The Sysfling code of conduct was introduced to enforce respectful interaction and maintain topical focus, yet it illustrates how managerialist instruments restructure social meaning. By imposing a cut on what counts as acceptable discourse, it collides with substantive disagreement — as seen in heated exchanges over Gaza, expressions of dismay, and an unsubscribing participant. With no visible enforcement, the code functions more as symbolic control than as an ethical guide, privileging alignment over negotiated understanding. Relationally, it constrains the group’s capacity to co-construct meaning, turning dialogue into compliance.
