Of all the things to be calling a part of a toxic culture, saying happy birthday frankly isn't one. Blanket bans will do nothing but alienate people and it's not a step I can support, and the fact that no other threads do it isn't an instant argument because these threads simply function differently from other ones.
Like, in a thread where you can interact with a relatively similar group of people every day in a relatively casual setting, you're going to get close enough to wish each other a happy birthday as long as things are kept productive.
Edited by STARCRUSHER99 on Oct 11th 2022 at 9:36:08 AM
Agreed that socialization shouldn't be completely blanket-banned— it helps enforce a friendlier atmosphere and if anything reduces toxicity— but similarly agreed that this isn't a social thread and, if it's mentioned, it should be during thread proceedings. Anything else should go on more social threads.
Also, back to a previous topic: If people change the YMMV for, say, spelling, they don't have to bring it to the thread, but can we at least encourage them to and/or request the change on the locked pages thread, so that the entries match? If there's a spelling or grammar issue, that's something I'd LIKE to be aware of so it can be fixed.
Agreed, the blanket ban sounds really strict and a likely overcorrection. I think people can be more mindful about trying to include everyone when they choose to respond to "social" posts but the big thing I think will remedy the issue of going of course is ensuring each post is furthering the purpose of the thread, "Happy birthday" and the like can be tacked on but shouldn't be posted alone.
response to [1]
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The mod tags next to usernames in ATT aren't like the pink mod-mode posts in the forum. They're always on, and they're applied (and un-applied) retroactively. MacronNotes posted in that thread and has a mod tag next to her name, even though she wasn't a mod back then. Nombretomado's post would've had a mod tag on it when she originally posted it, but since she retired from the position it is now gone.
So, I believe this also provides moderator precedent for the thread being okay to indulge in (Fairly mild) social interaction. We keep it to comments rather than derailing, we should be okay. I don't see any reason to remove it when it isn't doing potent damage to the thread's efficiency or environment.
Regarding the discussion about archiving the old threads, I'm pretty sure the plan was already to send the old threads to the Projects Morgue
after the new threads are made, since that's the subforum where Projects threads are archived. The reason they're not already there (as well as why they're pinned) is to make the closure of those threads more visible.
Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 11th 2022 at 9:19:23 AM
I got a rock for Halloween.But again, there's a difference between running completely wild and derailing everything and just slipping in some things so that we can all be more friendly to each other. Again, these are people that we're hoping to interact with as much as possible, and blanket banning personal chitchat just seems like a way to make things more tense and uninviting.
Did people do it wrong before? Oh yeah, but there's a way to do it to foster a more positive environment without the kinds of derailments we had before.
Edited by STARCRUSHER99 on Oct 11th 2022 at 10:42:36 AM
Should we segregate the entries on the Thread Suggestions sandbox based on what's been agreed upon? Like this:
- General Agreement
- Agreement with a caveat
- Decision yet to be made
Edited by Paperfly on Oct 11th 2022 at 7:53:12 AM
Image Pickin' BacklogThe Thread Suggestions sandbox has been added to the header. I overlooked the request before because I wasn't actively reading the thread (not intentionally; I've been sick lately and I've been a bit less active than usual as a result).
Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 11th 2022 at 9:46:03 AM
I got a rock for Halloween.I personally don't see the point of outright banning stuff like to with Happy Birthdays or Condolences/Be Well because they never properly derail the thread. Usually people are voting while saying their piece or say their piece when pushing out an EP. I wouldn't call it thread derailing when there's been multiple occurrences of genuine thread derailing from users from them asking irrelevant questions. To me that made the thread less intimidating for me to join just under a year ago now?
What's wrong D-16? Rise up!I'm specifically saying that posts shouldn't just be about small talk, just that there's nothing wrong with slipping it in to posts that have an actual thread purpose. If someone specifically just says "Happy birthday" that's one thing - but if someone says "
for your candidate, happy birthday!" I don't see what the issue is.
Edited by STARCRUSHER99 on Oct 11th 2022 at 10:49:54 AM
@Star, that seems like a fine compromise.
Edit: I feel like I'm not doing the best at explaining some of my thought processes. The point isn't that we want people to not be welcoming. It's that, in the past, these pages of well-wish only responses DO come off as toxic when it's obvious that you aren't in with the "in crowd" and aren't getting the same.
I seem to end up proposing harsher measures in general than what people want, but that's part of discussion.
Edited by LargoQuagmire on Oct 11th 2022 at 7:55:53 AM
Then the threads can make sure to wish more people well when they do it so people don't feel left out. Some members of the thread already do make a point of trying to be kind to those who are less with the "in crowd" of the thread and that should expand, rather than be restricted.
Again, as long as it's not bogging down the threads and promoting inefficiency? I think we're okay.

I lean again towards blanket not having those interactions then. Hearing that no other threads do this also cements it.
In theory it's great to be encouraging people. In practice it's part of the thread's toxic culture.