Post in Open Posting - Some Ground Rules

Mar 24 21:19 UTC

The temporary introduction phase moderation in now off. You can still introduce
yourself at any time.

Welcome to your neighborhood local issues forum!

We are now free to discuss local topics and share announcements.

Please be neighborly and try to use the civility you would associate with a
small group gathered around a table having a conversation of public issues.
Keep your personality, but be very careful with sarcasm and alway clearly mark
humor :-),

This forum has a couple ground rules in our official charter:

*   Forums posts must be specific to our neighborhoods.
*   Posts from those who live in our neighborhoods who are members of a civic
group or place of worship hosting a nearby community event (e.g. a pancake
breakfast) may post event announcements.

The definition of specific to our neighborhood will evolve as we figure this
space out. To start, for example we can talk about Geese at Lake Hiawatha, but
Lake Nokomis Geese should be discussed on another neighborhoods forum (we will
gladly support other forums). The Midtown Burner issue or issues with strong
cross-neighborhood impact are of course OK. Topics, like business development
on our borders is germane. Announcements in general should not extend into
other neighborhoods - if you are not quite sure, ask us first:
<email obscured> staneric-fm (at) e-democracy.org
(I'll post more guidance on announcements later.)

The goal is to keep message volume in check so we have the largest possible
participatory audience. This forum is not a convenient way for someone across
town to reach us on a non-local matter no matter how compelling. We have other
sites and our sister city-wide Minneapolis Issues Forum for that -
http://e-democracy.org/mpls

E-Democracy.Org also has 13 core rules such as the use of real names (with the
rare exception where someone has court ordered protection and need to keep
their full name off the forum), civility (no name calling), etc.  See:
http://e-democracy.org/rules

We also have a quirky - but essential - rule/technology in place that limits
folks to no more than 2 posts in 24 hours. This prevents two people from going
back and forth and allows more people to enter the discussion before

In the end, this means that we agree to be "neighborly" and while debate can
get passionate, if people violate the rules, you can file complaints
*privately* to your co-hosts - <email obscured> staneric-fm (at)
e-democracy.org  - and we have the power to issue informal or formal warnings.
Two officials warnings within a year results in a two week suspension, three
warning, six months, etc.  Please do not complain about rule violations
publicly on the forum - that is against our rules. Nothing stops the momentum
of a forum more than when it starts talking about itself.

Sorry for all the detail, but it is important that we start on the right foot.

Steven Clift
Co-Host, Standish Ericsson Neighbors Forum