Controversial Topics in Statuses

I feel like I've repeatedly caused the need for new rules and policy changes. This isn't even the first time I've created such a need since the new year... :/

No space after parenthesis, big typo right there.

Okay, I contributed to this and see what you're saying.

It's kind of sad that this needs to be said. People just need a little bit of self control ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ah, okay. I didn't know what you meant by 'discussion' at first, but after reading the rest of the thread and the list of topics, I think you actually do mean discussion (a conversation or debate), and not just status updates. That's good, then.
If discussions start, those should then move into a pm, or someone should create a thread for them in the appropriate section.

This may be a stupid question, but are we supposed to report any statuses that violate this ruling?

I'm glad you made this post, because I'm unaware of how things are turning out on here. Self-reflection time upon myself and the controversial topics is going to occur now.

That's commitment, wow. Nice!

In other words, don't post something that will cause controversy on profiles. Understood, seems simple enough to follow

*posts "A hotdog isn't a sandwhich"*

I always was told to watch what you post on any websites that might spark a bit of uneasiness, so if you follow the guidelines on what you are allowed or not allowed to post then you will be just fine. Guidelines are easy to remember and must be followed where ever you post on for online safety is a highly must precaution you must be aware of.

Hm. I think we should be able to post as a status anything that's occupying us, as long as it's child-friendly. So things concerning for example sex, drugs, and perhaps suicide, should be left out.
Anything else should be allowed, I think, as long as it's personal and not intended to spark debate.
However, I do see where you're coming from, I think. For example, when the election happened, someone might have posted as their status "I'm very disappointed that Donald Trump got elected", or "I'm very happy Donald Trump got elected". Both are personal, and not intended to spark debate. But both can cause controversy.
So these, I could understand you'd want us to avoid, even though in the 'optimal world' we would be able to implement those feelings into our statuses as well (and in the 'optimal world' we'd also be able to discuss topics that aren't EMC-appropriate, perhaps).
However, this couple of examples is clearly two sides of a debate. Many other status updates aren't, and are more about unique experiences.
I'll see if I can find some examples of statuses that I think are important to be allowed, but might not be, according to your opinion.

This regards mental health. But if people can have a bit of a vent by putting such an update, should you restrict them? This isn't anything explicit.

This regards sexual orientation. It might be extra controversial because it was posted by a guy. However, I think there's nothing wrong with it, and it's a wish that can be shared, especially on such an occasion.

This does not regard any of the topics you listed, but it does regard quite a controversial topic. But it's just an idea shared, and a friendly possibility. I think that the player deserved to share this idea.

This regards religion. But it's a personal, intimate and important detail of this status update. And I see no reason that it should be excluded.

That's just some examples, I'm expecting there to be more, as I only checked 1-5 profile pages of 3 players.

Nitpicking a bit here like, but I'd argue it would be intended to spark debate. By posting something like that, you know you're getting to a reaction out of those who disagree with your viewpoint, and especially so in the minutes/hours/days since he was elected. In fact, even a year after his inauguration, he continues to be such a hot topic that you're still going to have to acknowledge people are going to react against you. It's pretty much bait. It's not an innocent expression of your happiness that your preferred presidential choice now sits in the oval office; it's all that but without a hint of innocence, unless you're ignorant of the world around you.

I don't think updates of this type are controversial. When I had big problems with my mental health issues, I'd come here to vent about them because I had nowhere else to go. Saying that to real life friends would be embarrassing and fairly useless, but here it wasn't. It was an outlet. Both I and I'm sure the staff appreciate that people can come here to use this website as an outlet, and it's comforting when the community rallies around someone and offers comfort. That can be the difference between life and death for some. While EMC isn't the reason I'm miles better now (that would be down to actually doing something about it/getting an actual anchor in the form of a girl and my real life friendships) I know that I wouldn't be as mentally healthy as I am now without being able to use my profile as a place to write something and, admittedly, hope for some positive attention a few years back.

I don't know if that made sense, to be honest.

This wouldn't be banned. I see straight girls and guys posting here about their crushes, their husbands and their wives all the time. If you intend to take issue when the previously listed scenarios involve the same sexes as the crush/crushee, the husband or the wife or girlfriend or boyfriend, it's not the status that's controversial/spiteful - it's you, and you either shouldn't comment on it or be equally supportive as you would be with straights.

Pretty much the same as I said above. It's a flag, we can make flags, and people announce them in statuses all the time. This is a symbol of a group of people just as much as the flag of the United States or United Kingdom or idk Australia is, and when those flags got released, they got entire front page threads. If we had a large group of Kosovo Albanians here and they made flags for their country (despite many countries denying their independence), there would be no objection to that. If, I dunno, a Serbian or Montenegrin or Spanish player took issue with that, they would be told to shut up and deal with it or leave, and if they continued they'd be banned for harassing a group of players. An LGBTQ+ flag is no different in my opinion.

This is hardly religious. It's not a main focus of the status and just says the player prayed. I've said that in a status before, and I'm an atheist. I think the OP means more those who use the space to preach, evangelise, or be spiteful towards religion, if that makes sense.

I'm wondering and concerned about that too. Thanks for bringing that point up!

Thanks for your replies, I hope you're right!

This was my first thought too, when reading this. Statusses are essentially there to tell everyone how you are feeling or what is on your mind. Of course you should not post everything that is on your mind on a PG forum, but imo you should be able to share your viewpoints on certain topics, if that is what is keeping you busy. However, I do also see where this is comming from. If these kind of statusses cause drama, it would maybe be better to not have those discussions on profile pages.

The thing with policies like this, though, is that it can be very hard to draw the line between what is controversial, and what is not, or which posts are ment to initiate a debate and which not. But I trust that the staff will make the right judgements on whether or not a status is just something on someones mind they want to share (of which I don't see how that would cause any trouble), or a post made to start up some drama.