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| Interchange Etiquette--PLEASE READ https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8897 |
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| Author: | Erik Ledbetter [ Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Interchange Etiquette--PLEASE READ |
Dear Interchange Readers-- in the past two weeks there's been more moderating of this board than in quite some time previously. This comes as a direct consequence of a strong uptick in back-channel complaints about specific posts in a range of threads in recent weeks. This concerns the RyPN staff. It causes us to spend more time answering emails and weighing posts against policies than we would like to do. This time comes at the expense of conducting other more productive business for the site. It also signals to us that there may be a drift away from the mission and standards we have set for this forum. Let me review for you our general policies (edited for brevity) and then offer some additional thoughts. First, our policies: "The INTERCHANGE discussion board is intended to provide a forum for the discussion of relevant information about the successful operation of railroad history museums, railroad history groups, and other related organizations. While historical discussions, debates and book reviews are welcome, endless banter about "what might have been" and "how things should have been" is discouraged because of its circular nature. Also commercial advertising is not welcome... All kinds of inquiries are welcome here from "how do I change the oil in a diesel locomotive?" to "what can my organization do to build its membership?" Who knows, maybe somebody shares your interest, or has that key bit of information that will fit your research together. Railroad History Preservation offers a number of interesting challenges and great rewards, and our purpose here is to use the power of the Internet to open new channels of communication between Railroad History organizations of all sizes from all across North America to help further 'the cause.' Rules We strongly encourage the use of real names as opposed to screen names, and would prefer not to have anonymous posts. It is also preferable that you give a valid e-mail address with your post. The purpose of the first two guidelines is to try and keep information posted on the INTERCHANGE as accurate as possible, and to give parties with conflicting opinions the opportunity to resolve differences offline. Although posting with a screen name, or anonymously, or without a valid e-mail address won't necessarily result in removal of the post, in general, posts by anonymous parties are much more likely to be removed than those by known parties. Constructive, polite criticism, and polite responses to same, are acceptable. No flaming. There will be zero tolerance for this, one strike and you're out. No profanity. There will be zero tolerance for this, one strike and you're out. Other behavior deemed inappropriate by the Board Moderators, but not necessarily covered above will be handled by issuing an offline, one time only warning. We encourage our visitors to help maintain the INTERCHANGE as a unique place for the sharing of information and knowledge, as well discussion of news and issues, in the preservation community. If you have any questions of suggestions, or to report problems and/or abuses, please contact the Board Moderators." Now, some comment and clarification. Online communication is a "cold" medium. It is not possible to temper a harsh word with a raised eyebrow or a quirk of the mouth that softens the blow and converts it to gentle ribbing. Harsh words hit with all their full power, and they are experienced by the recipient and the bystanders as a public humiliation. Therefore, we have decided from the beginning of this board that we will not tolerate flaming. We take this pledge very seriously, we interpret it broadly rather than narrowly, and we are serious about enforcing it. We have never yet seen an opinion, no matter how controversial, that cannot be stated courteously. Posters who choose to deviate from our high standards for courtesy out of passion or anger or frustration should expect that the moderators will step in--not becuase we want to censor the opinion, but becuase the language in which it was expressed does not conform to our standards for polite, constructive criticism. In short--you can say anyTHING here that deals with railway preservation; however, you cannot say it anyHOW. This may not be to everyone's taste. Some people may feel that they cannot really express their meaning and point of view within these strictures. We understand this argument, and we can see that people might feel this way--but if they do, we are still unable to oblige them as patrons of this discussion forum. Also, let me offer some thoughts on debates. Your moderators have a strong bias in favor of the exchange of practical infomration, and a bias against debate for its own sake. The Interchange is not college forensic competition, nor a political forum, nor a general showplace for rhetorical skill. It is a forum for the exchange of useful information. When a discussion veers from adding additional information or new opinions about an issue and becomes a contest in which two or more sides attempt to restate the same points in escalating displays of rhetoric, posters should expect that the moderators will step in. If I could offer posters one word of advice--in fact, it's more a heart-felt plea from the RyPN staff--please reflect before you post on the most important words in our rules: we are looking for "Constructive, polite criticism, and polite responses to same." If you look at your draft post and cannot honestly say "this is posted in a polite and constructive spirit and tone" than you are not in conformity with the spirit of this board. eledbetter@rypn.org |
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| Author: | jimwrinn [ Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Discussing what matters the most... |
Thanks, Erik, for the dose of reality... I know that I am and I think everyone else here is grateful to you and Hume and everyone else at rypn for providing this forum. In these difficult times, I think the most pressing needs are for more talk, the sharing of more ideas and debate about about what works to build visitation, raise operating and capital money and develop good boards and effective volunteer ranks. That is what matters the most. http://nctrans.org Wrinnbo@aol.com |
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