[ SECRET POST #2089 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2089 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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05.
[Slender Man]


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06.
[TGWTG]


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07.
[Twin Peaks]


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08.
[Jojo's Bizarre Adventure]


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09.
[Journey Into Mystery]


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10.
[Ferris Bueller's Day Off]


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11.
[Transonic (X-men)]


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12.
[Baldur's Gate]


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13.
[Wanted]


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16.
[Tiger & Bunny]


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17.
[Bionicle]


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 000 secrets from Secret Submission Post #298.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 1 2 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

04. http://i.imgur.com/mLHM8.png

[(Anonymous)]

Just go ahead and ban the religious talk. You're right, off topic shit about people's IRL religion has no place in an RP. This girl is making people uncomfortable. Go ahead with the ban, and if she and her friends flounce, they flounce. Good fucking riddance.

[visp]

Do it. Religion and politics are two of the oldest party mood-killers out there, and refusing to discuss them is generally considered good manners in most social settings.

[ariakas]

I don't even you. That's a real hornet's nest and anything you do is like to piss it off.

An even-handed but stern mod warning? Making it obvious that you don't care what her religion may be, but she's making other people uncomfortable?

[(Anonymous)]

I can not suggest strongly enough that you make "No discussion of religion or politics outside of the character's own views" a rule on your board. I have had to lock off far too many flame wars on the board that I run to ever have patience with this being left open. Yes, you have many people that can discuss such subjects in an open and kind manner...but it only takes one troll to cause a horrible explosion that will give you (and most of your RPers) a headache that will last for months.

[(Anonymous)]

Do it. IRL religion has no place in a fandom with a completely made up setting, and this player sounds obnoxious.

[(Anonymous)]

As a person of who is very faithful and full of religion...

Do it.

[(Anonymous)]

Yet another anon Christian here (that's as it should be IMHO) chiming to say yep. Do it. Also quote Matthew 23:15 as your reason why (if you are at all squeamish about referring to Christian holy texts then don't). The NKJV makes this verse much clearer that ALL proselytizing was forbidden by Jesus; the NIV soft-pedals this because the Evangelicals don't want to actually listen to the idol they worship in vain. (Mark 7:7-10)

[(Anonymous)]

Have you tried talking to this person as a mod? Sometimes all it takes is a nudge from a mod to get them to stop.

[(Anonymous)]

You've got to do it. As you've said, it's the most fair thing to do.

This person is upsetting people. Even though banning the mention of religion might piss of this girl and others of her ilk, that concern must be balanced against the damage that is already being done.

[dethtoll]

just tell her others have been complaining. she means well but you know what they say about the road to hell, ironically enough. if she keeps it up, give her the boot -- no need to do a blanket ban on religious talk entirely and risk stifling more detached discussion.

[(Anonymous)]

That's a tough one. Depending on the size of the community, it could get taken way out of context and offend people... I've always found that the fewer rules/the easier things run.

Have you tried an official Mod Hat conversation about it? Maybe asking folks if you can share their exact phrasing when it comes to their discomfort? I've had that help in these kinds of situations before.

[(Anonymous)]

I vote ban OOC religious talk but allow it IC.

[(Anonymous)]

If someone was saying "thank god--not that there's such a thing as god, but you catch my drift, right?" out of character, it'd be completely off-topic and worthy of banning. Same thing as "Oh, that's so terrible, I'll pray for you. Tonight. In church. Pray to my god. Me. Pray for you. You should pray too."

[(Anonymous)]

Personally, just from what's in the secret, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It might be a bit excessive, but it seems pretty harmless to me. I start having a problem when people try to force their religion on me, try to argue with me about my personal beliefs, tell me I'm going to hell for not considering myself a Christian, or use their religion to say otherwise offensive things. I don't have a problem when someone says "I'll pray for you". I don't have a problem when someone says they believe in God or Jesus or anyone else as long as they're not being offensive or trying to force their own beliefs onto me, which, tbh, she doesn't appear to be doing. Nothing you said in the secret came off as offensive or insulting to me - very annoying, yes, but it seems as though she does mean well. People say things I don't like every day, but unless they're actually insulting or hurting someone, they're entitled to say those things. Of course, this is just my opinion, and it's your forum, so if you think it needs to be banned, do it! Just wanted to add my two cents.

[(Anonymous)]

Your comm isn't a government - it's a private and entirely opt-in system. You're not forcing your beliefs on anyone, and someone else's religious practice shouldn't be forced on other players. She and her friends cry "oppression"? Oh well, this isn't a democracy, it's a benevolent dictatorship - they can either deal with it or leave. Simple as that.

[nyxelestia]

You didn't mention this in the secret, so in case you haven't tried yet, just talk to her as the mod. That can often be surprisingly effective, when done in private/by PM. (That said, get screencaps of everything).

If that doesn't work, ban away. Either the wank will be strong and short now as it stands, or later it'll get worse and the wank will be less intense but longer and more drawn out.

If you don't want to ban all IRL religious talk ever, try focusing on the wordings and behaviors this RPer has exhibited that made other uncomfortable and ban that (and its more harmful tangents).

And which ever way you go, if you want to minimize the wank, make your post about banning it, and include quotes from people who have expressed discomfort, especially ones that might hint/explain why it's so discomfiting. It won't stop this user or her friends, but it might stop, or at least slow down, anyone else from jumping on the bandwagon.

[eaten_by_bears]

Why not just ban her? If she keeps doing something that other people have already told her makes them uncomfortable, it's not really unfair to ban her and leave any more respectful religious people you might have alone.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, if you do ban the topic, at least it would look more like she ruined it for everybody than you being a hardass.

[sockpants]

It could just be that she thinks she's being nice and supportive. When I was hospitalized two years ago, a very kind person who's become sort of like a second dad to me kept telling me he would pray for me to get well again. It could come off as overbearing, but he really did mean well.

I would suggest to her, gently, that there's a time and a place for it, and if she wants to give her well-wishes she could do it in private message format, or in a designated space where she's not cluttering up your RP. That could also, as well, go for other off-topic stuff.

[brightblueink]

I'm a Christian, but the thing is--it's your forum, your rules. If they can't learn when to back off, and you really think the rule would be the best way to solve it, then I think I should do it. They can scream "oppression" all they want but free speech doesn't count in a privately-owned place like a forum.

I mean, I'm sure she "means well" but the thing is, I've often heard this sentiment in Christian culture that if people are uncomfortable with religious talk it just shows that they "really know the truth and are denying it" so it's possible that any sign of discomfort will be ignored (particularly since they probably won't stop and think about how they'd feel if, say, a Muslim RPer was constantly talking about Allah or something). You've already tried reasoning with her, so...yeah.

Sigh.

[(Anonymous)]

It's unfair to put a complete ban in place because one person has an issue. Tell the player in question you've had complaints, this is her last warning, and if you hear one more complaint about her preaching at people she's out.

That way people won't need to freak that they'll get banned for mentioning going to church one Sunday, or discussing Kosher recipes, or whatever.

[(Anonymous)]

something to consider:

if you don't say something, then you risk losing players who are getting tired of her and her religious talk.

who would you rather lose?

[(Anonymous)]

As someone who currently runs and has run several very large boards/communities, I can say from experience that you really need to nip this in the bud as soon as possible. Not only because as a mod it's your job to make sure everyone has a fair experience, but also because if you leave it be then problem with only fester. Since you've already mentioned that this girl seems to be purposely deaf to reasoning, I wouldn't suggest trying to talk to her one-on-one, instead I would go ahead and instate a new rule about it.

When announcing this new rule, however, I would highly suggest not mentioning this girl in any way, shape, or form. Just make it a general announcement not meant to target anyone in particular and that you hope everyone understands. If this particular girl continues to be a problem, then you can ban her stating she broke the rules (and she can't cry religious discrimination because you covered your bases by banning all IRL religion-related material).

Just saying, in my experience, being clear but firm about rules really helps.

[cleverthylacine]

Do it, especially if none of the religions in your game universe are related to any RL religions, because there's really no excuse for it if that's the case.