Controversial Topics Board

[princesscinderella]

I agree. I like it all in one place. I don't know why moderators have to shut down discussions. We're all adults. If someone doesn't like the topic or the way the conversation is heading, they can ignore the thread.

I think the difference though is by separating it out it probably wouldn’t be indexed by search engines like the rest of the DIS is, popcorn kernel stuck thread is a perfect example of this which comes back from the dead every so often.

 

[sam_gordon]

And it's one thing to have a different opinion and another to spew hatred and bigotry.

Let people show you who they are.

 

[Micca]

I think the difference though is by separating it out it probably wouldn’t be indexed by search engines like the rest of the DIS is, popcorn kernel stuck thread is a perfect example of this which comes back from the dead every so often.

That thread has SAVED LIVES And those ungrateful people who stumble in at random never stick around and talk about Disney stuff.

 

[WebmasterCorey]

Thanks for all your comments and thoughts. I'm reading them all and taking notes. This will be a very unmoderated board. I would never put this pressure on anyone else. It’s my idea and I’ll personally deal with it. Any reports and issues will be dealt with by me, so if I find someone making my life miserable, then I'll just kindly remove their access. I'm not here to take sides on left vs right or weigh in on gray areas. Things will get heated and everyone should expect it. This is why it'll be an opt-in/opt-out and not visible to anyone else, including the search engines.

 

[RedHead0186]

Just adding my support for this idea!

 

[Genie+]

I think an area like this could benefit from some very thoughtful ground rules. Maybe take a look around at some other groups that are successful. Are there any?

It could be helpful to give some explanation of how rules work and why they do, eg how you cannot call Davey a jerk but can say his statement is dumb. There are still people today that do not realize the difference when moderators take action on one but not the other, and just assume bias. There needs to be civility.

There needs to be structure. Will it just be anything goes or could there be guidelines. Not exactly like debate guidelines but something of a similar nature? Something that keeps a topic from running in circles. I dunno this might take alot of work.

 

[tink2424]

I think an area like this could benefit from some very thoughtful ground rules. Maybe take a look around at some other groups that are successful. Are there any?

It could be helpful to give some explanation of how rules work and why they do, eg how you cannot call Davey a jerk but can say his statement is dumb. There are still people today that do not realize the difference when moderators take action on one but not the other, and just assume bias. There needs to be civility.

There needs to be structure. Will it just be anything goes or could there be guidelines. Not exactly like debate guidelines but something of a similar nature? Something that keeps a topic from running in circles. I dunno this might take alot of work.

One thing that is needed is some explanation for when giving points. Most of the time I have no idea what exactly is the problem which could lead to me repeating the issue. That would be very helpful to spell out the what & why. I know that it takes longer for a mod to do that but a lot of the infractions are not understandable especially when you see others doing the same things.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Thanks for all your comments and thoughts. I'm reading them all and taking notes. This will be a very unmoderated board. I would never put this pressure on anyone else. It’s my idea and I’ll personally deal with it. Any reports and issues will be dealt with by me, so if I find someone making my life miserable, then I'll just kindly remove their access. I'm not here to take sides on left vs right or weigh in on gray areas. Things will get heated and everyone should expect it. This is why it'll be an opt-in/opt-out and not visible to anyone else, including the search engines.

I think the key to its success is how much tolerance will be allowed in those grey area discussions. Example: Someone says they respect everyone's right to marriage under the law but also states that they personally don't believe in gay marriage because of their religious beliefs. Poster A is than immediately called a bigot by poster B and is furtherly verbally attacked for their religious beliefs. That's different then someone just responding respectfully and stating that they disagree with that position. Just wanted to point out an example. I'm all for debates and insightful discussion but the respect level is the only thing I'm cautious about the idea. I would like to participate in the type of board discussed however.

 

[MamaMermaid]

Let’s try it!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for addressing the issues, Corey. You've always come across as an observer and then a doer.

Is there a downside to basically going back to what was here over 20 years ago, the addition of a Debate board? To me, it seems like having to opt in is an unnecessary step. If a poster wants to start what s/he thinks might be controversial, heated, whatever, the poster can go start a thread there. Those who like to argue, etc, will regularly visit that board looking to see who is up to argue with. If a thread started here on the CB goes off the rails, you or whomever works the CB these days, can move it to that new board. I did that during my stint here on the CB 24 years ago. If I (or one of the other co-moderators) saw a thread dissolving into a debate, I. or another, would just move it there, along with a post explaining in a few words why it was moved there. Folks who don't enjoy debating/arguing things would just basically just ignore that forum. I know back then, I never carried on a debate there, only moved threads there once in awhile.

In any case, Corey, thanks for the improvements in the way the place is being run, it is noticed and felt by many.

 

[ramee]

Could you just grant access to all current posters for a trial period? People can drop out as they’d like or would it be too much to weed through in the early stages of it?

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Superb idea. As long as people don't go out of their way to rock the boat, I could see this working. I'd be up for it

 

[sam_gordon]

Superb idea. As long as people don't go out of their way to rock the boat, I could see this working. I'd be up for it

Sure, just gives you some place to make more threads.

And just in case anyone thinks I'm serious, I'm making a joke.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I think an area like this could benefit from some very thoughtful ground rules. Maybe take a look around at some other groups that are successful. Are there any?

It could be helpful to give some explanation of how rules work and why they do, eg how you cannot call Davey a jerk but can say his statement is dumb. There are still people today that do not realize the difference when moderators take action on one but not the other, and just assume bias. There needs to be civility.

There needs to be structure. Will it just be anything goes or could there be guidelines. Not exactly like debate guidelines but something of a similar nature? Something that keeps a topic from running in circles. I dunno this might take alot of work.

Corey is proposing that the forum be "very unmoderated", as in, it will police itself.

I really can't be more in favor of this.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I promise not to be too controversial - I've been down that road myself and that avenue can end rather nastily. I mean, I used to run some forums for mental health and so on, and allowed controversial topics with a hands off approach - so I know what a minefield things can get for the poor mods. So yes, to summarise, I think it's a great idea and could work really well, as long as the REAL trouble makers get booted out before they can cause collateral damage.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

One last thought - this could help bring new life into the DIS. People at the moment on the Community Board can feel constricted - a chance to let people speak their minds in a candid way could be very cool.

 

[ronandannette]

A totally open forum will never work, there will always be some jerk posting 100 times a day with the same drival.

It can definitely work. Just scroll by or block the person you don't want to see.

Yes, 1000X yes!! People - you don't have to read the threads you don't like. Seriously, you don't have to.

I like the idea...it's sort of like my family at Thanksgiving. I can only sit and listen to Uncle Charlie go on about his political and gender beliefs for so long, then I leave the table and sit with the people who want to discuss the lighter stuff.

I used to participate in the 'heavier' threads a lot more than I do now. I find that as the pandemic and the world situation wore on and on and on andonandonandon, I had less of an appetite for debating or whatever. I wanted some escapism from my daily worries. I just would see a thread title, say to myself, 'Nope,' and try not to read it. I still do that to some extent.

I'd like to see this hypothetical new board and be a part of it when I choose to be a part of it. My only fear is that it would become a platform for intolerance. That I would not like, but I hope that if this new board is created, there would be self-moderation. I'm not talking about people being shouted down for their opposite beliefs, I'm talking about those who engage in blatant racism or intolerance or whatever being told that it isn't okay. Having just wrote that, I see where it would be difficult to decide what this is at times.

I think what I'm saying is that I'm cautiously optimistic about the idea, but I'm cautiously pessimistic as well.

I genuinely do not understand the bolded. Try not to? Just don't. It's easy. The threads don't come for you; you have to actively open them.

 

[nw6675]

This thread may need to be moved to the new forum soon

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This thread may need to be moved to the new forum soon

Right behind the Beatles/Elvis/Taylor Swift thread.

 

[GAN]

It can definitely work. Just scroll by or block the person you don't want to see.

But if I did that, I’d have nothing to upset me