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"The Prime Directive"
#1
"The Prime Directive"
The Staff have noticed an increase in the amount of negativity involving discussions, especially with sensitive issues where many people disagree. This has been a problem since the forum began, and over the years we have tried various methods to try and control it. With several recent incidents the staff had a long discussion about how we want the forum to proceed, be more fun for its membership, and cut down on the flaming and trolling.

We have therefore made three changes to the rules and punishment system:

1. Discussion of pedophilia / child pornography / accusations of pedophilia is not allowed. While discussion of pedophilia / child pornography in relation to news-worthy stories is allowed, general discussion of the subjects and accusations of pedophilia is not.

These kinds of threads often quickly dissolve into flaming, especially when people start accusing other members of pedophilia or generalizing entire groups in a similar way.

2. The Prime Directive

The following new "rule" sets out our vision for how we want discussions to develop:

Quote:The purpose of these forums is first and foremost to allow members to discuss various topics with people who may disagree. The staff believe that the best discussions are those that stay polite and friendly, and it is with this in mind that we implement the following rules.

The staff are aware that any thread may devolve into flaming, either indirect or direct, over time. Staff reserve the right to ban certain members from these threads if they are deemed to be flaming or trolling. Posts which are comprised of mostly insulting language, name calling rather than addressing points, generalizing entire groups of people, etc. will be considered as flaming. Posts which are comprised of outrageous misrepresentations of events within the public record will be considered as trolling.
The staff are aware that any thread may devolve into flaming, either indirect or direct, over time. Staff reserve the right to ban certain members from these threads if they are deemed to be flaming or trolling. Posts which are comprised of mostly insulting language, name calling rather than addressing points, overly negative generalizations of entire groups of people (unless strongly supported by evidence), etc. will be considered as flaming. Posts which are comprised of outrageous misrepresentations of events within the public record will be considered as trolling. Staff reserve the right to close or delete threads which were created for the purposes of flaming or trolling, and not for discussion.

Thread ban durations are decided by staff and may be lifted if the member in question agrees to keep a more level-headed approach to the discussion. Threads that continue to devolve into flaming and/or trolling will be closed.

Repeat violations of the Prime Directive will result in site-wide bans, possibly permanent.

It allows staff to remove certain individuals from threads which they are degrading into flame wars and/or trolling.

3. Thread Bans

As noted in the above rule, we have a new system which allows us to ban members from certain threads, rather than the forum as a whole. We will use this in conjunction with flaming / trolling by regular users to avoid having to ban people from the entire forum, or close a thread which has an active discussion (but is being ruined by a small number of people).
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#2
RE: "The Prime Directive"
4. An increase of 100% the amount of hookers and blow for the staff? Big Grin

I will grab me coat.
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#3
RE: "The Prime Directive"
No jokes about nuns dressed-up as choir boys?
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#4
RE: "The Prime Directive"
<insert something witty here>
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
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#5
RE: "The Prime Directive"
(October 23, 2017 at 3:16 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: No jokes about nuns dressed-up as choir boys?

This is not a catholic forum Neo.
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#6
RE: "The Prime Directive"
Wait, does that mean any news of pedophilia or child molestation is not allowed? Given that we discuss Catholicism in here quite a bit, that would actually inhibit some discussions.
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#7
RE: "The Prime Directive"
(October 23, 2017 at 2:59 pm)Tiberius Wrote:
Quote:[edit]

The staff are aware that any thread may devolve into flaming, either indirect or direct, over time. Staff reserve the right to ban certain members from these threads if they are deemed to be flaming or trolling. Posts which are comprised of mostly insulting language, name calling rather than addressing points, generalizing entire groups of people, etc. will be considered as flaming. Posts which are comprised of outrageous misrepresentations of events within the public record will be considered as trolling.

edit
bold mine
Can you expand upon this? Seems to me there is group blanket condemnation in the forum which sometimes makes a point, sometimes not.
What would be considered a group? ie: specific religion, political party, employment, race, sexual orientation, life style, ....................
Apologizes if I'm being dense.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
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#8
RE: "The Prime Directive"
(October 23, 2017 at 3:38 pm)Shell B Wrote: Wait, does that mean any news of pedophilia or child molestation is not allowed? Given that we discuss Catholicism in here quite a bit, that would actually inhibit some discussions.

Damn right.  How can anyone talk about the church without talking about their little problem?
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#9
RE: "The Prime Directive"
(October 23, 2017 at 2:59 pm)Tiberius Wrote: The Staff have noticed an increase in the amount of negativity involving discussions, especially with sensitive issues where many people disagree. This has been a problem since the forum began, and over the years we have tried various methods to try and control it. With several recent incidents the staff had a long discussion about how we want the forum to proceed, be more fun for its membership, and cut down on the flaming and trolling.

We have therefore made three changes to the rules and punishment system:

1. Discussion of pedophilia / child pornography / accusations of pedophilia is not allowed.

These kinds of threads often quickly dissolve into flaming, especially when people start accusing other members of pedophilia or generalizing entire groups in a similar way.

2. The Prime Directive

The following new "rule" sets out our vision for how we want discussions to develop:

Quote:The purpose of these forums is first and foremost to allow members to discuss various topics with people who may disagree. The staff believe that the best discussions are those that stay polite and friendly, and it is with this in mind that we implement the following rules.

The staff are aware that any thread may devolve into flaming, either indirect or direct, over time. Staff reserve the right to ban certain members from these threads if they are deemed to be flaming or trolling. Posts which are comprised of mostly insulting language, name calling rather than addressing points, generalizing entire groups of people, etc. will be considered as flaming. Posts which are comprised of outrageous misrepresentations of events within the public record will be considered as trolling.

Thread ban durations are decided by staff and may be lifted if the member in question agrees to keep a more level-headed approach to the discussion. Threads that continue to devolve into flaming and/or trolling will be closed.

Repeat violations of the Prime Directive will result in site-wide bans, possibly permanent.

It allows staff to remove certain individuals from threads which they are degrading into flame wars and/or trolling.

3. Thread Bans

As noted in the above rule, we have a new system which allows us to ban members from certain threads, rather than the forum as a whole. We will use this in conjunction with flaming / trolling by regular users to avoid having to ban people from the entire forum, or close a thread which has an active discussion (but is being ruined by a small number of people).


Thread bans is a genius idea!  Then you just have to deal with those who insist on recreating the same discussion everywhere else they go.  That may be hard but I think most people will absorb the shock of hitting a thread ban road bump and realize they need to adjust.  Anyhow, you guys will figure it out.

(October 23, 2017 at 3:16 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: No jokes about nuns dressed-up as choir boys?


You go too far!
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#10
RE: "The Prime Directive"
Edited because I was way wrong!
“Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?” 
― Tom StoppardRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
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