We’re going to tighten things up a little bit in the BBQ Pit. Don’t get us wrong. We love the BBQ Pit. But while mud wrestling is fun, slamming somebody with a chain alongside the skull ain’t. The latter has gotta stop. Accordingly the following rules are now in effect:
As before, flame wars (arguments that have gotten too intense and/or personal) are allowed only in the Pit. Threads in other forums that have degenerated into flame wars will be moved by the moderators into the Pit.
Also as before, we allow more latitude of expression in the Pit. You want to duke it out with somebody, go ahead. You want to vent about life in general, have at it. You want to use language unsuitable for Mom, that’s OK too.
However. We will once in a while decide that a poster or group of posters has gone too far. Unprovoked, go-for-the-balls personal abuse, for example, makes us twitchy. In such cases we will typically post two warnings. In the case of a free-for-all, we may post a warning to the group at large. If the offender is a single poster, the warning may be addressed specifically to him or her. The warning will tell you/y’all to knock it off and may give examples of unacceptable postings. If the unacceptable conduct continues, we will post a final warning, which will be addressed to one or more individuals. The warning will tell you to stop or be banned. Anyone who persists after this point is subject to having his or her posting privileges revoked without further notice.
You’ll appreciate that it’s impossible to enforce this policy uniformly. Different people help moderate the Pit at different times and some of us are more tolerant than others. We’ll just miss some stuff. However, by posting multiple warnings, we hope to avoid people saying, “But nobody TOLD me!”
Please be aware that once you receive a final warning, your posting privileges are subject to revocation if you post another offensive message ANYWHERE, ANY TIME on the SDMB, not just in a particular thread or forum. If you didn’t see the warning, too bad. We may CC you on a warning by E-mail but make no promise that we will do so.
If, after receiving a final warning, you apologize or otherwise make it clear that you plan to mend your ways, we will probably be inclined to cut you some slack. However, face it, anyone who has gotten two warnings is going to be on thin ice for a while.
The preceding are guidelines only. We reserve the right to exclude anyone at any time for any or no reason. Obvious trolls, sock puppets, and such will get the boot with no warning.
Don’t get paranoid about this. We won’t warn or ban people simply for disagreeing with other posters or with us in strong terms. Routine flame wars, name-calling, creative vulgarity, etc., generally won’t get us ticked off–and if they do you’ll hear about it first. We just don’t want our users to feel, after reading the Pit, like they have to take a bath.
[Note: This message has been edited by Ed Zotti]
Sadly, all to well, Jill - what a crush I had as a 4-year old on dearly departed Sherri! But I meant was a sock puppet as Ed mentioned. I’ve seen it used elswere here, and assume it’s a made-up posting name used by members who’ve offended using their original names.
Oh, damn, spit, hellfire and PTUI! You can tell things have gotten ridiculous when the only soundtrack a drama calls forth is some lame thing from “Paint Your Wagon” about the dreary effects of civilization.
Well, can’t say it wasn’t expected or deserved. But the good news is, sounds like we can still have Pit-like claws-out brawls, where bystanders pull up lawnchairs, share brews, sell popcorn and place bets on the Troll Gut Roasts.
Know what’s a pisser? The original Prime Directive (Don’t Be A Jerk) actually covered it.
: :pulls up lawnchair; pops open cooler; slouches back; gnaws off a hunka jerky::
I have been one of the most vocal critics on how you’ve handled several board administrative matters.
Allow me to compliment you on this step in the right direction. Clear, objective rules let everybody know what’s expected of them. Posters may choose to ignore them at their peril.
I hope you implement these rules fairly and objectively as well.
“God damn your god damned old hellfired god damned soul to hell god damn you and goddam your god damned family’s god damned hellfired god damned soul to hell and god damnation god damn them and god damn your god damned friends to hell.”
– Text of a letter received by Abraham Lincoln, November 25, 1860
Ahem. Thank you all for your kind attention to this matter.
Dr. Watson
“Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtaxed.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
It’s a second screen name used by a poster for the express purpose of agreeing with himself - as you know we allow only one screen name per user. (Granted, we can catch only the most obvious cases of this.) But yes, banned posters who sneak in under another name will have the new name banned as well, without notice.
How about one more off limits area? Several people here have, through real life meetings or e-mail correspondence, learned personal information about other posters that those posters have not chosen to share with the board. I’d like to see a rule against posting personal information about other posters unless they have previously posted it themselves.
Little Nemo: An excellent suggestion. I’ve seen at least two cases (That I know of ) of personal information being devulged on the board during a fight.
It was always extremely(sp?) messy.
Disagrements on the board should only concern posts made on the board. Idealy, it should be about issues on the board, and not personal stuff. Revealing personal information, or emails, is simply the worst case of chickenshit behavior.
You know, it’s funny you should mention hijacking. I’ve been thinking a lot about the balance between personal freedom and air safety. I’m leaning toward the position that
whilst the searches of baggage (for bombs, etc.) are not stringent enough, the personal
searches (turn on your laptop, etc.) go to far. What do you think about this?