I think certainly things older than 3 days (or a week, or whatever) should be included in considering whether someone was having a bad day or has a consistant problem -- but I think warnings should be for specific, recent instances.

So if someone's catching up and sees a 4 day old post that they find unforgiveably offensive, they just have to grit their teeth and accept that nothing was done about it?

Three days seems too short to me. A week might be better.

I like Deena's suggestion and for the record, I am supporting a 48 hour time for the 10 approvals of the complaint, with the understanding that as soon as 10 clear approvals are made, the warning is sent.

So for clarity:

4. At least 10 other users in 48 hours second the need for a Warning. If 10 other users do not complain within the 48 hour period, no complaint can be made again about that particular incident, unless it is being used to illustrate, with others, a pattern of demon-like behaviour.

5. As soon as the request for warning receives 10 seconds, Stompy sets forth a Warning over email and in Bureaucracy.

Kat's point about clarity on seconds - I think people have been very clear on their seconds for motions and I don't think this will be any different. If someone is unclear we can request clarity.

Jon, I understand your concern about anything other than a yes/no ballot. I will keep that in mind.

justkim's question

If a warning is issued, and the bad behavior continues, how long will it be allowed to continue before the poster is suspended?

and ita's response

The second warning-worthy behaviour triggers a suspension ... so I'm guessing it would be whenever ten more complaints roll in on the continuation.

The problem is that this is not spelled out anywhere and I am leaning to making it part of this ballot. "warning-worthy behaviour" is not black and white as the hundreds of posts in Bureau prove.

I think the same type of system would work. Here is my draft of language:

edited to lessen confusion.

A two-month suspension will be issued if a poster receives a second warning within (time to be determined). A second warning would be issued following the same procedure.

This is just a draft, so please give feedback. One thing that will have to happen - Stompies will need to keep a list of who is on warning.

As for Typo's concern. I am not sure how to handle it. I don't think raising the number of seconds is the right solution. Warnings are really not a big deal and I don't think that they should be seen as a tragic event. A suspension, however, could very well be a big deal to a poster and I want people to take the act of making an official request very seriously. My gut is that this community will do that. What if, there is a surge of people who would not? I am not sure we can prepare for all what ifs. If the community begins to get overrun with people who would railroad another poster, I think this policy will be the least of our worries.

I didn't think it was only patterns of behaviour, I thought it was also a particular incident.

I didn't think we were issuing warnings based on one incident. Everybody has bad days and says dumb things. I was under the impression that this process would only come into play after repeated incidents and repeated attempts to defuse the situation inthread had failed.

I'm really confused. I thought ita was asking if you had to wait to bring a complaint to bureaucracy, and that Lyra was recommending 3 days, in case it blows over. I wasn't reading it the other way.

I do think an offense has a shelf-life, and we shouldn't get to go back in history to find every single post that ever wounded us.

Sorry.

The problem is that this is not spelled out anywhere and I am leaning to making it part of this ballot.

It's part of the existing structure, though. Second warning is actually a bansuspension. Your proposal defines the process.

edited for accuracy

Cereal:

I didn't think we were issuing warnings based on one incident

I can certainly think of one off incidents that might warrant a warning. Someone launches off spewing vitriol about me and my mother? Yeah, I'll want to ask for a warning.

Second warning is actually a ban.

It's a suspension, not a ban, yes? t /pedant

Sorry, yes, suspension. Sloppy memory.

Wishful thinking?

Cindy, remember that there is no close tag for pedant.

I think three days is long enough. If no one has complained in three days, and you stumble across something that hasn't bothered anyone else, well, evaulating your own feelings might be a good plan at that point, rather than asking for a warning. Not that I'm sure we're actually discussing that.

I like a 48 hour period for the ten complaints, or whatever.

But my head, she's still swimming, so I've got nothin'.