Addressing Issues With Unclear Rules in #Series-Discussion

[topaz remnant]

Please read this statement before commenting:

This thread is to address issues with the current rules and culture of #series-discussion. Let me preface this by saying that I believe the mod team has been good-intentioned throughout this saga and the issue lies with rules that limit thoughtful discussion and a culture that so readily hates characters they dislike without stopping to consider whether someone else might have a valid point. Even if you’re familiar with what happened with me and #series-discussion, please read to the end because I am not the only one who’s been affected, and I have some new perspectives in here.
Often times when discussing in #series-discussion, it’s hard to know when you’re drifting into rules breaking territory. For example, obviously discussing the very creepy relationship between Spottedleaf and Thistleclaw is distasteful, and anyone could agree on that. However, what about if someone makes the statement that Dustpelt and Ferncloud is distasteful, and a diehard Dustpelt fan disagrees; and has actual compelling arguments to back themselves up? It would be unfair to punish the Dustpelt fan simply because they wanted to defend a favorite character of theirs. There have been a few situations like this recently, one even resulting in a popular member being banned, so I feel this needs to be discussed.

If you have any suggestions for how to address this issue or you have your own story of running into this, please share below!

[wind pine]

Hello! As this isn’t a suggestion but rather feedback on our rules, I advise you to open a ticket and discuss with staff there where we can address your worries and try to figure out a solution with you. Any other users who also have the same concerns may also open up tickets and discuss with us, thank you! #▸tickets

[topaz remnant]

I've already opened up tickets, and I'm at peace with the fact that I got muted. Since my intention with this is to find rules best for everyone, this seems like the place. It is, by definition, something that can be discussed here.

[wind pine]

I understand the part about suggesting new or changed rules, but situations you brought up about specific warns, mutes, and bans were not needed to specify your point. That’s where it changes to something that needs to be discussed in a ticket, not in a suggestion forum. Again, please open a ticket to discuss those. #▸tickets .

[topaz remnant]

What if I take out the specific stories?

[wind pine]

Then your suggestion forum may stay up, just take those to a ticket if you wish for them to be discussed.

[orchid socket]

is this a thing? do you get banned for discussing relationships?

[wind pine]

You do not get banned for discussing relationships, the ban mentioned happened for a multitude of reasons. You are discouraged and told not to discuss problematic ships in our rules though, and the only way you could get banned for it is if you go against warnings from mods to stop talking about them. (Ex: apprentice and mentor ships, weird age gap ships, unhealthy/toxic ships, etc)

[orchid socket]

so if i go "i was reading this book and i found this relationship with this problem wow its horrble never caught this" that's not allowed?

[wind pine]

It’s more so if you’re discussing it in the tense of knowing it’s bad, and defending it. We also just don’t want people discussing those ships into too much detail because it can make others uncomfortable.

All punishments for discussing topics such as these are usually given after the conversation has gone past its limits or someone is defending it and someone gets uncomfortable, a mere mention of it wouldn’t usually warrant any kind of warning.

[orchid socket]

ah ok that clears it up

where in the server is this rule though?

[wind pine]

All rules for series discussion can be found here -> #📚︱series-rules

[orchid socket]

i've read it and nothing related to this topic has appeared there

oh wait it was updated

[wind pine]

It’s been updated since 2/5/26

A lot of rules have been updated and changed around that time

[orchid socket]

oh alright

thank you for clearing it up 👍

[wind pine]

Of course, anytime

[topaz remnant]

the problem arises when an agreement can't be reached on whether one is bad, like Sharpclaw and Cherrytail in my case. Also, stopping when a mod tells you to does not always guarantee you avoid punishment. As for the guy who got banned, he actually wasn't defending a ship but whether a certain cat is evil, which the rules say nothing about
@orchid socket (sorry for ping)

[wind pine]

The argument you keep bringing up about the ban, again, ties into the rule of discussing overly controversial topics. (Ex: told to stop, didn’t stop, got warned) and then with the combination of past warns and mutes, resulted in their ban. Yes, stopping when told to stop doesn’t mean you won’t get punished, but it’s on a situation to situation basis.

[umbral void]

^^ it is standard for mods to settle down a situation first before they properly assess it w/o the situation escalating, so just bc a mod says to move on doesn’t necessarily mean everybody is off the hook if they broke the rules. Some things we will let slide if they listen, but like ender said, case-by-case

People often need to have more specific details on what rules they broke, which is the main purpose of a warning, just telling ppl to stop often doesn’t tell people what they did wrong

[topaz remnant]

I'm not here to discuss past wrongs, anyway. We're missing the point. Should we really ban "overly controversial" topics? Often times these topics are central in Warriors cats and provide the most interesting discussion. I get that certain topics make people uncomfortable, which is why we have rules, but it's kind of unreasonable to say that in a fictional series discussion unless it's a particularly extreme case. Tigerstar II is not one of those cases.

[wind pine]

More than half of the times we ask people not to discuss these controversial topics altogether is because we’d rather avoid the risk of arguments beyond a normal debate breaking out. They’re avoided BECAUSE how controversial they can be, which in turn makes them very unpredictable situations.

[orchid socket]

who was the person that got banned?

[topaz remnant]

Based on my experience in #▸series-discussion I can agree that people get very unreasonable when faced with certain topics. However, I also had no idea what WC fans considered controversial, and other people who are new might not either. In my cases I was surprised when people disagreed so vehemently with me when we were discussing. A list or at least a definition would be helpful, although what list or definition I have no idea lol
Also, @orchid socket it was Bramble

[wind pine]

That’s where our mods step in to tell you guys what’s controversial (with good reasons as to why) and what to avoid discussing. A definition for what to avoid talking about when not regarding the ships (since those are already listed), could probably be considered and discussed with the other staff.

[topaz remnant]

well, uh, they like don't do that actually, in fact with both me and Bramble (sorry to keep using the same examples but I can't really think of any other way to get my point across) mods chose to discuss the topic with us and gave no warning it could result in us getting punished.

[orchid socket]

Bramble?? Bramblestwr12?

[simple fox]

no, different person

[ruby beacon]

Hi! I thought I might pop in to provide more information on this situation. As one of the mods involved in this, I thought it would be important to state that you were muted due to the argument within series discussion going too far. I understand why you may feel frustrated about this, but you have had this explained multiple times now. As for Bramble, I strongly advise that you please stop mentioning that situation. You have been misinformed as to why they were banned, but it isn't within my right to tell you why they were as it isn't my thing to share. Please stop stirring things here in a forum instead of making a private ticket to speak with us.

[orchid socket]

Ngl they have somewhat of a point

[ruby beacon]

In what particular point? They've made several, I just want to make sure we're on the same page. If its in regards to rules not being very clear, I can help clear that up more!

[orchid socket]

it's alright i dont want to start up the argument again

[topaz remnant]

IDK why no one seems to realize that I'm NOT here to discuss my past issues but potential rule changes that would be beneficial. I was hoping more people would join the discussion, but instead everyone's made it about me and Bramble. I guess this is at an end now

[wind pine]

This is because the points you made to back up changing the rules were the situations you both were involved in, so we gave you clarification for why those situations would not be a really good example to back up changing those specific rules. You're welcome to still advocate for changing said rules, but again, those specific situations were only discussed because it was brought up by you in the first place.

[orchid socket]

Sorry man just don’t wanna get banned again

[wispy maple]

the only problem that i can see with #📚︱series-rules is that rule 4 which could be very much up to interpretation and confusing to enforce. the rest are clear, but rule 4 is not and only provides the most extreme examples. it doesnt seem clear to me whether or not ships other than those most extreme examples would be on the chopping block as well