Icarus Community Conference Call 8/16/09

Will (Portland): facilitator
Dharmageddon: co-facilitator
Chiaroscuro (WA): note-taker
Babblefish (Bay area)
Storey (Michigan)
Clarextina (NYC)
After (Ohio)
Earthbound (Earth)

Topics: Involvement in local groups/organizing? Feedback on web stuff, ideas for the site, thoughts on "the influx" etc? (Note: "influx" refers to an upcoming ABC news show on the mad pride movement in which some Icarus members are participating, and the possibility of this publicity bringing large numbers of new folks our way.)

Check-ins:

Storey is in a small town, no local organizing. Concerned about the influx and keeping a safe space. With so many new people coming and going (especially going), it feels like a rest stop and loses a safe feeling.

Dharmageddon is thinking about how strengthening the online community with more real-life link-ups could help keep it feeling safer.

Babblefish is shy and hasn't been involved much with local group. Echoes Storey's concerns. We need to get our message solidified.

Will agrees with importance of making connections beyond the internet. Proposes idea for handling an influx: place a moratorium on new registrations for two weeks afterward? People could still read posts and sign up on the email list, but not blow the site up with hype. Has mixed feelings about this idea, just floating it.

Chiaroscuro is still unsure about status of her local group(s) and sad to hear about Seattle group dissolving. Agrees with need to really focus on solutions for a potential influx.

Clarextina is fairly inactive on the web forums but facilitates the weekly support meetings in NYC. NYC group has been talking about a potential influx in their meetings (some members were taped for the ABC show) and thinking about capacity and sustainability, areas in which they're already pressed. One solution was to ask ABC not to reveal their geographic location.

Clarextina also expressed a desire to know if people from local groups are needed to help "hold the space" in the web community.

After has been sick and intends to mostly listen in this time.

Open Discussion:

Storey mentions how many other forum sites are "closed" (you have to be registered to view posts). Wonders if we could close some of our forum topics in addition to Rants. Likes Will's idea but sees it as perhaps mutually exclusive to this idea (i.e., preventing new people from both posting and reading).

After wonders about an option or button for locking specific threads except to registered members, so people don't have to have their pain blasted all over the internet.

Will thinks this might be doable but these code questions will have to be followed up with our code gurus.

Storey has concerns for abuse survivors and people whose names are known, worried about possibility of stalking, etc.

Dharmageddon likes these suggestions, has sometimes wished all our forums were for registered eyes only, but understands concern about making things uninviting for newcomers. How about some kind of "Living Room" for members?

Chiaroscuro thinks that could work for new posts, but what about stuff that's already up? Would like the blog area to be closed, or at least just her own blog.

After would prefer the blog area remain open as she uses her blog as a place to share her life story with people.

Will sees a consensus emerging around giving users greater control over how private their postings are, as well as creating another registered-only space. What of the moratorium idea? We're all about reaching out, and it might limit involvement or push people away.

Dharmageddon suggests a shorter amount of time for it, maybe just a few days?

After thinks the moratorium idea makes sense, one week could work, people might be less likely to forget to come back.

Storey agrees, plus, people could still read and get information. Maybe start the privacy thing after the moratorium is up?

Will thinks that what we don't want, from an activist POV, is a bunch of people showing up and leaving with the organization having nothing to show for it (such as donations, people signed up to email list, etc).

Chiaroscuro would like the privacy thing to coincide with the moratorium. Some of us have been posting personal stuff here for years with the understanding that this is a relatively private little corner of the internet.

Will proposes continuing this discussion on the forums after we've checked in with the coders and other mods. What else is on people's minds in terms of priorities?

Silence...

Chiaroscuro feels that the policy surrounding Rants is still a little up in the air. Unsure whether we still intend to split and move conflicts there. An influx may include trolls and people hostile to our views -- what's our strategy?

After mentions the delete-on-sight policy for attacks that was in place immediately after the ticnboots ordeal. Would like that to become permanent policy. Delete obvious attacks instead of just locking or moving threads.

Will agrees that maybe the mods need to be more willing to delete so that people don't need to spend time responding to attacks.

Dharmageddon expects that we'll need more moderation in the immediate weeks following the ABC show.

After wonders if it would be possible to give temporary mod status for those weeks, maybe just for deleting offensive posts. And/or mods for different forums, particularly Suicidal Thoughts. Offers to step up for that.

Will says the answer is definitely yes, and temp mod status has been talked about at staff meetings. Mods for different forums is an interesting idea.

Dharmageddon is under the impression that the site is pretty short on moderators.

After said something that I didn't really catch, something about having more mods possibly helping with perceptions of power imbalance or inaction? Not sure, my phone was beeping another call.

Storey is on other sites that have mods for each specific board or topic, thinks this would make things easier, less responsibility and time involved.

Chiaroscuro wonders if having more mods would complicate consensus process in modland, especially if any big conflicts or decisions come up.

Will thinks that's a good point but we may not have much choice.

After suggests just getting nasty things out of view at least, so they can be discussed and consensed on later, is this possible? Feels that this is especially important for Suicidal Thoughts since a nasty comment might push someone over the edge.

Chiaroscuro says yes, things can be moved out of sight to the mod forum and back.

Dharmageddon proposes that the Suicidal Thoughts forum be viewable to members only.

Will notes that Icarus gets a lot of lurkers and there's a huge educational component, it may be problematic to make an entire topic off limits. Suggests that we talk about this more when we can get other mods in on the discussion. Proposes idea for a contact list of one-on-one supporters, people willing to talk on the phone or over private message, etc.

After is willing to do that.

Chiaroscuro wonders about having a partial moratorium, where new folks can register but only post in the Introductions forum at first, and if any of them seem to be in crisis and needing support, mods and other members can PM them?

Storey likes the idea of being able to step out for a private chat, particularly for people feeling suicidal.

Will mentions that Drupal has an Instant Message feature...

General enthusiasm for that idea!

Time-check: most people need to go so we proceed to check-outs.

Will says it was a great call and inspiring.

Chiaroscuro has been wondering about what happened with the NYC group's issues that were discussed on the last call?

Clarextina gives an update: The issue was addressed in a private conversation with the central person, and the following meeting was really positive with everyone feeling hopeful that things are on the right track and working themselves out. The advice and support on the last call was really helpful.

After says it was good to be on the call.

Storey clarifies that she doesn't want a really strict police state, just a little bit stronger guidelines, and stronger moderation would help.

Babblefish explains that she didn't have much to add because the ideas were flowing and everything sounded good.

Earthbound had been secretly listening and says: Great ideas! Sounds really productive! You guys got it!

Dharmageddon says goodbye and so do I and that's it!