Holding Myself Accountable

I am writing this for two reasons;

1; Two members of my community recently felt they didn’t want to bring up issues they were dealing with for different reasons, but I never want anyone to feel that way. I want people that want to chat to feel they can chat about anything, to feel they can share and talk to the community about their issues and feelings, or to put it a better way, to talk about what they want and feel comfortable talking about.

The only reasons anyone should not want to talk about something in my chat is because they think it would make them uncomfortable or that are not looking for that kind of interaction, that they just want a place to be; away from the stresses of life, a place to come chill, hang out with friends and not think about anything other than what is infront of them in that moment.

No person should feel pressured into talking if they dont want to or to not talking if they want to.

2; The person who unwittingly set me lose on Twitch, who inspired me to be a streamer, someone I consider a friend, someone I love (as a friend) and would do anything for, is inspiring me again, to put this together.

*Note* – P (I don’t know if you will ever see this but just in case) this is for you, thanks for making me think about this, I don’t think you understand you significant role you played/play in my streaming efforts but thank you!

Out of a very idiotic, brain dead, privileged and selfish comment came a tweet, from the aforementioned P. I responded and get a response that, along with the events of a few days prior to do with a couple my community (see 2 above), made me think.

It made me think am I who I think I am? Am I as involved in my chat as I think I am, am I looking after my community both while Live and in the Discord?

I came to the conclusion I cannot answer that question, only my chat can tell me if they think I do enough, only the Discord community can tell me if I do enough.

So why you writing this then?

Well, It did make me think about the whole Streamer responsibility thing and letting the community know what I promise to do for them, to let them know what I mean by a safe, welcoming and inclusive place to hand out.

In order to achieve this I need to have something written to be held accountable for by my MODS and ultimately my community, so here we go.

My Accountability to my Community.

I am not your parent, your teacher or your conscience, I cannot tell you how to feel, think, act or behave…well the last two I can’t outside of my community but in my community I am in control of how you act and behave, end of!

I set the rules, I say what is and is not acceptable, this is policed by my MODS and if they don’t think what I am doing or saying is write or in keeping with the inclusivity, openness and friendliness of our community they will call me on it and I review if what I am doing/saying is right for our community.

Certain individuals in the Streaming community may wash their hands of what chat says and does, they may take no responsibility nor make themselves accountable, but like to think I do.

While you are in my Stream or my Discord you will behave or be banned and I do not care what appeal system in in place, you will never get back in to my knowledge.

Depending on the severity of what is said you may get a few warnings to rectify your behaviour or an instant ban, I would prefer however you do not test the system, I really do not like banning people.

Accountability.

I will hold myself accountable for the attitudes, behaviours and comments made in my chat, both Live and in Discord, to the point that I will ensure no one feels offended, bullied, shammed, uncomfortable or uneasy and as many people as possible can feel safe and included.

Safe; meaning they are free from bullying or persecution of any kind, that they feel they are able to express opinions and speak freely as long as it does not contradict or counter the inclusive nature of the chat or that it contravenes the rules of chat that exclude conversation about religion or politics that can cause inflammatory arguments.

Included; meaning they can freely participate in any activity or activities ongoing in the chat or on Stream, that they can freely and comfortably participate in conversations ongoing in the chat or on the Stream. That they can, should the situation arise, play in any multiplayer sessions that may be ongoing at the time.

I promise that no race, colour or creed shall be excluded by my actions or the actions of my mods or my community.

That a persons sexual preferences shall not excluded by my actions or the actions of my mods or my community.

That a persons gender or pronoun choice shall not excluded by my actions or the actions of my mods or my community.

That no condition, illness or infirmity shall be prevented from being included in the stream as best we can with the tools available to use. Closed Captions, for instance, are included and we are happy to be made aware of anything else we could include/use.

That only those not allowed by the age restrictions of my content and the rules set by Twitch because of my content will be restricted from staying in chat.

I will be requesting that the MODS keep me honest, hold me to this and accountable if/when I do not adhere to the above or other actions that will not meet my promise to make people feel safe and included.

A Request to you, the Community.

I respectfully request you adhere to the rules my MODS and I set out in the Discord and Live chat and that you bring to our attention anything you feel is restrictive for the wrong reasons.

I respectfully request you not discuss your age or your political or religious views.

I respectfully request that you point out where you feel that something or someone is being excluded by my actions or the actions of my MODS or my community.

I respectfully request you do not get involved with trolls or negative behaviour of individuals, that you not incite people acting as a troll or behaving negatively towards anyone or yourself in the Discord or Live chat and that you bring it to the attention of myself or a MOD immediately for us to deal with.

I respectfully request that you understand my MODS and I are human and not infallible but agree to be held accountable by those that do not feel included except where the individuals behaviour is contradictory to the safety and inclusivity of the community.

I respectfully request that you treat my MODS with dignity and respect, they are enforcing rules set out by me to try and adhere to the above.

The buck stops here, with me while you are in my Discord or Live chat and I will ensure as best I can that as many people as possible are included except where their behaviour is contradictory to the inclusivity of the community.

Signed Raziel317