Gday everyone, this is a post as just another member of Team Australia, not the Grand Poobah/Secretary/Supreme Ruler.
With all the rubbish that goes on while we are online, I wanted to float an idea that we potentially set in stone as probably the 1 rule of Team Australia.
I want to suggest that this group, in all its incarnations be it on Steemit, Discord or any other form of social media is a 100% safe zone. Any form of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated in any way shape or form, and that any offenders instantly be removed to our best ability to avoid further conflict.
As a member of this group, I'd like people to feel safe to come in here and talk about any topic that interests them without fear of harrassment.
I should note that I'm not talking about entering the rabbithole of offence, feelings, discrimination etc, I'm only talking about blatant bullying. There are things that we all say that can offend people, hell im a major offender, but I've never seen anyone bully anyone here and I'd like to keep it that way.
If this is something that other people agree with, I can put it as a Golden Rule of Team Australia, and pin it to Discord. I know many people here are very Anti-Rules, and I appreciate that but I hope we can all agree on this one.
Note: I don't care if you don't vote on this, but please do comment.
Sounds good to me. I don't wanna go down the full PC/SJW path either but having clear rules about bullying & harassment is a good idea.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm all for an anti bullying rule! But who gets to decide what is bullying and where someone just feels offended? I believe that can become difficult. I think we should keep the Australian virtue of speaking ones mind high but not verbally abuse others.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I take your point on board, and it would be something I hope to never have to decide upon. But in the end I would have the final say, but there would be a lot of discussion with other key members in that event.
Trust me, I'm the LEAST PC person going. If someone is being precious I'd be inclined to tel lthem to bugger off.
I don't do knee jerk reactions, obviously if this kind of thing was to be occuring I and others here would want to see the proof.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hi @geenaizzy,
I am choosing to comment here purely because yours was the most convenient comment to respond to. It was the last one I read. My comments are equally relevant to a lots of the comments above about the difference between bullying and offence. I'm not trying to pick on or bully you ;)
I would argue that there is a significant difference between offending someone and bullying them. The answer to your question is actually quite simple. If you say something, then I get to say whether I am offended by it or not. Period. Your intentions or otherwise don't come into it. If I''m offended, I'm offended. I get to make that call. You don't have to care. But you also don't get to say whether me being offended is justified or not.
This is not bullying though. Bullying is the systematic and ongoing persecution of a particular member of the community. You can offend someone accidentally, but you cant bully them accidentally.
So for example if I said "I think @gohba is an arsehole" then he might be offended by that, but that's not bullying. Its a one off expression of an opinion. (Let's be honest he probably wouldn't care anyway) If I told him I thought he was an arsehole and then tried to convince other TA members to tell him the same, then that might be bullying. Equally if I was to repeatedly verbally abuse him then that might also be bullying.
The difference is in the intent in the frequency. If its happening all the time and its intentional then it's probably bullying. If its a one of thing, its just a disagreement.
I think people freak out about being overly PC and throw around terms like safe spaces all the time as if its a real impediment to their freedom of expression, when in reality its just a headline. As long as everyone is respectful of each other, even when they don't agree then I think we should all be ok.
PS @gohba, I'm halfway through a post on bullying! Thanks for stealing my thunder!!!!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Surely bullying would not constitute one time? It's ongoing systematic personal attacks and I am all for not allowing this type of behaviour to carry on.
EDIT: Just read @aghunter, yeah agree with him lol
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You're making a good point. Upvoted and resteemed. Cheers!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
👍 I think it is always a good reminder - be nice to people (or as someone else put it - don't be a dick). I have previously taught online and had to regularly remind the students that whilst they just see words on a screen - there is a human being there (being online many people seem to forget that).
I haven't seen any bullying on TA Steemit or Discord myself but I haven't been here that long. Compared to the level of discourse I get on my YouTube gaming channel, Steemit is a beautiful land of polite and kind people 😇
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thats exactly it. People forget that they are talking to real people. It doesn't matter if the guy on the receiving end is a 6foot7" muscle man his size wont protect him like in the school yard or street. The words cut.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm yet to see any form of bullying on this platform or Discord but I'm sure it exists. It's wise to share a reminder as I feel sometimes people aren't even aware of their own selves and may see it as a wake up to be respectful at all times. We should also remember to put people in check politely if they do have a bully attitude instead of engaging on that level, which sometimes we get baited into. Be kind to others and others will be kind in return.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
i have seen it :( it definietly exists
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
100% agree with you on this, if it wasnt for TeamAustralia I would have given up on Steem, so Im very gratefull for what everyone has been doing, so yes lets keep it like that and if a rule is needed I think it should be implemented.
I have had a 2 potential problems on Steemit, one where I was mearly asking a question about the post, and for some reason the author took offence. Also I was trying to help someone out and they took it the wrong way because he couldnt see the relevance to his post.
I felt really bad afterwards as my intention was to help, so I do stay away from potential problems now.
As you say lets keep spirited debate, but blatant bullying should not be tolerated and a clear rule would be ideal.
Thanks for thinking about this sort of thing I think it adds an extra dimension to TeamAustralia as well where people can share the Aussie Spirit.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks buddy.
Yes there are always going to be times when people feel slighted, or get the shits. Its going to happen thats life. Thats not bullying.
Seeing as there is support for this, I'll probably pull a few key people aside to help with words on this, as I'd like it to be very clear in both aspects, in that I want to 100% protect free and spirited debate, but protect people as well.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm with you on this. There is no place for bullying of any kind, anywhere. There is a lot of bullying that goes around on social networks, with some very tragic results. We don't need that here.
I think the TA Discord has a very good community focus and supportive spirit, and bit of shenanigans and banter in between, but a reminder that there is a line which must never be crossed is a good thing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm pretty sure that our discord, at least, covers this with the MSP guidelines. But I support making this explicit for TA so long as it doesn't become a PC type "Safe Space" where everything is monitored and censored.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes agree 100% as I mentioned I don't care if people are offended, they can get over that shit. A racist joke here and a foul comment there never hurt anyone. I'm only targetting bona fide bullying.
We need an SC Movement - Society Correct. Where general society decides if something is correct, not these elitist trouble making twits.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Definitely behind the spirit of this, a bit less sure about the letter XD
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think its a good policy to have in place. At least if its written you can use it discretionarily. I only just learnt about the Down voting system yesterday and that "peer review" feature seems like a good concept to include when determining if someone has broken a rule.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm all for freedom speech and I'm very anti-censorship. I'm glad that you made the distinction about blatant bullying. That is not the same as having a different POV or worldview to someone else. Some people are too easily offended. In saying that, we have all said or written things that we later regret or wish we'd said differently. Bullies often struggle to articulate their points and some of them resort to bullying and ad hominem attacks that are unnecessary and actually do more harm than good.
Good on ya mate!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Funny, I've never really experienced online bullying. Living a very sheltered online existence? Probably. I do get involved in sharing some information on twitter (and mostly formerly on Facebook) that has the potential to stir heated debate because of its more controversial nature (ie The West's War on Syria, Libya & Yemen, Russia is not our enemy etc etc) but still haven't experienced outright bullying.
I think we all need to be able to share, debate and defend our ideas, but that should always be done in a mature, intelligent, respectful way. I'm always happy to listen to opposing points of view. It's the only way we ever learn and grow. I'm also willing to defend my position ... without getting personal.
I've taken ABC journalist Sophie McNeill to task many times over her biased and innacurate reporting on Syria, but no matter what I may feel about her, I've never attacked her personally, only professionally.
Anyway, I fully support a No Bullying policy. From what I've seen so far, #TeamAustralia probably doesn't need a formal "rule", but it might be a good idea to include it as a "responsibility" for all members to uphold.
Peace.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Sounds like a good rule man! I totally support it.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@choogirl has harrased me in the past but I let it go 😂 also does u sending me nudes count as sexy harrassment because id like that to stop. I'm game for no bully zone in all seriousness
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
So you want me to send more nudes?
and yes you can't trust that chooy, she's the instigator in most of these dodgy things hehehe
Thanks mate
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great idea, the more positivity we get around here the better. Although I must admit in my short time on Steemit I have not met anyone from Australia who is unkind, we are a pretty freindly bunch! Thanks for the post @gohba.handcrafts
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You have my vote
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post has been voted on from MSP3K courtesy of @kubbyelizabeth from the Minnow Support Project ( @minnowsupport ).
Bots Information:
Join the P.A.L. Discord | Check out MSPSteem | Listen to MSP-Waves
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think it is a good idea!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very commendable. The last thing anyone needs on steemit or anywhere else is bullying. Good post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I vote yes! 👍👍
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great idea!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit