Current Events Rules

Folks, we are bringing back #currentevents. This is both to provide a place to discuss the issues of the day and also to keep such discussion out of #life.

We put the channel on hiatus because we were having problems with it. We're taking a different approach with it this go around, and it's important that you read this carefully if you plan to participate.

Participation in #currentevents is a privilege. There's a set of rules that we've come up with and they'll be enforced more strictly than in other channels. If you break one of these rules, we'll kick you from the channel. If you then rejoin the channel, we'll kick you from the slack. So, please know, that participation in that channel means agreeing to abide by these rules.

Don’t “No Content” post. This means posting a link without commentary. We’re trying to cut down on link spam. If you post something, say something about it. The idea behind posting it should be that there can be conversation around it. Initiate that conversation.

Look Before Linking. Don’t post links remotely from other apps without checking Slack first. If you have a link you want to bring to the group, check and make sure you’re not interrupting an ongoing conversation before pasting it.

Use Content Warnings for Sensitive Material. When it doubt, err on the side of caution.

No “All” Statements. Keep in mind that the slack is a large community, with many different view points. You might be pissed and want to post “All liberals are trash” or “All republicans are vampires.” Don’t do this. It’s not constructive and it’s easy for someone to feel attacked by it.

In other words: “I can’t believe the DNC did this. I think it’s a shitty move because _” is OK. “Democrats are fucking trash” is not.

Don’t Fight. If you’re getting heated or feeling pissed at someone else in the community, it’s OK to just walk away from the screen.

No Personal Attacks.

No Source Shaming. Discuss the content of a link or article, not the source.

No Importing Drama From Other Online Communities.

Do Not Argue With Mods. If a mod tells you to take it down a notch, or take a break, in the interest of preventing the room from turning toxic, respect that.

2/6/2020 Addendum

Our main concern is that folk in the channel are kind to one another. The name calling bit in the guidelines definitely refers to slack community members. We don't mind if you call politicians things, honestly. It's OK if you disagree with that.
Where open disdain for politicians gets shitty is when statements about a political person or group reflects on the people in the slack. It is OK to call Pete a rat, it is not OK to say anyone who doesn't see that he's a rat must be an idiot because there are people reading it who don't think he's a rat and will feel like you're calling them an idiot.
This extends to "all republicans are bloodsucking shits" style comments.
It's both true that the channel is the most heavily moderated (I send a lot of DMs. though I haven't banned anyone in like a year), and that the rules have been relaxed. Part of that is that my stance is that this shit matters and it makes sense to have big feelings around it, which can sometimes lead to expressions of anger or nastiness. Rather than sussing out if someone is justified because they have skin in the game on each individual issue and determining good faith on a case by case basis, I have chilled. For example: Mike Pence is down with gay conversion therapy. If a gay person is so offended by that as to call him a mean name, I am firmly on the side of the gay person in that exchange. Not everyone calling Pence a name is going to have the same personal stake, but I'd rather not make the call in that situation. It feels weird to decide if someone is part of an oppressed population and thus is justified in name calling.
The channel exists in part as a place to talk about this stuff so people who are absolutely allergic to it can avoid it if they choose. When hosts and I were discussing this very thing, I was basically the only person pushing for keeping the channel because my thought was that I didn't want someone hanging around in Life to have to deal with a "Hey, Rush has cancer!" message out of nowhere. So there is a sense of necessary evil to it.
Speaking of: It was definitely a rule for a while not to wish death/celebrate death. This has also been relaxed. See point 4 for why, but someone having feelings about a person not being able to do concrete harm any longer is understandable to me. There's obviously a difference between that and the sort of memey glee that the channel participates in, which I'd love to see less of.
Insofar as last night and the general tone of the channel lately: I think last night there were some disagreements that got more heated/personal than I would have liked but it didn't cross a line for me. I'm not discounting the people made uncomfortable by it. There's a practical concern here in that this will continue to be more and more heated this year, emotions will run higher and higher. Politics are abstract to some people, and to others they're deeply felt and personal. I am one person, and the job of moderating a 24/7 politics channel to that degree during election season is beyond my ability while also, you know, running the podcast network that is the reason you're here.
The channel does exist on a bubble. The bubble is: if it gets so toxic that it can't be abided, and the efforts it would take to detoxify it are beyond our resources, it will go away. It's not a threat, it's the practical truth. Right now, I don't think it's there and I think it's function as a place to discuss this stuff and keep it away from genpop is useful.

If you have any questions, DM me directly. If someone is being a jerk to you in #currentevents, DM myself, or use the reporting system.

It's rough out there, and emotions run high but that doesn't mean we're not dedicated to having a healthy, respectful community. It is fine and good to disagree, but on our slack, we're going to ask you to do so kindly and respectfully.