Some questions about setting up a comm...

[the_moonmoth]

I'm thinking about setting up a new community, but I've never run or moderated a comm before so I would appreciate any advice anyone has to give me. [More info on what I have in mind here on my tumblr.I also have some questions I hope someone can help me with

Comments

[kayjayuu]

I'd search through Metafandom's Delicious tags... so much discussion on triggers and safe spaces and shutting down discussions... you can get lost in it. But it's there and been talked through many times.

Also search through Fanlore's pages, they have good links.

I'm pretty sure as a mod you can do what you want with a comm. Limiting it to women-only would be a function of moderating all posts and/or vetting every member. Plus lots and lots and lots of interaction and monitoring.

Good luck, sounds like you've had some crappy experiences.

[the_moonmoth]

No, it's not been that bad. Mostly, the comm where I've been hanging out has been wonderful, it's just now and again something pops up which is really not ok, and the mod has pretty much failed to deal with it. And it's got to the point where I've had enough, now.

Thanks for the links, I will trawl through them and see what I can find.

[the_moonmoth]

Yes, you can. I mean, it's possible that someone who self-identifies as male might would join or slip by, but if you make membership moderated (you have to approve any membership requests) and put in the community info for all to see that it's women only, that should work for the most part. I would imagine.

Awesome :)

Also if I have ever used certain phrases that would come across as 'shutting down a discussion' I am deeply, deeply sorry. I am also sorry if I've ever triggered you. :/ I'm still trying to work on that because I don't always know.

Don't worry, nothing springs to mind ;) I think the main problem is that the sxs comm doesn't really have rules on that, and so it's left up to the author's discretion. There seems to be an assumption that certain triggers (verbal abuse, dub-con etc.) are inherent in this pairing, and some people don't bother to warn for it, but given the sheer number of abuse survivors who are drawn to this pairing, I think guidelines in a comm would not be a bad thing.

[simplyprologue]

Oh god yes please. Can this exist, please? I've always felt more comfortable discussing this stuff with you guys more than anyone else I've known in RL/other fandoms, and this is like the safe place I've been hoping for. :) (Also, sorry if I've ever triggered you. I've tried to label all my fic accordingly, because I know what it's like to be triggered in the middle of a fic that didn't have warnings

[the_moonmoth]

No, I have never been triggered by something in sxs fandom or the comm, but the lack of guidelines is, at best, an irritation. Thank you for the Geek Feminism reference -- that site is actually looking good for a few things I wanted.

I have made the comm now, and am just sort out rules and whatnot before I open it up to membership. I'll let you know when I do :)