CodeWalrus

CodeWalrus Website => Site Discussion => Site News & Announcements => Topic started by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 04:02:18 AM

Title: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 04:02:18 AM
As IRC and chatrooms are real-time discussion mediums, when people post there they usually don't preview what they wrote, since it appears publicly as soon as they hit Enter. This increases the risks of drama in case of misunderstanding or tense atmosphere and people are more at risk of breaking the rules (https://codewalr.us/index.php?topic=36.0) by accident. Also, contrary to popular belief, some IRC channels, which includes #Codewalrus (which is relayed to WalrusIRC) are publicly logged.


This is why we prefer that debates about sensitive subjects be posted on the forums, in a topic exclusively dedicated to that debate. For this, we have several sub-forums available for the topic. Lately, the main controversial topics were TI Community FOSS and the US elections. We believe that especially the former has been brought up way too often on IRC and in unrelated topics. For example, the former would go in this section (https://codewalr.us/index.php?board=46.0) and the latter would go in this one (https://codewalr.us/index.php?board=7.0). This way, unsuspecting visitors and members won't risk randomly running into drama that they would rather avoid, and it is easier to keep under control (and members can flag or report posts that they judge innapropriate). Controversial topics should also include the word "controversial" in their title (not inside tags, since they don't always show up on IRC).

Now the next issue is the recent upsurge in life rants on IRC. Although IRC makes it easier to get quick help, it is publicly logged, which is why we have a private sub-forum that guests and low-posting users can't see, and since certain users might get stressed about not being able to help more than they would like or have their own share of personal life issues, frequent life rants on WalrusIRC or on IRC tend to increase tension, just like controversial debates, so as a result, we would prefer that the safe-haven (https://codewalr.us/index.php?board=24.0) section be used for them. Stress will be much easier to manage for everyone, the conversation will be much easier to follow and it will be easier to provide advice, if any. There is a general topic about life issues located there, but you are free to create new ones.


We thank you for your cooperation as we thrive to provide a friendly and tolerant atmosphere for everyone on the forums.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Ivoah on February 26, 2016, 04:05:06 AM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 04:02:18 AM
Now the next issue is the recent upsurge in life rants on IRC. Although IRC makes it easier to get quick help, it is publicly logged, which is why we have a private sub-forum that guests and low-posting users can't see, and since certain users might get stressed about not being able to help more than they would like or have their own share of personal life issues, frequent life rants on WalrusIRC or on IRC tend to increase tension, just like controversial debates, so as a result, we would prefer that the safe-haven (https://codewalr.us/index.php?board=24.0) section be used for them. Stress will be much easier to manage for everyone, the conversation will be much easier to follow and it will be easier to provide advice, if any. There is a general topic about life issues located there, but you are free to create new ones.

Another solution for this would be just to make your own channel and use that for a bit, or use PM. That way you still have the benefit of real time communication.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 04:08:40 AM
Yeah that can work too. I generally only share my stuff privately, although I occasionally did it publicly when it did not involve specific sensitive life info in particular. The problem is if for example a member comes out on IRC and someone IRL is stalking him online and sees it, then the person might be in big trouble. And any drama adds tension which makes the atmosphere unpleasant, even if people share compassion with their online friends with life troubles. Having it on the forums gives people the freedom to read it whenever they please rather than inaverdently running into it on IRC just before a stressful exam or work shift or something. Same goes for debates that can get heated (plus those debates are annoying when they happen in the middle of an interesting topic, since we might not necessarily want to see them).
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: allynfolksjr on March 01, 2016, 02:36:26 AM
...Trump
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 01, 2016, 02:40:31 AM
You survived him?
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: GalacticPirate on March 04, 2016, 01:18:21 PM
Donald Trump, or the man who would be able to ruin my entire future life :P
[spoiler]But, wait... Am I breaking the forum's rules ? :trollface: [/spoiler]
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on July 15, 2016, 10:59:48 AM
Follow up of the @aeTIos @Caleb Hansberry  @Juju @Max Leiter @Streetwalrus @STV and whoever I might have forgotten:

We    made a topic warning people to keep those religion/politics debates into the forums and keep them out of the chat for a reason. Since no one is listening, the next time a debate goes this far it's a permanent CodeWalrus IRC and WalrusIRC ban, regardless of status (staff or not). There will be no warning and there will be no way to appeal it. This is valid for everyone who refuses to move the debate to forums or continue oarticipating on the chat.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: gameblabla on July 15, 2016, 06:48:36 PM
Butt... YYYY ? ;(

It was fun talking about politics and all on IRC.
I fear that this rule will prevent me from participating here on CW at all.

Adieu Adolf Hitler and the nazis, adieu religions, adieu controversal topics.
Adieu Codewalrus
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on July 15, 2016, 06:49:26 PM
There is always the forums you know <_<
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: novenary on July 15, 2016, 06:52:26 PM
Just to clarify: for now the permban thing is not in  effect until we've taken a decision. I want a better way to handle that.

In the meantime, please hold debates on the forum instead of IRC. This is so you can be more considerate about what you write and as such do it in a more civilized manner. Constructive debates are always better than plain flamewars where no one wants to hear the others' opinions.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on July 15, 2016, 06:54:15 PM
Maybe the board rules should be edited to disallow those debates on irc outright? We did that on Omni whenever such debate had high risks. On the forums at least we got downvoting/upvoting, more time to think before pressing enter and it's easier to read people's opinion
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: novenary on July 15, 2016, 06:55:22 PM
Yup that's the whole point. I think the rule needs to be flexible enough but still have a ban at the highest offense level.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Yuki on July 15, 2016, 06:58:25 PM
Quote
Juju   if it continues I'd probably make a post in the staff forum saying to watch y'all   07:56:23
aeTIos   hue   07:56:32
aeTIos   I'm already watching   07:56:41
Juju   and if DJ catches you doing weird argumentation y'know   07:56:42
Streetwalrus   lol
I TOLD YOU MAN

I TOLD YOU ABOUT STAIRS!


Eh, in all seriousness, I do not think it would deserve a permaban. As long as admins are there to control the discussion I'd be okay with such debates. Admins should be able to not put more oil on the fire, though, I won't name anyone but eh? This night's discussion was on a okay level, but it could be worse.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: novenary on July 15, 2016, 06:59:57 PM
Yeah. The big problem is that it's very easy to lose your cool on a chat, so we need to set some limits.
Title: Re: PSA: Drama in the shoutbox and IRC
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on July 15, 2016, 07:50:33 PM
Quote from: Juju on July 15, 2016, 06:58:25 PM
Quote
Juju   if it continues I'd probably make a post in the staff forum saying to watch y'all   07:56:23
aeTIos   hue   07:56:32
aeTIos   I'm already watching   07:56:41
Juju   and if DJ catches you doing weird argumentation y'know   07:56:42
Streetwalrus   lol
I TOLD YOU MAN

I TOLD YOU ABOUT STAIRS!


Eh, in all seriousness, I do not think it would deserve a permaban. As long as admins are there to control the discussion I'd be okay with such debates. Admins should be able to not put more oil on the fire, though, I won't name anyone but eh? This night's discussion was on a okay level, but it could be worse.
My rage fit earlier was more due to people not listening when you and street said to move the discussion to forums, though, despite the PSA topic posted a few months ago. It was also due to what happened next in private because I feared Street was instating some sort of double-standard (eg making offensive content against CW rules only if it doesn't target muslims), which would have been a repeat of certain pre-CW events. And also due to some internal staff issues that should probably have been handled long ago.