Right, class. Get your pens and papers ready. Today's lecture is about how to spot a thread that doesn't belong in M&R and how to deal with it if, and when, you do.
Recommended reading for this lesson is
the M&R FAQ and for complementary reading, the
M&R linlist, and even though it's a bit outdated, a lot of the links in it are still important and useful.
Right, then. I hope you're taking notes. To get right into it, what belongs in ED:M&R? The actual answer is simple:
extended discussions about morality and religion. Simply put, if there's no discussion, it doesn't belong. All threads asking "who/what is/tell me about [x]" are google-material and all "is anyone else [x]", "A or B?", "Yes or no?" are simply
polls, unless they include a "why" in some shape or form. The discussion is to be supplied by the topic's creator, not it's posters.
Repeats are trickier. As a general rule, any repetition of a topic already existing on the first two pages or so counts as a repeat, yet there are exceptions. For instance, on the two first pages there is both "Why is homosexuality 'wrong'?" and "Should gays be allowed in the military?" and though they share a common theme, they're different enough to be allowed to co-exist, since they deal with different situations. Essentially, anything on Nora's list in the FAQ is a
potential repeat, but they all have to be judged individually. Repeats move in circles and one month, there may be an influx of topics about free will and the next, paganism may be the repeat of choice. When in doubt, always consult with a Moderator familiar with the forum (preferably Nora, if she's online), people in the DYB thread or, failing that, ask me.
Now, it's never quite as easy as black and white. Take, for instance, the aforementioned "Why is homosexuality 'wrong'?". The opening post is a one line topic, barely even fit for GD, but since a discussion arose from it (even though it shouldn't have in the first place) it gets to stay. Likewise, "Wiccan vs. Pagan. vs. witchcraft" is not ED worthy, but since it was turned into a discussion, it can remain. As a rule of thumb, if a discussion arises from a repeat/misplaced thread and there's no similar thread on the first pages, let it be. However, always try to report them
before a potential discussion arises. When in doubt, ask your classmates, a mod or me.
Recognizing a repeat is usually easy. Look for keywords like "homosexuality", "abortion", "creation", "evolution", or simply the name of a major religion or lack thereof. Lack or overuse of capitalization or subpar spelling are usually also dead giveaways, though as always, there are always exceptions.
When reporting a thread, always be polite and be sure to thank the Mod, especially if they're not associated with the forum. Feel free to include recommendations about where to send the thread along with the link, but don't feel that it's a necessity. Remember, always be polite and courteous. If a lot of people are reporting, make sure to "mark" the thread with a short note, letting people know not to bump the thread and letting other reporters know that there's no need to bother another (or the same) Mod with a topic that has already been dealt with.
Lastly, since your job is to help the forum, not to punish those that don't know the rules, sometimes you'll want to send people in the right direction before having their posts moved. In that case, refer to be linklist or the newest sticky,
"Can someone give me a link to a good site on wicca?".
Good luck this Saturday. If there are any questions, either now or before the Wrath, feel free to ask them.
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