On the Issue of Respect

[Rosie Willowwater]

Hello everyone!

        Over the past year the staff has noticed that the general levels of respect on the forum have been gradually slipping in a downwards spiral, particularly in the past three months. This is not saying that members have been pointing fingers at each other, name calling, or giving each other overt attitude - the lack of respect is manifesting itself in different ways that are no less hurtful or harmful.

        When looking at our forum rules, the very first one addresses how members should treat one another:

1.  Respect everyone's opinion. Everyone has the right to have their opinion. If you don't agree with someone, then it's okay to say what your opinion is as long as you respect theirs.

        This rule, as with all the forum rules, was created with the intention of being straightforward, direct, and easy to follow. However, the conduct expected from members in these rules is not confined to the specific words chosen, but can instead be expanded upon to apply to a variety of situations. In the case of Rule One, to truly respect someone's opinion, you must first respect them as a person. This doesn't just mean having a civil conversation about a controversial topic, it also means acknowledging that your actions may hurt others and modifying your behavior if needed.

        Rule #2 touches on this concept briefly:

2.  Everyone is entitled to their own belief in politics and religion, and that must be respected. But because of the volatile nature of these discussion topics, please refrain from posting topics about controversial subjects (ie: politics, religion, etc..). These subjects are not banned in general conversations, however, they will be heavily moderated to ensure that they do not get out of hand. The forum staff reserves the right to judge to determine whether a topic or discussion falls under this rule.

        The forum staff looks at each possible infraction through this lens of reading into the deeper meaning behind each rule. With that said, no staff member comes to a decision by themselves. We work as a team, gathering as much input from different staff members as possible to ensure everything is resolved fairly. If something calls for immediate attention then a member of the staff may act in the manner they see fit so that it can be discussed as a group at the nearest opportunity, but no decisions are made without multiple perspectives taken into consideration.

        It's also important to note that we, the staff, are only human. We will not be able to catch everything that goes on in every single topic, and that's why we depend on hearing from all of you. If there's something going on that's bugging you, we want to know, and while we can't read your mind, we're only a PM away. Of course, if something more specific unsettles you, there's a button on the righthand side of every post labeled "Report"; no one but you and the staff will know that you've used it, not even the person whose post you're reporting.

        Using the report button does not mean that the reported member is automatically going to get into a lot of trouble. It is, at it's core, a way for you to communicate with us and get our attention for anything you think might be weird/off/hurtful, or even for something as simple as a misplaced topic. It gently nudges the staff towards anything you think they should see for a multitude of reasons, a bit like leaving a note on someone's desk.

        Redwall is all about family, friends, and welcoming others with open arms. The community should strive to reflect the warm, caring nature that Brian Jacques so carefully cultivated. After all, many of the books end with a variation of "we hope to see you again soon, you are always welcome within our gates." Let us try to keep this in the forefront of our minds in the future.