Announcements Response Topic

[James Gryphon]

Why not just...
Keep controversial topics to PMs?

Firstly, because people don't. They post about it on the forum, even if it's suggested that they do otherwise.

But even if they did, it's come to my attention that quite a few people don't know how to discuss these subjects properly, and end up throwing Ad hominem attacks at each other. We really don't want to encourage having those kinds of fights anywhere, hidden or not. I'm hoping that this will be something of an educational experience, teaching all of us how to converse intelligently and respectfully about subjects that other people might disagree with us on.

Secondly, I think there's a desire for people to hear all of their online friends' thoughts on all kinds of subjects. Sure, people PM with individual friends, but that's not the same as a group discussion with a variety of inputs. Right now, they can't do that because every topic on anything remotely controversial degrades into a fight. I'm hoping that this board can change that.

[DanielofRedwall]

Remember that this decision still hinges on how the new board is received by the wider community. A lot of our members do have an evident to discuss these sorts of topics, and it's of the staff's opinion that, when kept at a respectful tone, these sorts of discussions can be really beneficial to those involved. I know for myself that talking to people with widely different opinions to my own has helped me to understand the world in a much clearer light, and to not staunchly demonise anyone who doesn't share my own beliefs. They can really help build one's ability to sympathise/empathise. We're hoping that this board will satisfy this desire while making sure things don't boil over and end up how they did before. This also means members who don't want to engage with these kinds of discussions can avoid them easily.

With all that said, if things turn sour or if the demand isn't there, we'll be sure to pull the plug. I have faith in the maturity of you all, though.

[LT Sandpaw]

Hm, what does it mean that all topics and posts need to be approved?

Do we have to run everything we write on the board through the staff first?

[James Gryphon]

Basically, yes. What y'all will do is go to post on the board as normal. It won't show up there after you've posted it right away, though. It'll be on hold until a staff member comes along and pushes the green button to have it approved. At that point, it'll show up.

If we decide it isn't good as-is, then we may edit it and approve the revised version, or reject it altogether. In either case, I anticipate that we'll contact y'all to let you know why we changed or rejected it.

[Feles]

is the board hidden to guests?

[James Gryphon]

Yes, that's right.

[Jetthebinturong]

Basically, yes. What y'all will do is go to post on the board as normal. It won't show up there after you've posted it right away, though. It'll be on hold until a staff member comes along and pushes the green button to have it approved. At that point, it'll show up.

If we decide it isn't good as-is, then we may edit it and approve the revised version, or reject it altogether. In either case, I anticipate that we'll contact y'all to let you know why we changed or rejected it.

Would you post the revised version without the consent of the original creator or would you check with them to see if they're okay with it?

[The Skarzs]

Well, if the person who started it isn't okay with the mod edit, I'm asuming that it simply won't be posted.

[Jetthebinturong]

That wasn't what I asked.

[The Skarzs]

I was giving an opinion.

[James Gryphon]

Would you post the revised version without the consent of the original creator or would you check with them to see if they're okay with it?

I hadn't initially thought about this point one way or another, since I figured that the changes would be uncontroversial; the idea is that it would be no different from a regular mod edit, and intended to preserve the original intent as closely as possible.

However, I can understand this being upsetting to some people, and it seems reasonable to contact authors in advance before putting up edited versions of their posts, so I'm willing to agree to making this our official policy.

[Kitsune]

I didn't get name creds. D:

[Skyblade]

I approve The Hearth (and its cool name ), and I'm excited. Thank you, Staff.

However, I can understand this being upsetting to some people, and it seems reasonable to contact authors in advance before putting up edited versions of their posts, so I'm willing to agree to making this our official policy.

I would suggest, actually, that members are told what needs to be edited so they can make the change themselves. Well, this may take a bit longer...but it preserves the members' opinion more than having other people write on their posts.

[James Gryphon]

Members are actually unable to edit their own posts on the Hearth, for the same reason that posts have to be approved there.

[Skyblade]

Woah, that's kinda scary. What if you regret something you said earlier (because it reveals more than you wanted, for example)? I guess you can ask a Staff member to edit it out?

That makes sense, though. I guess PMing the member with the edit is the best option in that case.