Proposed Forum Rules . . . please comment (Page 1 of 2)

Hi geoaguiar & thanks for your feedback.

These ideas were kicked around among the Moderators prior to being posted here.
We are trying to have a 'short but sweet' set of simple guidelines.

"Common Sense" is the key idea - creating a list of banned words would not be practical.
Rather, it makes more sense to simply ask people to use their best judgement.
If someone's best judgement is lacking - they can be warned or banned.

We have had very few problems on this forum (knock on wood).
Hopefully, a few common sense guidelines will be sufficient.

What about songwriting? Do we have to be careful what we write? I understand being courteous
in the forums, but I also believe in freedom of speech! I've read a few songs that have some
very controversial language, but I was never offended by it. And although I think people need
to be respectful and courteous to one another in the forums, I also think that the songwriting
section should be respectful to people's rights to freedom of speech in their songs. That being
said, I also think that remarks made about people's songs should be foul language free. I'm not
opposed to someone stating their opinion about someone's song, but that can and should be
done without the foul language. Just my opinion though!
                                                                            getfiddle

Ark,

They are not really needed as such as 99% of the time everyone is fine and there is no offensive language etc.
It was headcase that brought this up. He was looking for rules of the forum or website as most other sites do. I went looking and seen there were no guidelines so I suggested that we should make them up for anyone that would like to see rules/guidelines. And also if anyone in the future does say anything out of line they can get directed to these to read for themselves.

So it is not something that was urgently needing done in chordie but we thought better to have them than not to.

Ken

I'm with you on the freedom of speech issue but we still must use tact and refrain from foul langauge in the songwriting forum as well. We're all ages in all sections so we must adhere to the guidelines in songwriting as well. Certain venues I perform at are family oriented, as Chordie is, so I'll try to get clever in replacing a curse word/obscene/controversial content with another familiar sounding word/theme. We're not trying to tell folks what to say or how to say it, but if needed we may have to place the ocassional written bleep on something.

SouthPaw41L

NELA, Chordie's 'Chat Corner' is the place for any topic that does not fall under the other headings.  There is rarely a dull moment in the Chat Corner.

getfiddle - Songwriting gets no special privileges.  If a lyric includes language that is offensive, those words should be 'bleeped' - - -  ***** or something.  I myself have had to do this on occasion.  In fact, I removed one of my songs after it was brought to my attention that the overall subject was really not suitable for general audiences.

Arkady - I'll second what upyerkilt has stated.  Initially, I was very leery of trying to come up with a list of official rules.  However, after mulling it over I came to the conclusion that it would be best if there was a list "shared expectations" for all forum users.

Zurf - Good point about actions of Moderators and Administrators.  We are ALL guests in this cozy little parlor.  However, the Mod's and Admin's have probably been guests for longer than other users.  I would rather not try to strictly define the roles of Mods and Admins.  Suffice it to say that the Mods and Admins will do what they feel is best for the long-range health of the forum.

Southpaw41L - "Tact" is an important skill.  Person's lacking in it often say and do things they regret.

Roger Guppy - I agree that the written word is more deliberate than spoken language.  Also, the written word doesn't disappear - it stays put.  These rules are not trying to put a damper on anybody's ability to communicate - rather, they simply encourage people to communicate in a polite and friendly manner.

I think the rules look just fine James...and Roger summed it up
spot on ...
                  cheers Mark

Your rules are fine with me, James. A request for common courtesy should never be frowned upon.

I should be better about applying the above rules to everything in life...not just in these forums. I don't know how many times I've had to "open mouth-insert foot"!

My two cents worth: I agree that profanity has no place in any public forum its to bad there is not a page that would require a password where you could say whatever you pleased and bring up any subject from politics to religion and punctiuate your opinion with any word you chose to say because in real life some situations looking for a "kinder" way to say what you really are thinking dont cut it and to bleep with censorship its bleeping full of bleep.

Hi James,

  I agree with the rules, they're short, simple and to the point without being overbearing. I think most anyone should be ok with these rules. I know anywhere or anytime you'll get the one bad apple once in awhile but I think that 99.9% of the people who use this board have been as friendly, helpful and as nice as one could ask for. I also think that you, as well as the other moderater's have done an excellent job of mantaining the boards. In so far as freedom of speech goes, I'm all for that, but anytime you have a public forum where children are reading it, we shouldn't use profanity, at least thats how I feel. I suppose others will disagree, and thats fine, everyone has they're opinion. Just a little common sense is all we need. I think it's great that so many people, from different parts of the world use this board, and get along fine, each giving their ideas, their advice, and showing at least on here, we can all have a common thread among us...music!

              Cam

Hi Doug_Smith, If this were the UN we could send peacekeepers armed with guitars and ukuleles.  But it would probably be best to not send any banjos - they tend to stir up trouble!  I can just see infantry platoons of acoustic folkie geezers, lightly armed recon teams of ukulele players, and armored divisions of heavy metal thrashers.

Flatpicker55 - Glad you like the list. You're right - Roger has an insightful mind.

lynxpilot - Yep, this list simply tries to encompass what we have been doing all along.

crowellb - I agree that common courtesy is the basis for good life.

topdown - give me some time and I'll turn our little rules into a singable ditty . . . "Common Sense Waltz" maybe, or "Forum Rules Blues"?

Russell - I had joked in another discussion that we needed a "Y'all Take It Outside" forum area where emotional people could go brawl in the parking lot.

Nela - Now I understand what you were saying . . . an instant message area.  Interesting idea.

cameronkl7 - Yes, the common bond of Music is a wonderful thing. It brings me great personal satisfaction.  However, people who hear me play and sing might disagree.

mixter102 - An instant message area might be fun - don't know how much I would use it, but might be popular with some.  I know nothing of the tech involved - have to forward request to the Mighty Admin. 

Keep the comments (good, bad, & ugly) coming folks, please.   James

Hi All,

  Nela's idea of a chat-room has merit.... But.  There's always a but in there somewhere, I have noticed that this is a truely international forum.  Sitting out here at something like GMT +8 unless chordians are nocturnal, we'd never get to "chat" with our friends on the other side of the planet.

  Guess that's why "The Lord of The Internet" invented E-Mail.

Take Care; Doug