Politics, Sociopolitics, Politicking, and CWs

Discussing politics on Mastodon is fast becoming a hot-button topic. I’ve seen a lot conversation lately about whether or not “politics'' should be behind a CW and there’s one side asking for “politics” to be CWed and another side declaring it to be the most important thing in the world and should never be CWed. (skip the intro and go straight to the play)

I do not see or hear the ninety percent of people who rarely speak up. As with all things, a small selection of voices is speaking up one way or the other (ref. the 1% rule).

We’ve worked hard on explaining the subtleties and expectations in our Community Code of Conduct, but nonetheless it’s important to note two things:

  1. Sociopolitics and lived experience are some of the most important things people should be able to talk about in a welcoming, inclusive community
  2. Avoiding politicians’ and political parties’ endless back and forths, and the angry or frustrated army of voices in favour or against, is one of the most important reasons many are on Mastodon instead of, say, Twitter.

With the recent influx of new members from Twitter, we are running into our members who want less of (1) and members who want more of (2).

I’ve worked on a few different ways to communicate the issue, but I’ve settled on a short play, which I present to you now. If you’d like the short version, skip to the summary

Play

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MABEL: a mother of two, a nurse, and fan of handicraft, most usually a supporter of OTHERPOLITICAL PARTY, although Mabel doesn't get too involved unless there's an election happening PIERCE: a supporter of POLITICALPARTY ESMERELDA: a supporter of OTHERPOLITICALPARTY CHRIS: a young person, usually withdrawn

ACT I

SETTING

The family room of a small suburban bungalow. There is a cosy settee and a mid-size flat-panel television.

TIME

Saturday morning, elevenses. The children are at their respective sporting events, the spouse is down the allotment pulling beetroot and potatoes. Mabel has to do the shop, the wash, collect the children, figure out how to pay the electric, and think about dinner.

MABEL (to herself)

Oh dearie me! I have so many things to do today! I think I will take one hour to entertain myself and catch up with friends before I do the very serious and important things I must do today. I shall watch the French and Saunders box set. The ones with Mel Giedroyc in, I like her. (MABEL inserts the DVD and settles in to watch, checking her tea is still hot, and opens her text messages to chat with a few friends. She watches two scenes and laughs out loud at the funny bits. The phone rings, it is Pierce.)

PIERCE (shouting)

DID YOU KNOW POLITICALPARTY DID SOMETHING I DISAGREE WITH! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! CAN -YOU- BELIEVE IT! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK SO I KNOW YOU THINK THE SAME WAY I DO!

MABEL

That may or may not be something I need to worry about, but right now I'm watching French and Saunders, the ones with Mel Giedroyc in, I like her.

PIERCE (shouting)

FRENCH AND SAUNDERS IS NOT IMPORTANT. WHAT I AM SAYING IS IMPORTANT. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THERE IS.

MABEL

Okay, but, can you say it somewhere else? I'm watching French and Saunders. With Mel G...

PIERCE (shouting)

I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THESE KINDS OF TOPICS ARE TO A HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY.

MABEL

I think politics affects us all, each and every day, but now is not the time nor pl...

PIERCE (shouting)

IT IS ALWAYS THE TIME AND PLACE. EVERYWHERE THAT I EXIST, IN ALL SPACES, AT ALL TIMES, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THERE IS. PAY ATTENTION!

MABEL

I understand, and it's probably the most important thing to you right now, clearly, but there are times and places where what you're talking about is encouraged and engaged with by people who have expressed a desire to discuss these matters, maybe go there?

PIERCE (shouting)

IT IS ALWAYS THE TIME AND PLACE. EVERYWHERE THAT I EXIST, IN ALL SPACES, AT ALL TIMES, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THERE IS. PAY ATTENTION!

MABEL

But THIS isn't the place. I have chosen to rest, catch up with friends, and entertain myself for a small time, after which I will focus on important things. I'm expecting a friend to ask for help with stitching any minute now. Please go somewhere else or at least lower your voice so I can ignore you for a while.

PIERCE (shouting)

DO NOT IMPEDE HOW QUICKLY MY IMPORTANT MESSAGE CAN BE HEARD BY ALL! (ESMERELDA joins the phone conversation using a technology akin to party lines)

ESMERELDA

Actually Pierce, Mabel is correct. It's OTHERPOLITICALPARTY that has made the correct statements on this important issue. Also, POLITICIAN from POLITICALPARTY is a liar and a thief.

MABEL

Esmerelda, even though I probably agree with you, please don't assume my point of view. And I'm really not thinking about these things right now, I was just watching French and Saunders for a minute.

ESMERELDA (Shouting)

I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THESE KINDS OF TOPICS ARE TO A HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. (The doorbell rings, it is Chris)

CHRIS

Hi Mabel. I'm having a really bad day and I have no-one in my immediate vicinity to talk about this with, so I'm reaching out to my community for support. I believe my issues are due to POLITICALPARTY policies, and hearing POLITICIAN talk about them is really upsetting me today.

MABEL

Oh my goodness! I was watching French and Saunders but this is more important! Let's talk.

CHRIS

Thanks Mabel, I really appreciate it. Can I come in?

MABEL

No, it's too loud in here, let's go down to that nice caff down the road and talk there? I think it's called Organic Roastadon. It's a lovely place built specifically to allow people to be heard and engaged with.

CHRIS

That's oddly specific, but yes please, let's go there. Thank you for engaging with me. (Mabel and Chris go to Organic Roastadon and talk. They like it so much they meet there regularly for six years.)

ACT II

SETTING

The warm and inviting cafe "Organic Roastadon". Most tables are in use but there are some seats available. The cafe is the busiest it's ever been, and the manager looks a little worried. Nonetheless, everyone is chatting and sipping hot drinks while comforting music plays in the background.

TIME

Saturday afternoon. The weather is sunny with clouds on the horizon.

CHRIS

Mabel, it's been so nice to catch up. I can't believe it's been six years already since we started meeting like this. It has really helped me out in ways I could not have imagined.

MABEL

I love this time with you Chris, and I get to meet other new people here too. Look around, most of these people I've managed to have a chat with at some point. I love how close knit and supportive we all are. I especially like it on Sundays when we all bring a photograph of our favourite sheep.

CHRIS

I'm just so glad I can talk about personal issues that affect me and those around me without being drowned out by... (A bell sounds and the door of the coffee shop opens, it is Pierce, blocking the doorway, and behind him Esemerelda is struggling to get past.)

PIERCE (shouting)

DID YOU KNOW POLITICAL PARTY DID SOMETHING I DISAGREE WITH! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! CAN -YOU- BELIEVE IT! EVERYONE IN HERE SHOULD START TALKING ABOUT THIS AT ONCE!

ESMERELDA

Actually Pierce, you are incorrect. It's OTHERPOLITICALPARTY that has made the correct statements on this important issue. Also, POLITICIAN from POLITICALPARTY is a liar and a thief.

CHRIS, MABEL, AND ALL PATRONS' VOICES IN UNISON

Aaaaaaaaaagh. (Blackout)

Summary

Here’s how we put this in our Community Code of Conduct:

Politics and politicking are a divisive issue for many. Politicking (i.e. activities performed to acquire or retain the power of politics), seeking someone’s vote or agreement, content intended to sway political opinion, content about politicians, elections and electioneering, or party political messaging should include a CW.

We don’t enforce the CW with an iron fist; we are asking you to be mindful of others.

We are not asking you to suppress your lived experience; we are asking you to restrain from the day-to-day, neverending red vs blue team wars.

We are not asking you to silence yourself; we are asking you to use hashtags and CWs so others can filter those posts out if they want to.

And mostly, we are asking you to allow everyone the space to use the service in the manner that best fits them, and not force divisive topics into everyone's feeds.