Over the past few months, the Bulbagarden administrators have grown increasingly concerned with the way several forum members associate the word "gay" with "bad things" (eg, "That film was so gay" to describe a bad movie). We feel strongly concerned about how it makes other members of Bulbagarden (of the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community especially) feel about their place on Bulbagarden.
At the same time, as a forum where even swearwords are not banned, we remained strongly opposed to simply banning the use of this or that word, when that use is meant harmlessly.
As such, we have decided on the following policy:
1. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable with the way they call things "gay" or anything else, you should tell them. Asking them to stop because they make you feel uncomfortable will not be treated as minimodding, or as flaming and baiting, so long as you do it in a relatively polite way.
2. If the staff feels that your use of the word gay (or anything else) is making our other users feel too uncomfortable, we will ask you to stop. Continuing after we ask you to stop may result in an inappropriate content infraction
Note, of course, that in all situations, trying to insult or provoke another user will result in a "flaming and baiting" infraction (which may be severe).
At the same time, as a forum where even swearwords are not banned, we remained strongly opposed to simply banning the use of this or that word, when that use is meant harmlessly.
As such, we have decided on the following policy:
1. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable with the way they call things "gay" or anything else, you should tell them. Asking them to stop because they make you feel uncomfortable will not be treated as minimodding, or as flaming and baiting, so long as you do it in a relatively polite way.
2. If the staff feels that your use of the word gay (or anything else) is making our other users feel too uncomfortable, we will ask you to stop. Continuing after we ask you to stop may result in an inappropriate content infraction
Note, of course, that in all situations, trying to insult or provoke another user will result in a "flaming and baiting" infraction (which may be severe).
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