SOP conversation

[kdmorris]

31. The SOP could always use clarification

It helps to kind of set the tone on what really isn't allowed. I could give you an example of what happened at the Health group...Our original SOP was "Discuss all aspects of health and health care policy." Very broad and kind of vague. It certainly describes at a high level what the forum is going to be, but if we ever had to block someone for posting advertisements or lock a post that was seeking medical advice, we would have been hard pressed to say "Hey, you had all the knowledge at your fingertips to know that we were going to lock that post (or block you)".

What we (the hosts maybe, if it becomes way too complicated for 100 people to determine an SOP) need to determine is: "What don't we want to see in our group?"

Would you lock a post or give someone a time out for using misogynist language? That should be spelled out. Will you block two people for having a all out flame war? (even for a short period of time?) If so, that should be spelled out.

From my perspective (and I am not a host of this group), I would not be happy with personal attacks on other members (you should spell out the exact actions you will take - warning, then time out, then you are out of here).

I would like the group to not allow people to come in and use misogynistic language. You can include that you would warn them to edit it first (maybe someone doesn't realize that it's hurtful to others), but then it will be locked (unfortunately, only for OPs) or there will be some other consequence.

I trust all of you to use your judgement on locking an OP that has turned into a destructive flamewar (even if the OP does not violate the SOP). I think all of you know a flame war vs a heated discussion. When people are just trying to hurt each other - it's not fun being part of that and I would support locking such OPs (even if it were mine and I didn't participate in the flame war).

Above all, I'm just going to use Skinner's words - it's supposed to be fun. Don't allow anyone to make it suck for rest of us.