What gets me is the mods and admins being mostly silent about this and when they finally did something, it really wasn't anything. I'm neither but is there anything I can do to help you all out?
Oh, hello. If you're publicly asking for my ban, at least @ me.
It seems that this thread's primary purpose has now been turned into publicly whining about mods and shit on other users you don't agree with. Something that has become very popular ever since it was shown to be so effective half a year ago - and mods sadly have not discouraged it, so people haven't stopped doing it.
As for my posts (and I realise starting this discussion here is futile), I stand by them. I made it very clear (in both posts you quoted) how important it is to encourage victims to come forward. To be receptive of what they have to say. To not dismiss them out of hand. And, that you can in fact do this while not immediately burning the accused at a witch trial. Many people, including victims, agreed with what I said. I do not believe I was being dismissive of victims, and that certainly was not the intent. I'll leave it at that.
are you fucking kidding me???The staff's hands are tied because, by the standards previously set on the forum, defending Biden against his allegations should be a bannable offense, but the staff have also spent years cultivating ERA as a place for liberal (not leftist, liberal) politics and they, like many people, desperately want Trump out of office and are therefore willing to break their previously-established rules to ensure people are allowed to have a "discussion" about the allegations, which they would never afford any other accused, because the alternative is banning like half the forum for voting Biden.
Except nobody has ever suggested that "voting for Biden" should be bannable (unlike some individuals, who have rather transparently been petitioning the staff to make any criticism of Biden a bannable offense for several weeks now, up to and including demanding that ResetEra LLC issue an official endorsement of the candidate), the only things we've asked be bannable are A) attacking or downplaying Biden's accuser and B) telling a person to vote for Biden after said person has expressed reservations about his allegations. That's it.
Ah, there's the real bug bear.It seems that this thread's primary purpose has now been turned into publicly whining about mods and shit on other users you don't agree with. Something that has become very popular ever since it was shown to be so effective half a year ago - and mods sadly have not discouraged it, so people haven't stopped doing it.
Shit like this plants the seeds being able to dismiss anyone's concerns as having a "political agenda" and it's gross.Stating clearly what has been apparent for some time now. This is all about accelarationists - who would never have voted for Biden before these allegations came out - jumping on this story, shouting down any nuance or critical thought, trying to pressure people into not voting against Trump. Or, if that is not possible, being loud enough to pressure moderation of anyone who doesn't share their #BothSides narrative.
Oh, hello. If you're publicly asking for my ban, at least @ me.
I'm not even going to afford you a nice long post trying to explain to you why you're shit, so I'm just going to tell you to fuck off, you rape apologist. If your dismissal and downplaying of an allegation would get you banned if you were going to bat for a republican, then it should get you a ban if its a dem too. I'm sure you're the exact type of person whose already justified yourself by deciding someone like me calling you out is russian bot or some stupid shit like that. You are exactly why victims are afraid to come forward, because you perpetuate rape culture when you spout victim blaming bullshit like you do. Maybe, just maybe, think about how you harm victims instead of being all 'bitches be lyin' about Biden's history toward women.
I agree. The mods are only human too just like the rest of us. We just got to call it out and report it when we see it.I for one think the mods have done a good job. There's been a blatant attempt to work the refs, as it were, and it's good to see that that's not tolerated here.
I agree. The mods are only human too just like the rest of us. We just got to call it out and report it when we see it.
By all accounts, it doesn't make sense. I'd go off like that on someone telling me I'm somehow bad for being pansexual, and I'd hope I wouldn't be actioned for it.This is the one that confuses the most though. People are allowed to push back against bigotry all day long, but they can't push back against people peddling conspiracy theories about victims of rape without catching a ban?
Maybe you all should ask to get, y'know, paid. How much does Cerium make from this little web-sight?Official Staff CommunicationOn that note, I'd like to remind everyone that our staff members are not automated machines. We're humans just like you, with real lives, who volunteer on our own time to help moderate this place. We come from a lot of different backgrounds and ethnicities, and we've all got our own histories. This includes some of us being survivors of abuse, be it sexual, physical, or another type. Many of us try to commit as much time as we can, but unfortunately reality does get in the way. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many of us to dedicate as much time as we'd like, and the elections, with all of it's controversy and drama, has impacted us just as much as it has you.
Official Staff CommunicationWe're going to break from procedure here a little bit. Normally, we don't go out of our way to comment on individual bans or lack thereof. However, in this case, we do see that there's a general call for clarification, and by doing so, we can hopefully shed some light on our decision.
In regard to Ortix's post, we've seen the reports made against it and have been discussing it. However, we've been stretched thin, staff-wise, due to the pandemic as well as real life situations. This happens, and it's not an easy situation for us to resolve. After spending the afternoon discussing it, we've made a decision, and Ortix will take a two week ban for the post due to some insensitive comments made over sexual assault allegations. Further posts of this nature will incur heavier and heavier bans, as is our policy. A number of individual lines from Ortix included insensitive or inflammatory comments regarding the situation, and are simply unacceptable. Several staff members, including women and abuse survivors, were involved in this decision.
On that note, I'd like to remind everyone that our staff members are not automated machines. We're humans just like you, with real lives, who volunteer on our own time to help moderate this place. We come from a lot of different backgrounds and ethnicities, and we've all got our own histories. This includes some of us being survivors of abuse, be it sexual, physical, or another type. Many of us try to commit as much time as we can, but unfortunately reality does get in the way. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many of us to dedicate as much time as we'd like, and the elections, with all of it's controversy and drama, has impacted us just as much as it has you.
We're going to re-open this thread now, as we feel it's a discussion that needs to be had. Sexual assault victims (as well as victims of other types of assault) need to know this is a safe place for them, and that their thoughts and concerns are being heard. However, for that to happen, the discussion needs to remain civil for everyone involved. We cannot have this thread devolving into what it's been for the past few pages, as this leads to issues such as assault victims who have their own disagreements being silenced and bullied themselves. We have observed this repeatedly and have received private complaints about this from members who would like to participate, but are afraid to for fear of being lashed out at, and they have to be considered as well. So, please keep that in mind when you're talking to your fellow members.
I'll be real, this ban makes no sense to me, and it bothers me because it feels like the mod team is trying to sugar coat what Ortix's post was saying regarding Reade's allegation.I'm not even going to afford you a nice long post trying to explain to you why you're shit, so I'm just going to tell you to fuck off, you rape apologist. If your dismissal and downplaying of an allegation would get you banned if you were going to bat for a republican, then it should get you a ban if its a dem too. I'm sure you're the exact type of person whose already justified yourself by deciding someone like me calling you out is russian bot or some stupid shit like that. You are exactly why victims are afraid to come forward, because you perpetuate rape culture when you spout victim blaming bullshit like you do. Maybe, just maybe, think about how you harm victims instead of being all 'bitches be lyin' about Biden's history toward women.
If nothing seemed to come from that, that's kinda how it leads into this. I get being stretched thin and all but, come on. When someone gets reported for something, especially regarding this subject matter, expecting people to sit and play nice with them as they stoke that fire isn't realistic.
100%Over the past several months especially, there have been a handful of high profile cases where users from particular communities complained about how easy it is for others to talk down to and bully the marginalized, as long as they do so with civility and a veneer of plausible deniability. And yet, if one pushes back against these aggressions, one must walk on eggshells, lest they be actioned for "hostility"
To see Ortix receive a 2 week ban, and many who called out their terrible posts get essentially the same punishment (or worse!), sends the same message that has been sent again and again. The chilling effect this will have on survivors of sexual assault in this community can not be understated. The threads regarding the Joe Biden issue have been full of behavior like Ortix's. Maybe not quite so explicit, but it's still there. The problem with Ortix's posts was not just the hostility, but the intent as well. I think it should be obvious with the number of people who fled to this thread for refuge that there is an extremely real problem at play.
It's Really disappointing what they are doing.banning people for calling out your shitty moderation? classic Era
Sophia
Are people allowed to push back against people who are peddling conspiracy theories about sexual assault or rape? If not, why does this differ from the situation with Kavanaugh where it was afforded leeway, or with situations involving bigotry such as racism or transphobia?
If that's the case then yeah put that on the spotlight. Especially with this subject in mind.For the record, Ortix was reported multiple times long ago. The posts from moderators asking people to stop bringing up the accusations and acting like hall monitors were also long ago.
This is the sort of thing I meant when talking about "working the refs" by the way. I do not find this acceptable behavior.
isn't that what you are doing? who else would be determining what constitutes acceptable behavior on this site?This is the sort of thing I meant when talking about "working the refs" by the way. I do not find this acceptable behavior.
i see we have reached the point where Ketkat asking two questions is "working the ref"This is the sort of thing I meant when talking about "working the refs" by the way. I do not find this acceptable behavior.
banning people for calling out your shitty moderation? classic Era
Era is not your fiefdom. Mods work for the entirety of the site and engage with everyone. Maybe try and do the same.
I'm not even surprised at this point. They're like an abusive partner who keeps promising to be better.
lol omg please tell me you actually believe thisEra is not your fiefdom. Mods work for the entirety of the site and engage with everyone. Maybe try and do the same.
Genuine question since it's kind of hard to follow the different narratives through all these threads, what would you like to see as the site policy for discussing Biden?And the reason it has "devolved" is because the moderation, in the past, has taken a strong hardline stance on downplaying instances of sexual assault. And now suddenly, that's seemingly not the case.
I'm not even surprised at this point. They're like an abusive partner who keeps promising to be better.
lol omg please tell me you actually believe this
Just as expected, hostility about someone shitting on a rape victim is considered a bannable offense. Amazing.
Pretty much.When you refuse to take out the trash, this is what happens. Don't blame people for getting "hostile".
Making vote-shaming and conspiracy theories off-limits, for starters.Genuine question since it's kind of hard to follow the different narratives through all these threads, what would you like to see as the site policy for discussing Biden?