We are implementing an additional rule to YT and wanted to make everyone aware of this change. We feel this additional layer of consequences may help with some ongoing issues we’re aware of at YT.
The suspension rules and banning rules will remain the same. However, for quite some time we’ve noticed that some members,
while avoiding breaking the rules to the point it warrants a suspension, are responding to members in such a way that is not conducive to the kind of community YT strives to maintain.
A fair example of this can be seen in some threads of the ER section. The intent of the ER section is for people to ask for help, and receive support and advice. The advice should be constructive, but it should not cross over into the realm of attacking, judging, making assumptions, and jumping to conclusions about the correctness of a member’s choices or their overall ability to be a pet-parent. That kind of communication isn't productive for the pet-parent, or for the dog
in need of help from that pet-parent.
There is a lot of room at YT for many different opinions, so this is not to imply that people shouldn’t share their different opinions. Rather, a variety of opinions has always been encouraged at YT. What we’re asking is that people behave more calmly and that people try harder to resist posting when they’re angry or when they’re feeling too provoked by a subject, a member, a situation, or an assumption. We're all capable of voicing our opinions,
no matter what they are, in a constructive and useful manner; we can disagree with respect.
Going forward, when a suspension isn’t warranted but some kind of consequence is needed – YT may disable a member’s access to whatever section of YT which is applicable. For example, if a member is causing too many issues in the ER that prove problematic to the intent of that section, we will disable that member’s access to the ER section for 1 week; the second time it happens, we’ll disable access for 3 weeks; after that, indefinitely. And as per the usual rules currently in place, suspensions will apply if it is more appropriate than disabling access.
We hope this will help toward changing the atmosphere where change is needed at YT, and that this will help maintain the spirit and intent of YT.
