Serious Topics Participation Sub-Rules

[TB]

Note: The serious discussion board now requires a minimum of 10 posts before an account can participate.

This may increase later if needed.

 

It goes without saying, that this section should remain civil. This forum section isn't a no-holds-barred challenge where you can simply insult the other person into submission. I've received too many reports where people are doing just this. I've also received far too many reports of post that aren't breaking any rules, but the reporting individual just didn't like the flavor of the post. I'm setting down additional rules for this section. Failure to follow these rules can result in a warning, the inability to participate in this sub-forum, or a permanent ban.

 

1. Godwin's law. Calling someone a Nazi is an insult, and will be treated like any other insult. If someone actually IS a Nazi, and you will know this by the obvious way they break rule #2, then report it and move on. It's crazy this rule even needs to be made, but it appears to have become even more "in vogue" to do this.

 

1a. If calling someone a Nazi would accurately describe their politics, then still don't do it. They will probably get banned. EG: Advocating for white supremacy or genocide. If it would be considered hate-speech in the supreme court, then it's hate-speech. We will make the call on what is hate speech after it's reported, this isn't a trial by peers.

 

1b. Someone calling you names doesn't give you the right to "defend yourself" by calling them names, this isn't a school-yard brawl. Report and ignore.

 

1c. Name calling involves stating another person is something or would be something. Where-as an attack on the idea is stating an idea would be something or is something. This is judged on a case-by-case basis. Using these to invent ways to insult people is still name calling. Remember the most important rule, "Act like an adult."

 

No: "You are (would be) a _____ if you believed (said/did) this."

Yes: "The speech/ideologies/sources you're providing are often associated with ______."

Yes: "This source is disreputable and appears to be ______."

 

2. Facts and figures are not hate speech. There is a fine line between hate speech and citing unpopular numbers. If a statistic or fact is made up, then it's easy game to find the correct figures and prove that.

 

Example of Hate Speech: "Group X are just a bunch of cookie stealers, my whole life I grew up around those cookie stealers and they're just bums."

Example of NOT Hate Speech: "According to FBI statistics, in the kitchen, Group X are responsible for 80% of all cookie theft. (Source Provided by Link)"

 

2a. Randomly posting 4chan tier reference sheets in an attempt to denigrate a race or people is defamatory, and while not technically hate-speech, will land you in some hot water. Keep citations and facts topical.

 

3. If you're using statistics or "facts" then you should cite it. We're not talking APA or MLA here, but you need to back up what you're saying with a reputable source. If it's anecdotal, then say so. Citing "facts" without providing a source is weighed when we're deciding whether something is hate-speech or trolling. Participating members are welcome to question and rebuff your source.

 

4. Don't make us make more rules. Act civil. All other rules apply here in addition to these.