this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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SquaredCircle Backup Community!

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This is the backup community for SquaredCircle on Lemmy.zip! Come discuss pro wrestling! Any company or era is welcome. (Our main community on Lemmy.zip) **Please direct conversations towards our main community as it is more active and this spot is intended for 'emergency' purposes.**

founded 1 year ago
 

Hi everyone, absentee mod here! Looking to not be so absentee going forward.

When this magazine was kicked off, it was essentially cloned from the SquaredCircle subreddit. However, a lot of rules there were put in place because of the immense volume of traffic -- the sub needed curation to weed out a bunch of meh posts and those who were karma-seeking. But we don't need to mirror that, and in fact, it may be better to open the doors a bit so that more people feel comfortable posting new threads.

We wouldn't be looking to change the rules related to civility, trolling, hate speech, or spoilers. But feel free to leave your feedback on your thoughts on these other rules:

  • Derailing a thread: I'm not sure that rule is needed -- if the conversation becomes uncivil, that's its own rule broken.

  • Low effort: we're not enforcing this much now as it stands with low volume, but give your thoughts on post quality concerns. Personally I wouldn't want to keep single responses that are easily found on a Google search, but beyond that, where to draw the line?

  • Memes: some people love that r/SC didn't allow them and kept them contained to another subreddit. Do you have thoughts on memes?

  • Not related to wrestling: we could change this definition. Politics are allowed on r/SC. Personal photos with wrestlers are not. Where would you like to see the line drawn?

  • Clickbait/vague titles: do you want to see those continue to be removed? This somewhat falls under the quality discussion.

  • Sexualized content: I don't see this changing (as in, none) but hey, let your thoughts known

  • Sources: I think we should keep the same sources banned as on r/SC because they have harassed and doxxed users in the past -- they're banned for everyone's benefit. The other rule was "link to the primary source" instead of an article/tweet quoting another article, with the exception being original transcripts of podcasts. Any thoughts on this?

  • Any rules we don't have but should?

Feel free to voice any other opinions (I know there have been conversations about mods in general, I'm working on that) but moderating starts with rules, so let's hear your thoughts!

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

I'll echo the prevailing sentiments, the rules are fine as is and have worked for us in the past regardless of where we were, so they should due us well here, not that we'll have many problems since as you said for now, low volume. Hopefully a yes on the yarrr topic, and I'll also add in a vote in the low-effort-day. I have zero issues with memes, but allowing em full time will just turn this place into 196 but with shittier memes lol.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think most of the rules are great. Personally, I don't want to see any clickbait or ratings related articles. That stuff seems to introduce negativity and I've found this place to be pretty positive/relaxed so far. I really wouldn't want to see that change.

When it comes to low-effort posts and memes: I think a good solution would be to reserve those sort of posts for the "microblog" section of the 'subreddit.' We could designate the "threads" section for articles, discussion threads, and high-quality posts and designate the "microblog" section for low-effort posts, memes, and such. That could give us the best of both worlds. Just a thought.

I do have one question, though: the fediverse seems pretty easy going when it comes to pirated/illegal streams. If someone asks for a link, and we provide one, would we be banned?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm seconding the no rating threads. They bring nothing good.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Thirded. Forgot they even exist tbh and it's been nice.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I am learning more about this every day - the microblogging area sounds perfect for the low effort stuff. We can discuss what we do and don't allow in terms of low effort but that is great potential for keeping things cleaner.

As for the pirated/illegal streams - I'll investigate if the host has an issue with it (as this "lives" on kbin.social, so that would be like "the admins" on Reddit). Considering I enjoy sailing the high seas myself I'd be open to it, if it's allowed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I certainly don't have an opinion about the microblogging stuff and I don't mind if it's here or not but just letting you know, since there might be other people in the situation who do mind, that I don't think the microblogging stuff for this community/magazine/subreddit/whatever you call it will carry over to Lemmy.

(I'm not saying it to be a stickler or anything but just wanted to FYI in case it was important for others) :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pirated streams and such seem to be okay. The creator of kbin (@Ernest) is the owner and mod of the largest pirating “mag” on the fediverse. I’d be surprised if he took issue. But like @JelloBrains mentioned, if we do that then we should probably encrypt links and what not. I’m no expert on that kind of thing but Jello seems to be.

And one last thing: I reported something weird on the microblog yesterday. Seems to be a poorly photoshopped ad for male android enhancements (bottom of first page).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks, I got rid of that... weirdness, lol. It really is tough moderating the way it's set up today.

I do agree with encrypting if we ultimately give it the green light.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

TL,DR: The rules we have now are fine, and even more fine not enforcing them because the community isn't big enough to worry about it.

Derailing a thread: I'm not sure that rule is needed -- if the conversation becomes uncivil, that's its own rule broken.

There aren't enough participants here for this to be a problem at this point. Keep the rule, use it in the future, but I don't see a lot of reason for it to be enforced at this point.

Low effort: we're not enforcing this much now as it stands with low volume, but give your thoughts on post quality concerns. Personally I wouldn't want to keep single responses that are easily found on a Google search, but beyond that, where to draw the line?

Sometimes people come to places and ask things that can be looked up on Google for the interaction with others, not because they want to google. I mean sure it gets out of hand sometimes, but I dislike the just use Google mentality, I'd rather we vote on this content with the up and down vote buttons.

Memes: some people love that r/SC didn't allow them and kept them contained to another subreddit. Do you have thoughts on memes?

Memes are the backbone of the internet, but you don't need constant flows of them. There's not very many people here so how many memes could we see at this point? Keep the rule, use it later.

Not related to wrestling: we could change this definition. Politics are allowed on r/SC. Personal photos with wrestlers are not. Where would you like to see the line drawn?

Politics, no thanks. Personal photos, not my thing either. Maybe we could have a Photo Thread day, or an anything goes Friday or something.

Clickbait/vague titles: do you want to see those continue to be removed? This somewhat falls under the quality discussion.

Clickbait is the bane of the internet and should be weeded out.

Sexualized content: I don't see this changing (as in, none) but hey, let your thoughts known

I assume this is about things like WrestlePlot and that should be its own thing, not something here.

Sources: I think we should keep the same sources banned as on r/SC because they have harassed and doxxed users in the past -- they're banned for everyone's benefit. The other rule was "link to the primary source" instead of an article/tweet quoting another article, with the exception being original transcripts of podcasts. Any thoughts on this?

Link to primary source... I always thought that rule was more of a cover-your-ass rule so that people like SRS or Big Dave don't get upset about their reports ending up in places that didn't pay. I assume their pay sites have the same disclaimer as PWInsider, PWInsider used to flat-out have a clause that said the premium content was for the paying customer's sole use, and if they find out you shared the content they will block you and terminate your premium.

I do have one question, though: the fediverse seems pretty easy going when it comes to pirated/illegal streams. If someone asks for a link, and we provide one, would we be banned?

Like most piracy places, it's best to run it through base64, it always pays to be safe and not risk the Eye of Sauron. Put the link to the content in the encode box, then let users put it in the decode box to see the link.

I'm seconding the no rating threads. They bring nothing good.

Now, I'm sympathetic to the hate for ratings threads, but disagree with banning them. Ratings threads almost always devolve because of the tribalism between fans of the big companies. I saw that recent report that WBD doesn't care about Collisions ratings just how it performs against other shows in the timeslot... um... that's them caring about ratings, and the revenue from ads is what they are after, sure tv doesn't work the same as it did in 1999, but it's still important to advertising agencies.

We could designate the "threads" section for articles, discussion threads, and high-quality posts and designate the "microblog" section for low-effort posts, memes, and such. That could give us the best of both worlds. Just a thought.

I don't use nor will I probably ever actively use that microblog section so I'd just lose that content.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Really my intent was to simplify the rules list while also trying to keep the tone clear enough to a new user.

On r/SC we have the Daily Discussion thread which is meant to be the catch-all for the low-effort type questions but we don't have the volume (or automation) for that, but others mention some themed threads posted on certain weekdays might be a better avenue for that. Still am leaning towards sticking the memes over in the microblogging area. Folks are used to not seeing them anyway, but why not give it a little corner of its own.

Thanks for your ideas & input though, feel free to toss in any other ideas. (And bless you for your hatred of clickbait and vagueposting)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I like the idea of low effort Fridays for something casual; that way it wouldn't be overused but it would be something to do for fun (obviously not like spam or overly low effort posts but some are nice). I guess memes could also be along these lines too. I don't like it always but it's nice to just unwind and let your hair down sometimes :)

Honestly it's been really chill here but I think keeping the same banned sources both places would be easier to manage!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I love the idea of having 'special' days. I was thinking a 'fantasy booking' thread might be fun (ie. "Fantasy Book: Miro's Return to AEW") where each week we pick one wrestler and users plot out how they'd book that wrestler. Could be a fun writing prompt for those of us who enjoy doing that kind of thing.

[–] ItsWizardTime 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe memes on Thursday? It would let people share any memes created during the previous SD/Collision/PPV/Raw/Dynamite. There isn't a huge wrestling presence on Thursdays either and it would help give us something of an identity and something to look forward to.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Either that or Sundays at the end of the week, except when an event is happening but ROH and Impact don't necessarily get a lot of chatter so Thursday works too!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I think most everyone else has covered my thoughts, what with the rules as they stand being pretty good.

I'll echo the sentiment of a meme Thursday or something being a good way to fill the gap on a day where there aren't any prominent shows going on.

[–] ItsWizardTime 1 points 1 year ago

Derailing - hasn't happened and unless we get brigaded I don't see it happening but if it's consistently done by someone or offensive yeah that's gotta get handled. (can we call it invaded? Feels more attitude era)

Low Effort Tricky ... Sometimes I want to have a conversation with wrestling fans. If I asked everyone what move they feel should be banned, is that low effort? Also unless it's a black and white fact like someone's height, or place of birth and it doesn't spur conversation than it's just a step above spam IMHO. Is it wrong to say I can't explain it but I know it when I see it? Like asking what Kurt Angle got his gold medal for in the Olympics... Vs asking why no one talks about how Scott Hall was HUGE. One gets a one word answer the other starts a whole conversation about our perceptions vs reality.

Memes People seem keen on limiting this to a set day or in its own space of sort. A set Meme thread on a set day would be cool. At the end of the month we could have a tournament of the top 16 memes and see what was the best of the month?

Not Related to Wrestling Wrestling gets political sometimes...if it's topical and civil sure...

Pics of wrestlers, if it's just; "Hey I saw Goldberg ordering food..pic"

That doesn't illicit conversation If it's

"I was at a steakhouse and Keith Lee had a 128 oz steak and 2 other plates and it actually looked small in front of him I asked if I could take a pic and he obliged"

I could see people reacting to that and starting conversations.

Click bait/Titles This 47 yr old 4x champion says they want ONE MORE SHOT at...

I feel like we are just better than this and we shouldn't be supportive of sites that do this.

Sexualized Content NO

I don't want to have to worry about what I see on here and who sees what I see on here. People come here during down time at work etc and it's a lot easier to say sorry I was just reading the results of a match last night, than to say sorry but....dem plots. I feel like it will also keep the creep factor down.

Sources Is there any other real source aside from Simon Miller? But seriously new community, staff at sites change etc. If we open it up but put a hard stance and ban at the first new offense or put in a 3 strikes rule, that's still strict but more lenient than what we have now.

For me, the most important guiding principles should ultimately be;

Does this get people talking in a constructive manner?

Does this help out community grow?

If it's no to both of those questions than we don't need it, and it shouldn't be here.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Less rules is better imo. Of that list I think there's currently no need for the derailing, low effort, and memes bans. The rest sound good. You can always tighten restrictions later in response to the community.

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