Announcement 2020 Update: Political and Politically Charged Content Not Allowed

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you for this post. I'm glad, especially about the avatars! Some are pretty, well..... At least for this forum .

 

[muddy75]

Hey Peeps!

TL;DR: Political and politically charged contend will no longer be allowed on BYC.

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As most of you know, there has been tremendously political and social intensity recently... and heading into the US election, we're expecting things to only amplify from here.

On BYC we strive for complete neutrality with regards to these issues. We work hard to allow our members the flexibility to post all manner of topics and discussions. That said, we've found some topics become heated, contentious, and create a situation that isn't healthy for our members or our community. Very often our report system is flooded by flagged content which then requires our amazing moderators to spend countless hours sorting through the content.

With all that in mind, our team has decided to change our stance from "discouraging" political and politically charged content to disallowing content that is political or politically charged.

Notes Regarding This Change:

1. Sometimes peeps complain that we're silencing their freedom of speech. BYC is a privately owned website (by me ), so it might be helpful to view BYC as a home in which you've been invited (as a member) to come inside for a visit. You may not like how we've decorate the place, or that we ask you to leave your shoes (strong politically charged opinions) at the door before you come in. We totally understand. It's totally your choice to not come inside out house... just like it's our choice to determine what kind of behavior we'll tolerate inside our home.
2. Our amazing and diverse team will do their best to determine which content is "political or politically charged". It's impossible to draw a PERFECT line between what is and isn't "politically charged", but our team will discuss any that are in the "gray area" and make a judgement call" as best we can, with the goal to keep the community humming along as smoothly as possible. (We know we're doing a really good job being unbiased when both "sides" of an argument think we're being too strict and biased)
3. "Content" includes posts, pictures, avatars, signatures, etc.
4. This new policy will be in place at least until the dust settles from the US election
5. If someone posts something that you take issue with, either ignore it or report it. Do not start or engage in a fight. Remember to avoid feeding trolls!
6. We understand many of our peeps are VERY passionate about their beliefs and perspective, and this can be exacerbated when a moderator takes action to something posted. If you receive a warning or reminder of this policy, and/or have content removed, please remember our rule against PUBLICLY questioning our rules and our moderation. You're welcome to contact any BYC moderator PRIVATELY with your questions, concerns, feedback, etc. Similar to the analogy above, imagine if you're invited into someone's home for a super-fun party, and start screaming at the hosts (in front of all the other peeps) about how much you hate the food that's been provided to you for FREE. Instead, it would be more appropriate to kindly and privately talk to the host (moderators) in private and start a productive dialog to express your thoughts, questions, and ideas.

A huge THANK YOU to all the amazing peeps visiting inside our "home" that respect our rules and the tone / demeanor we've decided is best for our group!

Thanks for this thread/announcement @Nifty-Chicken .....I may have only been around for 2 years but this forum is my “escape” from real life and my means for “relaxation”. politics, religion (or lack thereof) sexual orientation “labels” etc have no place here!!! I have always loved this forum for its semi-anonymity and FUN!!! I (and the poultry/gamebirds) don’t care if you are married or single, male or female, democrat, or republican, gay or straight etc etc and if not “thrown in my face” i like you just the same!!!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Amén to THAT! BYC is my go to forum to avoid the drama that exhausts all of the other social media networks.
Chicken chat...carry on!!!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Thank you @Nifty-Chicken. The policy regarding what is ok to post and what is deemed appropriate content is the only reason I stuck with BYC. I have occasionally groaned (only to myself) and stifled the urge to say, not appropriate for a website about chickens, you need to stick to Facebook.

 

[Xouie]

I feel like the avatars should stay. My reasoning: my avatar says Hate Has No Home Here. It obviously is anti-racist. Things like that's support human life, it states you be live all lives should be treated the same. However, the pro Trump or Biden and other politicians seems more like a my way is the right way to me. Just a thought.

I don't want to be argumentative, but I feel like the "Hate has no home here" chickie is a far cry from pro-politician stuff. And it's a lot cuter than any politician, just sayin'!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

So I'm curious as to where the boundaries fall about being able to talk about our lived experiences or the lived experiences of the people around us when just living with chickens gets political.
Do we just not get to talk about that the way someone mainstream does? Do we have to deliberately omit details someone with an identical problem but different circumstances would not?

Great points and questions. I wish I had a much more specific answer for you than: "It really depends on the post, context, etc., but thankfully, most people know when something they are posting would be considered "political" or "potentially charged / triggering / controversial", etc.

So, we'll have to trust our members to use their best judgement, and in cases where a post is reported and is in the "gray area", our team will review and let the original poster know what the team decided.

 

[drinkoj]

I tried to stay clear of politics in this otherwise potentially relevant post for members - but if its too charged, simply due to subject matter ATM - please feel free to delete (Yes, I'm self reporting in an effort to help) Post about USPS delays and live chicks, New England area

Thank you for this resource, its been a gem to me. Don't want it hijacked by politics.

Yeah, I was "trying" to stay away from politics but once I hit that "Post Reply" button on my last response, I knew I had my toe right on that edge of "politics" and stepped away from the thread. Didn't cross it I feel but knew to not go back again.

Politics on a forum is kind of like porn, it's hard to define exactly what it is, but when you see it, you know it's porn.

 

[drinkoj]

Amén to THAT! BYC is my go to forum to avoid the drama that exhausts all of the other social media networks.
Chicken chat...carry on!!! ❤

Preach!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

@drinkoj My Facebook feed is politics and fact checking - politics I don't share with my several hundreds of FB friends, or any of my 100+ family members. When I come here, I mentally take that hat off, and put my very practical farmer hat on. Elsewhere, I have to make the mental effort to put other head wear on.

Helps to not have tabs open in multiple "head wear" sites in the browser at the same time.

 

[muddy75]

Yeah, I was "trying" to stay away from politics but once I hit that "Post Reply" button on my last response, I knew I had my toe right on that edge of "politics" and stepped away from the thread. Didn't cross it I feel but knew to not go back again.

Politics on a forum is kind of like porn, it's hard to define exactly what it is, but when you see it, you know it's porn.

people all have different definitions of what is acceptable vs what is not....ie my definition of “porn” may be different than yours.....and thus sometimes we are all guilty of “crossing” the line in some way or another.....it HAPPENS occasionally but we have to trust in @Nifty-Chicken and his choice of moderators to ensure that we continue to have good, “clean” poultry and human fun on this site!!