Forum rules discussion

[thomasw100]

Libraraptor and I have just discussed this in private and concluded that he misinterpreted the posts and rule in question. Forum Rule 6 states that "Topics concerning politics and religion are discouraged." The rule is worded that way – "discouraged", not forbidden – specifically to permit innocuous passing religious references like the ones above. As such, we wish to retract his moderator comment on those posts.

I was happy to see this message, because my interpretation of this forum rule was the way you have explained it now. I think that it would be useful if some of the forum rules would be explained in the respective section a bit more detailed and enhanced with examples of what is OK and what is not OK.

Like the posting of images and videos that show violence feels like a very unclear terrain. Some members here have expressed discomfort about models of prehistoric creatures which show predators with prey items and I would certainly refrain from posting such images myself out of respect for these members.

[DinoToyForum]

Libraraptor and I have just discussed this in private and concluded that he misinterpreted the posts and rule in question. Forum Rule 6 states that "Topics concerning politics and religion are discouraged." The rule is worded that way – "discouraged", not forbidden – specifically to permit innocuous passing religious references like the ones above. As such, we wish to retract his moderator comment on those posts.

I was happy to see this message, because my interpretation of this forum rule was the way you have explained it now. I think that it would be useful if some of the forum rules would be explained in the respective section a bit more detailed and enhanced with examples of what is OK and what is not OK.

Like the posting of images and videos that show violence feels like a very unclear terrain. Some members here have expressed discomfort about models of prehistoric creatures which show predators with prey items and I would certainly refrain from posting such images myself out of respect for these members.

I split this post into a new thread to reply without taking the original thread off-topic.

I think the rules are pretty self explanatory for the most part - we made them as few and simple as possible, to make them super easy for members to follow and moderators to enforce. When it comes to the rule about religion and politics, we can only judge posts on a case by case basis, because context and intent is crucial. But if in doubt, just don't post about religion and politics.

Even the most objective rules will have some subjectivity when you get to the philosophical nitty gritty. All the moderators strive to do our best in the interest of the forum, and none of us moderate with glee or malice. We just wish everyone would behave so we didn't have to moderate at all!

So, this thread isn't an invitation for members to see what they can get away with, or propose unusual hypothetic situations. We have better things to do with our time moderating actual examples!   That's why the main rules thread is locked in the first place. But I wanted to respond to the specific comment from T @thomasw100.

[Faelrin]

@DinoToyForum I wasn't sure rather to post this in the tariff thread (which I was planning to do originally before thinking about it more, and why most of my response below is in regard to it), or if this would have been a better thread for it, but anyways. Honest question, but could the politics rule be expanded with examples as to what is considered acceptable as far as what is and isn't political (outside of the obvious discussion of governments, politicians, and wars)? I feel like a topic like this (the tariff thing) that is inherently politically charged (as there are various governments doing different things that are involved with this) which complicates matters and might be hard to discuss without some clearer guidelines. And I suppose it would be beneficial for possible other future things and events too. I'm asking this because I'm autistic and certain nuances are hard for me to grasp, and some clearer lines drawn make things easier for me to understand. Perhaps it would be of help to other folks here?

I've been mostly avoiding engaging with the discussion that thread, as I wouldn't want to be crossing lines aside from what's clearly acceptable (such as talking about the figures, the companies that make them, or the retailers we buy them from). I know I've been on the forum for a long time, but I can't really remember such a situation like this impacting our hobby in some way like this, short of covid? Not that there haven't been the fair share of controversies or clashes in opinions here, but usually they were either about figures, companies, and paleontology.

Should I just continue to focus solely on the figures, the companies that make them, or the retailers reactions to this as I've been doing?

[Primeval12]

I'm not the admin, but I created that thread. My intent was to discuss the facts: What is happening with the tariffs and how it affects the hobby.

[DinoToyForum]

I'm not the admin, but I created that thread. My intent was to discuss the facts: What is happening with the tariffs and how it affects the hobby.

Yes, how it affects the hobby, and how it affects us practically as collectors. That's the crucial part. I think it's pretty simple, and I've said as much in that thread many times now.

@Faelrin Another example would be Brexit, itself inherently political, but with some real world implications for the hobby. Lots of us on the forum, especially Brits including me, held our tongues and continue to do so with regard to the politics surrounding Brexit, despite having strong opinions about it, and despite being personally effected by it (my family is international) in ways that are much more wide-reaching than toy collecting.

Still, the only discussion of Brexit permitted on the forum is the specific impacts on shipping and, therefore, collecting. So, it is allowed, but only in the context of collecting. As per the tariffs discussion.

My advice would be, as a rule of thumb, if in doubt don't post it, and you did the right thing to post here instead of in the tariffs thread.

[Faelrin]

Alright thanks to you both for your responses, and @DinoToyForum for elaborating with another example (a situation I actually forgot about being here in the US, although I do remember the impact it had for folks in the UK that used to do buisness in the EU and vice versa, particularly as it comes to our hobby here).

I guess the way I was responding there is the way to keep going then (collecting, companies, retailers, and figures), and no more.