The blasted Vision Statement (being part 4)

[zeborah]

Okay, try this one:

1) We will focus on discussing the process of writing speculative fiction (science-fiction, fantasy, and related genres).

2 a) We know that writers write in various genres, at various lengths, on various topics, in various orders, with various technologies, varyingly planned or unplanned, etc, according to their personal style and needs.
  b) We want to share what works for us, and we want other writers to feel free and safe to share what works for them.
  c) Therefore we will avoid implying either that any particular technique is obligatory, or that any particular technique is wrong - though there might be times when a particular technique is wrong for a particular author or for a particular story.

3 a) We know that society in general and speculative-fiction in specific contain many stereotypes and biases that are racist, sexist, homophobic, ablist, and/or intolerant of people in non-nuclear family structures, people of different religions or of no religion, and others.
  b) We don't want to unwittingly perpetuate such stereotypes and biases in our own fiction. We also don't want to unwittingly perpetuate them in real life and/or hurt a fellow human being.
  c) Therefore we want other members to feel free and safe to point out to us if we've said something that accidentally perpetuates stereotypes or biases or is otherwise hurtful; and we will take it as a favour and learn from it if they do.

4) Therefore, on-topic discussions will include but not be limited to:

  a) dragon biology, alien speech patterns, how horses differ from motorcycles, ways to show/confuse chronology in time travel stories, etc;
  b) outlines, punctuation, use of themes, infodumps, RSI, pen porn, etc;
  c) cultural appropriation, sexist language, homophobic tropes, depictions of religion, etc; and
  d) pun cascades, cats and chocolate, etc; because frivolity is the mortar that binds together a community.

5) The group will be moderated by a panel in order to keep it friendly and safe for all members.

If you're still not happy with it, it would be of great help to me if you could note precisely what you disagree with and/or offer alternative wordings.

But please note that I consider it very important to explicitly include:
a) the groups that have been implicitly sidelined by the sf community in general and rasfc in particular; and
b) the topics which were theoretically allowed on rasfc but which in practise more than one of us was afraid to talk about.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

It's getting better, though I'm still wary of anything called a "Vision Statement" because I feel it might be intimidating to potential members. Will people hesitate to post because they're afraid that what they have to say is either too trivial or they're afraid of inadvertently offending?

I do believe that a more general Equal Opportunities policy, plus a Code of Conduct will cover everything without being so specific. It has served me perfectly well during 15 years of teaching quite a mixed bunch of students.

I feel there are all sorts of problems with no. 3 above. It could end up serving as troll bait -- ooo, look! There's a group that will be easy to wind up! -- and, if you read it one way, it could be considered patronising to the very people it's claiming to encourage. By specifically mentioning these groups, it implies that we're graciously opening our doors to them and letting them come and explain their quaint ways to us and set us right about how we should write our stories. Sorry. That's putting it very crudely, but there is something about it that sets my teeth on edge.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I agree, both on the general "Vision Statement" thing and your specific reservations on item 3.

I think that item 5 covers most of it . . .

[brownnicky.livejournal.com]

Me too.I agree with Helen on all counts.

[zeborah]

It's getting better, though I'm still wary of anything called a "Vision Statement" because I feel it might be intimidating to potential members.

That one's easy: call it "What this group's for" instead.

For the other issues, if I start talking I'll talk too much. :-) Thank you for the feedback.