About this site
Clear Lines is an independent publication launched in February 2026. The project's aim is to pioneer a new blend of old and new media, based on the Pol.is conversation engine replacing those tired old toxic comment sections that sit underneath articles on most existing news and blog sites. The Pol.is engine was built by digital democracy researchers at MIT and aims to create a type of digital conversation that is more productive and useful than the normal flame-wars the internet is currently growing and spreading around the world.
Our goal is to draw clear lines around both the things we disagree about AND the things we all agree about. We hope that in joining in the conversation you will all put as much effort into finding common ground as you do arguing your point. By keeping both of those things in balance, we hope to avoid the descent into the pointless shouting that typifies "engagement" on the old social media sites.
How to Join the Conversation
Clear Lines uses the Pol.is engine to visualize our collective perspective. Unlike a standard comment section, there is no "reply" button. Instead, you contribute to a real-time map of opinion.
1. Vote on Statements
When you see a statement, click Agree, Disagree, or Pass/Unsure. Every vote you cast acts as a coordinate, placing you on the map in relation to other participants.
2. See the Map
As you vote, you will see a data visualization (the PCA map) appear.
- Clusters: Dots that gather together represent groups of people who share similar voting patterns.
- Your Position: You are the X on the map. You can see which group you naturally align with based on the "Clear Lines" of the debate.
3. Seed the Conversation
If there is a point you feel is being missed, you can submit your own statement at the bottom of the embed.
- Tip: The most useful statements are "Clear Lines"—declarative sentences that force people to think about where they stand (e.g., "The cost of housing is the primary driver of political anger").
- Once moderated, your statement will be sent out for everyone else to vote on.
Why this matters
By participating, you aren't just "winning an argument." You are helping us identify Consensus (the things we all agree on) and Dissent (the core of our disagreements). This data helps us move past the "shouting" and toward a more productive type of digital conversation.
Support the project
If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows Clear Lines to continue to exist. Thank you!
Access all areas
By signing up, you'll get access to the full archive of everything that's been published before and everything that's still to come. Your very own private library.
Fresh content, delivered
Stay up to date with new content sent straight to your inbox! No more worrying about whether you missed something because of a pesky algorithm or news feed.
Meet people like you
Join a community of other subscribers who share the same interests.
Start your own thing
Enjoying the experience? Get started for free and set up your very own subscription business using Ghost, the same platform that powers this website.