Thread:Nehpets7000/@comment-5111283-20150509034408

From the Admin Team:

Hi, Nehpets!

We regret to inform you that, in light of certain events, the admin team has deemed it necessary to remove your chat moderator rights. This is not because of any personal grudges or contempt towards you. On the contrary, many admins consider you a friend and none of us have anything personal against you. Importantly, this is not because of any of your beliefs either. Your beliefs have not led any admins to support your demotion. In fact, the admin team itself is composed of users with diverse beliefs and opinions, and some of them share your beliefs on matters that may be considered pertinent to this demotion.

The reason for demotion is, instead, continued disrespectful behavior. In the past this was most evident through racist and sexist jokes, although fortunately these stopped. Currently, it is most especially evident in your continued use of the word “gay” as an insult and your other comments that have been extremely disrespectful to LGBT* people. This is not an attempt to police your beliefs on this subject, as we recognize that it is complex and controversial. However, when it crosses over from personal beliefs being expressed to them being expressed in a disrespectful manner toward people of other belief sets we have to draw the line.

Several users, even if we don’t include a few of the admins, have made clear their concerns about your behavior in this regard. This has been made evident in complaints to admins and in discussions with you personally on chat. However, in response to such concerns you have either said nothing or made some rather disrespectful response/claim. These include stating that gay individuals are no longer bullied or discriminated against. I’m not sure how you can possibly believe that, but I recommend you actually research this topic and talk to LGBT* individuals themselves. Discrimination is very much real, even in the United States, but especially around the world, where in some countries being gay can lead to imprisonment or execution.

Now, if this were a single case or a new phenomenon, we would be inclined to be lenient and let you off with a warning. However, since you have received multiple warnings in the past for various issues and were almost demoted in the past for being disrespectful, we don’t see enough evidence that you are willing to change your attitude. There is also the issue that, if you are unable and unwilling to recognize disrespect in yourself, then you may not be able to recognize it in others and take appropriate action as a moderator. Our policy is very clear that disrespect is not allowed, and we even specify that sexual orientation should not be the basis for disrespect. We recognize that you have not personally insulted users for being LGBT*, but you have made comments, as stated, that are very disrespectful towards LGBT* users.

 