Gameroom policy discussion thread

[GeneralHankerchief]

Hi folks. Me again.

After reviewing the posts and events of the most recent game, I don't think what happened is symptomatic of any larger issues that need to be addressed on an official level for the most part. Things got heated, but they never truly spiraled out of control. People got emotional, but for the most point they recognized that sometimes they needed to step away. This is behavior that, while I don't want to say I encourage it, I certainly won't discourage it as a response to emotions running high in the thread. Sometimes that happens, it's unavoidable, and all in all things could have gone a lot worse. Plus the tone of the postgame discussion in the thread is highly encouraging, and you all are to thank for that.

So I guess I'll just repost a couple of points from the Rules and Reference thread as a reminder:

2. Sportmanship. We expect players to adhere to it.

Sportsmanship is conformance to the rules, spirit, and etiquette of sport. More grandly, it may be considered the ethos of sport. It is interesting that the motivation for sport is often an elusive element. Sportsmanship expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors.

3. Friendliness. Be nice to our new and old players. We should also strive to help new players feel welcome. Any comments perceived to be detracting from the friendly environment are particularly unwelcome.

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There is one thing not in the rules that I do want to address, however. It's the issue of profanity.

Look, I get it. Sometimes it's cathartic. Sometimes points need to be emphasized. But sometimes it can get to be too much.

Those of you who have been around here for a while know that we've had a long and at times tortured history with the official policy on profanity. Sometimes there was zero tolerance. Sometimes there wasn't. There was once the long and teeth-pullingly awkward process of determining exactly which words were and were not acceptable. Sitewide rules have changed with different administrators taking the reins over the years. I won't get into the specific timeline but right now there essentially *isn't* a policy for the Gameroom specifically.

This is probably a mistake on my part, but going back to zero tolerance is probably an overcorrection, and I have no desire to go back to the Good Bad Word/Bad Bad Word list from yesteryear either. So the current (lack of a) policy will stand in the meantime.

However.

It is my unscientific opinion that an excessive amount of profanity is more likely to lead to a poor thread environment. It can potentially signify a lack of self-censorship, which can lead to less of a filter, which can lead to emotions running higher, etc etc etc. To go full wet blanket mode, it can be classified as a gateway drug to the stuff I do need to step in and bust heads over, such as personal attacks or other behavior that goes against what is outlined in the Rules and Reference thread.

Which is all my mangled way of saying, no, the rules on profanity are not changing officially and nothing will be codified at this point in time. But unofficially, I am making a request as moderator to you all to please keep it to a manageable level, and never use it to refer to a specific individual or action. As always, I reserve the right to drop green text and start acting officially if I deem this imaginary line is crossed. Never forget that the : daisy : smiley () is your friend.

Feel free to comment/lament/vent here.