Please read -> In light of recent events...

[Lonewolf]

Perhaps this post is an overreach, but I feel that expressing my thoughts will be a positive in the end...

It goes without saying that 2020 is one of those years, when we look back at it down the road, will be a seminal year, like 1968, where events resulted in a sea change of sorts. COVID-19 by itself is a game-changer, but now we are engaged , at least here in the US, with racism and how African-Americans are seen (and treated) more than 50 years after we seemingly made enough strides in race relations to mature as a society, and supply inertia to get the ball rolling to a new normal.

That being said, we now have two major events in 2020 which have changed the narrative, as to the direction of our discussion sections. As I've said before, you can't discuss COVID-19 without discussing politics, as they are intertwined, regarding the response to the pandemic, as well as the overly cautious nature of politicians regarding returning us to "normal" lives. But now, in light of George Floyd's death, our discussion threads have pivoted to the touchy subject of racism.

In doing so, we've seen a few cases here where some unvarnished opinions have crossed that line we silently draw, which demarcate offending the community as a whole... and that is the crux of this post.

Modding, especially in discussion sections, is not an easy task; it requires more judgment and instinct than other sections, as in many cases, there's no black and white... just shades of grey. And what one finds offensive, others may find normal, largely based upon background and upbringing.

COVID-19 gave me (and us, to a certain extent) and education in where water finds its own level, in so much as how much is too much. It's not a perfect science, but hopefully, we all know roughly where that magical line is that we dare not cross. George Floyd forces me (and us) to revisit the process all over again, with a subject even more sensitive to some than politics.

Although Planet Suzy has no official policy, as it applies to racist discussion and discourse, our morals and values dictate that we avoid offending other races... that's a given, along the lines of common sense. This is not a board designed for such discourse; PS started as a porn board, that sprouted roots and has flowered into a garden full of whatever you're looking for, be it games, music, tech help, or in our current case, discussion.

So I have a balancing act in front of me... if I act too soon, I'm jumping the gun, and scratching where there is no itch. If I react too late, I inadvertently condone personal attacks... so where and when do I intercede?

Going forward, since we're at a moment in time where politics and religion are intersecting, I'm going to be a bit more proactive regarding opinions on current events. The dedicated threads, like "Apocalyptic Virus or Not" will be controlled rather tightly, as it has been, but threads such as "Random Thoughts" and "What Pisses You Off?", which lend themselves to more unfiltered responses will have a little looser leash. But that doesn't mean anything goes; just the opposite... say your peace, do not leverage your opinions to debate a particular point of view, and if necessary agree to disagree and let it drop.

And if I seem heavy-handed in the process, I apologize now ahead of time, but any actions I take are not personal, and should not be seen as such; they should be seen, right or wrong, as facilitating a discussion within the bubble of what is fair and reasonable within a community of more than 1.2m members, representing nearly every country on the planet. I'm not going to get it right 100% of the time, and every staff member sees things slightly differently than the next, but I respectfully ask that you be patient and reasonable with my facilitation of these discussions, and in return, I will provide fairness and guidance.

But I should also warn you, as I've seen an uptick in this... if you disagree with an action I take, be it deleting a post or issuing a warning or infraction, we can discuss it in a calm and reasonable manner... but if you resort to name-calling and profanity, you will be shut down quickly. Yes, current events have many of us on edge, and tempers may get frayed at times, but that shouldn't result in unloading on those who provide a venue for discussion.

If you find yourself at odds with staff or another member, take a deep breath, wait a few seconds, and reconstitute your thoughts. I think you'll find that invaluable as we wade through these murky waters as the water resets itself to a new level.

Thank you for reading this, and for your anticipated understanding...