Why are the rules being so strongly enforced all of a sudden? We've gone years without ever causing a major catastrophe on these forums, so why the sudden tightening of the reins?
I can say that I have only been in this forum for a few days - so I don't know how it was done in the past.
Frankly, some people can say more with one line than others will say with five paragraphs. I can understand trying to reduce SPAM, but it seems to me the opposite is being achieved by cluttering up the thread with these reminders.
This I agree with. Sometimes 1 liners are appropriate and I would never put a reminder out there if this was the case. The one liners however were not on topic and were getting pretty chatty.
As long as they are contained with a lot of posts that are on topic - I won't be sending out reminders and cluttering up your thread.
The rules themselves are ambiguous and confusing:
"If you don't like a ship and feel compelled to say why, do it dispassionately and with respect for those who might."
"Discussion in each thread should be limited to the ship it pertains to. Brief, on topic mention of other ships is allowed (for example, if you are discussing a double date between two pairings)."
As we cannot discuss other ships in our own thread, does that mean we are to "dispassionately" do so in that specific ship's thread? No, of course not, as per the following rule:
"Trolling will not be tolerated. Do not go into another thread merely to disparage the pairing shipped there."
So where exactly are we to "dispassionately" discuss ships that are not our own? I vaguely recall a general ship discussion thread but the problem with that is obvious: we can't speak passionately about our own ship like we can in here. Jake and Calleigh's relationship status directly affects the status of Eric and Calleigh's relationship, so how do you suggest we walk that line?
All i will say in this -
~ Shipper Central is designed to be a FUN place for people to discuss their favorite FICTIONAL pairings. Shipping is NOT life or death - it's fun AND it's fiction. So, let's please not take things so seriously. If someone doesn't like your chosen pairing, SO WHAT? You do and that's all that should matter.
~ We expect EVERYONE to have RESPECT for the other posters in this forum and their ships. Treat other ships the way you want everyone to treat your ships.
~ To quote TBonz - "Insulting couples (characters) and/or real life actors. DON'T. If you don't like a ship and feel compelled to say why, do it dispassionately and with respect for those who might."
If you do need to talk of another ship - please do so respectfully and be brief about it.
Here is the link to the Great Ship Debate.
Now - let's post and have some fun!
