Subject: I've remembered why we didn't do this.
Author:
Posted on: 2014-03-10 15:09:00 UTC
Article 4:
4. People engaged in any violation of the Constitution, particularly Articles 1 & 2 will be given at least one actual chance to stop and apologise. Telling someone to shut up because their opinion is unwanted does not constitute a chance. Giving someone a chance means informing them their behavior is wrong or unwanted according to our Constitution and why, as per Article 9.
And Article 9:
9. The PPC as a community is responsible for upholding the Constitution. If you see someone breaking any of the rules and guidelines herein, please ask them to stop (politely- remember Article 7!) and explain why. If this doesn't resolve the situation, you will be backed up - and if it continues, a persistent rule-breaker should be shunned or asked to leave. (If you're being accused of breaking a rule, take a step back and, if you are in the wrong, stop, apologise, and move on. Grudges are no fun!)
Having a rule which explicitly states that badfics should be confined to one thread opens up the possibility of someone being told to leave the Board because they forget to do so - in fact, it would make it a possible response if they do it twice, only.
We've had people on the Board in the past who would have done that - not officially, but if you glare at a person and imply they should leave often enough, they do. I've seen it happen. I don't want it to happen again.
So... punishment and sanctions. I believe that everyone on the Board is capable of following the rules, and that lapses should be reminded, not reprimanded. Someone who is actively out to cause trouble can and will be blocked. If we're reworking this thing, I think we need to say that: a) breaking the Constitution without malign intent happens, and everyone has the responsibility to remind you when you do - with no hard feelings. b) Long-term, low-level deliberate violations or 'forgetting' may result in you being asked to shape up or leave. c) Deliberate malevolence (ie, violation of Articles 1-3) may result in (up to) 'apologise and stop, or be blocked'.
I also think we need some sort of protection for people falsely or mistakenly accused. The following situation (heavily anonymised and modified) has occurred:
Oaken Thorinshield: I think this movie sucks.
Lacksidacksical: Oaken, you are so right!
Oaken Thorinshield: Don't use that word, you scumbag. Apologise now.
Lacksidacksical: What word? I don't understand. I'm sorry if I upset you, all right?
Oaken Thorinshield: Apologise for saying That Word, or leave the Board, swine!
Lacksidacksical: I have no idea what's going on, but I'm still sorry something's offended you. Are we all right now?
Summertide: Due to your callous disregard for Oaken's feelings in continuing to use the word 'right' when everyone knows she hates that word because of what happened to her r*ght hand, Oaken has now left the PPC. You should be shot for this.
Now, we can't ask Oaken not to be upset - she was very attached to that hand - and asking her to calm down and stop insulting Lacksi probably wouldn't go very well... but equally, having her and Summertide demanding Lacksi apologise for something she's not even sure she did or be banned would be a perversion of everything the Constitution stands for.
You can create your own analogous situations which are less ridiculous (if 464646 says something in all innocence which OlderThanThou takes as an insult, should 464646 apologise for insulting OTT, when she never did so?), but the situation needs considering, at least.
hS