Restricting who can reply to a thread (if the OP so stipulates)

“Members of X group are swinish and oppressive. Only non-X group members can respond to this thread.”

“I believe HIV does not cause AIDS. I’d like to hear from people who agree, and only them.”

“Fruit of the warra-warra tree is becoming increasingly popular because it relieves pain and fatigue and cures infections, cancer and constipation. I’d like to hear your anecdotes about how it helped you. Don’t post any scientific studies or skeptical opinions.”

Attempted restrictions on who can respond to a thread should continue to be uninforceable.

Those hypothetical threads wouldn’t be people starting a thread in good faith. It would be an attempt to manipulate a particular outcome.

But if someone has a good-faith question for survey - “Women, what do you think of (a particular fashion trend?)” and then multiple men jump in, “as a MAN, I love that fashion trend!”…then, that’s threadshitting or hijacking. It doesn’t contribute to the thread.

And as mentioned in the OP, I am not proposing a total ban on it. I suggested a 20 post limit or something of the sort. Once the first 20 replies have been from the target audience, it opens up free for all to everyone.

Even at that, it would be a total pain to mod.

It’s not going to happen.

Velocity, try it. Start a new thread in IMHO, asking for responses from a limited segment of the population of the Dope, and see if the Teeming millions respects your wishes.

Spoiler: they won’t.