently anti-black). But whatever the conversation: if Saidit wants to be 'free speech', which is what helped it grow earlier, it will need to meet 4 primary goals (IMO, /u/magnora7): 1) user interest in recruitment, 2) tolerance of non-fascists, 3) mods who want to contribute, and 4) interesting posts that generate discussion. Essentially, if Saiditors want Saidit to grow, they need to be less reactive and more proactive.