So to start, this proposed update would not change how the rules are currently enforced, these are still being handled by staff under Trolling and Harassment rules. This proposal is to make what has been implicit in the rules become explicit. Again, this does not change what is being enforced, only how it is being enforced.
The current rule section:
Sexual Orientation
- Insultingly refer to any aspect of sexual orientation pertaining to themselves or other members
The intent is to prevent anyone’s sexual orientation from being the target of malice, harassment, etc. Example: I picked up a fag from the ground (okay). Then I dropped him back down again (not okay).
The update being proposed:
Sexual Orientation and Identity
- Being disparaging or insulting towards any aspect of sexual orientation or gender/sexual identity, including themselves or others
- Targeted use of negative-leaning colloquialisms (a.k.a. "slurs") towards characters or members (e.g. tranny, fag, dyke, fairy)
- Continued mis-identification, or being willfully ignorant, of identity towards users or characters
This is intended to ensure that users are not targeted for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Within a reasonable expectation, users have a right to use the site comfortably without being mocked, targeted, or harassed by others for their orientation or identity.
Where is this coming from? - This proposal in its current form comes from feedback I gathered after talking to over 230 people (most of them LGBT+), along with 3 members of staff over the course of about a year and a half. This is not as impressive as it sounds, most people said something with the soul of "it looks good" and did not have suggestions for things to add or change. There were some who thought these were over-reaching and others who thought they did not go far enough and having most people say they look ok is, I think, a good sign. I have tweaked the wording around a ton, especially for the last subrule which could probably be dropped because the first subrule skims it. The little slur example list in subrule 2 also came up a lot, and honestly it could probably be removed too since either X was not in it or X is not a slur and it was like fighting the tide trying to find a bare minimum people could agree on.
Why is this? - Originally added in late 2013, now nearing 8 years ago, the rules for Sexual Orientation were to prevent someone's sexual orientation from being targeted. Since then, there has been a societally conscious shift from sexual orientation to sexual/gender identity; rather than someone saying that being gay is something wrong with someone that needs to be corrected, it is currently more agreeable (to some) for someone to say that not identifying with what you were assigned at birth is a mental illness that someone needs to get over. We know which way the tide is going, this will eventually be much less of an issue than it is now, but it is beneficial to make the rules accurately reflect enforcement regardless.
How can you help make this happen? - Voice your support or say why you are against it here. This forum if for feedback from the community on the rule proposal so they can agree to accept it or not, either after some modification or as is.
happy pride month and sorry for any poor English spelling or grammar k thanks
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