The #Broken_Dagger Forum

I am prompted by a few incidents over the past two weeks to remind our player population that the number one rule in #broken_dagger is respect for all.

This goes for both official OOC and IC channels that belong to #broken_dagger, and includes, but is not limited to:
a) no racial slurs;
b) no derogatory terms related to sexuality; and
c) no talking trash about other players in public.

Please remember that Ops cannot police private/query messages or things said outside of BD official channels. If you have any questions about our harassment and warning/kick/ban policy, please see the website or ask an Op.

Please be reminded that, in these public rooms, things you may consider well-meaning jokes can, in fact, go too far, and that the words we use to address other people in this game do matter -- and that careless words can hurt. You never know who is behind the screen, and to assume that no-one is present who might be hurt by certain words and phrases is too large an assumption.

Most of the time the Dagger public chatrooms are, generally, a pleasant and welcoming place to be, with players helping each other out and being awesome to one another. Respect is a two-way street; anything else is abuse. Let's work to keep both lanes open.

Well said, K. Well said.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

*Holds up her official "Respect Above All Else" tankard. Which, btw is available here:
Broken Dagger Stuff at Cafe Press *

Most people around here are genuinely kind, albeit goofy and fun and sometimes to the extreme. Disrespect does rear now and then, sure... I tend to see that most of it seems like it's based on some kind of humor that not everybody *shares*. We have all kinds. It's a melting pot of a place! We've been good about keeping the peace so far, but overall.. I think the intentions and things people say are not meant to be rude... (there are a very few occasions when they *are* meant to be rude) and with a little bit of conversation all that could be cleared up. Most of the time, someone is being outrageously funny (they think) and it is coming off as rude. Sometimes, it really is rudeness. We've had an easy time of discriminating which, as Ops, is going on. Talking about it helps, especially in the moment. Overall, though, I think our players do display respect for all. I very much think that.

channe wrote:This goes for both official OOC and IC channels that belong to #broken_dagger, and includes, but is not limited to:
a) no racial slurs]no[/B] derogatory terms related to sexuality; and
c) no talking trash about other players in public.

I think it is important to note that these things were mentioned by Channe because of *specific* incidents that have occured recently. It is *my* opinion, that "humor" that includes any of the above mentioned items is *not* funny. It's not clever. It's not cute. Period.

Being respectful can sometimes mean not saying things that you want to say. It can sometimes mean not doing things that you want to do. Being respectful is not alway the easiest route.

What I want to say from my perspective as an OP is this:
I would defend you...any of you...from comments and play that you found to be harrassing, degrading, demeaning, or just plain rude. We are here to have FUN. NOt to be made fun OF.

I want us *all* to feel comfortable here. And if that means keeping a bit of off-color (or potentially offensive) humor to one's self, then maybe that is what we should do.

In particular, even as a non-op, I'd like to stress that many of these incidents (that I've witnessed) have involved continuing to do something one is explicitly asked not to do.

A slip-up is one thing, you may accidentally over-step your bounds or invade another's comfort. Usually, however, no harm is done if you simply acknowledge their request to cease. I have, recently, seen a few particular jokers, convinced that they are amusing, ignore certain players' requests, and have really bothered some people in the process.

All in all: no one expects perfect behavior. Try to think before you speak, but if you do offend someone, it's not your place to decide if they should be offended: apologize.