A humble suggestion/idea...

About This Message Board
1

I’m wondering if maybe, in the name of civil discourse, and to perhaps balance the ‘BBQ Pit’ effect, we might consider adding a new forum specifically for civil discourse.

It could be broadly defined as ‘no frothy rhetoric, no inflammatory language, as determined, by mod, on an entirely individual discussion basis.’

It sounds like it might be onerous for the mods, I know, but might need little more than a lot of, ‘Dial that back a titch.’, and, ‘Kindly rephrase the following…’

Clearly, it will take some ‘feeling our way along’, to start, for both mods and posters. In early days mods might give a poster say three, ‘do overs’, per thread. Wherein they are simply directed to rephrase, specific words or phrases. After three, they’re out of the thread. Maybe to start, it could include topics from any other forum, but MUST be a civil discussion.

(Or maybe, let posters set any thread as ‘Civil discussion only’, and have the mods can enforce that instead?)

I think it might be a way to lead people to better habits of discussion. To up their language and lower their dander, as it were.

(Also, if posters are being difficult elsewhere, instead of suspending or banning them, they could be sentenced to ONLY posting in the civil discussion thread for a period of time.)

I realize, quite possibly more than any other forum, it would be subject to the mods ‘feelings’, about the exchanges. But I don’t think a banned word list is the way to go.

(I would suggest initially NOT allowing duplicate or parallel threads in other forums. I think it could be easily undermined the idea. So, as long as topic A is an open Civil Discourse thread, that’s where you must talk about the topic until it’s run it’s course, THEN you can Restart the topic in another forum and rehash it in saltier language if you must.)

It’s just an idea. But I thought it had potential.

What are your thoughts?

2

I don’t like that point at all. We’ve had threads where whoever posted first got to set rules on the discussion, and it kept people from freely discussing the topic.

3

Don’t we already have a policy that you don’t attack people outside the pit? Ideas, yes, attack those all you want, but don’t make it personal. That is the policy, right?

4

Don’t we already have, like, ten of those forums?

5

So if something heinous/extraordinarily controversial is done, someone who supports it could quickly start a thread in this new forum and force everyone to be artificially civil about an uncivil situation?

6

I can see the sense in the proposal. The other forums don’t allow insults, but they do allow the kind of ‘skirting the line’ sarcasm, snark, and malicious insinuation which often derails what would otherwise be interesting threads. Personally, I’d like to see GD ruthlessly moderated according to Rapoport’s Rules but if that’s a no-go then I’d welcome the addition of a separate forum where everyone just voluntarily agreed to adhere to them.

7

But I think those threads have completely legit purpose. Sometimes “freely discussing” means “hijacking from what the OP intended/wanted.” An OP should be allowed to steer and control the discussion, within certain parameters. If someone is discussing female genital mutilation (an oft-debated human rights issue,) it is perfectly fair for them to say “I don’t want any discussion of male circumcision; that’s totally different and off-topic.”

8

I think the main headache for mods/admins with this sort of forum is that it could be very tricky to determine what is civil or not. Even right now, trying to decide when a poster has crossed the line can be maddeningly blurry. Now imagine that someone in the Civil Forum alerts the mods, “Someone’s being uncivil!” Chances are it will be some post that seems…well, OK in any other forum, but awfully hard to decide about on this one.

9

Isn’t this the same as Great Debates?

10

Frothy Rhetoric! I love this description it so describes my writing cadence, do you think?

11

You do understand, you don’t have to participate in such discussions if it doesn’t suit you, right?

But for people who would like to try that, there’d be a place where it was available.

And I don’t see inflammatory language modded unless truly egregious, and certainly not against the rules in most other forums, to my mind anyway!

Just an idea is all.

12

If it’s do-able, I’m behind it. People who are worried about free expression, etc., don’t have to participate. That’s what those same folks have been telling those of us who believe some discussion topics are beyond the pale.

Elbows, as you probably recognized, you’re going to get blow-back. I’m pretty sure there are folks who are going to suggest snide names for the thread like Pearl-Clutching or Sensitive Snowflakes. Ignore them. If they want to spout un-civil crap, there are plenty of other boards here. Some of them will probably also do their very, very best to test the limits and be a-holes in every thread. Out they go, I say–not from the SDMB but from the Civil Debate (or whatever it’s called) board.

Best of luck with this.

13

Forum of Extraordinary Gentlepersons

(Has to be gender neutral.)

14

You’d think that such a simple concept wouldn’t need stating or debating. But, alas, it’s just not the case. It even makes people mad to read they aren’t obligated to read or participate.

15

I believe you’re oversimplifying.

16

And trolling like this shouldn’t be allowed in the new forum, even though it is allowed in every other forum.

17

How so? If a particular thread or forum or website is unappealing to participate in there is absolutely zero obligation to do so. Think of all the media in the world once can participate in. Letters to the editor, comments on various websites, calls to radio talk shows or tv stations, etc can all be made to express agreement or disagreement with various editorials or other content. There is no obligation to do so just because others are communicating.

Every person has a finite life span and a finite interest and the content being generated, while not infinite, is far larger than any person could ever be aware of much less meaningfully participate in. What’s wrong with different spaces having different rules of engagement and different levels of appeal?

It’s like this, the presence of a Taco Bell generally has 0 impact on my ability to enjoy Burger King.

18

Moderator Note

You’ve been around more than long enough to know that accusations of trolling are not allowed outside of the Pit.

19

I couldn’t agree more.

If I were in charge, I would set up this section with a special debate policy at least on a trial basis and appoint you and/or other dedicated people moderator(s).

It would be refreshing to see people posting their opinions without anyone being allowed to ‘contribute’ questions like “Where did you get this stupid idea?”

20

And you have been around more than long enough to see this trolling. Yet you let it continue and drive more people away from this board…

…and so this board continues to die, thanks to the mods.

Enjoy your board of rules lawerying, and scientific racism, and mysigony, and letting the old white man dictating why everyone who isn’t an old white male should bow down to the old white man that rules this place, enjoy ruling this place and shouting everyone else down.

This is a place of decay.

Fuck all of you racist right wing assholes who wish nothing but to sow discord and who love to troll.

You have destroyed this place. As you wished. And the mods let you. The mods let you be trolling assholes in “The Name of Science And Speech”.

I hope this place dies.

Sorry Tuba, I once loved this space of thought as much as you did but the letting people get away with so much racism and sexism as this place has allowed.

Well, this me, getting out, fuck all you asssholes, “octopus” you trolling sock, fuck you, “hurricane ditka” you trolling sock, fuck you, “D’ Aconia, you trolling sock”

And fuck you SHodan who openly mock members of our military service members. Did you ever serve? No, you cowardly piece of shit. Fuck you troll. You are a special member of the troll family, the "fuck this piece of shit should have all that he has taken away and be given the “mental state of fear that he mocks” just so he might understand how shitty that feels. But no. He is a piece of shit.

That wishes harm both physically and mentally onto people he does not like.

And The Straight Dope fully endorses this position by not sanctioning him.
And yes the trolls come out to defend him and say that, “Well, he did apologize like 3 days later”.

So, yeah, you are all a bunch of assholes for allowing this kind of racist sexist bullshit on you website.

I am done with you all.

Fuck you all,

this is me,

fuck you!