I don't have time to respond to the points raised here at the moment (it's getting late) but I will respond to the assertion that we could just ban people under the "trolling" rule.
Firstly, go read the rule. It's very clear that posts have to be "deliberately provocative". The problem we run into as staff is whether someone is being deliberately provocative (i.e. they made the post for the specific purpose of upsetting someone) or whether they are just an asshole with little to no social skills. We argue over it every single time it comes up. Like I said, we take the rules very literally. In the past we've aired on the side of caution, and honestly, it's hard to detect a troll unless they come out and admit it. It's easy for someone to claim they aren't being a troll and who are we to say they are?
So therein lies the problem. At the same time, we debated having a "don't be a dick" rule but decided against it, simply because it's far too subjective and it would apply to almost every member here at some point.
The solution was to create the new power, put severe limitations on it, and use it in exceptional circumstances. We'd try to make it more specific, but we'd likely run into the same problems as before. The point of the new power is to detect negative behavior that doesn't fit with the purpose of the forums (which is to promote good discussion between people of different beliefs) and punish those who exhibit it.
Nobody has to tread on eggshells. If you are here for discussion and debate, we love having you here, even if we personally disagree with you. If you are here to cause havoc and piss our members off, you will be contacted and told to change your behavior or get banned.
As with all bans, you can appeal if you feel the decision was unjust.
Firstly, go read the rule. It's very clear that posts have to be "deliberately provocative". The problem we run into as staff is whether someone is being deliberately provocative (i.e. they made the post for the specific purpose of upsetting someone) or whether they are just an asshole with little to no social skills. We argue over it every single time it comes up. Like I said, we take the rules very literally. In the past we've aired on the side of caution, and honestly, it's hard to detect a troll unless they come out and admit it. It's easy for someone to claim they aren't being a troll and who are we to say they are?
So therein lies the problem. At the same time, we debated having a "don't be a dick" rule but decided against it, simply because it's far too subjective and it would apply to almost every member here at some point.
The solution was to create the new power, put severe limitations on it, and use it in exceptional circumstances. We'd try to make it more specific, but we'd likely run into the same problems as before. The point of the new power is to detect negative behavior that doesn't fit with the purpose of the forums (which is to promote good discussion between people of different beliefs) and punish those who exhibit it.
Nobody has to tread on eggshells. If you are here for discussion and debate, we love having you here, even if we personally disagree with you. If you are here to cause havoc and piss our members off, you will be contacted and told to change your behavior or get banned.
As with all bans, you can appeal if you feel the decision was unjust.
