Post by SEDstar on Dec 2, 2018 1:57:46 GMT -5
Official announcement.
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Hello, troops. I'm honestly happy to see this all went well, and that everyone was able to have a conversation discussing something like adults. To me thats wonderful, on a lot of other sites? Random issues that pop up? can sometimes lead to chaos.
the slight issue that was brought up? "maybe a few common swear words could be used on RLB". that is, without warnings and sanctions, and without deleting threads or moving threads to the clubhouse and the outhouse.
the request was not "unreasonable". its not like anyone put forward any radical ideas or changes... and so? it deserved to get looked at, to get discussed. Also, it deserved to get TALKED ABOUT, which it did. Both in public, and naturally? Discussed by staff.
the STAFF discussion boiled down to roughly these things:
---there are "a number" of things we can or can't do here at RLB. some of these things? are simply because its tradition for lack of a better word. we originally came from the PARENT SITE, the original RLB. We had a SINGLE leader, "GREG". Greg did things a certain way, and we all had certain rules and guidelines. Long standing tradition is not to be uprooted on a mere WHIM. Evidence was provided because "memory can be fallible" that indeed, the parent site didn't allow very much swearing.
---honestly? the occasional "hell" or "damn" doesn't seem to raise any alarm bells, so, its not like we are in CHURCH or under KINDERGARTEN rules.
---Maybe GREG himself? would be a little bit proud of me if i interjected a StarTrek quote that applies here? because GREG was an unabashed "trekkie", so? here goes:
"the needs of the many... outweigh the needs of the few". (Spock)
meaning? if only 1 or 2 people want a change? and particularly a change that is contrary to our tradition and standing guidelines? it would be hard to justify the change based on the wishes of one maybe two people out of a couple hundred.
--- the will of "we the people" is important at RLB. During open public discussion? no large, nor even a small group came forward wanting the proposed change.
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The final STAFF decision? was to leave everything as it is.
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while the decision in itself is not surprising? slightly more went into it than at face value. Public discussion happened. a protracted STAFF discussion happened. I am not the only ADMIN, there are at least four of us. It was a round table discussion, with every possible action or outcome discussed.
I am explaining this process we used? because it is important to me, to make sure everyone understands? that you are not being "led" by a dictator or some kind of third world "junta". The will of "we the people" at RLB counts for something, and, decisions are not made by any one person.
i cant come up with any more fair and balanced way of doing things, i dont think. While "this issue" was a small issue? perhaps as we grow again, in the future some "bigger issue" might come up? that future issue can be handled the same way:
rational public discussion
round table discussion by all available staff
with both the needs of the members, and the needs of the site itself, considered? a fair and balanced decision.
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so, the outcome was "everything stays as it is".
for the time being? we shied away from an explicit list of words. the process until now? has been that if a STAFF member notices a little bit of "bad french" in a post? they can move it, they can edit the post, they could even in a rare case delete it. as might seem fit at the moment. or even assign the "10 percent" if they think they notice a "pattern".
now, MOST or all of this? is what any of you could have guessed or expected, i would think. I want to add that it is equally important to me? that its not ALL about making sure that the members follow the guidelines we all agree on? i always feel its just as important to have good staff as well as good members. thats why i always felt having "multiple admins" was a great idea.
have fun, guys.