Suggestions for Community Guidelines

One suggestion I have for the community guidelines here is to go into greater detail about the basics of internet ethics.

I understand that some basic things like trolling and defaming are listed at the end, but generally the guidelines as they are seem to assume a fairly high understanding of internet ethics already and seem to want to point people toward a greater authenticity that exceed the cultural norms.

But maybe, because who knows who is going to show up and because people can have wild psychographs with all kinds of shadow and subpersonalities, it would be a good idea to spell out some of the basics of internet ethics (the things that are listed in the end) as kind of a foundation for the community guidelines, a foundation for the "Speak from your Highest Self" guidelines.

These basic ethics would be tantamount to things like the Ten Commandments and the basic Buddhist Precepts.

I think the guidelines as they are are really good and nicely written, but there may be some people who actually want to participate in a way that tetra meshes with the community but still don't know exactly how or have some subpersonalities that need corralling or shadow that needs to be illuminated. The guidelines as they are are almost pointing to esoteric spirituality a little bit. But even with esoteric ethical guidelines, the basic precepts or commandments retain some validity and continue to work as basic guides, just not in the absolute way they are viewed at the mythic, fundamentalist level (Amber).

The basic guidelines could help shed light for individuals in terms of their own shadow and subpersonalites and also help others to point it out when they arise, as well as provide a more detailed guide that can be referred to when someone may be breaking the rules. Talking about guidelines can squelch discussion and make people afraid to do more than exchange pleasantries, but since it has gotten to this point I thought maybe a more comprehensive set of guidelines that included some of the basics would help.

Stalking is one thing that could be discussed in the basic ethics. Another is knowing who to challenge and who not to challenge if you are one who wants to inquire seriously into truth. "One size fits all" guidelines will not work with great consistency. We need to have separate guidelines for each person we meet on the internet. Each of us needs to learn to see that for ourselves and identify who needs and wants what sort of communication. I think the Platinum Rule is operative here and might be good to have in the guidelines, in addition to the Golden Rule.

Some people might want absolutely no challenge, might just want affirmation and pleasant company, and anything else might be harmful for their development.

Others might really need to go in there and discuss things in detail without concealing their true feelings and ideas about things--to establish a culture where people like this can't participate is also a kind of violence and could be harmful for some people.

The new website may offer opportunities for creating spaces not just for different topics but also different styles of communication. Some groups could be just for pleasantries, good company, and discussing things in a completely non-challenging sort of way; other groups may open the door to a little more challenge; and people can pick and choose among the different groups based on these different modes of communication.

But maybe the most important thing is just the Platinum Rule; that is, knowing the particular way that each person needs ("wants") to be treated.

Just a few ideas . . .