Note from Admin 

Chatterbox: Down to Earth

Note from Admin 

Note from Admin 

Cricket’s mission is to promote reading, writing, creativity, and community among all kids ages 9 to 14. We want the Chatterbox to be a welcoming place where everyone who visits feels encouraged to join in the stories and discussions. 

Not every topic on which you have passionate convictions is appropriate for this forum. Because of the range of age and maturity levels of kids who come to the Chatterbox, it remains our policy that this is not the place for discussions of gender identity issues and other controversial issues. Our older magazine for teens, CICADA, hosts a forum called the Slam, at cicadamag.com/theslam, with active discussion of gender issues within a very creative and supportive community. 

A second CB policy is that posts must be respectful and never hurtful. Disagreements are expected, but recently admins have had to delete, or leave unposted, a number of comments that, perhaps unintentionally, crossed the line of what we will allow. The admins become especially concerned when comments, whether meant to or not, have the effect of suppressing or shaming who another CBer is. That is not allowed.

The stories and role plays CBers create are mostly tales of adventure and light romance that can be enjoyed by kids in the full age range of the Chatterbox. A third fundamental Chatterbox policy is that stories about sexual themes, or with scenes of disturbing violence, drug abuse, etc., will not be posted. 

These polices help us make the Chatterbox an exceptionally great community of readers and friends. 

In creating the character DJ, Gared did not violate any of the above policies, and so his character was, and is, allowed. We hope that other CBers, while respecting the sensitivities of the broader Chatterbox community, will also feel comfortable creating characters as they wish to imagine them. 

The Chatterbox is a big space with room for all. The admins will continue to monitor posts and comments closely, and there will always be borderline cases of what’s appropriate. The admins will try to make judgments that are in the best interests of the CB community and of individual CBers. 

This thread will be left open for a few days for everyone to process what has been said. Then—following the first policy above—it will be closed to new comments so that everyone can get back to creating stories and discussing books with their friends.

Admins

 ----

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. This thread is now closed to new comments.



Admins

submitted by Admin
(December 16, 2016 - 5:23 pm)

back to the Down to Earth

Wait, we can't write about a character with gender identity differences?

 You can write about characters with gender identity differences, but the CB is not a place for long drawn-out controversial discussions. We will be closing threads if they get too heated. ~Admin 

submitted by Bibliophile
(December 18, 2016 - 6:09 pm)

Ok, thank you!

submitted by Biblio
(December 21, 2016 - 2:13 pm)

Thank you, Admins. While I respect and understand the decision of those who are leaving, I do see this acceptance as a positive thing for the CB. In the real world, no matter what your religion or beliefs, you will come across these topics. You cannot stay hidden, sheltered forever. And overall, this brings a large diversity to the CB, something we really need and should appreciate. Again, I respect the decision of those leaving, but I see this as a very positive decision. Thank you, Admins.

submitted by Ashlee G., age 15, The Future
(December 17, 2016 - 3:59 pm)

I have four things i would like to say

1. Thank you Admins for the ruling on The Issue. it is very fair and makes wonderful sense.

2. People are leaving because of The Issue. this is their right and they have every reason to believe in their views. But now people are leaving because these other people are too and this is causing an ugly chain reaction.

3. The more people leave, the worse it gets. If you think that leaving the CB along with Cho, and Daisy then do it. i won't stop you but i will disagree. Did everyone start evacuating when Mei left? NO! So please stay on the CB and make it as wonderful as it once was.

 

Thank you all for listening, i sincerely hope this all blows over and we can go back to writing amazing storys and drawing incredible pictures and being all around awsome. 

submitted by EVERYONE READ THIS!
(December 17, 2016 - 7:31 pm)

We are all leaving on our own account. Our leaving is linked to the new rule, not to each other. 

@Cho--stick around for a few days; I might post something that will change everything. Or at least post something. It may not change a thing. It may not even show up. But in case it works...I want you to be there. If it's a flop, I'll tell you.

PS--To No One In Particular: This policy is to make CBers comfortable and safe. For such a policy, I think there sure is a lot of unhappiness floating around.

submitted by Just another CBer
(December 18, 2016 - 9:28 am)

Alright, I will state my opinion. I hope this is okay, and I'm sorry if I offend anyone here. 

1) I strongly disagree with same gender romance. Always have, always will. Nothing can change that.

2) My Æs and I will not be participating in this.

3) My mom says this sometimes, and I've always found it somewhat annoying, but I understand what she means now:  "Fair does not mean everyone gets the same thing. Fair means everyone gets what they need."

-My Mom

Is Same Gender Romance what everyone needs? No. Is it what some people need? No. It is not what anyone needs. I respect and understand the Admins decision, and everyone else's opinions and beliefs. But this is my opinion. I don't hate anyone, I'm not mad at anyone, and I won't judge you if this is what you decide to do. I am simply stating a few things. 

4) I may not agree with this, but I will still be kind about it. I'm not going to go around discriminating people because of this. I won't be mad at anyone, or hate them, and I won't exclude or look down upon gay people. I will only pray for them.

5) I will stay. I will not leave. I realized that I don't need to run from my problems, I need to face them. I can't stay in my own safe little bubble forever. And if I can live in world that agrees with this kind of thing, I can stay on the CB and not have to agree with every policy. I don't have to like it or participate in it. I don't have to accept it or be okay with it. And I won't be. But wherever I go, there will be Same Sex Romance, and I'll just have to live with it. I live in a fallen world and do just fine. So I can stay.

My opinions and views aren't meant to be offensive or hurtful in anyway, and I apologize profusly for any discomfort this post may have caused you.

Admins, I respect your decision, though I may not agree with it. Thank you for welcoming everyone, even if they want to be different, and thank you for keeping us safe. I really do appreciate it. :-) 

submitted by Leeli
(December 18, 2016 - 10:06 am)

Ok, so maybe you're uncomfortable with this, and maybe you don't support it, but that doesn't mean it's not fair. The admins have looked very closely at both sides of the argument and have come to a reasonable decision. Maybe you are the one being unfair towards gay or lesbian people. Would you like it if you were labelled as "corruption?" It doesn't look like you've even given them a chance.

submitted by A Person
(December 19, 2016 - 10:19 am)

"Same gender romance is not what anyone needs" 

So let me get this straight (no pun intended)

You are not going to make a fuss about this (which is good) 

But you do believe

That the allowance of same gender romance is not something anyone needs?

There are people, real people, who are born with a preference for the same gender!

It is not something you can change!  

Doesn't everyone, regardless of how their BRAIN IS WIRED AT BIRTH, deserve equal respect? 

Equal societal acceptance?

"But Somebody," you say, "this is about fictional characters!"

Normalization of same-gender romance is important and it starts in fiction! In most fictional works about LGB characters, the same-gender attraction is the entire premise of the character. And if we straight-up don't allow same-gender romance in fiction, even in communities like this, we're taking a step away from normalizing LGB relationships, and causing more negative stigma to surround it!

Literally none of this is going to go through, but I really have to click submit here because of how upset this post makes me.  

submitted by Somebody @Leeli
(December 19, 2016 - 12:34 pm)

I think it's strange how the most important thing about LGB characters in books is that they're LGB. There is more to everyone's life than who they like. Everyone has problems/conflicts in their lives that are not about crushes, etc.

submitted by OtR
(December 19, 2016 - 2:42 pm)

*Cries* I'm sorry, guys! Please don't be mad! I didn't mean to be so harsh. I don't mean to discriminate! I don't hate them, and I definitly don't want to be mean or rude to them. I'm sorry for making you guys mad. *sigh* I think I'm gonna leave this thread. It is if no benefit to me. :,-( I seem to only be causing problems, and I'm really sorry. 

submitted by Leeli
(December 19, 2016 - 6:23 pm)

So, ideas for the name of this issue?

So far, I've got:

- The Opinon Evacuation

- The Issue (so original, right?) 

- The Diversity Debate

- A difference of opinon

- Equality Evacuation 

I don't think this qualifies as a war. A conflict, really, maybe a skrimish. 

submitted by ~
(December 18, 2016 - 6:17 pm)

I'm sorry, I'm so behind the times and busy. Where did this issue come from? 

submitted by KtG
(December 19, 2016 - 1:47 am)

Gared wanted his AE, DJ Bow tie to have a boyfriend. People started arguing over that, so the Admins said they would make a decision on whether same-sex orientated characters and AEs would be allowed. People got upset about that, and many said they were leaving if the decision didn't go their way. The decision was made and posted. You can see it on this very thread. It's the thread itself. The decision got mixed reactions. Some are upset and leaving, while others were happy and relieved. But what those staying behind (including myself) are trying to do right now is advocate for peace, and urge people to start leaving the topic and moving on.

submitted by Owlgirl
(December 19, 2016 - 10:22 am)

You'd be surprised. I've been in almost all the wars, and this affected me the most. I think it definitely qualifies as a full-fledged war.

I suggested "The Diversity War" on another thread. But I don't think we need to decide on a name. The label just comes to us eventually. We never exactly agreed that the Nostalgia War would be called the Nostalgia War, after all. It was just "the war" until it was over, and then one person used the term, and then others used it, and it became official.

submitted by St.Owl, age Recarnated, Everywhere
(December 20, 2016 - 7:41 pm)
I'm just going to point something out--and try to be as unbiased as possible when I do. I'm really sorry if I offend anyone. I'm not trying to. I simply feel like this needs to be pointed out...

The above policy states that all CBers here are supposed to feel safe and comfortable. Obviously, many CBers do not.

The CB is meant to be open to everyone--and this new announcement/change allows a whole new side to the CB, one that was not there before.

It is making some CBers uncomfortable.

The policy gives everyone safety and comfort. But for half the CB, it does not grant it.

This breach is mainly prominent in the rule that affects roleplays--there are a few things I'm worried about concerning it.

The first: For now, the CBers may know each others' views. But since we're not allowed to directly say what we agree and disagree on, the newer CBers that join in the future will not know, and eventually, we will forget as well. CBers will inadverdently offend other CBers, and not even know it. This is because there are now limits on the rules we can give our RPs. Which leads me to my second, main concern...

The second concern: We, the CBers, are now no longer allowed to govern our own RPs. The policy is in place so each CBer will have proper respect--but by forcing an RP maker to allow this sort of thing in their roleplay, whether they want to or not, it is, in one case, not respecting their beliefs--or, in both cases, their freedoms.

If a CBer who does not want gay in their roleplay politely establishes in their roleplay a rule against it, their decision should be respected. And those who want that sort of thing in a roleplay have no right to force it into another CBer's RP. They simply do not join the RP if they feel strongly against that sort of rule--in exactly the same sense that a CBer does not join an RP if they feel uncomfortable making an 18-year-old charrie!

If the above were the case, both sides of the argument would be respected--by being given the right to govern their RP, both would be respected for their beliefs.

The current rule, however, forces all CBers to allow this in their RPs.

Those who are against it are not respected or given safety, or comfort, and that goes against the policy.

Again, I mean no disrespect. However, I ask that you please consider making this change to your policies/rules.

 

While you are not allowed to create role plays or threads that exclude a certain group of people, no one will be forced to participate in a role play or thread where they don't feel comfortable. We know there are some who do not agree with us, but this is our policy. We will not enforce segregation in threads. 

The threads will operate as they usually do: they are open to all who are respectful of one another. We do not expect that there will be and overwhelming number of LGBTQAI+ characters. This new rule simply allows the characters and members to be here and participate as normal. 

We appreciate your comments and concerns, but our decision stands.  

~Admins 

submitted by Just another CBer
(December 19, 2016 - 10:07 am)
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