SDMB's new civility goals

[Arnold_Winkelried]

@Guinastasia

If anything, I’d say it’s probably the most popular forum here

I think you meant to say fifth most popular.
Cite:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php
(see number of threads column)

[fisha]

Fuck civility. At least in the Pit.

[VinylTurnip]

@Arnold_Winkelried

I don’t have a problem with the new Pit rules. I think if someone is unable to post on a forum without having the need to say “fuck you” to another poster then the problem is not with the forum. I’ve disagreed with many posters over the years and I’ve never had to tell any of them to go fuck themselves.

Nor (to the best of my recollection) have I, but as our resident champions of the Second Amendment are fond of opining, 'tis far better to carry it and not need it…

[Arnold_Winkelried]

I can’t think of a situation at the SDMB where the only way to defend my honour would be screaming obscenities at another poster.

[NineToTheSky]

@Arnold_Winkelried

I’m willing to take that risk. Seeing as how every time I have heard someone say “If you look at a mod cross-eyed you’ll be banned”, I rolled my eyes. Unless you’re a spammer or a returned sock, all the bannings I’ve seen have happened after multiple warnings over a long period of time.

I have never sworn at anyone on the SD, and never will, so it wouldn’t affect me, but what you’re describing is under the old rules. The new ones are both more stringent and more…open to interpretation.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@fisha

Fuck civility. At least in the Pit.

I don’t even know Civility. Until I meet her and verify that she is hot in both my opinion and Mrs. Rhymer’s, and is willing to fuck both of us, it’s not happening.

[wring]

@Arnold_Winkelried

I don’t have a problem with the new Pit rules. I think if someone is unable to post on a forum without having the need to say “fuck you” to another poster then the problem is not with the forum. I’ve disagreed with many posters over the years and I’ve never had to tell any of them to go fuck themselves.

Oh please. And, I say that with actual respect. During the build up to the war in Iraq, I (and others) were called cowards, treasonous etc. And I think “fuck you” is the perfect response to that.

It isn’t about me being able to come up with a more colorful invective, it’s about some one else not being able to handle a few cuss words.

And apparently, discussion of the rule has to be all pink and rainbows too. Fuck it.

I’ve been here for 9 years. I’ve mostly been polite to other posters and supportive of the administration and staff. I’ve continued to financially support the board because I’ve enjoyed it. I believe once a mod cautioned me about something in a thread (Manhatten if memory serves, in GQ), wasn’t a warning or anything, just a ‘hey, that’s not ok in this forum’ type of thing. Once, in 9 years.

But my posting has seriously diminished in recent years, and I’ve found even in recent weeks I rarely have posted (today being an exception). I survived the pit of years gone by, where a poster absolutely threatened to kick my ass. I’ve seen it evolve, and mostly didn’t have a problem w/the evolution.

This, however, sucks.

[pepperlandgirl]

@Arnold_Winkelried

I can’t think of a situation at the SDMB where the only way to defend my honour would be screaming obscenities at another poster.

That’s wonderful, Arnold, and I’m happy for you. But we’re not discussing the possibility of adding a new forum where “screaming obscenities” would be permitted. We’re discussing a forum that already has its own culture and expectations. A forum where certain language was always allowed, and people knew to avoid it if they didn’t like that sort of thing. Now people who regularly post there don’t even know what to expect. Is there going to be a grace period? How many slip ups are we going to be allowed? What about threads that are already going strong?

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Polycarp

<snip> If I or someone else felt that a staff decision was unfair, disproportionate, or counterproductive, is there a proper place and tone to say that publicly? (I’d point you, Ed, to two recent cases where you admitted overreacting and reversed or modified your decision – but I’m not sure that’s legal under your new rules.) It seems like there is a lot of gray area between “Lynn Bodoni is a piece of shit” (obviously offensive and unacceptable) and “Fluiddruid made an error of judgment in such-and-such thread in my opinion, and I’d like to draw it to her and management’s attention, for these reasons” which I think is legitimate behavior on the part of a member.

As I said, this isn’t being done to challenge but to ask for clarity on how exactly you want these new rules to work, and what’s permissible and impermissible under them. I welcome clarification.

I would also like to know that. One of the best features about the Dope has been, in my opinion, the fact that we could discuss actions by The Powers That Be with them (and not always in ass-kissing terms).

As for the swearing, I’ve probably typed “fuck” twice in eight years here, and I think taking swearing out of The Pit is not the right choice. If I wanted a family-friendly board, I’d be on one.

[elucidator]

I worry. As much as I heartily admire Mr. Zotti’s brillliant cartooning style, Durer-esque in its detail, reminiscent of Da Vinci’s sketchbooks for the subtle interplay of shading…still, I worry that perhaps he is taking on too much for someone who, like me, must be advancing in years to Late Youth.

As well as his artistic triumphs, he has expanded the Board in ways that have sent ripples of raw excitement through that community that never misses an episode of This Old House! And now he has mounted a campaign to make the Board acceptable to such persons who are prone to clutch their pearls and faint in the presence of brusque language.

Too much, sir, too much! Marshall your resources, lest your talents be squandered willy-nilly! Consider the consequences! Shall there be but one Pit “moderator”, then? This is a creatively surly crowd here, they will rise at once to the challenge of expressing the unacceptable in an veiled manner. Insults will not become more civil, they will simply become more complex, more obfuscatory. And who will be charged with determining which convoluted set of invectives is clear enough to be “offensive”?

A bad idea? A diesel powered vibrator is a better idea. Stick to your knitting, sir. Or take up knitting. Whichever.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@elucidator

Too much, sir, too much! **Marshall **your resources, lest your talents be squandered willy-nilly! Consider the consequences! Shall there be but one Pit “moderator”, then? This is a creatively surly crowd here, they will rise at once to the challenge of expressing the unacceptable in an veiled manner. Insults will not become more civil, they will simply become more complex, more obfuscatory. And who will be charged with determining which convoluted set of invectives is clear enough to be “offensive”?

(bolding mine)
I think you mean “husband” here. I’d check my dictionary to be sure, but I want to see if I get warned for nitpicking.

[Find_Friends]

@Polycarp

Ed: The new Pit rules raise a lot of questions. Here are three; there may be more…

IMO those are three very well-thought out and expressed questions. We really do need clarification, and there are all sorts of situations allowed in the past that may or may not be allowed now.

I really wonder what the point of a forum called BBQ Pit would now be?

To put it one way:

WARNING: Cover your ears if you can’t stand the “singing voice” of those of us who can’t sing!

What’s “civ” got to do, got to do with it?

/“Singing” voice off.

• “Jack”

[elucidator]

@Skald_the_Rhymer

(bolding mine)
I think you mean “husband” here. I’d check my dictionary to be sure, but I want to see if I get warned for nitpicking.

Just so! I commend the precision of your vocabulary, sir or madam, and am heartily pleased to hear that a degree in English is not wasted time, as once I might have thought! Please do not hesitate to favor me with further gems of your erudition! By way of reward, may I contact ETF, and urge her to forward to you her complete compendium of lolkatz sites? No, no, don’t thank me, least I could do!

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@elucidator

Just so! I commend the precision of your vocabulary, sir or madam, and am heartily pleased to hear that a degree in English is not wasted time, as once I might have thought! Please do not hesitate to favor me with further gems of your erudition! By way of reward, may I contact ETF, and urge her to forward to you her complete compendium of lolkatz sites? No, no, don’t thank me, least I could do!

Who is ETF, and why, if you are in the grip of Budweiser syndrome, have you not offered to teleport me any?

[wring]

“ETF” = ** EddyTeddyFreddy** I believe.

[Guinastasia]

Would it not be that much easier to be banned? What constitutes too far? “Eat me?” “Bite me?” What profanity is allowed, and what is not?

And I would like to know-what has brought on this sudden change-WHY is this happening? Why now? I’d VERY much like to know that. :dubious:

[Cervaise]

Does this mean that Cecil himself will stop heaping abuse on deservingly blockheaded questioners in his columns? Or should we look to said writing for a repository of culturally acceptable phraseology?

[Ale]

Well, ain’t that good timing?, I just renewed my membership yesterday and today I see that the SS SDMB flood valves being opened…

[catsix]

@Cervaise

Does this mean that Cecil himself will stop heaping abuse on deservingly blockheaded questioners in his columns? Or should we look to said writing for a repository of culturally acceptable phraseology?

I thought it was already established that Ed Zotti is under no obligation to follow the rules that he expects everyone else to live by.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

@wring

“ETF” = ** EddyTeddyFreddy** I believe.

Yup. Our luci I fear has still not forgiven me for exposing him to a subculture he had till then been blissfully unaware of. Indeed, were he given to an excess of strong and vulgar language, I fear he might to this day be at risk of running afoul of our New And Glorious Pit Rules!! whenever reminded of the hideous wrenching of the scales from his trembling eyes.