WhatsApp Agreement
Welcome to Wexford Pride’s WhatsApp community!
We are so happy to have you here. Each and every member of Wexford Pride is important and valuable. We would like to take a few minutes of your time to explain, in plain terms, the community guidelines for engagement in this online space.
Content Warning (CW) // In this article we discuss and mention content warnings and use an example of a content warning in use. The example of a content warning is framed within a fictional scenario of someone explaining how to create a content warning when discussing homophobic bullying.
For more information please see Wexford Pride’s Accountable Spaces Policy.
Summary
Why join the Wexford Pride WhatsApp?
Welcome to Wexford Pride’s WhatsApp community!
What are the Wexford Pride public spaces?
What are not considered Wexford Pride public spaces?
Why do we use content warning?
What are some of the topics that require content warnings?
External articles which help explain content warnings:
How to use content warnings.
Misconceptions around content warnings.
What if I get it wrong?
Misuse of Content Warnings.
Questioning assumptions.
In Conclusion
Why join the Wexford Pride WhatsApp?
The Wexford Pride WhatsApp community is the best way to stay up to date with weekly events, important announcements, sub-group specific information, and, possibly most importantly it’s a great way to meet new people and make new friends! The WhatsApp community currently has over 40 subgroups ranging from identity-based groups to fun hobbies. If there is a group you would like to see, please shoot us and email and we will strongly consider it!
We also understand that online groups aren’t for everyone, so other ways to stay connected include signing up for our monthly newsletter (found in the footer of all pages), keeping up our largest issues of the Wexford Pride zine Aiteach, and checking our website regularly. All events on our website are kept up to date and accurate and most require no prior contact to attend. Simply show up and join us!
Welcome to Wexford Pride’s WhatsApp community!
We are so happy to have you here. Each and every member of Wexford Pride is important and valuable. We would like to take a few minutes of your time to explain, in plain terms, the community guidelines for engagement in this online space.
Firstly, it’s important to know that Wexford Pride is a neuro-affirmative, trauma-informed, body-positive community organization. This means that we focus on keeping our public spaces and events (such as the WhatsApp community) as safe as possible for our most vulnerable members. This might mean that certain topics will require content warnings (CW), and others might not be appropriate in the public spaces at all.
What are the Wexford Pride public spaces?
The main group chat
Event planning sub-groups
Sub-committees
Tea on the Quay
Board game night
Art club
Wexford Pride Queer Chorus
Any creative workshops
Special interest/hobby sub-groups
Social nights
What are not considered Wexford Pride public spaces?
Support groups
Identity-based sub-groups
Although these are not considered public spaces, content and trigger warnings are still appreciated when possible.
Why do we use content warning?
Content warnings allow individuals with past traumas, sensitivities, or dislikes to avoid certain topics. If you yourself have such topics, please heed the content warnings provided and allow yourself the option of avoiding those posts/discussions.
What are some of the topics that require content warnings?
SA (also known as sexual assault or r*pe)
Violence
Hate crimes or discrimination (against any marginalized group, LGBTQIA+ and beyond)
Coercive control
Ableism or ableist language (for example, using ‘dumb’ to mean unintelligent or ‘lame’ to mean bad)
Institutional violence (violence enacted by the government, religious organizations, the Gardaí, residential facilities, hospitals, doctors, the national gender services, etc.)
Child abuse or neglect
Domestic violence
EDs (also known as eating disorders or disordered eating)
Body image (dysphoria or dysmorphia)
Fatphobia (weight loss can fit under a few of these categories but I will put it here)
Incest
Pregnancy/infertility
Substance abuse/addiction
Death/dying
Racism
External articles which help explain content warnings:
How to use content warnings.
If I wanted to seek support from my community around an issue I am having with in school bullying I might start my message with:
CW// discrimination, violence
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(It is important to leave space between the warning and the main message to give readers a chance to opt out)
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I struggle with being called the f-slur by bullies in my college. It makes me want to leave school.
**Above is just an example to model the use of CWs**
Reminder that these content warning are only for the public spaces, and perhaps the support you need would be better served in the identity-based or support specific sub-groups. For example this person might be better supported in the Gay Group. Wexford Pride also provides both in person and online peer support groups to help members deal with deeper emotional issues they may be experiencing in a safe environment.
Misconceptions around content warnings.
Below are four examples of common misconceptions and our attempt to address them:
People are less likely to engage: Content warnings aren’t an admission or a signal to not engage with specific content but rather to engage and engage mindfully with others and yourself.
Silencing or reducing freedom of speech: Content warnings are a recognition of boundaries and put freedom of speech at the forefront by respecting the boundaries of others.
I will be punished if I mess up or get it wrong: We are all human, and we all slip from time to time. We only ask that we all stay engaged and curious about how we can create a safer public space for us all to enjoy.
This must mean I can’t discuss certain things anywhere: This policy most impacts the spaces we have referred to throughout as public spaces. Certain sub-groups come with assumptions on the content likely to be shared. For example the Sex Positive group does not require a content warning for explicit or sexual content. However, the main chat group would.
What if I get it wrong?
You probably will, and that’s not a problem. It doesn't mean that you’ve done something ‘wrong’ or that you aren’t welcome. There is no such thing as a truly safe space and it is impossible to know everything that will upset a person. But what is important is that we learn and keep trying.
Forgetting to include a CW is not the end of the world, and no one will hold it against you. You may be asked by a fellow community member to edit your message to include a CW (if possible, WhatsApp’s message editing option times out after a while) or to delete your message. These reminders are never intended to shame or single out anyone, but rather to protect others. Please try to see it as a learning opportunity. Persistent resistance to engaging safely may require a gentle meeting with the committee where we can better understand how you can get what you need from the group whilst also keeping our policies in place.
Misuse of Content Warnings.
Some topics are not permitted even with content warnings. For example, including “CW// racism” before promoting something racist does not make it ok. Because we live in a racist world many of us may not even know that something is racist before we share it. That is part of the process of learning our blinkered spots (knowledge we lack due to not having lived experiences, such as a white person not seeing racism or a non-disabled person not seeing ableism). We will invite you to a one-on-one conversation about why that post has been deleted. It’s all part of learning how to be in a beautifully diverse community.
Questioning assumptions.
Lastly, because we are a neuro-affirmative community group, we encourage all members to question their initial reactions to a person’s text-based communication. Before you react, ask yourself, “how can I read this with the best possible intentions?” Rather than assuming the worst, assume the other person struggles with nuance and may be unintentionally coming off as short or aggressive. If you find your feelings are still hurt try to remember that feelings are valid, but they are not facts. Rather than acting on our feelings as facts, try stating them clearly. For example, “I am not sure if you meant that to be aggressive, but it upset me and I would appreciate some clarification on your intent.”
In Conclusion
Again, we are so glad you have found us! If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the above please take a moment to ground yourself in whatever way feels right for you and reread it later with fresh eyes. If you have any questions whatsoever please feel free to ask us at WexfordPride@gmail.com.
In solidarity and loving community,
The Wexford Pride committee
