This is a followup to the previous Swearingen STICKY. Apparently the message did not get through to everyone. I tried to be clever and subtle.
Now, due to the spiral of hostility on BWOT, we are going to implement a couple of minor changes. Most folks won't notice a difference, a couple of folks will.
Language
Regarding language. There are two thoughts. First, as requested in the Swearingen Thread, folks should try to find a creative and interesting way to articulate their position. On the other hand, there is nobody who is going to censor your language.
Second, if you are looking for a forum where profanity isn’t allowed, this isn’t it. If you want a PG rated forum, go to DISNEY.COM. I am sure you will be welcome. DON’T criticize or correct someone’s language simply because YOU don’t like it.
Issues of Moderation
BWOT has been, intentionally a very sparsely moderated forum. One of the reasons folks like to come here is because we allow thought from every perspective to be aired and we allow everyone to articulate their thoughts. No subject is off limits and, with absolute minimal exception, every view is tolerated. With that freedom, however comes a certain responsibility. The lite moderation has been successful, for the most part folks have acted like adults and respected each other, whether they agreed with each other or not. As a result, over the past year or so the number of folks banned can be counted on one hand. In the past year, something has begun to change and folks have been less responsible in their actions and less respectful in their words.
As of now, here are some things at which we are specifically looking.
- Personal Attacks
- Stalking
- Baiting
If you post up a clever little one liner, intended to provoke anger or just to piss someone off, you need to rethink your BWOT strategy.
Everyone is guilty at some point, on some level. At times these comments are included in the context of the discussion and that makes perfect sense and are fully expected. Other times, they are purely for personal attack only, out of the blue. That needs to stop…by everyone. Threads started for this intent will be deleted.
Multiple Threads
On subjects for which there is much conversation, DO NOT post up a second, third, fourth or fifth thread on the subject if one already exists. Simply add your link, copy and thoughts to the current thread and let the conversation continue. That will help keep continuity, will help members more easily follow the train of conversation and will help moderation of the threads.
Should a second one be posted, it will be deleted or combined, resulting in awkward thread continuity.
Until folks can get back to that level of equilibrium where everyone treats BWOT as the private clubhouse for everyone, full of adults that are responsible, we will tighten moderation just a bit. With a very good mix of politically diverse moderators, that cover much of the spectrum, we don't ever have to worry about this board being moderated with a particular political tilt. The conversations before any actions safeguard that from happening.
McBear
edfreeman
Digmenow
]. We are well on our way toward achieving a somewhat more civil clubhouse. And that is appreciated by all. 
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