It was pointed out to me that it is not always the law as written that determines outcomes but the way it is interpreted and applied that matters. Examples were given of laws that were written in an archaic manner versus more enlightened legislation. If the austere laws were used in remedial ways the outcome could be far better than enlightened legislation being applied in a punitive fashion.
That lesson has stuck with me for decades as I watched issues decided under both systems.
Then as I reflect back on the contentious threads currently rolling across the plains leaving behind columns of smoke which cast a pall over the site, I am reminded once again of this lesson. Kudos to the front line trouble shooters refereeing and soothing some stability into the forums which are suddenly awash in charges of bullying followed by cries of censorship. A light touch indeed. Well applied.
What are the laws in place? You find them in the TOS <terms of service>.
Material that defames, libels, abuses or threatens others.
Statements that are bigoted, hateful, racially offensive, harassing, threatening, defaming, or vulgar.
Material that infringes any copyright, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right of a third party or that violates any right of publicity, right of privacy or any other laws or regulations.
Advertising or any form of commercial solicitation, unless where allowed.
Material that advocates illegal activity or discusses illegal activities with the intent to commit them.
Material that contains sexually-orientated, obscene or indecent language or images.
Material that is fraudulent or intentionally misleading.
One of the forums I used in Australia had as its first rule: DON'T BE A DICK. Lately I've been thinking that such a rule might not go astray here.
It also had several members (me included) who were lawyers. You don't want us moderating. We just remind everyone it's not a fucking democracy, then we delete posts, lock threads and ban members. This site has done very well having people like Averydoll and Utah as moderators who can look at issues sensibly and reasonably, and still let people have their discussion... until said discussion becomes fucking ridiculous. I think they know where the line is and do it well. Much better than I could, that's for sure.
Light touch?
I'd say more like those who needed soothing just threw up their hands in resignation because you can't point out blood stains on the walls to people with their eyes deliberately closed. But, hey, if you see that as a job well done, that's gravy.
mmm, blood gravy.
I'm just going to point out that the best way to see the non-drama threads take a stronger presence is to comment on them instead of continuing to talk about the thread that caused drama. I'm not trying to pretend I didn't participate in it, and enjoy it-- I did. But it's closed now, a lot of people like that it is, a lot of people don't, but in the end... it's closed. Doneski.
And I mean this to be directed at every spin off thread that has existed on LR after a big drama, not just this one.
fport, you asked me several months ago what it is I do. You now have your answer:
I inflame SP's highly attuned sense of injustice.
Indeed.
And you used to inflame my loins before you switched icons.
That wasn't me inflaming your loins. It was just the new little friends I left with you.
Just need some clarified butter now.
The most difficult part of playing forum cop is trying to predict when a thread is about to turn to shit.
Cut everyone off too early, you get a general outcry about censorship and people unhappy about having their voices stymied. Wait too long: what was once an exchange of points has deformed into an exchange of insults. Avery's job of trying to gauge the moment when things are about to turn sour is difficult, and certainly not something I'd want to do.
I'd like to point out this rule specifically though: Statements that are bigoted, hateful, racially offensive, harassing, threatening, defaming, or vulgar.
A large reason why we have that is because of all the N-bombs (amongst other racially slanderous terms) that were thrown around on The Cult. Although Todd's thread addressed a sensitive subject and toed the line in certain parts, I'm glad to see we were able to get through an affirmative action thread without it turning into a complete mess. She made the right call ending it when she did.
I would have taken part in the drama, but yesterday I found a bug in my flat, put it in a jar, made air holes, tried to decide if I thought it was cute or ugly, and eventually placed it out in the hallway where I couldn't see it.
Did you let it out of the jar first? The suspense is killing me.
I'm confident that the majority of you here do believe she made the right call. Unfortunately, life is majority rule or totalitarian rule - instead of unanmous, like a jury.
Linda, I hope you found some food for the little guy or quickly dispatched him instead of letting him starve. If you want him to have a friend beside him as he dies, I hear Utah is infested.
I left out the part where I stood, knees trembling, on a chair at 2 in the morning covering air vents with plastic and tape. I try not to be hysteric, but I'm not cool with the bug living in my building.
You do know that hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny creatures are living on and in you everyday, right?
I've been a forum cop (on a different forum, obviously) and I think Brandon's got it right. No one notices the amount of work you do until they disagree with you, then they're pissed off and angry at YOU, not realizing that there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration doing your job.
What I'm trying to say is, let's all give Avery some cake and go click some links in the whoring thread.
Or
OR
You could get your asses in the workshop and review some stories.
Because that's why most of us are here, right? To become better writers?
Or...
...fuck it...
I'm going to go start a bestiality thread.
@Linda: I love that sentence.
Haha, thank you R.Moon.
This is why I'm pro dueling. I'm only half joking there. I think people would all be much nicer if there was a chance someone would say, "Sauh, I demand satisfaction," and slap you with a glove.
I wouldn't be any nicer. I like the thought of bathing in the blood of my fallen enemy - or tasting the sweet kiss of death at the end of sharpened steel or leaden ball. Of course, we all know that second part would never happen, I'd be knee deep in Lit blood before any of you even made me sweat.
We'll never know.
I say all the disgruntled should pitch a Litreactor tell-all to unscrupulous publishers.
We can start thinking of titles now:
1. Another Litreactor: Behind the Binary Demagoguery
2. As the Ink Dries: Confessions of a Litreactor Troll
3. Words of Our Lives: I'm right, you're wrong
4. How to Screw People (bad screw) and Get Published
/sarcasm
I just love the word 'demagoguery' so anything with that in the title automatically gets my vote.
Fuck, that word is pure gold. I even got a zero on a paper once in high school because I used the word correctly and the teacher assumed I copied the paper. I took the zero instead of writing another paper, because fuck him, that's why.
Demagoguery forever!
