Suggested Suggestions for Forum Rules

[Muiredach]

Largely a placeholder topic for now, we've been running without a formal forum rule-set for the past 3 months. We've had barely an issue so far - if I remember correctly, we've banned two members for advertising, and had two minor grumbles between members resolved via public discussion.

For the moment, it's not urgent we put these rules together - as by and large the community has been without controversy; friendly and supportive of one another. In the long-run rules will be required.

Please feel free to chime in with suggestions to be discussed and potentially formally implemented. For example:

• No linking to, or providing sources for, any products/items/drugs otherwise illegal to purchase in the United Kingdom.
• No negative language targeted towards race or religion.
• No posting of personal information for individuals including industry, clinicians, YouTubers, other forum members etc. (no doxxing)

I have run several huge forums over the past 20 years or so (posts in the millions), and will also refer to the old rules there which are long battle-tested and proven.

 

[Lank72]

The trick is always, as it sounds like you'll know, getting as few rules as possible as loose as possible to allow discussion/debate, but worded well enough that they are completely clear, protect people from harm/abuse, and stop the site getting raided by bots, scams, and trolls.

I honestly feel you've got this covered given how the site is structured, how MedBud operates as a transparent 'patient first' entity, and how the MedBud team conduct themselves. And, despite all that , you still asked for input to ensure people feel involved and part of this

Perhaps share a draft when closer to a final, and people can discuss if there's anything contentious, but I expect they will be pretty solid straight off.

I used to run large forums too, and it completely frazzled me in the end and had to hand them over - when they are small everyone is playful and supportive and lovely, but as they grow it always brings out the madness!

 

[Rainbone]

Mods have full discression to remove and time out users pending review of account by senior moderation team.

Sounds fancy and official.

Get the ban hammer warm @GrownHealth don't get drunk with the power

 

[GrownHealth]

Teetotal here mate
It looks like advertisers are the only problem so far and got no issue wielding the hammer on them or if the wife turns up

 

[DrM]

I was actually going to make a post to ask what are the forum rules today! Perfect timing.

 

[Lank72]

I had previously expected this to have gone without saying, but based on a recent exchange (I won't bring the content up again given a Mod has resolved it now), and the suggestion to provide feedback here:

I'd suggest that Ad Hominem is not allowed in the forum (word-based attacks directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining / argument they are making)

 

[Muiredach]

I'd suggest that Ad Hominem is not allowed in the forum (word-based attacks directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining / argument they are making)

Agree entirely, previous forums I've run have had a similar rule worded along the lines of 'attack the point, not the person'. This should go into the rules IMO.

 

[node]

My two penneth worth - might be nice to add that "Members should be respectful of everyone, ESPECIALLY clinic and pharmacy staff who are doing their absolute best working in a super fast growing business without processes, etc." Of course report issues here but no personal stuff.

 

[Lank72]

My two penneth worth - might be nice to add that "Members should be respectful of everyone, ESPECIALLY clinic and pharmacy staff who are doing their absolute best working in a super fast growing business without processes, etc." Of course report issues here but no personal stuff.

I might quibble about 'especially', and like to see things on a more equal footing, but I definitely see and appreciate your sentiment with this (if I understood it correctly)

I'd tie it back to what we've been saying about no personal attacks but with some specific reference that it explicitly includes the folks who work in the various elements of the industry (clinics, pharmacy, etc)


Here's a very obvious example on what that would be intended to mean in practise:

It should be - I had 'X' problem at 'Y' clinic today

Not - Person 'Z' at 'Y' clinic is a...


Does that seem right/sensible based on what you suggested @node?

 

[node]

I might quibble about 'especially', and like to see things on a more equal footing, but I definitely see and appreciate your sentiment with this (if I understood it correctly)

I'd tie it back to what we've been saying about no personal attacks but with some specific reference that it explicitly includes the folks who work in the various elements of the industry (clinics, pharmacy, etc)


Here's a very obvious example on what that would be intended to mean in practise:

It should be - I had 'X' problem at 'Y' clinic today

Not - Person 'Z' at 'Y' clinic is a...


Does that seem right/sensible based on what you suggested @node?

Thats it. Yes, exceptionally is wrong word, I was thinking of how good some of them are, but I'd just hit cement shoes so I have an excuse haha.

 

[node]

Another beermat advisory might be "Please check yourself (mood and attitude) before posting - you're interacting with other patients and professionals who are real people just like you - be nice or be gone (lol)."

It may also be prudent to formalise the introduction or "handshake" agreement. In my case we only approved new users after a reasonable handshake. Stops all bots too. I'm guessing this could be added to the forums.MedBud.wiki t&c too.
Edit to add> its also possible to have a contained "I'm in a dark place" or similar thread (perhaps quiet room?) so we can try to assist members who recognise that, also highlights the friendly and supportative approach we have here.

 

[GrownHealth]

Cheers @Lank72 for your input here and thoughtful comments that'll help going forward and your input is always highly valued by me as I'm sure you know and whilst this was regrettable lets hope the forum is better for it going forward by the issues that have been raised here .

 

[GrownHealth]

Just letting other members know I have reported the recent events to @Muiredach to look over for fairness

 

[Moon]

Just letting other members know I have reported the recent events to @Muiredach to look over for fairness

I guess this refers to me and you. So in the interest of fairness, you will need my view:

I have loved this forum and all the regular and not so regular posters, I have felt welcome, appreciated and looked after and safe. I became quite close to yourself, node and Dooby and recently Migraine man. I enjoyed the interactions, the learning, the sharing of knowledge and the mutual respect shown by all here. I have recommended this forum countless times. But after yesterday I no longer feel this is “A friendly and supportive community”

One of my issues is mental health like many here, I have had no sleep and have felt deeply upset by yesterday, it will take me days to recover, but hey that’s, me.

I reported a couple of videos last week, we had a little chat about them. You removed them. I thought I had done a service and thought no more about it. But I did feel we have not interacted the same or as much since then, reading back now this does appear to be the case.

I have been amazed by Nev’s THCa and learnt about it from yourself and Migraine Man, for me it was a wow moment, a product that was wonderful and potentially works out cheaper than MC, anyway I think I pissed you off by mentioning it in other threads and doing 2 links to it (I’m not sure if this pissed you off or not, I get paranoid when messed up). Yesterday pm in the Ruby Twist thread, you showed a photo of your thca, dooby doo asked “Where did you get the thca from?” I replied “same place as me”, trying to work out if he knew, you then replied:

“I'd say he knows perfectly well wouldnt you?
Considering people have known since before christmas just saying”

Heavy sarcasm there, wobbled me right out, but I was trying to help dooby, and you then posted an @doob in both the grey vape thread and the thca YouTube thread, letting him see those threads. As I had done a link to nevski site the day before for Node I then took a shortcut to that specific post and re posted it, simply for dooby to see the website address.

You replied:

“There is already 2 links in this thread now 3 ?”

I read that, deleted my shortcut post for doob and even posted: “deleted, apologies” which you ignored. What does it matter how many links are in a YouTube thread about the product being linked to, I ask myself today. But hey I complied and removed it, without you asking me to or modding it.

You then immediately attacked me again with:

“Add this in to reports we've been receiving on non MC YouTube threads ,does this thread come into this category?”

More deep sarcasm.

So I deleted my avatar pic, altered my security prefs, and then started to delete my content, but found I could only delete the stuff I posted in the last couple of hours. I have found no way to delete my account.

This morning I did my 2 goodbye posts in the YouTube THCa thread, responding to both your ‘get at me posts’, hoping you would understand my side of just trying to help doob find nev’s site. This was also an opportunity for you to say something like sorry I was in a bad place yesterday, or something to make the peace between us. But you did not, and I guess you feel completely innocent then. And hey I maybe so messed up that you are innocent, and I am completely in the wrong, but I don’t see it like that.

Anyway, I have burned my bridges here now, I just need to walk away and get over this, heal from it and move forwards.

I would feel a lot better if my account and content was deleted, I was hoping it had been, but logged in to check and noted this post by you.

I fucking hate drama, top tip for this site enable DM’s so people can sort things out in private, as because I have had to respond and do this in public I have to leave.

Thank you for the messages of support elsewhere, you know who you are, really appreciated.

@Muiredach @GrownHealth @Dooby Doo @node @MigraineMan

 

[BudGuy]

Largely a placeholder topic for now, we've been running without a formal forum rule-set for the past 3 months. We've had barely an issue so far - if I remember correctly, we've banned two members for advertising, and had two minor grumbles between members resolved via public discussion.

For the moment, it's not urgent we put these rules together - as by and large the community has been without controversy; friendly and supportive of one another. In the long-run rules will be required.

Please feel free to chime in with suggestions to be discussed and potentially formally implemented. For example:

• No linking to, or providing sources for, any products/items/drugs otherwise illegal to purchase in the United Kingdom.
• No negative language targeted towards race or religion.
• No posting of personal information for individuals including industry, clinicians, YouTubers, other forum members etc. (no doxxing)

I have run several huge forums over the past 20 years or so (posts in the millions), and will also refer to the old rules there which are long battle-tested and proven.

I don't think it's necessary to have rules which to ban things which are already unlawful, e.g. racial prejudice etc. I think it's best to operate to the letter of the law when it comes to that stuff, to avoid overly stifling free speech or blanket banning criticism of religion, for example, which in my opinion is one of the most important aspects of Western culture that differentiates us from many other parts of the world - we are actually allowed to have such criticisms! So for all that stuff I would just have a rule that says "No posting anything that would be considered a crime/illegal if posted from or hosted in the UK, including contraventions of the equality act".

Targeting a particular person because of their religion is already illegal but "negative language" about religion in general in my view sounds like it includes banning even legitimate criticism of religion, and I can imagine a few scenarios where criticism of religion would be valid on this board, for example there are religions which take a very hard line against cannabis for ideological reasons, and we may have members who have to struggle against such issues to get their medicine, or we may find religious lobby groups attempting to ban or limit our medicine, our oppose our general goal of complete legalisation for those same reasons, and that sort of criticism of religion stopping someone getting medicine is as valid as criticism of a pharmacy/clinic/politicians who do it. I'm not sure why religion should get a free pass beyond the already very strong legal protections.

 

[Jay]

It’s the internet we should all speak to each other like we are in the same room physically with a high likelihood that you could be punched in your mouth for your words and actions everyone jus be humble it’s nice to be nice we all have bad days

 

[BudGuy]

It’s the internet we should all speak to each other like we are in the same room physically with a high likelihood that you could be punched in your mouth for your words and actions everyone jus be humble it’s nice to be nice we all have bad days

Ironically, if you were physically in a room with people, I doubt you'd so casually mention that being punched in the mouth is a potential consequence of crossing you lol.

And the "we all have bad days" would be particularly menacing addendum to it lol

 

[Jay]

No but that’s what happens if you go out of your way to offend people in real life I’m not promoting violence but that’s what happens when it goes past posturing I always speak to people on the internet with that sentiment I’d rather be humble and respectful and if you were physically in a room with a person you wouldn’t bring the same internet energy in my opinion
A smack in the us needed sometimes in life I believe or I’ve just had a messed up life

 

[node]

Fair points going on here. Its really hard to get that balance. I def think a venting thread might help? Their is an awful lot to wind-up within UKMC and of course the rest of life going on, plus were all patients so sometimes were poorly and may be in a "reactive" mood, which is never helpful to the chat or discussion. Life is very hard for a lot of people on here, for different reasons.

 

[BudGuy]

No but that’s what happens if you go out of your way to offend people in real life I’m not promoting violence but that’s what happens when it goes past posturing I always speak to people on the internet with that sentiment I’d rather be humble and respectful and if you were physically in a room with a person you wouldn’t bring the same internet energy in my opinion
A smack in the us needed sometimes in life I believe or I’ve just had a messed up life

Nah I agree, most of what's wrong with the world seems to be driven by people who've clearly never had a smack in the mouth.