- Use these guidelines to keep this a clean, well-lighted place for civilized public discourse. These are not hard and fast rules, merely aids to the human judgment of moderators and the overall community. + These are not hard and fast rules, merely aids to the human judgment of our community. Use these guidelines to keep this a clean, well-lighted place for civilized public discourse.
The topics discussed here matter to us, and we want you to act as if they matter to you, too. Be respectful of the topics and the people discussing them, even if you disagree with some of what is being said.
-- One way to improve the discussion is by searching for ones that are already happening. Please use the search function before starting a new discussion, and you will have a better chance of meeting others who share your interests. -
- You may wish to respond to something by disagreeing with it. That's fine. But, remember to criticize ideas, not people. + You may wish to respond to something by disagreeing with it. That’s fine. But, remember to criticize ideas, not people. Please avoid:
- Moderators have special responsibility and authority; they are technically responsible for this forum. But so are you. With your help, moderators should be community facilitators more than janitors or police. + Moderators have special authority; they are responsible for this forum. But so are you. With your help, moderators can be community facilitators, not just janitors or police.
- When you see bad behavior, don't reply. It encourages the bad behavior by acknowledging it, consumes your energy, and wastes everyone’s time. Just flag it. If enough flags accrue, action will be taken, either automatically or by moderator intervention. + When you see bad behavior, don’t reply. It encourages the bad behavior by acknowledging it, consumes your energy, and wastes everyone’s time. Just flag it. If enough flags accrue, action will be taken, either automatically or by moderator intervention.
- In order to maintain our community, moderators reserve the right to remove any content and any user account for any reason at any time. Moderators do not preview new posts or take any preemptive action, therefore, the moderators and site operators take no responsibility for any content posted by the community. + In order to maintain our community, moderators reserve the right to remove any content and any user account for any reason at any time. Moderators do not preview new posts in any way; the moderators and site operators take no responsibility for any content posted by the community.
These are not concrete terms with precise definitions — avoid - even the appearance of any of these things. If you're unsure, ask yourself how you would feel if your post was featured on the front page of the New York Times. + even the appearance of any of these things. If you’re unsure, ask yourself how you would feel if your post was featured on the front page of the New York Times.
This is a public forum, and search engines index these discussions. Keep the language, links, and images safe for family and friends. @@ -101,25 +98,23 @@
Make the effort to put things in the right place, so that we can spend more time discussing and less cleaning up. So:
- Rather than posting "+1" or "Agreed," use the Like button. Rather than taking an existing topic in a radically different direction, use Reply as a New Topic. -
-- Also, don't sign your posts — every post has your profile information attached to it. + Rather than posting “+1” or “Agreed,” use the Like button. Rather than taking an existing topic in a radically different direction, use Reply as a New Topic.
- You may not post anything digital that belongs to someone else without permission. You may not post descriptions of, links to, or methods for stealing someone's intellectual property (software, video, audio, images), or for breaking any other law. + You may not post anything digital that belongs to someone else without permission. You may not post descriptions of, links to, or methods for stealing someone’s intellectual property (software, video, audio, images), or for breaking any other law.