The Gaehive is a studio where every member should feel safe. To do that, it is important to help enforce the rules, whether or not you are a manager. However, there are some obligations which are reserved for the managers. We have not been super clear about this in the past, so we'll begin now. Inviting new members: We are all familiar with the process of joining the studio. You introduce yourself and ask for an invite. A curator-appropriate response is introducing yourself and making them feel welcome. It is not appropriate to harass the new member, complain about members from other studios (DBD, Grifftopia, etc.) joining the Hive, or "interrogate" them. I will now provide examples: Appropriate response: "Welcome to the Gaehive! I'm Oskar, he/fae. Nice to meet you! A manager should invite you soon, but if they don't, maybe ask on their profile! :]" Not okay: "Bro why is your profile picture that like literally are you eight you're too young for the hive." It is important to be kind and follow the SCGs. Additionally, Scratch is a children's website. There will be members of all ages. "Ugh all these people from Studio Oskarland are here. Y'all are so unfunny." Once again, it is important to be kind. The Gaehive is a welcoming space for all. "Hey. Do you have any past accounts. Why did you switch accounts. How did you find the Hive. Are you a troll." These questions can make someone feel unwelcome. It is inappropriate for a curator to ask them. While I understand the desire to help, it still is exclusively a manager task. If you suspect a new member, or anyone for that matter, has a history of rule breakage, please notify a manager on their profile. Dealing with trolls: If someone is marked a troll because of repeated rule breakage, it is a manager's job to warn them or inform them that rule 6 will be applied. It is not up to curators to decide who falls under rule 6. Doing so can create unnecessary drama, confusion, and general unrest. Additionally, if you are concerned about whether or not you are considered a troll (you probably arent!), feel free to ask a manager on their profile. We never apply rule 6 without providing a warning and an opportunity to change. Even more, if you feel Rule 6 has been applied to you with insufficient reasoning, please be civil and bring it up to a willing manager. For more information, see Atari's "What is a Troll?" project. DiscussionHive Etiquette: I intend to keep this section short as most of the key points are outlined in the studio itself, as well as being general common sense. Don't be rude: do not insult other people's ideas, do not make joke suggestions, and don't be afraid to speak up or disagree! It is 100% okay to not agree with something, but it is crucial to maintain diplomacy while discussing topics. One last thing: try not to restate/suggest things others already have, especially if they have been rejected! It can clutter the comments and make it hard for the managers to identify each suggestion. A list of rejected suggestions can be found in the discussion studio. If you have something to add, find the original post and reply to it. Only if the thread has reached its maximum and it is still being discussed should you make a new post. Venting: We understand that rule 4 can be tricky and often seem a bit unfair, especially towards non-LGBTQ+ members. However, it is crucial that we maintain a moderately positive studio atmosphere, and consistent venting can bring down the mood. This is not to say that hard emotions should not be mentioned or you shouldn't open up about them - because you should - it is simply to keep the Hive a safe space. Vents can also get tricky with trigger warnings. All Hive members have individual struggles and it is important we do not worsen or trigger anything by mentioning hefty topics, especially those mentioned in rule ten. And remember, you can always vent somewhere else and mention it here. Some appropriate responses to vents are: "Hey, I'm sorry you're going through that. Please remember rule 4, though. If you need, my profile is open to vents." "Please do not post non-LGBTQ+ related vents here. You can post them on your profile and mention them here, though!" If you are not comfortable bringing up rule four, you can ignore it and ask me or other managers to handle it. Moreover, it is not appropriate to target those who do remind others of the rules. Bringing up rule four is not rude, it is not dismissing emotions, and it certainly does not make you a bad person. The rules exist for a reason. It is rude, however, to respond and say something like "they aren't feeling good! Why the heck would you say this, you're so mean!!!" Closure Etiquette: Appropriate responses to a closure can vary depending on who is hosting it. But no matter what, it is not okay to go to AltHive to bypass it, go to the Discussion Hive and complain, or insult the people who decided +
+ [continued] to close comments. This includes when Scratch Team steps in and closes them. More often than not, comments are turned off as a result of rule breakage, a large amount of triggering comments, or mass unrest. If none of these are happening, it could also be that the host is not feeling well about the things occurring and the other managers cannot step in. Or, the host fell asleep, their WiFi went out, they lost their device, or have other matters to attend to. I know it can be stressful when there is an extended closure, but it is vital to give the host some space to breathe. It also must be noted that different managers have different preferences about what can be posted on their profile during breaks. If they have repeatedly stated that they do not appreciate comments demanding they open the studio, notifying them of spam, or turning their page into Gaehive2.0, that should be respected. A general sign to stop is when another manager comes on and explains that the host is not available to open the Hive. Most importantly, if the studio is being spammed, please do not tell a manager on their profile. Unless they have specifically stated it is okay, the experience is very stressful, frustrating, and doesn't accomplish anything. We understand the desire to help, we really do, but we also have systems in place offsite to notify each other. And please, if there is anything you take from this, do not go to a manager's project comments to speak about spam, Especially if their profile comments are off. Closing remarks: The importance of simple respect should not be undermined. In online spaces like ours, a little kindness goes a long way. Effective communication between managers and curators is the only way to get things done. We are so, so grateful for the curators helping by enforcing the rules, providing positivity, and supporting each other. That is what makes a large-scale studio like ours possible and safe. We would not exist without y'all. Please continue helping out, but keep in mind that some tasks are solely for managers to complete. If you ever have any questions, please bring them up to someone. Much love, Oskar
