Policy Update Chat Rules Update

[JamesMartin]

Evening Sanctum!

As I mentioned in my survey follow-up, one of our projects going forward is going to be a few updates to aspects of the rules that are out of date. First on the chopping block? With our site and our staff having changed dramatically since the last meaningful update to the chat rules, we decided it was time for a full-scale reconsideration. Most of our rules have been tweaked in one way or another.

Our overall goal was:

1. To make certain rules that used broad statements give more objective standards​
2. To codify existing policies more clearly​
3. To cover some issues that we felt the rules did not address​

On the whole, chat as it exists will not change that much. We ended up with policies that clarified the way things already were, rather than any truly dramatic changes.

The New Rules in Full

Chat Rooms:

General Chat is for general discussion. Minor roleplay actions are allowed

The Sanctum Confessional is for ranting, venting, mature discussions, controversial topics and topics that are innately depressing

The Gaming Dungeon is for Games, Dice Rolls and relevant discussions.

The Sanctum Theatre is for the sharing of Music and other media.

The Lounge is for mature conversations without roleplay actions.

Staff reserve the right to redirect discussions to the appropriate forum.

Chat Rules:

1. Chat operates under the general principle that everyone should act like an adult. Playful immaturity is fine, actual immaturity, disrespect or general lack of common sense will result in staff action. Dark humour and topics beyond PG-13 are permitted, but they should be clearly telegraphed and placed within spoilers like so. Open bigotry and violence against children will result in an immediate removal from chat, these are not "dark humour."

2. Excessive Roleplay is not permitted. Occasional random actions are fine. Three actions directed at the same person or four total directed at multiple people in a short span of time is considered excessive. Certain actions are also explicitly forbidden:

a. Any actions that are harassing, vulgar or generally inappropriate

b. Any actions that control another person without their consent​

c. Any actions someone has already been requested not to perform​

3. No drama. No harassment, creepiness, temper tantrums, interpersonal drama or melodrama. Any and all ranting, whining, complaining or melodrama, as well as any discussion that is becoming too heated, should be redirected to the "Sanctum Confessional" room. Chat is intended as a lighthearted feature everyone is able to enjoy, keep it that way. If you need to talk about something that is objectively depressing, it should go to the Confessional directly.

a. Excessive flirting, fawning or obsession between users can and will be stopped

b. Users who engage with chat only for such behaviours are subject to warning and removal​

4. Chat is designed to serve as a conversation between multiple people. Any user found to be attempting to dominate the conversation whether by spamming, non-sequiturs or other means is subject to discipline by staff. Trying to start a conversation is fine, even encouraged, but if you are the only one who has been talking about something for multiple messages—stop. Regarding other disruptive behaviours:

a. Images and videos should be spoilered. If you cannot make the spoiler work, inform a staff member and your message can be edited

b. Chat rules are made to be enforced by staff. If you feel another member is violating them, please inform staff rather than telling them yourself. This does not apply in cases of harassment—you can tell them to stop directly.​

5. Whispers are subject to viewing by staff and rules will be enforced there. They are not for extended private conversations, as they make it difficult to monitor the chat. Any exchange of more than three messages long (unless directed at a member of staff) should be handled in PM. Do not use it as a place for Roleplay OCC. Proposing a RP is fine, but it should be moved to PM as soon as it is agreed to.

6. No sharing of personal information is allowed in chat. This includes whispers.

7. Rules are subject to change and Staff interpretation. Our one and only goal is to make chat an enjoyable addition to this site. If we feel your behaviour is in contravention of this principle, you will be asked to change it or be removed. If you feel another user is acting inappropriately, use the report button.

8. Staff are fallible—they can miss context, misunderstand remarks or misunderstand rules. But chat is not the place to litigate that. If they say stop, you stop. Message the admins if you feel like you were warned in error

So, what do they mean?​

Now, because rules need to be brief to be followed, I'm going to include some further explanation for anyone who wants clarification as to what a rule means and why it exists.

Rule One

This is our biggest addition and serves as both our general policy for how we address chat and a clarification for how certain edge cases are being handled.

Basically, we expect all our members to act like adults. Staff should not need to put the brakes on very often because most of the time, common sense should have members stopping before that is needed.

We have also decided to clarify our policy on dark humour, explicit sexual jokes and conversations. As our users are, again, adults, we have no desire to ban these. However, we understand that not everyone wants to engage with them. The compromise is the new policy, which uses spoilers as an "opt-in". If a statement is not obviously a dark joke or sexual from context, please add a disclaimer.

Note, we are generally treating this as anything inherently explicit on its own. "That's what she said" is unlikely to ever need a spoiler, a description of a fetish might.

As stated in the rules, we do not consider this policy to allow bigotry or violence against children. They are and will remain against all site rules and neither are considered as "jokes."

Likewise, this policy deals with general sexual topics. Targeted harassment, obviously TMI statements and statements that violate other rules are not covered.

Anyone bragging about their endowment will have their comment edited into centimetres for the sake of accuracy.

Rule Two

Our standard chat roleplay policy has been edited for clarity. Which is to say, random roleplay actions are fine. Extended scenes and actions that actively make other people uncomfortable are not.

This has now been defined as three actions aimed at one user or four total aimed at multiple users, to clearly ensure that they do not take over chat.

As always, actions that are vulgar are banned outright.

We have added actions that control someone else without consent to the rules. We have also made clear that anyone pushing their luck after someone tells them to stop will face consequences.

Rule Three

Basically, don't be an asshole and we are not a dating site.

This rule has been heavily updated to address complaints from some users that certain individuals were making them uncomfortable. We, as always, encourage friendliness. Playful flirting as an in-joke can be fine—but if someone is only engaging with chat to flirt with anyone and anything, we're going to start cracking down. The line that matters here is whether someone only engages with chat for this. This rule is not designed to smother the behaviour entirely.

We also added the common sense request that if you think you need something off your chest, post in confessional without needing to be told. There is no way to follow "My wife left me, hit my dog in the driveway and sold my kidney to pay for her new apartment" with normal conversation without looking like an asshole—if something is depressing enough to belong in a country song and can't spark conversation, keep it out of general chat.

This does not apply if the topic can start a conversation. If some asshole cut you off on your drive home, that's something people can talk about.

Rule Four

A rule that also needs to exist due to complaints, this boils down to "chat is a conversation, not a performance."

Bringing up new topics is not only fine, it is the heart and soul of chat. When it becomes a problem is when someone. Just. Keeps. Talking. If no one else is engaging with the topic you are, it's time to either stop or join the actual conversation. Any users who do this systemically (as in, only ever join chat to go on diatribes) will be told to stop.

This also includes our longstanding rule that images and videos should be in spoilers.

Finally—if someone is breaking the chat rules, please get staff to enforce it. We have a report button, use it. Users policing other users never ends well. The exception is if someone's behaviour is making you directly uncomfortable—go forth and tell them.

Rule Five

Largely unchanged, whispers make it a pain for staff to watch chat. They are not for extended conversations. We have now put a number on what this means.

Rule Six

Unchanged. Anyone posting names, off-site tags or similar in chat will have their message removed.

Rule Seven

Rules are never all-encompassing. Staff reserve the right to decide that a behaviour that violates the spirit of the rules can be blocked.

Rule Eight

Do not argue chat rules in chat.

If you feel like a rule is unclear or a staff member made a mistake, both are possible. We aren't perfect. However, chat is not the place to litigate these things. Message myself or Otys directly, we can review the incident and either correct things or clarify the rules.

And for now... that's all folks!!!

As always, post questions and comments below.

Whoever finds the one typo that inevitably slips into every rule change will get a cookie*

*Cookies are entirely hypothetical

 

[NotAllThatCreative]

You guys are amazing. Thank you for doing this to keep things safe and happy for everyone.

 

[Praxis]

Anyone bragging about their endowment will have their comment edited into centimetres for the sake of accuracy.

God-tier change.

 

[humon]

Commentator: "It looks like they're gonna go for it on 4th and Inches"

Staff Correction: "4th and Centimetres"

(also 3rd and Centimetres because CFL)