Support	9
Neutral	1
Oppose	0

Succesfully signed into wikilaw. Policy was written and is located at TES:BLOG. Discussion on the verbiage should be directed to the amendment page. --—Deyvid Petteys ^{(bother \ stalk)} 03:48, August 5, 2012 (UTC)

On the IRC, we have discussed the possible necessity of writing a Blog policy. As of late, we have noticed that the sprawling, savage lands of our blog community could use some machete and garden shears to prune back the excrescences and reclaim our power over what users experience when they come to wiki. Numerous times, I see bloggers creating one-sentence blogs, for no reason other than to troll No moderator action is taken to resolve this. Numerous times, readers of the wiki have approached me about harassment, trolling, and other interpersonal drama, which we need to gain a better foothold on. By writing a policy, we can clearly outline what we, as a community, consider to be acceptable blogging etiquette, and use it as a tool for moderation. But, first, there are several questions I need answered:

1. Do we want a blog policy? Would we rather have it grow wildly and send all which we cannot resolve over there? Should we leave it like it is?
2. If we create a blog policy, will patrollers and admins monitor newly created blogs and blog comments for spam, harassment, and other problems that impede each reader's experience?
3. What should be include in the blog policy? This is most important.
   1. Do we want to limit what bloggers can blog about? We already have a policy with news. Only Staff members can write news articles that are displayed on the main page, but do we want more rigorous rules? Do we want only TES information to be blogged about?
   2. Do we want examples of "etiquette"? Are we giving our readers and editors freedom of speech, or are we going to limit that by enforcing certain social standards, i.e. "be kind to your neighbor", no cussing, comment only on the content not the writer sort of thing? After all, we're not Youtube.
   3. Blog formatting. Should we make proper grammar and spelling mandatory? Should all blogs follow a basic guideline for readability? Should we limit how long or what words are used in blog titles? Should we remove excessive capitals? Information defamatory to notable persons or other wiki members>

Please vote and comment on all the points made above. Especially the part would what should be included in the policy if it's voted into wikilaw.--—Deyvid Petteys ^{(bother \ stalk)} 22:31, June 19, 2012 (UTC)

SupportEdit

Support — Willing to discuss the finer points when others state their opinions.--—Deyvid Petteys ^{(bother \ stalk)} 22:31, June 19, 2012 (UTC)

Support — For now I'll just say that I think it's a great idea, if people are willing to support it then I'd be happy to help out however I can. --Brynden Bloodraven Cauthon 23:24, June 19, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I do think we need rules for blogs, rather not have ones that have nothing to do with the wiki and just plain rude people in some cases. (Twilightdragongod ^(talk) 22:43, June 19, 2012 (UTC))

Support —

1. Introduce a policy.
2. I will keep an eye on the blogs.
3. 1. I don't think we have to limit them. We already have boundaries for news.
   2. We need some solid ground on removing comments that do not contribute to the discussion at all. Examples are: lol, first post, I hate you. Blog comments should be on-topic and constructive towards the discussion. No discussions about whether or not the user is a good guy or not. (which would end up being negative most of the times).
   3. Not strict. Several users do not edit the wiki because of their insufficient knowledge of the English language. Their main interest in the wiki are blogs. We don't want to cut them off from that as well.

~ Flightmare ^(talk) 22:50, June 19, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I support having regulations on blogs. I don't think it all needs to be strictly TES topic though. I'm more for keeping members free from being harassed by others on blogs. —TombRaiser ^SPEAK! 01:47, June 20, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I say we relegate all user blogs to a corner of the site until the overall quality improves and just set some basic standards/rules. We don't have the manpower to moderate every single blog that is posted - that time could be better spent elsewhere.

Blogs post such as this require only one click to show up on the homepage. That needs to change. We can remove the link in the homepage tabs (under the slider) for personal blogs as it already exists in the top nav. On another note - if people simply stop posting replies on the really bad blogs then maybe people will get the message.

--Jimeee ^(talk) 17:56, June 23, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I think some regulation never hurts, but it should definitely (in my opinion) go both ways: both to the blogger and the replier. I always find "don't blog unconstructive, don't reply unconstructive" to be a very valid regulation, because it stops both troll blogging and attack replying. Up until now I stuck with HaLo2FrEeEk his quote on what's allowed, assuming it was the standard, but regulation would probably reduce the friction between trolls and agitated bloggers. Regulation would be better.

When trolls anger and provoke people into replying harshly, or even attacking, it sets a certain tone which to outsiders may seem unwelcome or even elitist. In reality it is probably a reaction of being fed up with long-term troll blogging, but outsiders don't know that. First impressions always count and bad impressions are always sad, even more so when this wiki community is usually very helpful towards others.

So perhaps then: a general area in the forum for tweet-like smalltalk while Skyrim related talk is done through blogging. That way the chit-chat community sticks to one area, while others who are interested only in serious reading and talking can keep using the blogs. It sure would take some pressure off the blogs and the trolls would keep out, being happy in a forum-like area.

Or alternately, no more tweet like messages and non-content posts. But in return no hostile backseat moderating by non-moderator members.

About front-page blogs: Isn't it possible to make a rating system that promotes blogs to appear on the front page? With a condition like: the blog must have 10+ votes and the average rating must be above 3/5. Then it's down to the reader and participator.

(I wasn't sure if normal members could reply here, but I did anyway in case I can.) Saratje ^(talk) 18:05, June 23, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I agree with TombRaiser need something to reduce all the hateful replies. I'm also a huge fan of proper grammar and spelling, it's impossible to take something like; "Skyrim is da gr8est gam eva made! whoooot" seriously, but as it's a blog I feel that determination should be made by the blogger. Jaymz6 ^(talk) 09:02, June 24, 2012 (UTC)

Support — I usually check the blogs for spam and all that to, so yea. G0LD3NF1RE ^{Questions Goes Here} 18:42, July 29, 2012 (UTC)

OpposeEdit

NeutralEdit

Neutral — Personally I agree with this idea, but I think that someone needs to make a vote in a section other than the vote support section, that and I have a irrational fear of the Plus symbol... —This unsigned comment is by Mask2697 (talk • contribs) . Please sign your posts with ~~~~!

• Comment — This vote has been closed for a long time now. Suggestions for the current policy are to be made here: F:CT:Blog policy amendments. Also, remember to sign talk pages and forums. You should know better. --—Deyvid Petteys ^{(bother \ stalk)} 03:45, August 5, 2012 (UTC)

CommentsEdit