*** NEW RULES & CHARTER FOR THE CA FORUM ***

Following the recent feedback thread, which the mods and admins have gone through in considerable detail, we have identified the main themes, issues and possible solutions that people suggested to address the problems in the Current Affairs Forum.

With the recent success of the minimum post count, which has greatly helped with the rereg issue, we are going to try to deal with some of the longer term issues in the forum.

The things that came up repeatedly in the feedback thread were - a perception of over zealous moderation, dissatisfaction with threadbans and a method dealing with long term trolls in the forum on a permanent basis.

**These rule changes apply only to the Current Affairs forum and are effective immediately**

1. In response to multiple claims that the moderation in CA is too strict, we are going to reduce moderation to a more hands off level - threads will be allowed to meander, debate can be more robust and warnings will not be given for very minor infractions. Posters are, however, expected to take note of the forum charter and follow any mod instructions. Do not argue with a mod instruction on the thread instead PM the moderator if you wish to discuss it further.

2. Threadbans are being removed and all current threadbans are now cancelled. Everyone may participate in every open thread in the forum.

3. The forum charter is not going to change. Posters know what is acceptable and what is not, new posters will learn quickly. However we would like to clarify the following - Low level snark/ personal abuse, concern trolling, sealioning, victim blaming, piling on posters, link dumping and bringing up a posters previous posts from other threads/forums are specifically not allowed, as these seem to have operated in a grey area until now.

4. Warnings issued in the Current Affairs forum are no longer subject to the dispute resolution process until the 6th warning/one month forum ban stage. You can PM a mod to discuss the sanction but anything prior to the 6th warning is not subject to the DRP process.

5. If a moderator issues a zero point warning to you then this is an advisory to change your posting style in some way (which will be specified in the warning). Do not ignore it and do not accumulate multiple zero point warnings.

6. Every warning issued (except a zero point warning) now comes with an automatic ban too, starting with a one day ban and escalating to an eventual permanent ban.

The warnings scale- (Updated 18/05/2025 see below)

1. 1st warning = 1 day ban
2. 2nd warning = 3 day ban
3. 3rd warning = 1 week ban
4. 4th warning = 2 week ban
5. 5th warning = 3 week ban
6. 6th warning = 1 month ban (can be appealed)
7. 7th warning = 3 month ban (can be appealed)
8. 8th warning = 6 month ban (can be appealed)
9. 9th warning = Permanent ban (can be appealed)

Forum Charter:

Have an opinion on a less-than-stellar topic? Want a discussion of the great questions of our time? Have a deep thought that's not quite lighthearted enough for After Hours? But not debate-worthy enough for the Politics Forum?

Current Affairs/IMHO is a forum where users discuss these topics, within, of course, the bounds of civil discourse. Wait, wouldn’t that make every discussion on topic? Whoa, hold on a second, we need to sit down; we just blew our own minds.

The rules of the forum are simple but absolute.

1. We have one guiding principle: Don't be a dick.
2. Do not post any material that you know or should know is hateful, abusive, harassing, false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, vulgar, obscene, profane, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or illegal.
3. You are free to express your views in a forceful manner provided you remain civil. Hate speech, insults, and purposely inflammatory remarks (i.e., trolling) will not be tolerated. Do not post threats or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm. If we tell you to refrain from behaviour that we regard as uncivil, or that in our view detracts from a productive discussion, do so or face revocation of your posting privileges.
4. We reserve the right to delete any post for any or no reason whatsoever.

Current CA/IMHO Moderators,

Beasty, Gremlinertia, Irish Aris, Kimbot, Leg End Reject, Necro, Sephiroth_dude, Stheno, Ten of Swords

Current Category Mods,

ancapailldorcha, Ten of Swords