I think these guide lines are really good, they are simple and to the point. I like what Just_Call_Me_Tracy said. I've always believed in the golden rule.
I've had a positive experience here in Subeta, I have met so many awesome people who have always been helpful and nice to me, so I feel very lucky.

I agree about the shops not being allowed to have vulgar names. I like Subeta being 'uncensored" for a lack of better term, but I've seen a lot of slurs in shop names and elsewhere and while I dont mind an F bomb or two in the forums, any kind of slur, anywhere, is really icky and it doesnt matter if you think you are reclaiming it, it still may be hurtful to someone else.

Sure... And if it goes hand in hand with a problem you can't change? I don't like being sworn at because I can't tell when I'm not being a perfect example of social skills, I've had staff on here tell me I've been aggressive or rude when I had NO IDEA I was being anything other than straight forward and neutral--and it was never explained to me why I came across badly, I'm still totally lost (I don't even know if people can tell when I'm actually being harsh to make a point or just telling you facts that I don't think have any personal associations). Which brings me back to my first point, there are lots of reason people might have issues like this, usually stemming from low empathy or very literal thought patterns and just as many are often unavoidable. I'm often not being deliberately a jerk I literally am unable to empathize well enough to understand that what I'm saying might be hurtful, I'm not talking about insults or anything like that, but missing social queues or being bluntly honest where someone else might sprinkle in some soft niceties to make the same point. It's not something I ignore, I work very hard, constantly, because one slip up and well... I believe my most recent example was me telling someone that I got their point and I'd leave them alone... and they turned around and called me a c*nt for... well it was two weeks ago and I still can't figure it out tbh = "Maybe it's something I need to look at" isn't very helpful to people who are neuro-divergent in someway (not that that should be an excuse for just being a jerk because you can't be asked to keep an eye on yourself, but it's not something you can fix just by being determined.) "The way your brain works makes us not want you here" is the vibe I'm getting, and yeah, that's paranoia, but it stems from people telling me, and people like me, that a lot. There are plenty of people I have had outright arguments with on the forums, maybe some were just misunderstandings, maybe some came from actual nasty comments, but I'd much rather have that then feel like I can't say something.

Which is what I'm getting at: following the spirit of the rules is all well and good, but is there someone who's actually going to make sure that 'this person is being routinely mean' doesn't actually mean 'this person fails to empathize sufficiently and can't tell that they're being mean'. Considering the stress/distress from being (or feeling like you're being) targeted for these kinds of things (including such things as totally missing sarcasm etc...) can really put the wind up people, 'file a ticket and have yet another confrontation' isn't much of an option.

I'll reiterate though: this isn't about outright insulting people or being a swine and passing it off as 'I'm just honest and I'm going to use that as an excuse not to consider what I'm saying'.

TLDR Sometimes it's not about conscious thought, it's a literal impossibility to empathize effectively and some people really take offense to that.

I like it the rules sound good and fair and the design is friendly and easy to follow

I love the new guidelines, but I agree with what a few users have suggested: there should be a provision for protection against descrimination/hate speak directed towards a user based on his or her religion. People are entitled to their own beliefs as long as they're not being hateful. So yeah.. with that I think they'd be perfect.

ignore.. triple post.. meh.

ignore.. triple post.. meh.

I like the idea behind the guidelines. They're pretty much just common sense and make things clear without just listing things you can't do. Also, 'Don't Be That Guy' is great and every site should say that.

At the same time, though, they're VERY open-ended. A particularly strict mod could potentially take an edgy joke or dissenting opinion and interpret it as a 'negative attitude' or 'being a jerk.' Or a critical opinion on a social issue might get somebody crying hate speech. Likewise with the difference between swearing around someone versus at someone.

This is purely hypothetical, but I'm just saying the rules as they stand leave a lot to the discretion of the mods. I think overall that's a really good thing, but it's just something to be aware of.

Two other minor things:

• I don't think there's any need to spell out all the -isms you can think of. Simply saying, don't disrespect people on the basis of sex/race/religion/gender expression/what have you would be better imo. What is sexism, racism, etc. is somewhat open to interpretation, but respect is a much more simple concept to abide by. Or something. It's really just semantics but that's my two cents on it.

• The second one..not to be rude, what is that even trying to say? Give attention to other people if you want attention yourself? I'm all for the golden rule but I don't think that's quite how it goes :P

Nice, basic, easy-read format.

The Golden Rule aka Treat other people as you would like them to treat you.

Common sense is always to be welcomed! :)

There are pretty nice! I'd say there should be something on the fact that people shouldn't just get into arguments with people because they dislike them? Like, if you don't like someone, block them. Which should prolly be under Don't Be That Guy.

I took it to mean something along the lines of "If you want your ideas taken seriously, take other peoples' ideas seriously."

All looks good to me. Things can get a bit angsty and negative around here sometimes, and it can drag you down.

One thing I would like to see added is something about being constructive. Feedback and suggestions are two of the greatest parts of the site, but people will often dismiss an idea or a change without really saying why, and not only is this not helpful, but it contributes to the general air of negativity. Criticism and disagreement are natural elements of interaction; they're both inevitable and necessary. It should be clear that approaching the problems we may face with an attitude to improving them creates the best environment for everyone.

I think those are great, although, personally I have never had a problem on this site with people being impolite and find most people already stick to those guidelines, which is great! It is good to see there will be consequences for those being rude and I am glad newbies can definitely feel safe on forums.

I like all the community guidelines and they are worded very well.

I don't like the idea of a rewards system though. Don't get me wrong I love the helpful members of our community, they totally rock.

I just think that;

1. it will get abused in by people trying to get the rewards. i.e. unnecessary threads and people repeating things.

2. Hard feelings when everyone is scrabbling to make the first helpful thread about a new feature/event/item.

3. There are a lot of good, nice, helpful people who don't like to or won't (for whatever reason) post on the forums. They would then be missing out on whatever the rewards are.

I can already thing of an instant were I felt bullied out of a long standing potentially helpful thread I created only to have that person create a version 2 of my thread. If I knew they had been rewarded for this thread I would be even more heart broken about it than I already am.

All in all I think it is a lovely idea from a good place but it would end up back firing.

I do think however penalising antisocial behaviour in the forums is a good idea.

this isn't just directed at you, but maybe it could be left to forum mods to give out rewards? Unless that's the plan already. Because I can also see the system being abused really easily if it's user-to-user. Maybe users could have the ability to flag posts/threads as being especially helpful, and mods could review them and decide. Basically exactly like the reports system but positive.

Perhaps "hateful", "unfair", or "rude" then? I dunno, I just see the word gross as applying more to things like poo or picking your nose, not people's bad opinions.

My only suggestion would be something to help a new player identify as such, so that people would know in advance. Perhaps a green icon or something along those lines.

Mind you, I'm all in favor of everybody treating each other with courtesy and respect regardless of the amount of time they've been here. I'm more considering it for those that are shy/new/uncertain how to get along in the forums and would like a little tag to indicate such.

I think some of you may be over analyzing the new guidelines - if someone is not openly being nasty they're not as likely to be reported as someone who is literally like 'Shut the fuck up, this idea is rubbish.'

However, if someone is repeatedly being nasty (especially towards a certain user) - I feel like even if they have some underlying issue it needs addressed. Personally if I was unintentionally upsetting lots of people I'd want to know! I think back on some occasions and I wish someone had told me to take a step back and cool off - everyone has their off days and I doubt anyone is going to be heavily punished for behaviour when the vast majority of the time they are a lovely user.

Echoing Keith's post above:

It would be cool if the staff had something like a facebook Poke for when people are getting a little rowdy, just to be like 'Hey you are offending a few people, maybe think about what you're posting a little more!'

Guidelines are a good idea, everyone seems to agree. I just hope that they can be fairly upheld. Clearly outright bullying/bashing should never be tolerated. I'm surprised there isn't already something in place to reprimand repeat offenders.