three did and three thought you were hilarious?

Then I figure we shrug and deal for awhile.

And, of course, we discuss it here like adults.

There are also people who've come around recently who are clearly respected members of the community. It's not even about longevity. The fact is, we do know it when we see it, and we are wary about stomping with our feet on people, and we give people the benefit of the doubt, and then we have a procedure. If the stompy feet can't agree to give someone a warning, well, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

I've noticed that things have calmed down there since the focus has turned back to the show, and away from the Natter. I hope staying on topic helps. (Catching up in the thread it has read like a strange, through-the-looking-glass Natter where everyone was nattering to avoid the trollage.)

BTW, I think the actions taken were appropriate and I was glad to see the warning.

we do know it when we see it

This is our policy in a nutshell, isn't it? "We know it when we see it, and we know who 'we' are"?

Yip.

In my experience, this can be troublesome. People change over time. What if a longstanding member becomes increasingly offensive over time? Other long-termers may not become offended because they are gradually exposed to a persona overtime. But if a newbie did the same thing, people might find it offensive.

Not trying to be problematic throwing this out there.. but have run into just this situation on another forum and I don't know what the solution is. We made the mistake of giving someone leeway for too long, and ended up really dividing the board by trying to achieve both transparency in moderating, and respect for longtermers.

Nothing is foolproof, but I'd like to think that if an oldtimer starts disturbing the community that the oldtimer gets talked to. Same with a Stompy Foot.

We did have a foo-furrah back in the day when an old timer said things that other people found intensely offensive. As has been mentioned upthread, the reaction to chiding is the telling part. This oldtimer was ... not officially warned since that was before here ... but people spoke up, like Betsy and Suela did today. And the person made their decision, which was to leave.

I'd like to think that the same procedure would come into play, when someone crosses the line that the community reacts, and then it escalates from there.

Like to think.

I think the difference is respect for the community and the other members. I believe that if I, or anyone else had posted that I was offended and/or annoyed by the all caps profanity explosion in Natter people would have backed down. I'm sure if a newbie had complained people would have been contrite. They may have qualified it with, "we're like this sometimes, but we don't mean to offend."

If a newbie comes in an post something offensive, and is called on it by one or more members, I think our response to them will depend on how they act to any objections. Hopefully they would have to courtesy to apologize or at least modifiy their behaviour. Even if they think they're being harshed on. You can't walk into a room full of strangers saying things that could be considered offensive and expect to be embraced.

I think the difference is you seem to be a lot more mature and experienced moderators - and members - than the ones I'm used to working with. What a relief.

If a newbie comes in an post something offensive, and is called on it by one or more members, I think our response to them will depend on how they act to any objections.

Personally, I think that's the key. Back when we had the "idiots" discussion and several members objected to his liberal use of the term, his response was that he didn't care if he had stepped on anyone's toes. I mean, if you're new to a board and don't care that you're pissing people off left and right, you're making it clear that you're not a newbie looking to become part of a community. You're just getting off on causing trouble and will move onto greener pastures once you've gotten bored poking your stick in this one.

Hm. There is a point in there but I think I lost it when I started mixing my metaphors.