We always HAVE been a Discussion board. We've always focused almost solely on getting thread topics to be discussed and not on arbitrary content issues.. STILL completely committed to the Free Speech thing.. But lately, the thread titles and Opening Posts have been giving Free Speech a bad name..
The basic rules are not gonna change much.. There's already a clause for not allowing "baiting and polarizing" Titles and OPs. That will be footnoted with something like the following..
Titles and Opening Posts
1) Title must contain sufficient clues about the ACTUAL expected discussion. Titles like "How stupid are These People" can't be SEARCHED or indexed for search for the use of members or mods to find and manage existing active threads.
2) Titles must be free of INFLAMMATORY words, name calling or "pet names".. Those things are what make a title "baiting".
3) The "user content" in OPs that the existing rules require needs to be "stepped up".. "Get a load of this" -- is no longer sufficient topical content"... Must be 2 lines or more.. The more the better.. Must SUMMARIZE the topic to be discussed and why you think it NEEDS discussion..
To sum that up.. We're REQUIRING the Original Posters to START a clean topical discussion.,. No more juiced incendiary titles and ranting OPs.. If it's important enough for you to dash to a keyboard to poke it in -- need to put in the effort to start the discussion with YOUR views of the topic..
Post Content
Currently the Rules require "specific topical content" in EVERY post.. And the moderation method for that is stone simple..
Post has "specific topical content" --- stop reading, ignore the rest, it's legal.
Post LACKS "specific topical content" -- It's illegal.. Delete and/or warn...
1) That rule will edited to read "must contain
substantial and relevant topical content".. This means that unsubstantiated generalizations about groups or political opponents is NOT ALONE sufficient as "specific topical content" anymore.. Yeah, you have to stop and think and spend a few calories composing a post..
2) Repetition, badgering, harassment, and repeatedly ignoring requests to clarify or answer questions MAY get you booted or warned... This may be specified in the official rules in the coming days.
3) Meme pics are OK - if they are about topic and NOT just personal and fit the definition of substantial and relevant.
4) Posts on the 1st two opening pages of a thread will be CHECKED by moderation when they visit.. These will be HIGHLY moderated, because the course of thread is determined largely in the 1st pages... If you're caught dropping into a brand new topic just to attack or flame -- you'll be warned and banned for one day.. Assuming there isn't more damage to the thread later on..
If you don't care to DISCUSS the topic first -- DONT DROP IN.. This is probably the most common issue we have with "tone", anger, and stinkyness of this place lately. It's a personality pile-on on Pg1.. Not happening anymore.. Keep a distance from members you consider "retards or morons".. Just ignore what you consider to be crap.. Don't prance thru it barefoot..
Transparency on Warnings.
In addition, to add to visibility of who and what is being warned, Moderation will be leaving visible WARNED posts and adding a flag like --
Mod Note: This is a WARNED post.. Do not reply to it.
Obviously it's a bit of public shaming, but more IMPORTANTLY it gives members feedback about the MASSIVE amount of work that moderation does here everyday.. It's also important to see EXAMPLES what what content and material is actionable and we HOPE folks will see daily what rules are enforced and how..
Note that we cannot do this for EVERY post that went into the warning.. If the member was warned for 3 or 10 posts -- the others will simply be deleted.. So you still wont know the EXTENT of ALL the work that was done on that thread, but it's a start on moderation transparency..
When we say "do not reply" we mean it.. If you have questions -- PM a mod or two..
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How about we stop there and make these adjustments and hope that improves the tone and anger issues?
We realize that the problems this nation face right now don't ORIGINATE on USMB.. We just want to prove that Discussion boards are still relevant to IMPROVING the discussion in the land.. Understand that a fair number of members are here for the brawl.. That's why we created the Taunting Forums.. They are not gulags for punishment.. They are there for folks that WANT to brawl and not be constrained to topics.. We won't be moving as much stuff "downstairs".. A fair portion of failed threads will likely get closed instead.. But if you want ranty/flamey titles/OP/Posts -- we'll open more downstairs forums for that..
AyeCantSeeYou WillHaftawaite Coyote Kat Meister Dont Taz Me Bro