Rules Addendum

[cityship]

Hey, everyone. Due to a recent kerfluffle last night, we've had to come up with some new policies.

We understand the "no politics in chat" rule can be frustrating at times, as it can severely limit discussions on recent events. However, you also have to realize that the OOC chat is a game chat first and foremost. It's a place for people to come in and have fun. Forcing someone who may just want to play and fool around in chat into a serious discussion about politics--no matter how important it may seem to you--is rude. Even if you feel something is very important, you don't have the right to make that decision for other people.

This is why we ban all discussions on politics in chat, as politics can often lead to very polarizing and heated arguments, which can ruin the fun of someone coming in to play the game. Banning individual discussions on a case-by-case basis would be both painstaking and inefficient, so the ban is for all political discussion.

However, that being said, we do understand that a number of people would like to be able to easily discuss recent events and even politics with fellow players, and so we've decided on a compromise in the form of an addendum to the chat rules. Basically, we will have a separate chat which follows all the normal rules of the OOC chat except the ban on political discussions. The purpose of this chat will be to provide a place to discuss recent events and politics.

The addendum in full is included here:

Addendum: Due to the need to discuss world news and events, a permanent, separate chat, meatshipworldevents, will be available. This chat follows all of the normal chat rules except the ban on political discussions. In the normal chat, you will be allowed to announce recent events that you would like to discuss in the news/events chat (ex. "Hey guys, X happened. We're talking about it in other chat."), but all actual discussion of those events must take place within the news/events chat. In addition, you are allowed to answer questions about what is being discussed in the news/events chat, so long as you don't actually go into details about the discussion itself. (ex. "Hey, what's going on in other chat?" "We're talking about X. Come on over if you want to talk about it.")

Also, just as a precaution, remember that harassing any other member for any reason, including political stance, violates our number 1 rule: Don't Be A Dick.

That is all.
--The Trans9 Mods

Comments

[fireforger]

I think this is a really good compromise, to be honest - it lets people who want to talk about politics talk about politics, without pushing it on anyone who doesn't want it. Which is why I'm kinda confused as to why people are still arm in arms over this - the mods didn't have to do this. And really, neither "yes politics is allowed" or "no politics isn't" will ever be able to accommodate everyone - this is probably the best middle ground we'll be able to get.

[birthmural]

On paper it is but I think in practice not many people will want to use it at all. I know I won't. Last night was basically an exception because it was a big event that I had only just heard about. I don't really want to have to split my attention between two chats, especially when the main one goes by so fast in the first place.

Also it feels weird that if we're up late at night and the only people on do want to talk about politics... we all have to switch the discussion to the other room? I just think in that case the rule is too strict.

[fireforger]

Well, as someone who DOES hang around in 'late-night' chat, by pure virtue of my timezone...I for one often wouldn't prefer to be discussing politics. Especially since quite often 'politics' is 'American politics', a subject which I can find alienating since I know little about and could probably never even be able to give any kind of informed comment on it.

[birthmural]

Yeah, I mean more for when you're not in there. Cause if you were in there then we'd respect that and wouldn't talk about it. But there have been times where it might come up. And good point on the American centrism.

[fireforger]

That is more of a gray area, and possibly one you could give some leeway on. Though, you'd kinda need to find out if everyone in the chat at that time was okay with it, and it'd be understandable if the mods deciding that it's just simpler and less subjective to stick with "politics in worldchat only".

[birthmural]

Well yeah, it'd definitely be where we ask to make sure that everyone wants to talk about it. Assuming makes a... you know.

[i-saw-myself.livejournal.com]

Anna, if she wasn't in there, I'd be, and I don't want to discuss politics much either. Sometimes I do, but generally, I do not find it fun at all, and I hate how groups discussing it can have people talking over each other and kinda missing things and stuff being misinterpreted, and people can feel ganged up on.

I like politics sometimes, but I like really small groups and one on one talks when I talk about it. And times that even I like to talk about politics, there could be someone else that doesn't, and I'd prefer they be comfortable than have to sit there and listen.

So basically if it was allowed, it's a choice between "derp with Saphie" or "Saphie doesn't hang out in the late-night chat."

If all the people who don't like politics minimize or leave chat, you're left with who would be in the politics chat anyway and if you agree to stop discussion when someone asks, there's going to be a blanket ban, anyway.

And no one has yet to offer a solid argument on why people should have to be subject to it. "You should be aware of world events!" is not a good one. I follow the news, and I'm following the stuff going on in Egypt and right now--I just really don't feel like talking about it. I don't want to deal with debates about it, or have to make a new chat just to talk game when it's supposed to be game chat. I don't want to stop hanging out with people I like (like you) to avoid it.

So instead of looking at it as a big vague thing, let's personalize it.

If it was a discussion between just me and you and I said "Anna, I would rather not discuss politics. It's something it just bothers me to discuss" would you try to talk at me about it anyway? If the answer is no, why would you want to do that in chat? If the answer is yes, why aren't you respecting it's something I don't want to talk about, when I'd avoid a subject if it bothered you? There is stuff I know that bugs you, that sometimes is relevant to me, but I know those things are subjects you avoid, so I don't bring them up. As a friend, I expect the game.

And there is ALWAYS going to be at least one person in chat at any given time, that doesn't like the subject, just because we're in the chat over huge periods of the day.

It should be opt-in, not opt-out. If the game were not a game and a political forum, it should be opt-out, rather than opt-in, since it'd be a political forum, and gaming/fandom should be the ancilliary chat, but it's a game. There are some people that just want to game, and wanted the heated stuff to be optional so they can discuss it at their leisure.

[birthmural]

Honestly at this point and after seeing anoncomm I don't really think it's worth it to bother with keep arguing this. I'm gonna eat my words.

[dragoon1940.livejournal.com]

Agreed.