USMB Mod Staff is preparing to roll out a new feature. This is a TRIAL, not a guarantee that it will work out. The success of this concept depends largely on the ability of our members to "self-moderate" themselves and cooperate with the rules for this feature. It is NOT open yet. THis is an opportunity to comment on the plan and the rules. The explanation here is LONG. So if you tl;dr it -- this feature is probably not gonna work for you..
The feature is having "Invite Only" threads. They will all reside in the Structured Debate forum for now. For those of you not familiar with the Struct Debate forum, it's a place where the OP can stipulate an ADDITIONAL 3 rules for the thread participants in addition to normal Zone2 moderation. You will be able to still use the ORIGINAL Struct Debate rules OR create an Invite Only thread that meets all the guidelines below.
The concept is that any member can start a thread on any topic that would be acceptable in Zone2 or Zone3 and choose 12 people to "invite in" for the discussion. Sorting out the invites and who are people you want and trust is all on you.. In the future, the number of invites may increase and I've tested that at LEAST 25 are possible.
Read the guidelines carefully. They are more complicated than other forums and we must get compliance on every one of them to make this work. I honestly believe this could be the most popular feature on USMB and give folks a break from being constantly on the front lines of a very nasty Amer. political divide while having to deal with Mega trolls and Ultra partisan Battle Bots. It's NOT a safe zone. It's NOT a "chat room" or clubhouse. These are topical discussions meant to promote more uninterrupted adult discussion.
Comments/suggestions are welcome -- but stick to discussing this feature and the rules.
Rules for Posting "Invite Only" Threads -------- Forum not opened yet !!!!
For an "Invite Only" thread in the Structured Debate Forum ---- where OPs have always been allowed to stipulate 3 additional rules of their own. Under an "Invite Only" format this will automatically adopt 2 rules automatically -- you need not specify these..
Make Rule One that Site Wide Rules apply and threads will be Zone3 moderated
In addition -->
-- flaming or mention of ANY MEMBER (including moderators) who is not in the Invite list is not allowed. Not even by pseudonames or pet names. You want to flame USMB members, don't whimp out. Take it to the Flame Zone where they can flame back. You want to go 9 rounds with another member -- take it to the Bull Ring.
Make Rule Two be to include an "Invite List" of mention alerts (like @FCT @DTMB @catpaws) embedded in the OP for everyone to see. Can be anywhere in the Opening Post AFTER the Bold Red "Invite Only" warning.
Make Rule Three ---- any one additional rule that the OP desires to specify that does not violate the Site Wide or Zone3 rules.. If you WANT to make an additional rule -- place it near the TOP of the Opening Post after the red and bold "invite" required warning (see below).
You could still use the Structured Debate forum under the original Guidelines or use it for Invite Only threads.
Other guidance for members using the Structured Debate Forum under Invite Only rules would be:
- The first line of the OP MUST BE the following statement in Red Bold..
This is an Invite Only thread. If your member name does not appear in the alert call list -- DO NOT POST HERE -- do not even use the rating buttons on posts in this thread.
- simply and politely tell intruders the rules and ask them to leave. Then report them if they dont. Moderators will thread ban any intruders automatically. If it's chronic abuse, warnings and other sanctions may be applied.
- these threads WILL BE closed if members NOT on the Invite list are flamed or named in any way.. (Maybe some requested mod help for those that slip up once if someone REQUESTS a post deletion)
-- no material from these threads LEAVES those threads to be quoted elsewhere on the boards. This applies to both invited and uninvited members. Moderators should not MERGE or MOVE any threads out of or into the Structured Debate forum.
-- Moderation will NOT add members to the invite list or delete members from the invite list or recognize any additions NOT in the Opening Posts ----- so get it right in the Opening Post. Similarly Moderators will not eject invited members from an existing thread except for violations of the Invite Only rules. Live and Learn. Make another thread. And behave like a good guest if you want to be in Invite Only threads. How an OP decides how an invite list is created is SOLELY up to the person who creates the Opening Post.
-- if a person is alerted to one of your threads and requests in that thread that you DO NOT invite again, please respect that request. Who gets invites is solely up to the membership to sort out. But keep a list of those who DO NOT want to participate in the invite threads that you create.
- We're gonna start out with a limit of 12 invites per thread until everybody is familiar with the rules and bugs are shaken out of the rules. Moderation MAY increase that number in the future..
- Topic control is STILL in effect. So don't forget a specific Title and OP like any other Z2 or Z3 thread. These are discussion topics, not chat rooms. The purpose is to get better TOPICAL discussion. Make the Title and OP thematic or fairly narrow. Moderation will cut a LOT of slack on friendly personal banter -- but the TOPIC needs to be respected. Moderation may close if the topic is nowhere in sight.
The feature is having "Invite Only" threads. They will all reside in the Structured Debate forum for now. For those of you not familiar with the Struct Debate forum, it's a place where the OP can stipulate an ADDITIONAL 3 rules for the thread participants in addition to normal Zone2 moderation. You will be able to still use the ORIGINAL Struct Debate rules OR create an Invite Only thread that meets all the guidelines below.
The concept is that any member can start a thread on any topic that would be acceptable in Zone2 or Zone3 and choose 12 people to "invite in" for the discussion. Sorting out the invites and who are people you want and trust is all on you.. In the future, the number of invites may increase and I've tested that at LEAST 25 are possible.
Read the guidelines carefully. They are more complicated than other forums and we must get compliance on every one of them to make this work. I honestly believe this could be the most popular feature on USMB and give folks a break from being constantly on the front lines of a very nasty Amer. political divide while having to deal with Mega trolls and Ultra partisan Battle Bots. It's NOT a safe zone. It's NOT a "chat room" or clubhouse. These are topical discussions meant to promote more uninterrupted adult discussion.
Comments/suggestions are welcome -- but stick to discussing this feature and the rules.
Rules for Posting "Invite Only" Threads -------- Forum not opened yet !!!!
For an "Invite Only" thread in the Structured Debate Forum ---- where OPs have always been allowed to stipulate 3 additional rules of their own. Under an "Invite Only" format this will automatically adopt 2 rules automatically -- you need not specify these..
Make Rule One that Site Wide Rules apply and threads will be Zone3 moderated
In addition -->
-- flaming or mention of ANY MEMBER (including moderators) who is not in the Invite list is not allowed. Not even by pseudonames or pet names. You want to flame USMB members, don't whimp out. Take it to the Flame Zone where they can flame back. You want to go 9 rounds with another member -- take it to the Bull Ring.
Make Rule Two be to include an "Invite List" of mention alerts (like @FCT @DTMB @catpaws) embedded in the OP for everyone to see. Can be anywhere in the Opening Post AFTER the Bold Red "Invite Only" warning.
Make Rule Three ---- any one additional rule that the OP desires to specify that does not violate the Site Wide or Zone3 rules.. If you WANT to make an additional rule -- place it near the TOP of the Opening Post after the red and bold "invite" required warning (see below).
You could still use the Structured Debate forum under the original Guidelines or use it for Invite Only threads.
Other guidance for members using the Structured Debate Forum under Invite Only rules would be:
- The first line of the OP MUST BE the following statement in Red Bold..
This is an Invite Only thread. If your member name does not appear in the alert call list -- DO NOT POST HERE -- do not even use the rating buttons on posts in this thread.
- simply and politely tell intruders the rules and ask them to leave. Then report them if they dont. Moderators will thread ban any intruders automatically. If it's chronic abuse, warnings and other sanctions may be applied.
- these threads WILL BE closed if members NOT on the Invite list are flamed or named in any way.. (Maybe some requested mod help for those that slip up once if someone REQUESTS a post deletion)
-- no material from these threads LEAVES those threads to be quoted elsewhere on the boards. This applies to both invited and uninvited members. Moderators should not MERGE or MOVE any threads out of or into the Structured Debate forum.
-- Moderation will NOT add members to the invite list or delete members from the invite list or recognize any additions NOT in the Opening Posts ----- so get it right in the Opening Post. Similarly Moderators will not eject invited members from an existing thread except for violations of the Invite Only rules. Live and Learn. Make another thread. And behave like a good guest if you want to be in Invite Only threads. How an OP decides how an invite list is created is SOLELY up to the person who creates the Opening Post.
-- if a person is alerted to one of your threads and requests in that thread that you DO NOT invite again, please respect that request. Who gets invites is solely up to the membership to sort out. But keep a list of those who DO NOT want to participate in the invite threads that you create.
- We're gonna start out with a limit of 12 invites per thread until everybody is familiar with the rules and bugs are shaken out of the rules. Moderation MAY increase that number in the future..
- Topic control is STILL in effect. So don't forget a specific Title and OP like any other Z2 or Z3 thread. These are discussion topics, not chat rooms. The purpose is to get better TOPICAL discussion. Make the Title and OP thematic or fairly narrow. Moderation will cut a LOT of slack on friendly personal banter -- but the TOPIC needs to be respected. Moderation may close if the topic is nowhere in sight.
