- separating out rants from a general off topic/jokes/non sequitor/dark humor forum so that people that wanted to avoid one but partake it the other could (seemed to be broad consensus on this from those of us on the call)

 

- possibly requiring an opt-in/login for rants

 

- possibly changing the mod guidelines to allow for mods to error on the side of caution when temporarily pulling a thread while it was discussed, rather than leaving it out there while discussed

 

-- 

 

Some of the tensions noted:

 

- Is there any place where personal attacks should be allowed?

- Safe space might mean different things to different people

- Does having a space where people can say things that the rest of the community might find offensive mean that the community is giving tacit support for that type of behavior, are there other ways of holding people accountable? What accountability do we all share to the larger web community and each other - any? a little? a lot?

 

For those of you that feel very strongly that there are certain types of language that shouldn't be allowed on the site at all because they are offensive, because they are oppressive, because they are triggering, etc -- what sort of accountability mechanisms would allow you to feel like this is a safe/comfortable space?

 

For those of you that feel very strongly that at least part of the web forums should remain an "anything goes" type area -- are there any types of behaviors where you think a line should be drawn? how do you think people should be held accountable? what is your response to people that have reservations about participating in the larger Icarus community if we have a forum, even if separate from the "main website", where racist/sexist/homophobic language and personal attacks occur?

 

thanks for the great notes strangedoll - and thanks to everyone for being willing to see this process through and really hear each other without feeling the need to immediately defend your own views --

 

FWIW, i think being committed to these types of discussions and coming to mutually acceptable agreements that take into account the strong feelings on all sides of the issues - really hearing where they are coming from - is far more "radical" than any policy, no matter what it may be