Some communities place restrictions on discussing sensitive topics like politics and religion, while others openly allow those conversations.

 

 

 

 

 

How does your community handle controversial or sensitive subjects? Are there specific topics that are off-limits to keep things running smoothly? I’d love to hear what kinds of discussions are encouraged or prohibited on your forum!

If it's against the forum software's TOS or illegal in general, it's off-limits. Everything else I would probably allow, but I would keep a close eye on the topics to make sure they don't get out of hand.

Discussions about politics or religion often turn into all-out flame-wars. So these 2 subjects are watched closely.

 

At some point (I think it was after Trump lost the 2020 election), I had to add a rule asking folks to avoid using political or religious arguments in discussions and debates taking place outside of their dedicated sections.

 

Otherwise, anything that's illegal and trash, of course.

I may consider barring political discussions on my forum in the near future, especially as someone who hates politics now...

I may consider barring political discussions on my forum in the near future, especially as someone who hates politics now...

That's a bit of nepotism. Just because you don't like it shouldn't be a reason for not allowing it. If it causes division or discontent; fair enough.

If it causes division or discontent; fair enough.

Well it does in general... and also makes people feel cranky as well.

Politics is something people cannot handle maturely.

 

What's funny (well actually annoying) is that on facebook groups, someone posts a picture, with some text, or asking something, can be anything... there always HAS TO BE one guy being ridiculous and blaming it on some politician or president, or whatever. While no one asked for this or has no connection to politics.

I will not tolerate racism or bigotry of any kind. Politics and religion are fine on my off topic forum. The the other forum it's ok, but I watch the topics very closely.

I will not tolerate racism

Would you handle antiwhiteism the same way? I find, especially on social media, that it's ok to be racist against white people because "you can't be racist against white people" (the literal excuse).

 

There's also slurs in some communities where it's acceptable to use "cis white male" (in a derogatory manner) and it not be racist.

Would you handle antiwhiteism the same way? I find, especially on social media, that it's ok to be racist against white people because "you can't be racist against white people" (the literal excuse).

 

There's also slurs in some communities where it's acceptable to use "cis white male" (in a derogatory manner) and it not be racist.

No matter what the race I won't tolerate it.

I prohibit any discussions within my community that involve demeaning others based on race, sexual orientation, or mental and physical disabilities. Having personal experiences with both physical and mental challenges, I have zero tolerance for such behavior. Despite growing up with a racist parent, I do not share those views, which is a misconception that deeply affects me. Discussions on religion and politics are permitted in my community, but should they escalate excessively, the individuals involved will be warned.

The only things that I had to put off limits on my forum was extreme vulgarity and anything racist.

 

For the most part the members wouldn't push the envelope sort of speak but there was one member in particular that I would have to remind them of the rules.

Great topic even it does not apply to me, just now because all my forum's are new & dead almost :)

But I would NOT allow vulgarity in any shape, politics and religion is fine to discuss and even argue with valid points as far as it is within the limits and not causing the hate.

I'm open to anything, really. I won't allow adult-rated stuff or anything illegal.

 

Politics and religion are fine as long as people act responsible about it. I usually won't reply to those posts but sometimes I get an itch and do it, LOL. I used to be very political - nowadays, I really try to be apolitical.

As a rule, politics, religion, adult content and illegal content are always things I want to avoid, just to have some boundaries and prevent things getting oddly polarised.

Pirated content anything illegal is off limits on my forums.

Great topic even it does not apply to me, just now because all my forum's are new & dead almost :)

But I would NOT allow vulgarity in any shape, politics and religion is fine to discuss and even argue with valid points as far as it is within the limits and not causing the hate.

I agree, I let the members have some slack but they also have to remain reasonable and cannot cause any issues by calling anyone out of their names or being disrespectful.

Community standards always vary from site to site. I have always maintained the standard prohibited conversations like prn, violence, illegal activity, but I also express that a site I may be running is not a first amendment protected website and community standards are in force at the discretion of staff.

That's a bit of nepotism. Just because you don't like it shouldn't be a reason for not allowing it. If it causes division or discontent; fair enough.

isnt nepotism faovring friends in the workplace

isnt nepotism faovring friends in the workplace

Nepotism is favouring primarily family in the workplace (root from nepotismo, Italian for nephew); cronyism is the broader form of favouring friends.

 

Banning something you don't personally like on your forum isn't either of these things. Whether such things will fly or be tolerated by the memberbase also varies: barring political discussion is a safe bet on most forums because an unhealthily-large minority cannot be trusted not to be disruptive with it and it doesn't even have to be a personally motivated decision.

Politics is one of many topics people can't handle in a civilized manner, as such, my community would ban any political discussion to prevent troubles since debates tend to spiral into storms.

I don't see the point in barring anyone from discussion any specific topic and I am talking things about politics and religion which is two common topics people are afraid of seeing discussed on their board. Not barring a discussion doesn't mean you encourage it as you can choose to neither encourage or discourage it and that is usually enough to get conversations you aren't fond of from being discussed all that often. Truth be told, I don't really care what discussions are being held nor do it bothers me that things can get heated because that is usually the result of two people passionate about the same topic but have a different point of view or belief on the subject. If you want people to develop a passion for your community then you don't go around stomping all over someone's passions then act surprised when you can't find anyone who cares at all about your community.

 

The communities I ran were both peaceful where conflicts and outright fighting was extremely rare.

If you want people to develop a passion for your community then you don't go around stomping all over someone's passions then act surprised when you can't find anyone who cares at all about your community.

As a fairly extreme comparison, the other side of that is unfettered chaos. I feel both sides have their own detriments, but ultimately it is up to the site owner and staff as to how they wish their site to be used and how they wish it appears to the public.

 

I myself hate political discussion anymore. I mean, really hate. I leave that type of discussion for the sites like X as they seem to cater best to loud redundant political rhetoric and that's completely fine for them. I don't do X lol, and likely never will.

I run adsense ads on my community, and NSFW is a big No for me. I cannot allow users to post anything that is not family friendly. I abhor the idea of NSFW content being published on forums