Rule #0 Policy Refinement Feedback Thread

@Princess Luna  
Simple and straightforward. I think it’s a solid proposition.
 
@AWGear  
It’s honestly better to keep it vague most of the time, as much as that seems backwards. Too specific and it loses structure and results in people towing right across the line.

First off, big thanks for the opportunity of giving some input for the first time in this whole mess, it’s a breath of fresh air and very much appreciated. Was it so hard to do that from the get go? :P
 
Talking exclusively about the sample images I agree with your internal assessment with some hesitation towards the first and fourth Not Rule #0 ones, although I do see the reasoning for them being in that category. I would like to see some a more diverse example of other potential hateful images not directly related to nazism which might fall under the new ruling but considering the main issue at hand I’m more than happy with this compromise, especially if it puts an end to the whole drama.
 
EDIT: I’d also like to mention that for images that are borderline Rule #0, authorial intent should be carefully considered and one option that might alleviate some concerns about abusive rulings would be to submit them to a vote and possibly mention the vote result on the removal for the sake of transparency.

After reading the OP, I quite like this wip.

I agree with the poll results.
 
Pretty much back to normal pre-drama rules.
 
Will they be enforced this time around though?

Thank god, all staff voting to better define the rules and transparency with the community. This is what should have happened from day 1.
 
Unfortunately so many people have dug in their heels and will refuse to compromise, despite this being an acceptable end result.

I think the wording of the new rule is good, but I think the first image in the “Not Rule #0” examples should fall under the already existing rule against racial slurs. Portraying a character as racist with no other context just incites unnecessary drama.

@Background Pony #41BB  
Forgot to log in for that comment

@PwnyPony  
Definitely, and that’s a lot of the point of making sure staff and users are all on the same page; if people know where the line is, then it can actually be enforced.

@Background Pony #41BB  
It isn’t promotion of those views.

@Princess Luna  
Right. If the users have clearly defined rules, then they can not post and report the things that need to be with more accuracy.

@Raptorshy  
Yeah that’s fair, I’ve seen people make meta-games about skirting around highly specific rules on sites before. A strong example body and increased transparency of moderation would probably be the compromise for my part.

@Background Pony #8B3F  

 
I agree, any kind of mouthpiece/propaganda should be banned.

@Background Pony #41BB  

 
Yep. The rest of the decisions seem to have sound logic. The one mentioned here doesn’t really. It’s just showing Applejack using a racial slur. You could put anything in her place and the meaning doesn’t seem to change, it’s just someone saying a racial slur with no particular meaning behind it other than disparaging a certain group.

@Background Pony #41BB  
@aperture_tech  
Pinkie is in the car with AJ seeming very uneased by AJ’s statement. The way I see that, it indicates that this is analogous to many real-world instances where a friend or relative has views that are…rather uncomfortable to hear, and they express them in a context where you can neither leave nor confront them over it easily. Essentially, AJ saying that is akin to her letting out a really awful fart in Pinkie’s direction; that doesn’t seem to be an endorsement of AJ’s view.  
Not everyone on staff agrees with that, but we aren’t a hivemind, and it’s important to at least know where we stand on things so we can enforce what we do mostly agree on.

@Background Pony #25FA  
That’s slightly reductive. Pinkie cringing at it gives it a meaning of disparaging a certain group is cringe worthy and wrong.

@Princess Luna  
Isn’t it also a scene from the “LA noire” game?  
It’s definitely parodying something

The issue here was never the policy itself, it was unbiased, equal enforcement.

@Princess Luna  
Thanks for explaining it. I thought it would be obvious if they looked at the image beyond the words, considering there has been a few people complaining about it.

These really seem like it needs clarification as to why they aren’t rule0, 1, 2, 4, and arguably 6 (invoking the 14-words) at least to me that they should be breaking rule-0, for: racist mouthpeicing for one and two, 4 for what it’s implying (it’s again, stealth evoking a racial slur)

@Princess Luna  
Disagree with any / all being cut. You’re opening yourselves and the site up to additional criticisms in the future.
 
This is not what you believed a literal month ago.

I do feel like banning slurs might be going a tad bit too far, as stuff that is technically a slur (like “mudpony” or others) can be used responsibly or to tell a story (for example, in a comic). I feel like most of stuff like that still would have to be on case by case basis, as it all depends on a context of a pic.

@Iamunknown  
Agreed, but now there are actual archival boorus. I rather go to those places if I wanna see it all.

@Background Pony #9BF5  

 
The cringing pinkie does give it a bare minimum of context, but the cringe is often exactly what the bad actor wants. They want to create that kind of disturbed reaction, at a minimum, if not outright suffering and terror when they invoke racism. That’s often the reason for them doing it brazenly out in the open. I imagine that many people who enjoy that kind of thing see the pinkie reaction and get a kick out of it, like “hah, we got her with our racism! look at her cringe!” It would be different if pinkie turned to AJ and called her a piece of shit, or said they weren’t friends anymore, or something like that. Simply showing pinkie cringe the type of thing that would make a troll proud.
 
Sure, it’s a bit more borderline, but I think the inclusion of the explicit slur takes it over the line. That’s the difference between that and the one with pinkie saying “minorities.”

@aperture_tech  
Granted, but will they be maintained or kept current? Derpi is only successful for its userbase and the large amount of people uploading directly to it.
 
Don’t sabotage your primary datastore.

I think this is a good compromise. And the poll was an agreeable compromise as well
 
It clarifies what exactly isn’t allowed and reinforces current rules instead of arbitrarily banning more things.