New Policy about DIR and 'Only' Forums

[Father Heathen]

Perhaps we could create a Q&A subforum where debate, rhetorical questions, and answers from those not addressed are forbidden?

 

[Twilight Hue]

And in doing so (reading, not posting) if you come across rule breaking posts, you really should report them.

And then they will be shot and sent to the Russian front.

 

[Quagmire]

By which section of rule #10? I can't find it. Section (2) clearly states "DIR forums are not to be used as a cover to bash others outside of the DIR group."
Such a restriction is missing from section (3) which reads in its entirety:
"3) The Political World forum has several "only" subforums that are for the use of members who identify with those political leanings. Members who do not identify with those political leanings are not allowed to post there."
No restriction on bashing or misrepresenting there.

The rules page is always a work in progress.

Regardless, we've always moderated the Only forums in the same way we moderate the DIRs.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

By which section of rule #10? I can't find it. Section (2) clearly states "DIR forums are not to be used as a cover to bash others outside of the DIR group."
Such a restriction is missing from section (3) which reads in its entirety:
"3) The Political World forum has several "only" subforums that are for the use of members who identify with those political leanings. Members who do not identify with those political leanings are not allowed to post there."
No restriction on bashing or misrepresenting there.

Thank you for bringing this up. We agree, and it's been corrected.

 

[Revoltingest]

Thank you for bringing this up. We agree, and it's been corrected.

Gawd, you guys are slow.
Why do we even bother to pay you!

 

[McBell]

The problem is that it isn't against the rules, as they are formulated now, to bash or misrepresent others in the "only" sections. That only applies to DIR sections.

I disagree

1. Personal Comments About Members and Staff
Personal attacks and name-calling, whether direct or in the third person, are strictly prohibited on the forums. Critique each other's ideas all you want, but under no circumstances personally attack each other or the staff. Quoting a member's post in a separate/new thread without their permission to challenge or belittle them, or harassing staff members for performing moderation duties, will also be considered a personal attack.

3. Trolling and Bullying
Where Rule 1 covers personal attacks, Rule 3 governs other behaviors and content that can generally be described as being a jerk. Unacceptable behaviors and content include:

1) Content (whether words or images) that most people would find needlessly offensive, especially when such content is posted just to get a rise out of somebody and/or is not part of a reasoned argument.

2) Defamation, slander, or misrepresentation of a member's beliefs/arguments, or that of a particular group, culture, or religion. This includes altering the words of another member to change their meaning when using the quote feature.

3) Antagonism, bullying, or harassment - including but not limited to personal attacks, slander, and misrepresentation - of a member across multiple content areas of the forums. Repeatedly targeting or harassing members of particular groups will also be considered bullying.​

 

[McBell]

We should try banning the word "whine" & its tenses.
I've never seen it used as other than insult.
(Your voice is too deep to even accomplish the task.)

I much prefer "whine" over "***** and moan"
It is much shorter and easier to type out.

 

[Quagmire]

Thank you for bringing this up. We agree, and it's been corrected.

@Heyo ,
Second that, and thank you for showing us that there actually are members who take the time to read the rules.

(although this means we're going to have to change our whole approach to moderation now )

I disagree

1. Personal Comments About Members and Staff
Personal attacks and name-calling, whether direct or in the third person, are strictly prohibited on the forums. Critique each other's ideas all you want, but under no circumstances personally attack each other or the staff. Quoting a member's post in a separate/new thread without their permission to challenge or belittle them, or harassing staff members for performing moderation duties, will also be considered a personal attack.

3. Trolling and Bullying
Where Rule 1 covers personal attacks, Rule 3 governs other behaviors and content that can generally be described as being a jerk. Unacceptable behaviors and content include:

1) Content (whether words or images) that most people would find needlessly offensive, especially when such content is posted just to get a rise out of somebody and/or is not part of a reasoned argument.

2) Defamation, slander, or misrepresentation of a member's beliefs/arguments, or that of a particular group, culture, or religion. This includes altering the words of another member to change their meaning when using the quote feature.

3) Antagonism, bullying, or harassment - including but not limited to personal attacks, slander, and misrepresentation - of a member across multiple content areas of the forums. Repeatedly targeting or harassing members of particular groups will also be considered bullying.​

Actually @Heyo was right; there should have been something specific about it in rule 10, since that's the rule we use in cases like that.

As @ADigitalArtist mentioned, it's been added now.

 

[McBell]

Actually @Heyo was right; there should have been something specific about it in rule 10, since that's the rule we use in cases like that.

As @ADigitalArtist mentioned, it's been added now.

I was completely unaware that the Forum Rules did not apply to the DIR's and Only threads...

 

[Quagmire]

I was completely unaware that the Forum Rules did not apply to the DIR's and Only threads...

They do, but when rules overlap, in this case 3 and 10, we usually just choose whichever one is most appropriate.

 

[McBell]

They do, but when rules overlap, in this case 3 and 10, we usually just choose whichever one is most appropriate.

I had made the assumption that it was merely a warning that being in a DIR did not make one exempt to rules 1 and 3.
But now that the same thing had to be applied to the Only threads, it makes it appear that it was not a warning but a rule specifically for the DIR and now the Only threads.

The exchange here in this thread seems to me to reinforce that the DIR and Only threads have separate rules.

 

[Quagmire]

I had made the assumption that it was merely a warning that being in a DIR did not make one exempt to rules 1 and 3.
But now that the same thing had to be applied to the Only threads, it makes it appear that it was not a warning but a rule specifically for the DIR and now the Only threads.

The exchange here in this thread seems to me to reinforce that the DIR and Only threads have separate rules.

Rule 10 specifically covers the DIRs and Only forums, and whatever applies to one should apply to the other ( can't think of any instances off the top of my head were they wouldn't).

Also, there are instances where something might be acceptable if it were posted in any of the other forums, but would be considered bashing if it were posted in one of the restricted forums, mainly because the opposition wouldn't be able to respond to it.

in other words, something that migh not be considered a rule 3 could still be considered a rule 10 violation if it were posted in a restricted forum.

 

[McBell]

Rule 10 specifically covers the DIRs and Only forums, and whatever applies to one should apply to the other ( can't think of any instances off the top of my head were they wouldn't).

Also, there are instances where something might be acceptable if it were posted in any of the other forums, but would be considered bashing if it were posted in one of the restricted forums, mainly because the opposition wouldn't be able to respond to it.

in other words, something that migh not be considered a rule 3 could still be considered a rule 10 violation if it were posted in a restricted forum.

So my thinking is correct, just in the opposite direction.
Which makes sense now that you have put it into second grade terms.

Thank you for that.

 

[Quagmire]

So my thinking is correct, just in the opposite direction.
Which makes sense now that you have put it into second grade terms.

Thank you for that.

Second grade is about as much as I can manage on my phone in this software.

Took me 15 minutes to type out that last post so that it would be readable, and I only sort of succeeded.

 

[Revoltingest]

I much prefer "whine" over "***** and moan"
It is much shorter and easier to type out.

That is an advantage.
But now that calling someone dishonest is against the rules,
we should consider banning some other unproductive criticisms.

 

[sun rise]

You....a libertarian?
That would be like The Rock claiming to be a nerd.

I'm the kind of libertarian you don't think exists.

 

[Secret Chief]

I have ticked a political box in my personal details.

I can start a new thread under simply Political Debates but for The Political World (in the general part) I get "You have insufficient privileges to post here." So if I want to start a general political debate I can, but if I want to start a general political discussion (as I recently did) I can't. Given the importance placed on the difference between debate and dialogue....
There is nothing for ticking in the personal details relevant to this denial and apparent inconsistency.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm the kind of libertarian you don't think exists.

I've never noticed you calling yourself "libertarian".

 

[Rival]

I have ticked a political box in my personal details.

I can start a new thread under simply Political Debates but for The Political World (in the general part) I get "You have insufficient privileges to post here." So if I want to start a general political debate I can, but if I want to start a general political discussion (as I recently did) I can't. Given the importance placed on the difference between debate and dialogue....
There is nothing for ticking in the personal details relevant to this denial and apparent inconsistency.

Sometimes there's a lag.

 

[Secret Chief]

Sometimes there's a lag.

A whole day?