Safe Space Comments Policy, AKA, the Lashings sandbox

Posted by Lashings of Ginger Beer

Please read this comments policy before posting comments on any post. The policy is intended to keep this blog a safe space for the discussion of sensitive issues. If the moderators feel that a comment contravenes safe space policy, they may delete it.


1. Lashings is a safe space

This is a feminist, LGBTQI*, diversity-positive space. We reject all forms of oppression, including but not limited to sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, slut-shaming, body-shaming, prejudice based on perceptions of class, creed, or ethnic origin, or assumptions of neurotypicality or heteronormativity. These things can be perpetuated through choice of language, through the propagation of tropes and stereotypes, or by particular argumentative styles.

If you would like to learn more about the concept of safe space, we suggest:

http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/the-faqs/faq-roundup/

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2006/07/off-limits-humor.html

For examples of behaviour that will not be tolerated (presented in a very entertaining format!) see:

http://www.derailingfordummies.com/

2. Respecting others’ experiences

We encourage posters to write from their experience, and to respect each person’s expertise on their own experiences. It is helpful to be clear about when you are speaking about your own experience, and when you are expressing an opinion based on second-hand accounts.

A person’s account of their own direct experience is not up for debate. If your experience is different from somebody else’s it’s fine to say so, but please do not attempt to correct or contradict their account. If it’s not about you, then it’s not about you.

3. Trigger warnings

Triggers are words or phrases that have the potential to cause people who have experienced traumatic events or chronic oppression to suffer flashbacks, strong reminders or trauma or other distress. If you are posting material that may contain triggers for traumatic lived experience, we request that you place the phrase [TW] or [Trigger warning] in the header of your post or comment, together with a note about the triggers contained. For example

[TW: Discussion of sexual assualt]
[Trigger Warning: Post describes anti-gay hate speech]

If you make a post or comment that is judged to be triggering, the mods may amend it to include a warning. Repeatedly refusing to warn for triggers may lead to disciplinary action up to and including a ban from commenting.

If you would like to learn more about the concept of triggering and trigger warning, see:
http://objectifythis.com/2009/10/what-is-a-trigger-warning/

http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Trigger_warning

Please note that Lashings live performances can and often do contain triggers. Please contact us (feministburlesque@googlemail.com) for more information.

4. The Lashings sandbox

Wherever possible we would like to engage with comments made in good faith. Thus, if you are unsure whether a comment that you would like to make contravenes safe space policy, please post it (with a link to the original post for context) as a comment on this post. One of the mods will respond to you ASAP, and either give you the go-ahead to post it or suggest ways in which you can learn about the issue further before posting.

Sometimes we may direct commenters on other posts to this thread and respond to the comment here, if we feel that it raises important issues that would derail the original discussion.

Please note that while we are happy to help with putting the safe space policy into practice by explaining how it applies to a particular comment, we are not prepared to debate the principles. If you are not willing to accept our safe space policy we ask that you do not join the discussion.