Fricka
06-25-04, 06:40 PM
One of the longest standing rules at The Safehouse has been "no personal attacks":
Avoid personal attacks. Debate opinions, not the people behind them. This includes posting images as a representation of your attack.
This will be changed to read:
Avoid personal attacks. Debate opinions, not the people behind them. This includes posting images as a representation of your attack. Breaking this rule may cause your entire post to be edited out and may cause further action to be taken against your account.
What is a personal attack?
A personal attack as defined by The Safehouse staff is any negative comment aimed at the poster instead of the topic at hand.
Saying, "You're an idiot" is obviously a personal attack.
Saying things like "You're an idiot if you think that" can be argued as borderline but really in intent is no different. This will be viewed as an attack from now on.
Bringing in any personal information that is not relevant to the thread topic and using it as a weapon is also a personal attack. "Oh yeah, well you're fat!" is a tame example.
Threatening bodily injury is a personal attack, even in jest.
What will happen
In the past we have given numerous written warnings to posters. With the new board system we can now issue warning cards which will be visible on your account to the staff and to yourself. 3 warnings and you receive a banning. It will be up to the staff whether the banning is for a limited time or is a permanent ban.
We will still be issuing instant bannings when warranted, this is just spelling out the consequence of receiving 3 warnings.
In the case of personal attacks we will be doing what we always have been doing, issuing warnings, editing out comments, etc.
However, what's new is that we may edit out AN ENTIRE POST if a personal attack is included in the text, regardless of what percentage of the post is an attack and what is not.
What this means to you as a poster
A good rule of thumb is to re-read your post and ask yourself can it be thinned down and still make your point? If so take a good look at the "extra" elements. Are you attacking someone? If it can't be thinned down, then ask yourself what is your point? If your point is solely to insult someone don't post.
Don't assume that everyone will know you are "just joking" or that the person targeted can "take it". We have many posters here from all walks of life. Familiarity will not get you a get out of jail free card. Also, try to keep in mind that it's not just the folks participating in a thread that will be reading it, but lurkers will see it as well.
Last note
This new policy is here to help make our moderating actions more uniform. The Safehouse is a great place to hang out and debate topics -- we're just making sure it stays that way :)
Avoid personal attacks. Debate opinions, not the people behind them. This includes posting images as a representation of your attack.
This will be changed to read:
Avoid personal attacks. Debate opinions, not the people behind them. This includes posting images as a representation of your attack. Breaking this rule may cause your entire post to be edited out and may cause further action to be taken against your account.
What is a personal attack?
A personal attack as defined by The Safehouse staff is any negative comment aimed at the poster instead of the topic at hand.
Saying, "You're an idiot" is obviously a personal attack.
Saying things like "You're an idiot if you think that" can be argued as borderline but really in intent is no different. This will be viewed as an attack from now on.
Bringing in any personal information that is not relevant to the thread topic and using it as a weapon is also a personal attack. "Oh yeah, well you're fat!" is a tame example.
Threatening bodily injury is a personal attack, even in jest.
What will happen
In the past we have given numerous written warnings to posters. With the new board system we can now issue warning cards which will be visible on your account to the staff and to yourself. 3 warnings and you receive a banning. It will be up to the staff whether the banning is for a limited time or is a permanent ban.
We will still be issuing instant bannings when warranted, this is just spelling out the consequence of receiving 3 warnings.
In the case of personal attacks we will be doing what we always have been doing, issuing warnings, editing out comments, etc.
However, what's new is that we may edit out AN ENTIRE POST if a personal attack is included in the text, regardless of what percentage of the post is an attack and what is not.
What this means to you as a poster
A good rule of thumb is to re-read your post and ask yourself can it be thinned down and still make your point? If so take a good look at the "extra" elements. Are you attacking someone? If it can't be thinned down, then ask yourself what is your point? If your point is solely to insult someone don't post.
Don't assume that everyone will know you are "just joking" or that the person targeted can "take it". We have many posters here from all walks of life. Familiarity will not get you a get out of jail free card. Also, try to keep in mind that it's not just the folks participating in a thread that will be reading it, but lurkers will see it as well.
Last note
This new policy is here to help make our moderating actions more uniform. The Safehouse is a great place to hang out and debate topics -- we're just making sure it stays that way :)