Can't speak for Lyra Jane, but if a request to a stompy is made backchannel, I would expect the poster to have already tried to address the problem in-thread and failed.

I think collecting the X requests backchannel makes it look less like Bureaucracy is a place to count complaints and keep traffic down. Once the X number of requests is reached, discussion can open up to the entire community. Basically, it seems to be a way to keep kvetching focused on things that merit attention, rather than every time one poster has a problem with another, making everyone feel the need to discuss what may be a minor problem that can be worked out by individuals.

Would it help if any emails were posted at the start of the discussion period after X requests had been reached? I'm not interested in a Star Chamber, just in not tiring everyone out by having 400 posts on an issue that turns out to have really only deeply concerned 2 people.

Presumably they have eyes, and brains.

Except that what one finds offensive is very personal. Let's say someone makes a remark to me that I find offensive. They make the comment in Spoilers. I go to a Stompy privately and complain. The request gets passed on to PMM to deal with because she's over there in Spoilers. She doesn't think it's offensive and thinks I need to get over myself.

Now maybe ita would agree with me that it was offensive but since she doesn't frequent that thread, she's not going to be able to make a judgement call because she doesn't have context. This would normally be the time that community members would chime in on their take but, since we're doing this all backchannel, that doesn't happen here.

I mean, I'm giving myself a headache just thinking about an anonymous process given the way we have this board set up.

Also, I don't think it's a fair burden to put on Stompies. They signed up to help out with opening threads and fixing spoilers. They didn't sign up to be our watchdogs.

Basically, I feel that, while I understand some posters' reluctance to raise issues publicly, I don't think anonymous complaints helps anyone. Especially in this community. If you have that much of an issue with a poster that you want them gone from the community, you need to step up to the plate and say that to their face.

I'm sorry, but I think that comment this morning is unclear to the point that I can't decide if I think it's offensive or not.

From People's Forum in the Angel Topic: [link]

Edit: This culture of cowardice is starting to irk me. I wish people would use their real names so I can tell who I'm speaking to. I have half formed and unverifiable thoughts as to who I might be speaking to, never sure. Could be Joe Bloggs from down the road or the galactic emperor himself no way to know.

Although to be sure the Emperor would have more guts so I reckon it's safe to assume Joe Bloggs until anything suggests otherwise.

And when it's just a waitress with delusions of grandeur hiding behind a username it's one thing, but when that person is actually SCREWING with me...!

How am I supposed to save him when he acts so completely suicidal? I mean he could at least say *Thankyou* or send an email to introduce himself.

I'm not really sure what this is about and what it means. But this along with calling the Buffistas vengeful don't seem to be the words of someone who wants to play nice.

All that stuff I said about not liking the turmoil on the community... well, now I don't like what is being said either.

Also if stuff in our topic in PF isn't fair game, I'll delete this if requested.

Hm. I wrote this Safety Page long ago, and you're welcome to rip anything from it if it helps with harassment language.

[link]

I'm sorry, but I think that comment this morning is unclear to the point that I can't decide if I think it's offensive or not.

snerk. You've just described the entire Zoe experience.

Yes, a system.

I think this is one of those things we may need to vote on.

Where do we stand on making motions for votes?

LJ, do you have no problems with the idea of anonymous complaints against you?

Logically, I understand why we should keep the procedure in the sunshine. Emotionally, I feel that if someone were being such a pain in the ass that ten people took the time to email a specific complaint to a stompy, they already probably pretty much know what they're doing and may well know who they're pissing off.

But: Point taken, point understood, proposal withdrawn.

I have to go do work.

You've just described the entire Zoe experience.

Well, except for those times when I am clear that stuff is offensive.

I think that since PF and WX are still Buffista fora, they're subject to the same CS as here.

However, that little snippet doesn't make a bit of sense to me, so I can't really offer an opinion about whether or not it's hostile. Sorry!