In response to recent concerns regarding members' interaction within the site community, and in the spirit of constructive solution-building, I would like to propose the following as an example of the kind of community values we might adopt here at Woyano. I open this list up to your review and critique, with the hope that through your comments we can collaborate on the kinds of value statements that we can all live with. Think of this as a very rough draft, which may be revised to include your forward-thinking ideas of what the Woyano community should be. I also propose that the adopted set of values be created, considered in terms of fairness, and approved by members. We don't always have to agree with our fellow members, but we do have to accept their right to an opinion, as diverse as our perspectives may be.
I encourage you to have a read-through and give me your thoughts by commenting below:
Community Values
§ Woyano’s vision is to provide a place for individuals to exercise their intellect, promote their views, meet people around ideas and interests, and to engage in lively, intelligent and provocative discussion about the things that matter to them. All visitors are welcome to express their own opinions freely and openly in the spirit of the site’s community. We feel that a set of values created collaboratively by the members themselves will greatly enhance everyone’s experience on Woyano.
1. Respect your fellow members
Everyone here is entitled to their opinion, even if it’s the opposite of what you happen to think. Strong feelings are a natural part of debate but avoid resorting to insulting, abusive, harassing, intimidating, libellous, defamatory, offensive, or threatening language among members. Do not engage in personal attacks of any kind against any member of the Woyano community. This includes any unwelcome sexual advances and derogatory or demeaning posts referring to someone’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, or sexual orientation.
2. Use proper posting etiquette
Most members are interested in discussing issues and sharing their points of view towards reasoned discussion. Remember to cite your sources and give authors credit for their original ideas by linking back to where you found an article. Try not to mislead other members by presenting your opinions as facts. You can attempt to persuade someone to agree with your view, but you can’t make them.
3. Don’t break the law
If you are going to post any content from another website, like uploading images or videos, make sure you’re not using copyright material. Don’t post any links to illegal or pornographic/adult websites. We advise that if your post has adult themes, sexuality, or explicit language, you should flag it as adult content. Don’t post anything libellous or defamatory, whether about another member or someone unconnected with this site.
4. Keep Woyano tidy
We encourage members to promote their creative and professional skills and endeavours in their posts and on their web channels. However, try to avoid spamming the site by posting advertisements for products or services for commercial profit or gain. If you’d like to mention your business, do so tastefully and creatively by blogging about your unique knowledge in the field. This will maintain site quality and build your reputation among members.
If you need a quick review of the guidelines for using Woyano, click here to read our Terms of Use.
The Woyano Team is not obliged to arbitrate any disputes that arise between members, but we do reserve the right to take appropriate action if a member’s content or behavior violates the Terms of Use or Community Values.
If you encounter Content or behavior that you think violates the Terms of Use or Community Values, you can report the incident to Woyano by clicking on our feedback link. You can also send us a message at support@woyano.com. Please state the reasons for your concern and provide a link to the Content or behavior in question.
georgie
68 Comments
"unwelcome sexual advances" ... I suggest deleting "unwelcome." Its inclusion has an implication.
"everyone .. their" is ungrammatical. maybe try "all here are entitled ... their" ?
and: " try to avoid spamming the site by posting advertisements for products or services for commercial profit or gain." suggest you delete "try to avoid" in favor of saying it directly: Don't post advertisements ... etc,
and: delete " This will maintain site quality and build your reputation among members." seems to me it claims too much, and isn't needed anyway. i'd suggest that If you want to say something toward those goals, reword in terms of goals.
and: "All visitors ..." Can visitors comment at all? I'm guessing you mean participants or members or something. I gather that you're making the point that diversity is welcome; however worded, just say it. Actually you said it rather nicely in your intro: " We don't always have to agree with our fellow members, but we do have to accept their right to an opinion, as diverse as our perspectives may be." Of coure, one doesn't HAVE to accept. a quibble within a quibble.
And: "We feel that a set of values created collaboratively by the members themselves will greatly enhance everyone’s experience on Woyano." that seems to me to be a statement from why you propose a statement of community values. To include it within that statement of values is to open a door to those who would like to attack or who want to propose changes. You wanna hafta keep redoing this bit indefinitely?
It all seems kind of a heavy load to heft for scant reason, but if something is felt to be needed, this looks pretty good.
Meanwhile, y'all might consider a contrarian view a columnist voiced some time ago concerning online communities _ that is, if you've got a couple of hours to spare; it ain't simple or short. John C. Dvorak says flatly that such entities are artificial, "are not true communities" and are houses of cards the collapse of which can't be prevented. The subsequent discussion in posted comments is worthwhile, too, though ultimately it dwindles into a debate as to whether technological safeguards can prevent what he calls vandals.
http://www.pcmag.com/arti...le2/0,1895,2000353,00.asp
not really (but your suggestion makes sense)
http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/austheir.html
I agree with your other suggested amendments.
A more important point. This began with a row totally outside the 'community', part of which was posted to it. So it isn't really about interactions within Woyano (unless I've missed something). That suggests the guidelines -- which I basically support* -- aren't there to combat a massive problem, their role is to be a code we can agree to (try to) keep, in spirit as well as in letter.
but for those who take offence to stuff the see as text on a screen then i am sure they will be happy with those proposals and i agree on their behalf
There is one guideline, however, that is hard and fast and I lifted it word-by-word from the T&C's. "Do not engage in personal attacks of any kind against any member of the Woyano community." I might argue that this implies no attacks, anywhere, anytime. I felt for me personally it was right to voice my concern and focus on being constructive. If the community values presented here seem superfluous, then I can keep them on file should a real need arise in future.
What do others think, values to go or stay?
(It emerged the email was from a stalker who'd hacked into our emails and forged the header.)
Result? I got scolded by the List Powers (the Head List Power, anyway) who didn't wait to see why I might have thought the email came from the person whose name and eaddress it bore!
(I did though get a lot of private emails of support and the man who'd been impersonated was just fine about it.)
Oh and if I get attacked onlist, I decide how to handle it... .
"Do not engage in personal attacks of any kind against any member of the Woyano community."
this really does worry me a bit, as 'personal attack' is vague, what it covers is not clear. But it's in the T&Cs so I've accepted it!
I might argue that this implies no attacks, anywhere, anytime.
where does argument stop and 'attack' begin? (I agree with the 'values' you've given as a *guide* to onsite behaviour.)
From the T&Cs, first
You understand that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable
second
You are solely responsible for your interactions with other Woyano users. As a Member, you are expected to tolerate viewpoints and perspectives with which you may not agree. Woyano is not obligated to arbitrate, or resolve in any manner, disputes that arise between Members. Woyano reserves the right but has no obligation, to monitor disputes between you and other Members, and to take any action, in Woyano's sole discretion, that may be appropriate under the circumstances. Such actions may include, but are not limited to the suspension or termination of memberships and the removal of inappropriate content.
Don't ask me!
*L*
I think this place needs to keep more towards the open mind part of its motto .
*S* hope that helps
I would be in favour of someone just posting a message similar to the one you wrote above, but basically just saying "here's what I think would make all our lives better." It's open to people's voluntary compliance either way, and I do find things get a bit cloying when more rules get added, especially if people start using them as rules ("see Rules of Conduct, section (3)(a)...").
Either way, though, I doubt it's a real big deal. I try to be courteous and nice to people anyway.
just use common sense!
You know, I agree that things are said in the heat of the moment when pressure points are hit or buttons are pushed. Everyone has their own sensitivities. I agree, Clemmati, we can be aware and understanding of this, and respond in kind, when tempers flare and the dragons breathe their fire! Because the dragons be fierce and friendly.
"Don’t break the law:
If you are going to post any content from another website, like uploading images or videos, make sure you’re not using copyright material."
if we credit the author and link to the website is that still considered breaking the law?
I think that when people are mean and cruel to each other, it does more harm than good. Sometimes, a cruel word chastises, and changes someone's behavior. Perhaps learning to accept criticism is part of growing! Tough is good! But, so is kindness, encouragement, lively fun debate, respecting others opinions, and spreading positiveness and good cheer! : )
Oh, hope I didn't miss the point!
And.... welcome to woyano... where our motto is... *thinks* Do we have a motto???
We need a motto? Check it out......
http://www.woyano.com/vie...o-where-Our-Motto-isMotto
"Open space Open Mind" - it's there under the title at the top of the page! Come on in one and all - the water's lovely!
All those without open minds will agree with you, but for those who are open minded, will see you attempting to place limits and restrictions - aka censoring free thought.
Open space, open mind - says it all
The only condition I would make to this is when laws of sovereign states or nations are broken -- incitement to riot, publication of classified information, libel, etc.
Current international law is ambivalent about owner liability for illegal types of communication, but a trend is beginning to appear -- in Rindos v. Hardwicke (Switzerland); It's in the Cards, Inc. v. Fuschetto (US); Southam and Baines v. Chelekis et al. (Canada); Cubby v. Compuserve (US), and others -- if there is reason to believe a law has been broken, and the owner/operator does nothing to ameliorate the situation (remove the offending information and/or user) -- assuming that the owner/operator is considered a distributor or publisher of information and not merely a common carrier -- then the owner/operator could indeed bear liability.
So actually, a user can feel free to make an opinion sound like fact, as long as anyone can call that into question or criticize him or her for doing so. As long as it's not breaking any laws. Is that what you mean?
The line ought to be drawn where the law is drawn. Woyano ought not allow speech that is objectively illegal.