301
votes
Accepted
To reach out: on Monica, the Lavender community, and the future of the Stack Exchange network
Thank you for this heartfelt, encouraging message, and for being willing to have the conversation that preceded it instead of just walking away.
We need more of that at Stack Exchange.
It's too easy ...
- 177k
190
votes
Proposed new code of conduct for all Stack Exchange sites
Expletives are generally not allowed
I didn't like it before, and I don't like it now. An expletive is a word that fills space without adding any semantic content (meaning), or that's only for stress....
- 5,922
143
votes
The NEW new "Be Nice" Policy ("Code of Conduct") — Updated with your feedback
That's a lot better!
Remarks on the content
Don't expect new users to know the rules
“the rules” → “all the rules”. Saying that new users don't have to know any rule won't go well.
We're proud ...
111
votes
If you're gonna talk Politics, you must respect those who disagree
TL;DR: Don't go into chat without thinking about the other side.
Don't be a Sith.
I've never been particularly involved in politics. Sure, my age is a major factor in that, but I consider myself ...
- 31.5k
100
votes
Accepted
Is it acceptable to insult god in a user profile?
Wendikidd mostly nailed this, but here's the semi-official guideline:
Generally speaking, your "about me" is just that—what you want to share with the world, and we try to allow users a good ...
- 51.8k
98
votes
To reach out: on Monica, the Lavender community, and the future of the Stack Exchange network
I go by ‘they’, and I speak for myself, not on behalf of all queer folks.
What I understand of Monica's position—based previously on public TL leaks and now on what heather has relayed—is a little ...
- 4,419
96
votes
Proposed new code of conduct for all Stack Exchange sites
I find the phrase
Be civil. Attacking or harassing individuals based on gender, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, age, race, or religion – and any and all other type of personal ...
- 2,878
83
votes
Is cross-posting a question on multiple Stack Exchange sites permitted if the question is on-topic for each site?
One problem is the wide disparity in attention levels at different sites. Is 39 moves the longest a chess game can go moving only pawns? was posted to Math. I think it is a much better fit for ...
81
votes
Accepted
Does the Be Nice policy require SE users to "be nice" to people who are not SE users (e.g. public figures)?
Let's read that "be nice" policy:
Whether you've come to ask questions, or to generously share what you know, remember that we’re all here to learn, together. Be
welcoming and patient, especially ...
- 432k
80
votes
NSFW video and annoying animated advertising on Music SE
SE has already subverted their no animated ads policy in the past few months, which finally led me into installing AdBlock Plus.
I think it's time for everyone to enable their ad blocker on SE now, ...
73
votes
If you're gonna talk Politics, you must respect those who disagree
One of the problems with political discussion is that they tend to escalate to heated debate and eventually insults and personal attacks. In some cases, people may be offended enough to flag political ...
- 11.4k
70
votes
If someone is hurt by a literary reference, should it be removed?
Let me preface this by saying that we've got to understand that someone somewhere will find something offensive in what you write if they really want to, no matter how tenuous, they'll find a way. I ...
- 14.4k
66
votes
Is it acceptable to insult god in a user profile?
If it's ok to praise god in your profile (it is), then it should be ok to insult god in your profile too. This is a matter of people's personal beliefs, and as a Stack Overflow moderator I don't have ...
- 131k
58
votes
The NEW new "Be Nice" Policy ("Code of Conduct") — Updated with your feedback
Harassment and bullying
Harassment and bullying. If you find yourself in a hostile
interaction, disengage. If the other party keeps it up, flag it. If
you think something needs staff attention, ...
- 1,441
52
votes
Accepted
Does Stack Exchange insist on a special language for posts? Please describe
English is a living language; it changes slowly but constantly. Old words take new meanings, new words replace old, and sometimes old uses resurface in new contexts. Also, sometimes there are emoji.
...
- 432k
47
votes
Is it acceptable to insult god in a user profile?
From what I've seen, the general way SE handles stuff like this is that you can put anything in your profile/comments/whatever until someone finds it offensive, at which point they flag it and mods ...
- 7,475
44
votes
Does the Be Nice policy require SE users to "be nice" to people who are not SE users (e.g. public figures)?
This sounds like hair-splitting to me. The Be Nice policy is certainly geared toward being nice to other users as that's the common case. But it seems weird to classify the people you ought to be nice ...
- 74.9k
42
votes
Proposed new code of conduct for all Stack Exchange sites
I really like the updated guidance, but somehow I also think: Are they really necessary to that extent? I cannot remember I have seen anyone being "harassed" by "on gender, sexual orientation, ...
- 1,322
41
votes
Is it acceptable to insult god in a user profile?
The real question here is why do you care? It's just some guys user profile. You don't need to look at it. It's not like he's posing it in his questions or answers.
Now I understand that you or any ...
- 907
41
votes
If you're gonna talk Politics, you must respect those who disagree
I don't think this behavioral pattern is limited to politics at all.
Generally, in respectful discourse, it is unacceptable to denigrate others because of their opinion if you want to continue to ...
- 25.3k
38
votes
Is swastika really treated as offensive even when it's used for religious purposes in profile pictures or chat?
When you say "fag" - some folks going back more than a couple of generations will wonder if you're referring to a cigarette. Colloquially, however, most people will interpret the word as a pejorative ...
- 177k
38
votes
Show your work: one simple trick to make meta effective
Treating good questions with the appropriate attention is the best way to help people change in the way you want
Thanks for this useful guidance, I agree with everything. Except...
...what happens ...
- 35.9k
36
votes
Is it acceptable to insult god in a user profile?
The point is: where does it end?
If someone likes unicorns should we allow others to insult unicorns in their profiles? What about spaghetti monsters?
There is a difference between pointing an ...
- 35.9k
36
votes
The NEW new "Be Nice" Policy ("Code of Conduct") — Updated with your feedback
Quick copy fixes: (I'd edit the post directly, but I want to make sure the changes end up in the final copy that goes up on the site.)
Your tone should match way you'd talk ...
Missing a "the" ...
- 4,443
35
votes
Is cross-posting a question on multiple Stack Exchange sites permitted if the question is on-topic for each site?
This should help those of you who, like me, couldn't understand why cross-posting is discouraged, when one's intentions are good (an interest in getting the expert opinion of two diverse communities ...
35
votes
Proposed new code of conduct for all Stack Exchange sites
Do we really have to call out "don't cuss"—it sounds like a schoolhouse rule for a bunch of kids that don't really understand what being civil means. On the whole lowers whatever code from a ...
- 4,619
35
votes
The NEW new "Be Nice" Policy ("Code of Conduct") — Updated with your feedback
Although I'm honestly not sure if this is am improvement on the older, shorter "code of conduct," if we're going to go the verbose route and expand it, I think there's a glaring omission ...
- 1,387
34
votes
Proposed new code of conduct for all Stack Exchange sites
Assume good faith
Assuming good faith is a fundamental principle on Wikipedia. It is the assumption that editors' edits and comments are made in good faith. Most people try to help the project, not ...
- 442
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible