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I feel this
Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket
I feel this
I feel this community has grown less welcoming to certain groups of people. I just want to ask if everyone here tries to be as accepting and non-discriminatory as possible. It's a community I love, but I may have to leave it if some changes are not made.
Thank you
I'm sorry you feel this way, whoever you are. Everyone is equally welcome here.
Admin
Please see new note from Admin at the end of this thread.
submitted by +
(June 25, 2017 - 9:25 am)
(June 25, 2017 - 9:25 am)
Admin, can we call this thread officially closed? I know + was kind of against that, but I think we can call this settled. Right? Can we have a compromise or something? Thank you.
I'm just holding a few unposted comments till other editors have a chance to review and consider them, but we are pleased when you Chatterboxers settle things yourselves. You are bright, reasonable, and compassionate. After the flurry of comments came in to this thread on Saturday, I don't think even one more has come in today (Sunday).
Admin
(July 2, 2017 - 4:20 pm)
I think the Admin is right.
Admins only close things when they get out of hand, to the point where CBers can't control it themselves. But we've been settling things relatively reasonably and compassioantely, so I don't think there's a need for the Admins to actually close it from comments.
Micna says zano. You want me to do NaNo? You're right, I need to stop procrastinating.
(July 2, 2017 - 5:23 pm)
Okay, that makes reasonable sense. Yes, I prefer it when we settle disputes ourselves, saves on the mess of more arguments.
(July 2, 2017 - 8:31 pm)
Want to make everyone happy, so I have a surprise for you all!
(July 5, 2017 - 1:00 pm)
Admin, I do ask kindly to please leave my comment be! I wanted to include those hurt...
(July 5, 2017 - 11:41 pm)
Note from Admin
Thank you to all who have commented on this thread. We are proud of how thoughtful and respectful you are. Chatterbox welcomes everyone and a variety of diverse characters in its stories. Admins will continue to review comments and post all that we consider appropriate for our readership. We do our best to be fair and considerate to all. Borderline comments will be considered on an individual basis.
This thread will be left open for a day or so, then closed to new comments.
(July 6, 2017 - 3:03 pm)
Hold on, Admins!! You are saying then that you are just going to end a war because you have the power to do so? Everything has died down! So you "won" then. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
No, we're not saying that at all. After careful consideration we've decided to close these threads to further comments on the issue. We think enough has been said here, and we'd like Chatterbox to focus on other topics and projects now. It was a discussion not a "war," and no one "wins." We are leaving the threads open for one more day, then they will be closed to further comments.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 4:10 pm)
Hrmmm... You know how I feel about this, Admins. I agree with Blank and the many others. I mean, what has been solved? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You told me - quite clearly told me - that LG was okay, but that other diverse groups would not be likely and would be more deeply considered. What I am still confounded about is why that is. How is LG allowed - and most trans - but not others? So even if you close these threads, I know this is not over. I think people will be more than upset - they will be furious. Just saying.
Admins and Editors have had extended careful consideration and conversations in setting limits for Chatterbox. Comments will still be evaulated on an individual basis, but we're ending the discussion of the issue. We encourage you all to continue writing wonderful adventures and poetry, talking about books and theater, and showing us your art.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 9:51 pm)
I think a bit has changed since then....yes, I noticed that LG comment on your thread. That was the thing to which I had replied but had never gotten posted that on mentioned on that thread.
Since then, I believe that has been extended to LGBT guaranteed. LG because they were already guaranteed and B because honestly that's not very far off from LG, plus there's already been bi characters. The policy on T has been muddled a bit throughout this whole thing, which perhaps is why the Admins are closing it.
What I had thought when I saw the post I mentioned in the last paragraph was trans characters would almost never be allowed. And although there hasn't been a whole lot of directness on that since then, I have seen such characters (just a couple so far) and your AE (first trans AE I think). The fact that they exist, I think, shows things got a little more open. At least, I hope so.
I think you already get all that though, since you wrote, "How is LG allowed - and most trans - but not others?" I think that's the piece we didn't get from all this...as I mentioned before in a comment below, and you can see the Admin's response to that.
So far, it seems that they are not banned, but "likely" not to be considered. *sigh* I know, I agree, it's not preferable. I hope one day it will be guaranteed. But given that discussions are being closed, I think it's bound to be like that as of the moment. So, since it seems it can't be changed, for now, I'm just happy we have been able to secure other rights. (Also as I said down below) I think it's the best compromise we're going to get right now. I love the CB, and I want to focus on the whole of everything else going on it, and be happy. :) I hope that, although you're upset, you can find happiness too. Because you're really awesome, and I relate to you a lot, and you deserve awesomeness for the awesomeness you put out into the world and this little corner of the Internet. <3
LGT, not necessarily B.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 10:51 pm)
Oh. Erp. Well I just made a very long, roundabout comment concerning that on another thread which was mostly me rambling and asking vague questions not in the form of questions, so I guess this answers that.
Well...
1. at least it's not banned
2. at least there has been some "necessarily" (huh that makes no grammatical sense) as in characters who can be shipped with both genders exist on the CB.
but
3. I reeeeeeeeally advise you to reconsider that point, even if you can't do that this moment (I don't even expect you to, to change your mind in 10 minutes), I guess, keep that in mind, when you evaluate comments.
4. (I respect your judgment....and respectfully offer you to keep it in mind)
because it's not complicated or that far-off. I think of it as so simple and normal and.....I don't get how a boy who likes boys, or a girl who likes girls, or a girl or boy who likes both is that different. It confuses me so much how B can be separated a lot from LG, other than by definition. I'm not mad at anyone, I'm just so perplexed. No longer by what your policy on it is, but just really confused now that I know what it is. Confused in a different way. It just...feels personal and close to home somehow, and also really hard to get my mind around.
I'm explaining this terribly, I'm sure there's some lovely books or online articles that explain this much better than I am, but....it's hard for me to grasp.
This is not a post with a direct question by the way, just my thoughts. It's not something that's demanding any answers, even though it is directed at Admins. But Admins you are more than welcome to reply to this post.
As I believe we've explained before, diverse characters are welcome to interact with each other within the limits of what action and description we allow for any characters.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 11:44 pm)
Okay, thanks for posting my post about B on the other thread. You don't have to post the one here though if you want to you can.
(July 7, 2017 - 9:55 am)
Hello, Admins. :) I have a couple questions to get out of the way so you can close the thread without a hassle...
You said the Chatterbox welcomes everyone and a variety of diverse characters in its stories. From what I've seen, you definitely have allowed the existence of L, G, B, and T characters. I think that's awesome, so thank you very much for that.
I have 2 sets of questions....
Firstly: Do you have a definitive ruling on whether you allow characters beyond those four? (QQIA and +) Or is a judge-with-the-individual-post kind of thing. Even so, is there a general consensus Admins will come to in that specific scenario?
Secondly: Back to specifically just the transgender topic...other than the existence of such characters or people, how much of that is allowed? (I have seen trans characters and AEs. However, you've mentioned things about "discussing" them.)
Could you answer my questions separately, (or at least in a way that shows which question is being answered) even if they have similar answers? I appreciate the careful consideration and wording of your responses to CBer questions related to this issue; however sometimes it can be a little confusing when the answer to a specific question is a general principle.
1. We don't have a definitive list, but describing other types of characters will likely not be posted. However, each comment will be reviewed and evaluated individually in the context of the story.
2. The same rules apply to people of all genders: romance is limited, but people may befriend, go places, and party with whomever they wish. Whether we post or delete a comment does not depend upon the gender of the character.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 8:19 pm)
Thank you very much for responding, Admin.
I'm glad we can at least have LGBT. I'll admit that what would be the perfect thing to me would be guaranteeing the +...but if we're going to have a "compromise" (I put compromise in quotes because there's not really two distinct sides to the discussion) then I guess we have a decent one.
Your second point made me especially happy, and is 100% cool with me. The romance limit is a) good that it applies equally to everyone, cisgender, straight, LGBT, whatever and b) is reasonable...I would agree that in general the CB is not a good place for extreme romance, given the age range.
LGT, not necessarily B.
Admin
(July 6, 2017 - 10:38 pm)
Ha! You didn't think that you had heard the last from me, did you?
We are not saying "not allowed." Diversity is allowed within our guidelines.
Admin
(July 7, 2017 - 11:45 am)
Okay, I am perfectly good with the second point as long as that applies to everyone (which I know it does). The first point is... hrmm... You still know how I feel about that. I still will not be satisfied until we can get the whole lot.
(July 6, 2017 - 11:47 pm)