I've been a Host in several Groups (including this one, a long time ago). At the top of any Group, if you click on the "About This Group" icon, you can see information about that particular Group (The rules are different for every Group, check before posting... Also a good idea to check any pinned posts as they often contain clarifications). Groups are very individualized and Hosts have autonomy to run it as they see fit. Certainly, there were a few growing pains when this format started but I thinks it's run nicely for a long time now. On the "About This Group" page, there is some good information... Including the Statement of Purpose for the Group (Creative Speculation says nothing about being a Safe Haven for anything). There are some Groups that are Safe Havens and in general that means topics on that Groups subject matter cannot be argued with and no posts opposing will be allowed. For the most part, this is a pretty clear line... Try posting about drag racing in Cooking & Baking and it will end up locked and you could even end up being blocked from posting at all. A single offence as described would probably just get the lock from an amused Host who will figure you accidently posted in the wrong place (a PM asking to self delete is probably a more likely response) but if you post drag racing results every day, the block will follow. Again though, Hosts have autonomy. When I was Host of the Gaming Group, someone once posted an anti-Gaming post and I ended up blocking them from the Group for a week and that poster never again posted an anti-gaming thread there. Such a thread could go in The Lounge or perhaps even in General Discussion (that might need a current event... Hosts would discuss it in the Host Forum). As far as this Group goes... There is part of the Terms of Service it has to work in, and that is this:
No kooky, extremist, or hate content
Do not promote ridiculous, bigoted, or extreme-fringe conspiracy theories. Do not promote extreme fringe views. Do not reference hate sites or other extremist/fringe sources.
Why we have this rule: Democrats are supposed to be part of the "reality-based community." Some amount of skepticism toward powerful institutions is healthy and appropriate, but that doesn't mean every paranoid fantasy is true. Posts about mass shootings being "false flag" operations, 9/11 being a controlled demolition, no airplane at the Pentagon, chemtrails, black helicopters, the Illuminati, or other nonsense make us all look like fools. This website may have the word "underground" in our name, but we are not extreme fringe.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice
And in going with something about the origins of Covid, this:
Don't peddle right-wing talking points, smears, or sources
Do not post right-wing talking points or smears. Do not post content sourced from right-wing publications, authors, or pundits. Exceptions are permitted if you provide a clear reason for doing so that is consistent with the values of this website.
Why we have this rule: News media and the Internet are already awash with conservative propagandists attacking our candidates and our values -- we're not interested in providing them with another outlet. We understand that many of our members might hold some conservative viewpoints on isolated issues, but nobody here should be parroting hateful garbage from the RNC, the NRA, or the Family Research Council. Forum members should expect that the only time they'll have to read a right-wing smear or an article from Breitbart is when someone is pointing and laughing at it.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice
There are certainly valid Covid Origin theories but there are also right wing talking points. Any time you are unsure of content you want to post, I suggest you PM a Host and ask about it specifically.
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