Announcement 2020 Update: Political and Politically Charged Content Not Allowed

[ChocolateMouse]

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!!!

So like, do you not want people to mention getting chickens as presents for Christmas? That's religious... Chances are good it's not a Muslim getting a Christmas present...
Or if they're male, they should not mention having a wife. Because they've just talked about their sexual orientation/relationship preference.

If those are considered "non political" statements but similar ones are not for others (for example; can someone post a "Pagans, Heathens and Satanists" thread with impunity? There is a "Jesus Warriors" thread...) then you've just produced a scenario where labels matter very much. You probably consider talking about your own partner or pronouns to be a statement with no labels or controversy but you've just expressed something about your sexual orientation and gender. Just because the labels someone has are non-controversial doesn't make them not labels... Even "chicken keeper" is a label but if you say you are one nobody will say "Hey this is a label free zone!"...

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.

Since the calls are being made entirely based on the discretion of the moderation team, and all human beings have biases, are there policies in place to make sure minority voices are being given the appropriate weight for minority issues and vice versa? Like are efforts being made to make sure minority voices are on the staff and moderation team for example? Or maybe is there a diversity/anti bias training the staff does?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

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!!!

I have to ask you a question. Have you ever mentioning your significant other or lack there of on this forum? That would be no different than any one else mentioning their significant others, whether same sex or different. You don’t have to care our sexual orientation for us to. It’s a part of our identity, it’s something that defines us, and we are proud of it. I say I’m bisexual ( and transgender, but that’s not a sexual orientation soo.) every, single, day of the week. You know why? Because it makes me feel better about myself. We don’t care what other people think about it, it makes us feel good about ourselves. You can ignore it all you want, it isn’t hurting you, but I don’t see why it shouldn’t be mentioned.

But, if you think us saying who we choose to love doesn’t belong on this forum, I don’t see why people can even talk about their SOs here. It’s technically talking about their sexual orientation anyways. No more talking about weddings, our romantic partners, or our lives. None of that, according to what you said anyways.

 

[muddy75]

So like, do you not want people to mention getting chickens as presents for Christmas? That's religious... Chances are good it's not a Muslim getting a Christmas present...
Or if they're male, they should not mention having a wife. Because they've just talked about their sexual orientation/relationship preference.

If those are considered "non political" statements but similar ones are not for others (for example; can someone post a "Pagans, Heathens and Satanists" thread with impunity? There is a "Jesus Warriors" thread...) then you've just produced a scenario where labels matter very much. You probably consider talking about your own partner or pronouns to be a statement with no labels or controversy but you've just expressed something about your sexual orientation and gender. Just because the labels someone has are non-controversial doesn't make them not labels... Even "chicken keeper" is a label but if you say you are one nobody will say "Hey this is a label free zone!"...



Since the calls are being made entirely based on the discretion of the moderation team, and all human beings have biases, are there policies in place to make sure minority voices are being given the appropriate weight for minority issues and vice versa? Like are efforts being made to make sure minority voices are on the staff and moderation team for example? Or maybe is there a diversity/anti bias training the staff does?

that’s not what i said at all, (obviously) but you can take it however you like....i have no issue with someone referring to a significant other as DH or DW or just LP or SO or mr/ms (in my case muddy) I have no problem with references to holidays whether religious or not if regarding gifts etc and i have no issue/offense to personal pictures or friendly gestures. i’m just saying that I agree that if it’s “newsworthy” or “controversial” on other social media sites, it has no place on my “escape” to byc

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

that’s not what i said at all, (obviously) but you can take it however you like....i have no issue with someone referring to a significant other as DH or DW or just LP or SO or mr/ms (in my case muddy) I have no problem with references to holidays whether religious or not if regarding gifts etc and i have no issue/offense to personal pictures or friendly gestures. i’m just saying that I agree that if it’s “newsworthy” or “controversial” on other social media sites, it has no place on my “escape” to byc

Hmm. So who I choose to date is controversial?!?! It’s newsworthy?!?! Last time I checked, the only people that should care about who I choose to date is me and the person I’m dating. Don’t see anything controversial bout that, though that might just be me. I guess you’re controversial too! Congrats! Let’s all just have a nice controversial party, yeah no. I don’t see anything controversial about sexual orientation, though like I have said, that may just be me.

 

[muddy75]

I have to ask you a question. Have you ever mentioning your significant other or lack there of on this forum? That would be no different than any one else mentioning their significant others, whether same sex or different. You don’t have to care our sexual orientation for us to. It’s a part of our identity, it’s something that defines us, and we are proud of it. I say I’m bisexual ( and transgender, but that’s not a sexual orientation soo.) every, single, day of the week. You know why? Because it makes me feel better about myself. We don’t care what other people think about it, it makes us feel good about ourselves. You can ignore it all you want, it isn’t hurting you, but I don’t see why it shouldn’t be mentioned.

But, if you think us saying who we choose to love doesn’t belong on this forum, I don’t see why people can even talk about their SOs here. It’s technically talking about their sexual orientation anyways. No more talking about weddings, our romantic partners, or our lives. None of that, according to what you said anyways.

refer to my last post.....i take no offense to referring to significant other as DH or DW or SO or LP regardless of your choice in gender or theirs.....the problem comes with “politically charged” labeling of such!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

refer to my last post.....i take no offense to referring to significant other as DH or DW or SO or LP regardless of your choice in gender or theirs.....the problem comes with “politically charged” labeling of such!

Oh so me saying I’m bisexual is political? You said, and I quote,

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!!!

What else could you mean by sexual orientation besides sexual orientation?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

that’s not what i said at all, (obviously) but you can take it however you like....i have no issue with someone referring to a significant other as DH or DW or just LP or SO or mr/ms (in my case muddy) I have no problem with references to holidays whether religious or not if regarding gifts etc and i have no issue/offense to personal pictures or friendly gestures. i’m just saying that I agree that if it’s “newsworthy” or “controversial” on other social media sites, it has no place on my “escape” to byc

Christianity is in the news pretty regularly... >_>; So are straight people doing ubiquitously straight things like "straight pride" nonsense. Just sayin'....

 

[Kiki]

Oh so me saying I’m bisexual is political? You said, and I quote,

What else could you mean by sexual orientation besides sexual orientation?

Stop trying to make this something it isn't.
You are trying to argue and you are going to get the thread locked.

 

[Conan]

I have a solution. How about everyone accept that we are all different and stop reading threads with the intention of becoming outraged? How about people stop clicking the report button like they're channel surfing?
Grow up, people. We're ALL allowed to think and believe differently from one another. Reporting things we disagree with, or don't understand, does nothing but shut down discussion. This inhibits learning, and growing as a person.
It's really unfortunate that it's come to this. I'd rather read things I don't agree with, maybe glean a new perspective, than bland nothingness. I understand the sentiment behind this decision, but I'm disappointed that this community apparently lacks the maturity to respect one another as unique individuals, thus forcing this decision.
Guess I'll stick to the private threads... where all the real fun is, and no one gets offended at the drop of a hat. Peace ✌ out.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

These posts are devolving into anger. Bottom line, BYC is supposed to be a place for people to learn and share their common interests: raising chickens. Does your gender or sexual orientation have any effect on your chickens? Do your pullets care who you love? They just want to be fed and cared for. Pretty much the same as people. Anything else is just noise.