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Announcement: Forum Specific Rules Will No Longer Be Used

Tangeloper

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ANNOUNCEMENT:
Forum Specific Rules will no longer be used

Originally published by AngelDove97, CF Policy Manager

Dear Staff & Members,

As many of you know by now, our new owner, LeeD, has announced changes that he and Staff will be making over the next few weeks. We hope this will be a time of peaceful change, as we have just spent a few months that were rather hectic. I’m glad many of us decided to stay for the sake of the friendships and discussions that take place at Christian Forums/Foru.ms.

I would like to make Staff and Members aware that we will discontinue having and developing “Forum Specific Rules”, aka FSRs for ALL forums here at the site. It has been decided by LeeD that this site will have a set of general rules only.

However, each forum is allowed to take the FSR’s that they have in place and develop them to become guidelines for that forum. This means that a member will not necessarily receive an infraction (infraction system is still being discussed I believe) for violating a guideline, but may be asked to have the post deleted, edited, or moved to a different and more appropriate forum. Staff will be moderating based on the set of General Rules that the site will have.

Staff and members should be encouraged to spend the next few days developing guidelines for the forums where they participate or moderate in. Remember, these are NOT rules, but can describe what topics should be discussed and in what fashion.

Another reminder from LeeD: “Congregational Forums wishing to remain safe havens may choose to limit debate to members of their own denomination, insist that all posts conform to their creed etc.” The Ecumenical Staff Team and the members who participate in these areas should work together to come up with said guidelines for the sake of that forum having peace and stability. As of right now, ONLY Congregational forums have this right.

Should you have any questions regarding this announcement, please feel free to contact a Staff member and we will do our best to supply an answer.

~Angeldove97
Policy Chief

PS ~ An example of a guideline would be, "Do not post triggers" in a Recovery forum. Should somebody post a trigger, perhaps it should be labeled as one, deleted, edited, etc. If you have a question on a guideline, please speak to the Staff who cover that area.

Reviewed by mnphysicist and Constance.

**Updates will be added to this Announcement should any clarifications are needed. I am waiting to hear back from mnphysicist, Constance, and/or Lee about Gender and Age Restrictions. Please be patient!
 
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Glass*Soul

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I'm possibly a little confused in that:


[emphasis mine]

Yet the example given of how a forum specific guideline might look is framed in terms of a recovery forum.

Is this saying that all forums may develop guidelines regarding proper decorum but that only congregational forums may develop guidelines aimed particularly at remaining "safe havens?" If so, may we have some further clarification as to what sorts of guidelines constitute the making of a safe haven vs. those which any forum may feel free to adopt?

Or am I missing something?
 
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Glass*Soul

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Also, the title of this thread states that forum specific rules will no longer be used, but the large, bold statement in the announcement itself says that forum specific guidelines will no longer be used. The body of the announcement then seems to say that forum specific guidelines will indeed be used but that they will not be applied in the same way that the site-wide the rules will.

I also noticed that I was switching back and forth between the two terms in post #2, so I've corrected that.

Anyhow, I was confused at first. I hope I'm understanding the situation now.
 
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Tangeloper

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Sorry about that!!! It was indeed a TYPO!!! Editing now...
 
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Tangeloper

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The details are still being worked out on this from what I understand. I'm sorry for any confusion on this. Obviously the Recovery Forums, and some others will need some of the same "protective" guidelines as the Congregations Forums.

Your area Admins and Mods will have much more specific information on how things will be handled in regards to the FSGs for a given area. Not all will work the same way. Your Admins and Mods are being encouraged to work with the members to develop these guidelines.

I hope this helps a little, and again... sorry for the typo! I can imagine that was a little confusing!

Thanks,
Tangeloper
Duchess of Policy
 
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Hadassah

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Let me see if I understand this correctly. Is it true that the FSRs we already have in our congregations can now be used as guidelines instead, which means some posts may be deleted or edited, but warnings would not be given?
Basically the same question I have.

I'm not sure this is such a great idea in certain specific congregational forums.

We had so many more problems without the FSRs we voted in, and now it seems to be quiet.

With the upheaval though, things are getting restless again and it's not easy for everyone to figure out what is and isn't allowed and what rules apply and no longer apply.
 
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DeaconDean

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More importantly, I'd like to know when unwritten rules are enforceable?

I was asked to edit one of my posts when the post clearly fell within the 5 principles, the general rules, and the FSR's.

So when are unwritten rules enforceable?

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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Tangeloper

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This thread is not to proper forum for discussion of specific complaints like this. If you disagree with a ruling made by a moderator all members are encouraged to contact the Reconciliation Team (RT). You may work with one, a few, or all of the people on the team, and it's up to you who you work with. These members are volunteers who have dedicated their "staff" time here to helping members who are having problems, and to get to the bottom of situations where members feel they have been wronged.
You can go to this thread for a list of Reconciliation Team Members. You can PM someone on the Team and/or for the time being you can start a private thread in the Suggestions/Complaints Box that can be reviewed by the Reconciliation Team. (The RT is working on a new system similar to an appeals system previously in place. More details are coming soon).
 
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DedicatedLittleFaith

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I did not see this as a complaint, I saw this as a question. We have forum specific rules in OBOB, and if we are to no longer enforce them I would like to know.
 
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DeaconDean

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No you are missing the poimt. If Forum Specific Rules are no longer, then why are they still enforcing them? Hum...

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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DeaconDean

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Well since I'm the bad guy here, ignore any further responses from me.

No, I take that back, I'll just gracefully bow out.

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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Ariel

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I need help, but I am not certain about the rules.

I thought that in certain forums we were asked to keep an atmosphere of edification, and hence not get into debates.

Presently there is someone who has been trying repeatedly to push me into a debate. I just quoted the rules, but now I realize they no longer apply.

Now what?
 
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