blue_green_dream

Big, big weekend. aseanchai and I attended our niece's birthday celebration, which involved a bouncy castle, a lot of food and many, many small children. It was fun, though I have to admit that the commotion was a bit draining. We're both introverts (or possibly ambiverts), so big groups are always a little hard to handle. Yesterday was a day split between chores and an impromptu family dinner with the theme, "Help Us Get Rid Of Some Of This Leftover Food From The Party." The dinner was followed by a short visit to my parents' vegetable garden, then a trip for ice cream. When they dropped us off, we learned that my brother's dog had wandered off. We helped him look for a bit before Doggo was found, safe and sound. It was well after dark by the time we got home, but it's good to spend time with family.

I've been giving more thought to the community I want to build here on Dreamwidth. I still have no idea what to call it - branding is important, as any ostensible marketer knows - but I do think I have a rules framework in place that should offer enough freedom for discussion while also providing guardrails. There are five rules, and I can't imagine I'll need more:

• No bigotry: Resilience and rebuilding demands diverse perspectives, skill sets, knowledge bases and experiences. If we want to survive in the present and thrive in the future, we must learn to work together. This community will not abide racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, ableism, classism, discrimination based on religious belief (or lack of such), or sexism. Engaging in this behavior will result in a ban.

 

• Respectful dialogue and constructive criticism: It's okay to critique ideas, but it isn't okay to do so by insulting the poster or what they've posted. If you have criticism to offer, make sure it's constructive - pointing out potential reasons that an idea may not work while providing suggestions or asking questions in good faith. Discussion is how ideas improve, but respect for others is paramount.

 

• Basic vetting: Misinformation is rampant online, especially with the rise of AI. Before posting an article or charity donation page, please do a quick search to look for additional sources that corroborate the original. Are other news outlets reporting that breaking news? Does this charity have a website (or social media presence) that shows their history and current projects? If you're struggling to answer those questions, it may be best not to post.

 

• No individual fundraisers: Individual fundraisers can be more difficult to research, and unfortunately scammers have been known to take advantage of well-meaning people during or after disasters and tragedies. To protect our members from possible scams, this community will not allow posts for individual fundraisers. This is regrettable but necessary. We encourage you to consider working with radiofreemonday for vetting and posting individual fundraisers.

 

• No dooming: There is a lot going on in the world, and it's easy to feel hopeless. However, this community is focused on actions people can take to work toward something better. Posts or comments that encourage despair, hopelessness or nihilism will not be tolerated. If you are worried or fearful, it is okay to ask for feedback or help. It is not okay to say things like, "nothing matters," "this is pointless," or "it's not going to make any difference." We are here to share knowledge, help vulnerable communities, discuss solutions to problems and imagine a new and better world.

I think that should cover all of the bases, but I'm open to feedback. I've never run a community before, so suggestions are most welcome.

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It's getting pretty late, but I don't want to wrap up without sharing the following great news: The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global. (More info via Gilead.) A year ago, aseanchai and I were marveling about the fact that HIV has gone from a death sentence to a chronic, but manageable disease in our lifetimes. This new drug offers even more protection than current methods, and its twice-yearly dosage via injection eliminates the need for pills and their associated inconveniences. Best of all, Gilead has, "sign[ed] royalty-free licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers to produce and supply it," according to the New Atlas article. That will get the drug to more people at a price point that is more accessible, which will absolutely save lives. I'm grateful for this news, given everything that's going on in the world right now. It shows that we can still keep moving forward.