Where is the communication from mods/admins on trans topics?

[Deleted member 20630]

Couldn't find the list of active admins and mods to message them privately, but honestly this is probably a better conversation to have in the open anyway.

Xaszatm made this wonderful thread (https://www.resetera.com/threads/we-need-to-talk-about-responding-to-trans-related-issues.151194/) trying to start a discussion about trans issues and specifically how those issues are dealt with on this forum. It was made in light of numerous threads concerning issues raised by Era's trans community and the subsequent shitshow those threads devolved into when transphobic posters came in to lob hand grenades into the discussion and mock their experiences. Sometimes these posters get banned (usually just for a few days mind you) and sometimes they even manage to avoid bans.

Making Xaszatm's thread all over again isn't the purpose here. The purpose is to highlight something regarding the power structure of this forum and how it has dealt with such threads. Volimar chimed in on the first page of that thread to participate in the discussion. That was over a week ago and didn't really address the administration and moderation concerns. They are also the only mod to post in that thread. Zero admins have posted there.

Posters in that thread, many of whom are trans themselves, have repeatedly asked for some kind of communication and for some kind of acknowledgment from those with the power to do something. There were requests for that thread to be stickied that have been ignored, along with numerous other requests made posters there.

The silence has been deafening and it has led some to think that the admins simply don't care enough about trans issues to communicate about them. At BEST it is demoralizing, and at worst it is emboldening some really awful people.

So I want to ask publicly: Mods/admins, where are you at and why hasn't more been done to listen to and communicate with Era's trans community?

 

[GrantDaNasty]

I hope that notice is taken to ensure a welcoming community at ResetERA.

 

[Android Sophia]

Staff have been discussing this internally over the last week or so, with trans staff members leading that discussion and consulting on the specifics.

We've so far prepared the following guidelines for threads on trans issues:

Dismissing the concerns of trans people as outrage or cancel culture (or words to that effect) is belittling and demonstrates a disregard for the issues that affect them. If you can't treat the matter with respect it will be regarded as transphobic trolling and you will be moderated accordingly. We encourage dialogue and learning opportunities that are initiated in good faith, but this requires listening to our trans members rather than shouting them down.

Regarding pronouns: It is not up to you to choose whether or not to respect a trans person's preferred pronouns. We are not interested in allowing any exceptions to this, and misgendering will always result in a severe infraction against the offender's account.

Trans people are individuals: Some trans users will be less affected or less bothered by certain issues than others. Disagreements must remain civil and not result in hostility. Please respect that trans people are individuals with different points of view and do not attempt to police those who do not agree with you. Posts that espouse or excuse bigotry, however, will always result in bans regardless of the author.

Accusations that the ResetEra staff do not care about trans issues will not be tolerated: We have several trans members of staff who are consulted on both site policy and individual reports. All of us are volunteers who contribute our time when we are able, and it will sometimes take time for us to get to a report that needs our attention, especially when there are a lot of reports in the queue. Similarly, just because a moderator has posted in a thread does not necessarily mean that they have read every post in it; if you would like to call attention to a post that you feel violates our guidelines, please use the report system.

Claiming that our staff don't care, or attacking us for doing our jobs, is personally hurtful and makes us less likely to want to donate our time. In the interest of protecting the mental well-being of our volunteers, such posts will receive bans as steep as necessary until they stop. Feedback is always welcome when presented politely and through appropriate channels. You can use the contact form at the bottom of the site or reach out to the Moderator Captains. Thank you for your understanding.

As always the best way to receive responses to moderation questions and concerns is via the contact form at the bottom of the site or by reaching out to the mod captains directly.

The full staff roster can always be found here: https://www.resetera.com/threads/active-staff-roster.7164/

Additionally, a discussion thread on the current topic is open and can be found here: https://www.resetera.com/threads/we-need-to-talk-about-responding-to-trans-related-issues.151194/