Given the current tone of the boards and acceptance that the times have changed, it seems like we perhaps need a sensible code of conduct of what is and isn't accepted on the forums.

I know DiS is nowhere near as bad as some corners of the web (i.e. http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/09/online-abuse-leaked-nudes-and-revenge-porn-nothing-less-terrorism-against-women ) but we should aspire to be better.

Whilst we don't need an egg's in or out of the fridge policy included in this 'user code', I think something like this that users and mods can refer to, would not be a bad thing: http://www.feministtimes.com/about/comment-policy/ (a friend sent me this as a suggestion, following some lengthy and quite upsetting emails I've received from a former user of the site).

I wonder if you've seen any of these sorts of things online elsewhere with other communities that we could refer to and begin the discussion of what we all agree is and isn't acceptable on DiS. It needn't be a big in your face thing, merely a page (or sticky thread) to refer to at the worst of times, as we don't really have anything like this at present.

Theo's team of mods do a rather splendid job (I rarely get complaints, which is a good sign, even knowing how bad some of the squabbles on feuds on here are), and I'm not sure this IS necessary, but I think it would be good to have something like this public so that people understand what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. On the whole, this place is good at self-policing and calling out bigotry, sexism, etc, and it would seem that a few of the worst offenders have found their attitudes have been changed by debate, rather than being kicked off. I rarely delete anything (probably 3 threads a year), usually that I'm alerted to, as on the whole I'd say - from what I've seen of the 3million+ posts on here over the past 14 years - at least 85% of what is posted on here is fine, delightful and fascinating and gives me faith that the internet/world isn't full of hideous humans.

Anyway, yes, I await your sneering DON'T CENSOR ME, worst case scenario, 'I'm leaving if you do this', hilarious replies. But really, I'd just like the norms that we have here, especially the unspoken YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR "rules" to be written down somewhere so that this place is as inclusive as possible.