Using the [RD] prefix

[Camikaze]

[RD] ("Real Discussion") threads are for mature, civil discussions. [RD] threads are for those who are genuinely interested in a free exchange of ideas, with an open mind. They are not for people who want to troll, make oh-so-witty one-liners, or derail decent discussion. They are not designed for chatting about the weather or for the random-rants type threads. Please do your best to create a strong and informative OP to get the discussion started.

[RD] threads will be moderated quite tightly. No trolling. No name-calling. No insults. No ad-hominem attacks. Discuss in a mature manner.

To create an [RD] thread:
Please select the [RD] prefix from the 'prefix' dropdown menu when posting a new thread. It can be found just left of the thread title box on the create new thread screen.

If you wish to add an [RD] to your thread after you've already posted it, please report the opening post with your request. Although such a request will not necessarily be granted automatically, moderators are quite likely to listen to the wishes of the OP.

To find [RD] threads:
The prefix system allows you to sort the forum by a particular prefix. When looking at Off-Topic, under 'Display Options' in the top left corner of your screen you will see the 'prefix' dropdown menu. Select the [RD] option, and all non-RD threads will be filtered out, revealing just the threads with an [RD] prefix:

 

[Loppan Torkel]

What's the difference between SERIOUS and Red Diamond?

 

[peter grimes]

[SERIOUS] is archaic - it shouldn't be used.

 

[Kyriakos]

Hm, nice twist in the RD meaning (which seems to partly co-exist with the older one)

 

[Borachio]

This is kind of neat. It would seem that those who still want to retain the Chamber can do so.

 

[JollyRoger]

For those with an open mind, an oh-so-witty one liner can promote the free exchange of ideas.

 

[Borachio]

I agree. So maybe [CM] (for Closed Mind) would be more appropriate than [RD]?

 

[Valka D'Ur]

So threads marked [RD] are "real discussions" and all other threads are NOT real discussions?

That's rather insulting toward the many excellent non-RD threads, don't you think? There are lots of interesting, informative, productive threads here that don't carry the Red Diamond/former Chamber location as part of their history and they most certainly are "real" discussions.

Why don't you just use an image of a smiley sticking its nose in the air to designate these "Real Discussions", then? It would carry the same sentiment.

 

[timtofly]

How about Real Disciplined?

 

[bhsup]

"Rigorously Directed"

 

[peter grimes]

[Rarified Deliberation]?

 

[bhsup]

^ Now that I like!

(please deposit brown noser points in my account as per agreement. Thanks!)

 

[gay_Aleks]

Besides, what's the difference between threads with red-diamond tag but without RD prefix, threads with no tag but with RD prefix?

And what of threads with red-diamond tag AND RD prefix? Are they ultra-serious threads?

 

[JollyRoger]

If it has a tag and a prefix, the thread starter's navel explodes from the lasers emanating from his eyes.

 

[gay_Aleks]

I guess I should be running from laser-welding communists then?

 

[Takhisis]

Do you imply that we can prevent those unMerican Soviets from posting in our threads? Yahooah!

 

[Mise]

Nice prefix, but IMO either keep the meaning of RD as "Red Diamond", or just change the acronym to something else, e.g. "HM" for "High/Heavy/Harsh Moderation".

People got used to the Red Diamond naming convention before and I'm sure new posters will get used to it too. Red Diamond has certain connotations too, meaning "warning", "hard", "tough", etc, referring both to the moderation standards and also the level of discourse. When taken in context of all the other threads in OT, the diamonds imply a sort of "diamond in the rough", too.

As Valka said, calling it "Real Discussion" implies that there are no real discussions going on in other threads. This will create the expectation in the community (especially among new posters) that non-RD threads aren't supposed to have any real discussion. It will encourage spam-of-the-bad-kind (as opposed to the funny one-liners and more familiar posting style that we've become used to in the Tavern), so I think you should reconsider calling RD threads "Real Discussion".

 

[Borachio]

Ah yes. But with an [RD] prefix you can filter out one or the other. Which maybe you can't with just a red diamond? And I don't like the possible connotation with communism of "red".

Although what my likes/dislikes have to do with the price of fish I haven't a clue.

 

[Mise]

I didn't mean to get rid of the prefix! I like the prefix!!! I just meant that we should either rename the prefix entirely to something else, or continue to consider "RD" as an abbreviation of "Red Diamond".

 

[Camikaze]

As said in the SF thread, we were looking for something other than RD, but largely because 'Red Diamond' is unclear for newer members, and could discourage them from contributing. I'd agree that 'Real Discussion' is not ideal, but the D is appropriate and I can't think of anything else for R. Other suggestions are welcome.