Dune House Atreides

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Dune House Atreides / Dune General / Moderation and Civility

Robin H.
Moderator
User ID: 9530533 Nov 7th 2:35 AM
Hi everyone,

there has recently been a discussion whether I should edit postings that are insults towards other community members. It appears that there are at least some people who would prefer a rather non-moderated style on the board.

I think the topic is one of general interest and shouldn't derail the original topic. I will therefore remove the relevant posts from the discussion and repost them here.
Here we go:

Robin H.
I´ve taken the freedom to modify the post of Dune Newbie and consequently the response of Sardaukar One.
Dune Newbie, please keep it civil. Your insult was uncalled for. It is not the way our small community should be interacting with one another.

shinnok
At least they're talking Dune.

Sardaukar One
Its all good Robin!
Not even water off a duck's back!

shinnok
I would rather you would let them talk, Robin, but I do appreciate your efforts at maintaining civility, and I especially thank you for deleting all that Spam.

Sardaukar One
Seruna gets to insult me if he wants!
Should he choose to take up this option, you can leave that up there!
Its fine with me.
Afterall, what sort of a-hole would I be if I couldn't take a dose of my own medecine?

I'd like to explain my own position on the matter and then invite you all to discuss. Be aware, however, that this is not strictly speaking a poll or a vote. I will listen to your arguments but as moderator I will reserve the right to make my own judgment as long as I don't get any direct instructions from our admin. If you want to appeal my decisions, you should probably contact him. I will not post his e-mail here openly, as I guess he likes spam just as much as the next man, but you can always ask me for it and I'll send it to you.

So, now for my position on the matter. I think many of you who would prefer no restrictions on what to say argue from a deeply ingrained preference for freedom of speech. Although I also think it is important that the government does not unnecessarily limit what one is allowed to say, I neither believe this should stand paramount over all other considerations nor think the situation on this board is touched by these concerns. The way I see the situation, you are (honored) guests on this board and our admin is your host. As he doesn't have the time anymore to take care of all the issues, I very often act in his stead.
So, what are my rights and duties as a host? My rights are very much summarized in my powers to delete whatever I deem inappropriate and with a few tricks also to modify posts. My duties -as I as a host understand them- are to treat all guests fair and courteously and also to make sure they are treated that way as long as they are my guests. Therefore, I will not allow direct insults against any member, no matter what I myself think of them. As long as you are my guest, you are under my protection. Any insult thrown at you is also an insult and show of disrespect for your host. You wouldn't come to a someone else's house and start insulting the people there, would you? So please don't do it here.
Now there are people like Sardaukar One who obviously like their discussions a little heated and also don't mind being insulted in the process. Should I make an exception there? I don't think so. First, I really don't want to make a list of all the members and what their level of tolerance is. Second, I don't like the idea of treating people differently. Third, it would set precedents. Somebody coming to this board for the first time might have a look at the discussion going on and judge them to be the standard. He might then conclude it is ok to hurl insults as a general rule and act accordingly or decide to stay away in order not to be subjected to that kind of treatment.

So that's what I have to say. I'm reminded a little of the scene in which the second Duncan Idaho kills Jarvid while both are guests of Stilgar. I think it is appropriate to have some decent Fremen hospitality here.

I'm looking forward to your input.

dogsolitude_uk
User ID: 2302834 Nov 7th 1:16 PM
Hi,

On the Eidos Thief Forums we have something called 'Civil Discourse and the Iron Claw' - it's sort of a point of honour not to go round insulting each other.

Personally, I'm here to read about Dune - if I want to see examples of people insulting each other I'd watch Prime Minister's Question Time or Roseanne.

I honestly don't think there's anything to be gained by having a go at each other on the boards - it adds nothing to what members may find out about the opinions of others, it's not entertaining, and it generally adds to the sum total of unpleasantness in the world.

There are some fragile, vulnerable egos around in this world who cannot tolerate anyone's differing opinion and will wheel out the Big Defensive Personal Abuse Guns when challenged.

It is a shame, as someone having different opinion to you will not:
a) change the texts of the Dune books
b) delete the movie/miniseries or both
c) bring Frank Herbert back
...or anything else of that nature. what there is is what there is.

Likewise, 'winning' an argument by insulting anyone won't change anything either!

It just seems like pointless pedantry and aggro to me.

Anyhoo, that's that off my chest!

Toodle-pip,

Dog;o)

Seruna Kanus
User ID: 6723573 Dec 6th 6:44 PM
Hay...

Did this board become massivly active in the time that it took me to read that last page in the thread the first paragraphs refer too?

I don't insult people often. I have absolutely no reason reason to. So do not expect me to pass insults.

-Seru King

Nora
Moderator
User ID: 8715613 Dec 7th 7:22 PM
Actually been kinda dead lately ...

Wondering where everyone's run off to.

Sardaukar One Dec 8th 1:34 AM
Perhaps they are all lurking around?
:)

Nora
Moderator
User ID: 8715613 Dec 8th 5:10 PM
Darn those lurkers ...

At least Sard's here. :)

Seruna Kanus
User ID: 9635043 Dec 14th 4:28 PM
I will show up from time to time.

-Seru King

Mahdi Mar 27th 2:38 AM
Its okay if I insult Abigall, right?

Robin H.
User ID: 0701364 Mar 28th 1:30 PM
Oh yes, it is. And if I ever find one of those shitheads programming bots that will ruin other people´s enjoyment, I´m going to take his water and spill it into the sewer.

Robin H. Moderator User ID: 9530533	Nov 7th 2:35 AM Hi everyone, there has recently been a discussion whether I should edit postings that are insults towards other community members. It appears that there are at least some people who would prefer a rather non-moderated style on the board. I think the topic is one of general interest and shouldn't derail the original topic. I will therefore remove the relevant posts from the discussion and repost them here. Here we go: Robin H. I´ve taken the freedom to modify the post of Dune Newbie and consequently the response of Sardaukar One. Dune Newbie, please keep it civil. Your insult was uncalled for. It is not the way our small community should be interacting with one another. shinnok At least they're talking Dune. Sardaukar One Its all good Robin! Not even water off a duck's back! shinnok I would rather you would let them talk, Robin, but I do appreciate your efforts at maintaining civility, and I especially thank you for deleting all that Spam. Sardaukar One Seruna gets to insult me if he wants! Should he choose to take up this option, you can leave that up there! Its fine with me. Afterall, what sort of a-hole would I be if I couldn't take a dose of my own medecine? I'd like to explain my own position on the matter and then invite you all to discuss. Be aware, however, that this is not strictly speaking a poll or a vote. I will listen to your arguments but as moderator I will reserve the right to make my own judgment as long as I don't get any direct instructions from our admin. If you want to appeal my decisions, you should probably contact him. I will not post his e-mail here openly, as I guess he likes spam just as much as the next man, but you can always ask me for it and I'll send it to you. So, now for my position on the matter. I think many of you who would prefer no restrictions on what to say argue from a deeply ingrained preference for freedom of speech. Although I also think it is important that the government does not unnecessarily limit what one is allowed to say, I neither believe this should stand paramount over all other considerations nor think the situation on this board is touched by these concerns. The way I see the situation, you are (honored) guests on this board and our admin is your host. As he doesn't have the time anymore to take care of all the issues, I very often act in his stead. So, what are my rights and duties as a host? My rights are very much summarized in my powers to delete whatever I deem inappropriate and with a few tricks also to modify posts. My duties -as I as a host understand them- are to treat all guests fair and courteously and also to make sure they are treated that way as long as they are my guests. Therefore, I will not allow direct insults against any member, no matter what I myself think of them. As long as you are my guest, you are under my protection. Any insult thrown at you is also an insult and show of disrespect for your host. You wouldn't come to a someone else's house and start insulting the people there, would you? So please don't do it here. Now there are people like Sardaukar One who obviously like their discussions a little heated and also don't mind being insulted in the process. Should I make an exception there? I don't think so. First, I really don't want to make a list of all the members and what their level of tolerance is. Second, I don't like the idea of treating people differently. Third, it would set precedents. Somebody coming to this board for the first time might have a look at the discussion going on and judge them to be the standard. He might then conclude it is ok to hurl insults as a general rule and act accordingly or decide to stay away in order not to be subjected to that kind of treatment. So that's what I have to say. I'm reminded a little of the scene in which the second Duncan Idaho kills Jarvid while both are guests of Stilgar. I think it is appropriate to have some decent Fremen hospitality here. I'm looking forward to your input.
dogsolitude_uk User ID: 2302834	Nov 7th 1:16 PM Hi, On the Eidos Thief Forums we have something called 'Civil Discourse and the Iron Claw' - it's sort of a point of honour not to go round insulting each other. Personally, I'm here to read about Dune - if I want to see examples of people insulting each other I'd watch Prime Minister's Question Time or Roseanne. I honestly don't think there's anything to be gained by having a go at each other on the boards - it adds nothing to what members may find out about the opinions of others, it's not entertaining, and it generally adds to the sum total of unpleasantness in the world. There are some fragile, vulnerable egos around in this world who cannot tolerate anyone's differing opinion and will wheel out the Big Defensive Personal Abuse Guns when challenged. It is a shame, as someone having different opinion to you will not: a) change the texts of the Dune books b) delete the movie/miniseries or both c) bring Frank Herbert back ...or anything else of that nature. what there is is what there is. Likewise, 'winning' an argument by insulting anyone won't change anything either! It just seems like pointless pedantry and aggro to me. Anyhoo, that's that off my chest! Toodle-pip, Dog;o)
Seruna Kanus User ID: 6723573	Dec 6th 6:44 PM Hay... Did this board become massivly active in the time that it took me to read that last page in the thread the first paragraphs refer too? I don't insult people often. I have absolutely no reason reason to. So do not expect me to pass insults. -Seru King
Nora Moderator User ID: 8715613	Dec 7th 7:22 PM Actually been kinda dead lately ... Wondering where everyone's run off to.
Sardaukar One	Dec 8th 1:34 AM Perhaps they are all lurking around? :)
Nora Moderator User ID: 8715613	Dec 8th 5:10 PM Darn those lurkers ... At least Sard's here. :)
Seruna Kanus User ID: 9635043	Dec 14th 4:28 PM I will show up from time to time. -Seru King
Mahdi	Mar 27th 2:38 AM Its okay if I insult Abigall, right?
Robin H. User ID: 0701364	Mar 28th 1:30 PM Oh yes, it is. And if I ever find one of those shitheads programming bots that will ruin other people´s enjoyment, I´m going to take his water and spill it into the sewer.