Expectations of our members

[Fellowship]

We all understand that international politics as well as domestic politics bring with it a level of difference of opinion from person to person. We also can attest to the fact that we have our own personal biases, experiences and opinions which is to be expected and this is great.

Here is the mission:

When posting do not question what an author of a thread labels the thread. If the title of a thread is in need of editing a mod or admin will make the needed changes. PM a mod if something looks out of place. Do NOT publicly question the author of a thread about the title within the thread. This tends to derail a thread into petty defense / attack discussions about the title of the thread hence derailing the thread itself.

When posting understand that others may disagree with your point of view and no level of excessive argument, condescending tone and or ad-hominem tactics will change the other person's viewpoint. Allow for differences even if you happen to disagree with someone on a given issue. People will disagree and life does go on.

Refrain from using any form of a bigoted statement within threads or posts. I think all of us here can and do understand the difference between using the label of a particular Race, Religion, Social Status, Sexual Orientation, Regional Culture in legitimate terms as compared to these labels being used in a negative light manner as to spew bigotry and or push buttons of others here at AO or others not here at AO for that matter. If you have any question about this PM any mod / admin for clarification before posting something that you are even mildly unsure of.

From time to time a thread title may be used as to assign blame for a particular party or candidate for example: "Bush Flip Flops on Iraq War" Do not start a thread which directly inverts this sort of a title for ex: "Kerry Flip Flops on Iraq War" AO does NOT need this form of flaming at all. There are many words in the English dictionary feel more than welcome to be creative and avoid reactive new threads to counter something which you disagree with in another thread. Address your disagreement within the original thread.

Last but not least: Be polite while posting. It is such a simple thing but it goes a long way.

We all want AO to be a place where people can speak their mind. We want it to be a place where we can share, learn and discuss our thoughts, ideas and feelings.

Thanks for taking the time to read the above statements.

See you in AO,

Fellows

* If you need anything just PM any of us anytime *

[Fellowship]

Memo to all members who post within Appleoutsider:

We have encountered problems with some members who consistently post in a manner which is unacceptable to the admin, mods and members of Appleinsider.

Here is the new reality and this will be enforced in full force:

First offense: Warning.

Second offense: Temporary ban

Further offenses: Progressively longer bans

We will not have threads which should remain open for legitimate discussion by respectful and diligent members be thwarted into a mud fest side show at a carnival by members who do not respect the forum or themselves.

It is very simple: Do not give us cause to take this action in the first place.

If you do receive warning by PM or in public you have no additional chance before a banning.

Appleinsider will not be a place where people come and spew hateful comments towards the members.

Tact is needed in a forum sush as AO where it is only natural that people disagree.

Tact: -Acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending.

Again do not give us a need to moderate.

Please moderate yourselves for the good of everyone here at Appleinsider/outsider.

Fellowship

[FormerLurker]

I wish this had come about earlier - it appears to be too little, too late... at least for holding on to Fellows as AO mod... :(

[BuonRotto]

I wanted to add a few words here. I am sad to say that one of the reasons we're cracking down in AO again is because members have lost their sense of humor on certain subjects. I just locked a thread that would undoubtedly have become another repository of defensive, rude and stubborn responses, despite the author's intentions.

Until members can lighten up a little and be more civil to one another, even when they disagree about something passionately, we're forced to play "cops" instead of moderators. It's not about free speech, it's about social responsibility in this community. While some feel we are trying to hush out certain subjects or take the fun out of the forum, we are responding to the many people who feel they have been chased from AO or avoid it due to the animosity demonstrated by a few regulars. If we have to lose a few members who refuse to participate at some minimal standard of social behavior, then that is the price of making more people and their interests welcome here.

Discuss whatever you want, but we care about how you do it. At some point, and this is the case in many threads here, you have to agree to disagree and drop it. Fellowship locked a thread yesterday that I was hoping would just fall off the page, but it was raised from the dead and forced this action.

There are basically two reasons we lock a thread here:

1. if responses are rude, hostile, or condescending towards others, and

2. if we see this pattern developing in a thread.

When the opinions in a thread go around with no progress in the thread, the likely outcome is either 4 pages of saying the same thing in barely muted hostility or it does finally break down into attacks and belittling remarks. We're not waiting for the first scenario to happen any longer, at least not for a while until things get better. This means that you do not have to make explicit attacks to get a warning or to bet banned. A pattern of belittling and unsociable behavior is unacceptable, so ducking hard rules about being a jerk isn't going to get under the radar.

We're over-moderating the AppleOutsider forum for the near-term, and hopefully after what will probably be some painful adjustment, we can develop a more inclusive attitude and lay off the big sticks. Please do your part to get us off your and others' case. The mods would rather participate than officiate. :)

[Anders]

Word

[BuonRotto]

Update for Everyone:

When you create threads, you're supposed to be open for discussion on the topic. Tossing out platitudes and closed-minded partisan opinions is pretty worthless for a discussion board. If you're not open to discussion, there's no point in creating threads, and no point in responding more than once inside a thread. Once everyone knows your opinion, and you're not willing to consider anything otherwise, what's left to type? This place is not supposed to be a soap box.

Furthermore, responding to flames and platitudes is equally a waste of time and resources. Insulting, disparaging and/or condescending others here is all too commmon, and while I think the comments are petty and juvenile enough to let go most of the time (who would take them seriously?), they are becoming more frequent and distracting to the threads. This place is meant to be lighthearted but don't push the envelope of abuse, the envelope will shrink if it goes on too much.

Remember that you can report threads and don't bother with responding if you feel you're being baited into a fight.

[Powerdoc]

Signatures : warning.

Mods here, don't have the time to check all signatures , but sig like this ones will not be tolerated :

John Kerry - war criminal, accuser and performer of war atrocities

I am sure, that there is also such kind of Sigs for Bush. I Kindly ask you to remove them. Thanks in advance.