Restoring Civility in the Barber Shop: A Friendly Warning

[Gruder]

Gentlemen, the air in the Barber Shop seems to us to have gotten unnecessarily heated of late. As a reminder, upon registering for our forum, you agreed to our Terms of Usage, which read in part:

2. Realize that we take great pride in B&B being a work-friendly, internet oasis for gentlemanly behavior. This means that profanity, inflammatory comments regarding politics and/or religion, personal attacks, pornographic images, discussions of illegal or illicit activity, or any other ungentlemanly behavior as deemed inappropriate by the Administrators/Moderators, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Offenders will be dealt with swiftly. More to the point, if it's likely to be offensive, or if you wouldn't say it to someone in person, it doesn't belong here.

Please be aware that due to the increasing volume of overly argumentative politically-based posts in the Barber Shop, we are implementing a zero tolerance policy. Members who choose to conduct themselves in a manner deemed by the moderators to be argumentative, ungentlemanly, or otherwise not in keeping with standards of decorum at B&B will have their access to this section of our site permanently removed, along with any custom title they may have previously gained as a measure of respect herein. With the American Presidential election season seemingly warming up far too soon (not unlike Christmas merchandise rolled out before Halloween ), and with an increasing number of global political issues reaching their boiling points, we've decided to maximize everyone's enjoyment of B&B by nipping the inevitable arguments and (ahem) measuring competitions in the bud now.

In the several times since B&B's founding that we've seen fit to take this stance, we've found that the vast majority of our members see it as a positive measure that greatly revitalizes their enjoyment of the site. On the other hand, each time we've rung the "zero tolerance" bell a scant few members decide to howl at the moon (and anyone else who'll listen) about infringement of freedom of speech. Let's be clear: B&B is a privately-owned website. While we are tolerant of quite a bit, moderators are by no means required to allow members to belittle others or consistently restate the same point in the vain hope that the entire internet will somehow line up with their way of thinking. The way we figure it, your local Barber Shop wouldn't tolerate such pettiness, lest they quickly lose patrons -- why should we? Should you be a person who finds great enjoyment in arguing politics on the internet, we simply and respectfully suggest that B&B is not designed to meet that particular need of yours. Fortunately, you are free to post on political forums elsewhere online, then return here for a healthy fix of shaving and other gentlemanly pleasures.

To summarize, political discussion is fine, political arguments are not. As always, feel free to PM a moderator should you have any questions.

[oc_in_fw]

Thanks Chad. I have responded in a few of these threads, and I hope none of my comments were unseemly.

[Luc]

Thanks Chad! I would only add that if you see something that is *not* right, please report it! We are not reading every single posts. Instead of posting in the thread, report the post using the little triangle with a '!' under the post that you want to report and leave us a note on what's going on. If action is required, we will act.

[franz]

Yep, report it. Simples.

[Go West Young Man]

Can't agree more!

[Alacrity59]

Did this need to be said? On the other hand it was very well said.

[jstutman]

Politics is not to be spoken in a real barber, so one would believe it should be followed here.
Especially if the one cutting your hair, hates the guy you voted for :P

[oc_in_fw]

Politics is not to be spoken in a real barber, so one would believe it should be followed here.
Especially if the one cutting your hair, hates the guy you voted for :P

when I grew up, politics and religion were not discussed in polite company. Every time I went to the barber, sports were the big talking point.

[Shave A Buck]

I guess it is a reflection on where our nation is and possibly some members feeling the punch of the hard times that brought us to this point. This new policy might be the needed wake up or reset needed as the board could be a diversion from all this.

[natchez]

Thanks for doing this, IMO some of the threads have been getting a bit out of sorts. I have been reading, but have refrained from responding.

[bhorsoft]

My test has always been:

If you wouldn't say it at the dinner table with the kids, Grandma, and the Mother In Law there, then it shouldn't be said in an Internet forum.

[hotreds]

Have a cigar!

[Clovis Man]

On the other hand, each time we've rung the "zero tolerance" bell a scant few members decide to howl at the moon (and anyone else who'll listen) about infringement of freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech, according to the Constitution, is a limit on what CONGRESS can do. It doesn't apply to private forums, such as a barber shop or an internet forum. When people make such a complaint, they are simply showing what they don't know. One work for "what they don't know" is ignorance.

Have a cigar!

Good idea! Toraño sounds nice...

[hotreds]

Toraño IS nice!

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

Toraño IS nice!

Hmm, never had one . . . and here they are, at my favourite tabac, even!

http://www.n49.ca/p/calgary:2164/tob...ail_se/details

Thanks, hotreds!

Back on topic now, I actually like disagreement, as shown in a fair percentage of my posts. Having said that, I don't particularly envy the mod's jobs of having to restore the peace.

Roll on, guys

Best,

- John

[TonyH]

Will this include inflammatory signature lines as well? It seems counter-intuitive to randomly administer justice to people in the Barber Shop while others spread their venom all willy-nilly with every post, in every forum. I'm speaking specifically about signatures that clearly mention political ideologies, parties, candidates, or what have you.

I ask this as an honest question in the interest of improving the discourse.

[franz]

Will this include inflammatory signature lines as well? It seems counter-intuitive to randomly administer justice to people in the Barber Shop while others spread their venom all willy-nilly with every post, in every forum. I'm speaking specifically about signatures that clearly mention political ideologies, parties, candidates, or what have you.

I ask this as an honest question in the interest of improving the discourse.

If someone's sig becomes an issue, hit the report post button to report it to the team. They will look at it. I don't necessarily care for political slogans in sigs either, but there is only so much ground the mods can cover.

[Go West Young Man]

I have sig's blocked, it makes the whole surfing experience a lot cleaner and smoother.

Except I don't know anyone's real name!

[TonyH]

I have sig's blocked, it makes the whole surfing experience a lot cleaner and smoother.

Except I don't know anyone's real name!

ooh. I didn't know you could do that...

[oc_in_fw]

I have sig's blocked, it makes the whole surfing experience a lot cleaner and smoother.

Except I don't know anyone's real name!

You have sigs blocked, yet have a sig line. Not sure why I find that humorous.