Sometime ago, a poster by the name of Picky made an uncalled for flame against Pthalo Blue Moon that caught my attention... I did some investigating and he had no reason to flame her in that manner. I considered warning him, but didn't. Recently, Princess made a few post in TNZ and she was virtually ran off and bullied by the TNZ regulars. I don't think she'll be back. Needless to say, this left a sour taste to me, but I was helpless to do anything under the current policy.

I had no idea that newbies in TNZ were getting flamed for no reason until the thread in MA. This is not the direction I want TNZ to go and I'm sure that you don't want this as well. I'm considering making an announcement that if this keeps up, I will start warning for flaming and I know this won't be popular. What do you think about this? What would be the best way to implement this? Should there be any special considerations?

I'm torn on this. I put most of my views in the QSF thread that Che... uh, I mean Freeman started, discussing this with PLM.

On one hand I'd very much like to have the standards in TNZ rise. On the other hand I'm against setting any new policy in place suddenly - changing the standards in there could affect a LOT of people who are used to Label and PLM's style of hands off moderating.

However, a really interesting thing is the rising number of people who seem to want a higher standard enforced. And while I am surprised that PLM didn't see what his laissez faire modding would eventually create, I think he's spot on with his analysis of a 'small' flame (per the policy) is - you should be allowed to attack ideas but not people.

TNZ isn't too bad now (at least as I've noticed). We have established the power and authority we need to handle most of the worst issues. I'm not sure if I'm ready quite yet to make a push against the flaming rule - which has been pretty much sacrosanct in TNZ since I've been on this board.

I guess the question is whether or not civility is something we should try to enforce there. Funny thing is my first real flame war in TNZ was exactly about this issue - Daystrom and Indi flaming One back in the day.

And if we do enforce civility, we have to realize we will lose something from the board. Some of the funniest posters on the board will no longer be able to function - some of them entirely, I think.

I want civility. But I also want Bear to be able to heckle the latest Skin clone.

Any thoughts?

Would we be playing into TK's hands? I know that's one of their mottos... free speech and all... but plm made a good point about it.... TNZ regulars post things merely for the simple fact that they can... not to express an idea... it's like free speech for free speech's sake... they're missing the point. I don't know... I'll think about it some more and feel free to put your thoughts in this thread.... Any mod or administrator.... Christian, Lisa.... Everybody... what do you all think?