Slug-Fest Rules: What Should They Be?

NOTE: This used to be called...

Slug-Fest = Fight Club. Read This Or Weep.

I was trying to promote an "exciting" theme.

But already I don't like it (though I like the movie), so let's go for something simpler and less uptight. Discussion follows below. -- Majic

Here are the rules:

Too Many Rules?

Hmm. I was trying to go for the "Fight Club" motif and spice things up, but a day later, this just looks too complicated and -- I don't know -- not right.

Here's what I actually want:

1. Topics can wander.

2. Members can criticize each other -- within reason. Basically, I just don't want members feeling like they have to hold back as much as usual.

3. Members vent and get things off their chest -- then leave their problems here and move on.

Also, we can use this for a Rant forum -- and may even want to merge the Rant forum with this.

Just thinking out loud.

Oh hey, here's an idea: why don't I ask what YOU want?

So, what do you want?




Edit: Oh, and I also want to go easy on warns here -- unless a member just refuses to listen to the mods or posts something seriously bad, like porn or something (porn = fast way to get banned).

People are supposed to get worked up here, so it follows that the mods should work with members and make sure things are okay without hitting buttons.



[edit on 7/13/2006 by Majic]

Originally posted by Majic
So, what do you want?

World peace, quality time with my wife, financial independence, free energy, full disclosure, and the ability to eat mass quantities of meat with no adverse health effects.

And if you can't arrange any of that (you're "Majic" right?), then whatever you say is fine with me.

As far as you know.

Whirled Peas

Originally posted by yeahright
World peace, quality time with my wife, financial independence, free energy, full disclosure, and the ability to eat mass quantities of meat with no adverse health effects.

I'll get right on that.

The Majic Touch

Originally posted by yeahright
And if you can't arrange any of that (you're "Majic" right?), then whatever you say is fine with me.

As far as you know.

Well in that case, I think I need to drop the pretentious bluster of my first set of "Fight Club" rules and just go with something more casual -- like with the rest of PTS.

I wanted to do something "exciting" with Slug-Fest, but basically if we can lay down some really basic ground rules, and not too many of them, then I think we should just leave the excitement part up to you.

Great. No pressure.

"Super Mod" huh? Hadn't noticed until now. Guess I didn't get the memo. Congrats on that. You're rocketing up the ladder. Pretty soon, you'll be like the 5th Beatle. "Majic the K".

Well you can't have rules similar to those that the FEC applys to political candidates, which is pretty much no rules at all. ATS would need to repeal item #1 of the T&C.

ATS T&C
1). Posting: You will not post any material that is knowingly false, misleading, or inaccurate.

Im "df1" and I approved this message.
.

John, Paul, George, Majic and Ringo

Originally posted by yeahright
"Super Mod" huh? Hadn't noticed until now. Guess I didn't get the memo. Congrats on that.

You're rocketing up the ladder. Pretty soon, you'll be like the 5th Beatle. "Majic the K".

Yeah it's pretty cool. I get to wear a cape and tights -- although the tights are a bit more revealing than I prefer, but such are the burdens of duty.

Being "super" is fun, but hey, it's still me, and all this is still just us talking smack on the Internet.

Meanwhile, as df1 points out, yeah, we're under tighter restrictions than politicians.

When I start inviting politicians and their staffers to appear here, I'll have to remind them about that little proviso.

Majic,

Can I jump in, say something about a member (Negative of course) then "I'm done" my way out, then a little later, jump back in and do it again???

See I'm fragile and afraid of negativity....

Seriously though.

What "Burns my Britches" is posters that do not bother to read the original tread and comprehend what the author was trying to convey. Instead they jump in and make some ridiculous uninformed comment that does not in anyway apply to the issue at hand. Then when called on it, they cry high-jacking, or just plain get insulting.

I mean HEY!! If you do not, or simply can not comprehend what the author is saying, there is no shame in that, read more and try to get a "handle" on the subject before you jump in and look really foolish.

Semper

So, what do you think the rules for this forum should be?

I like the ones you have laid out.

How about a word count limit that is pretty restrictive???

That is going to encourage short and too the point comments, that will encourage a good back and forth.

This is necessary for a good "slug fest."

Those long drawn out posts, slow things down. I mean they are groovy for regular thinking, but this is entirely new and different.

Thoughts...

Semper

this should turn out to be intresting, i like the rules that have been laid out so far.
only concern i have right now is that the slug fest forum may turn into a rant forum.

Originally posted by Majic
So, what do you think the rules for this forum should be?

I'd say just plain old minimal rules.
No racism, no graphic sexual references (but you can talk about nations engaging in dick measuing contests without censoring yourself, make fun of Monica, etc), no threats against other members, no felonies (certain endangered species of shrubs are strictly federally protected against even threats made in jest).


Most everything else is legit: let the topic wander a bit, allow red-herrings if the member is that dumb (it just invites fire), insult eachother moderately, allow any level of language that won't affect ATS's search ratings (I realize we can't completely allow it because it results in certain programs filtering us out), etc.


AND NO QUARTER. If you're in the thread, you're in the thread and you're topical in that thread forever. You're not topical in a thread till you arrive, slugfest is never topical elsewhere, but NO QUARTER in the thread. You bit off more than you can chew so you can run for your life or you stand and fight like a man.

Oh, and lying is allowed. It's a dirty trick, but again, it tests your opponent and invites fire if you're caught.

'Nuff Said?

Originally posted by The Vagabond
I'd say just plain old minimal rules.

I'm favoring this idea myself.

As things now stand, the T&C apply -- like always.

However, this is Slug-Fest, so a certain amount of leniency is expected. Slug-Fest mods are already more likely to cut some slack.

So how about we try it like it is, the only hard fast rules are the T&C and we'll try to not be too heavy-handed, but rather let threads go the way the members want them to go.

Maybe not all that grand, but I'm liking the flexibility.



[edit on 7/25/2006 by Majic]

Let There Be Slack!

I've been pondering this whole "Slug-Fest Rules" thing for a month now, and I'm still not coming up with anything definite.

I like the "cut some slack" and "keep it simple" ideas, but I'm trying to figure out how to turn that into guidelines for the mods in this forum.

Maybe something like this?

1. Mods, try to avoid giving out warnings for occasional slip-ups or "first-time offenses". Save warnings for cases when members openly defy your requests when you ask them to cool it.

2. Members, try to stay within the T&C, but if something needs to be said, go ahead and say it. If it's too out of line, a mod may edit your post or ask you to simmer down, but we'll try to avoid surprising anyone with red-flag warnings.

In other words, let's try not to get too crazy in either direction, but hopefully make Slug-Fest a place where people can feel free to say things they might not say elsewhere.

WITHIN REASON.

Maybe that should be the Slug-Fest motto.

How does this sound?

Sounds pretty good. Let's give it a try.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to find or start a thread to test the limits of these rules.

Just a thought,,,,

Could there be anyway that members could be assigned slug-fest refs.

Gloves off, bare-knuckle all the way...just keep the racial overtones to an absolute minimum. Other than that, let the chips fall where they may...

Well, I guess it has to be bare knuckles around here. I've already been given the rope-a-dope many times on my thread.

I've learned my lesson. Now, I'll be meek as a kitten while the others walk right over me.

Besides racial overtones should be fair game as anything else. Or else are people afraid to go below the belt around here? They haven't with me. And that's a fact.

[edit on 1-9-2006 by ceci2006]

Originally posted by ceci2006
Besides racial overtones should be fair game as anything else. Or else are people afraid to go below the belt around here? They haven't with me. And that's a fact.

No they shouldn't, what purpose do they serve? None. About the belt thing. "Meek as a kitten"? If anything others have held back on you while you have routinely gone "below the belt", but it's ok I understand that some have tougher skin than others.

[edit on 2-9-2006 by WestPoint23]

I absolutely love your rules, Majic. I'm glad there's a place to do this and remain WITHIN REASON. And I apologize for reading this thread today for the very first time. I should have read it when I started posting here.

I have a problem with this rule (emphasis mine):

Originally posted by Majic
8. A member can bow out at any time by posting the simple message: "I'm done." There will be no shame in doing so, and there will be no further mention of that member by anyone.

9. If you stay, you will follow the rules or suffer the consequences. The consequences are up to the Fight Club refs to decide, and we pride ourselves on being creative -- and compassionate.

If a person bows out, then returns, then bows out, then returns, then bows out, then... well, you get the picture... That would mean that the other members in the thread would never be 'allowed' to mention them by name. They could re-enter and 'bow out' on each of their posts and avoid the consequences of staying in the ring, er... uh... thread.

I suggest that once a person re-enters the thread after bowing out, rule 8 is null and void. Just a suggestion.

And seagull, I disagree that racial overtones should be singled out as something to keep to a minimum. Not that I'm interested in slinging racial epithets, but why pick one subject (race) as taboo? If sexual overtones, religious overtones, political overtones and intellect overtones are to be allowed, why single out race as a 'special case'?

Westie none of these 'overtones' serve a purpose except to put someone down. And we're in slugfest, pal. Let's party!