[par]

Hi,

we have been debating for a while how to handle obviously offensive and potentially harmful postings and we need the members advice. Let's say that a user posts seriously offensive stuff, personal stuff that can really hurt another person or member or perhaps illegal stuff such as really serious threats to someones life and limb.

Currently, if the members wants a user banned we run a poll for 24 hours before taking any action. Members can post to this poll, making their voice heard and the moderators will take action based on what the members decides. Here comes the difficult question. For posts, such as the ones i have described above, should we have a 24 hour waiting period or should the mods block posting privilegies for that user immediately and temporarily hide the content of the offensive thread until the members can vote on what action should be taken?

Please let your voice be heard -this is your site and we want to make it as good as we can.

<FORM METHOD=POST ACTION="http://www.viperalley.com/dopoll.php"><INPUT TYPE=HIDDEN NAME="pollname" VALUE="1042094646par">


How should EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE posts be handled?
<input type="radio" name="option" value="1" />Just start a poll and wait 24 hours
<input type="radio" name="option" value="2" />Lock and hide the thread and start the 24 hour poll -don't block posting rights
<input type="radio" name="option" value="3" />Lock and hide the thread, block posting rights and start the 24 hour poll
<INPUT TYPE=Submit NAME=Submit VALUE="Submit vote" class="buttons"></form>

 

[Smokin]

I know this is a touchy subject. Many would fear this place taking on flavors of the mORGue. However remember, first that at the mORGue you didnt have the ability to vote on post pulling. Also these actions would only be taken on very severe infractions such as posting child pornography. Threatening someone's liFe (in a non joking way of course). None of the moderators that are on this board are windbreakers. Shit I was banned from the mORGue twice. Serious and Clownshoe were also banned before. We are against gestapo tactics. But even I know where there is a point that some shit isout of hand. This is not name calling or flaming. Rather its the very serious stuff. Hopefully this wont happen. But we want to be ready and put it to the group to vote on it in the case it does. Remember even if we pull a post, we will always be open about it and post the reasons why. This is your board, we are just here to help.

 

[ClownShoe]

We are talking EXTREAME here guy's.Not your run of the mill"Fuck you" type of stuff.Were talking serious DEATH THREATS,KIDDIE PORN,and shit along those lines.Stuff like this is rare,but we have to have a way to deal with it.

 

[par]

I am personally very, very against restricting anyones freedom of speech. I have said many times, that people have died defending this right and it is not something anyone should take lightly (my grandparents was fighting in the second world war making sure that i would have this right).

With freedom comes responsibility and while i am not inclined in limiting anyones freedoms, i see that for the most extreme situation there is a legitimate need to enforce civility. Now, i am 100% AGAINST shaping this place in my own image, one of the things i have enjoyed so much with .org of yesterdays and the initial .com is that people from various walks of life can meet and exchange beliefs and ideas and generally just have a good time. This is meant to be a forum where the members can thrive and enjoy and i personally think that we have something really good going here.

To make sure that this doesn't become too much extreme in either direction, there is a need to have limited enforcement and active member participation. This poll is all about that. If you think that our basic ideas are right, this is where the rubber meets the road and you are the ones who decide.

My personal belief in this specific manner that this poll is addressing is that for extreme situations there is room for extreme actions. Don't want to become another gestapo or hidden mod with magic wand, but there are things that are just beyond what we all can accept. Clownshoe mentioned a few of these things that i think warrants immediate action and "after the facts" vote by the members.

What do you think?

 

[pj]

Once you have a line the hard part is deciding where that line goes. Having no line destroys websites (we've seen it over and over).

I think the line should be drawn, but subject to review and comments by its members. The list of what is unacceptable is small and should be kept that way.

Its our website, after all. That means stepping up to the plate and being involved. IMHO.

 

[SEric]

I personally think that the things you are talking about justify banning for cause. Meaning instant ban with no poll. I see these few extreme infractions as;

1.) Threats of violence.
2.) Insults to family members.
3.) Spamming.
4.) Use of an unregistered AE.

These are not grey area items. I see no real need for a poll to ban someone who's just threatened a member.

 

[vipernathan]

1.) Threats of violence. Agreed - instant banning
2.) Insults to family members. Agreed if it's a treat, not a "yo mamma is so fat," or some other type of joking. We can tell when the joke is in bad humor and wasn't intended to be funny.
3.) Spamming. Agreed - instant if harmful, poll if not.
4.) Use of an unregistered AE. The AE's deserve a warning at least before a banning.

I think anybody that comes here to try to hurt a business or individual should be warned and then banned if that's what the members here feel is necessary.

 

[King GTS]

I personally think that the things you are talking about justify banning for cause. Meaning instant ban with no poll. I see these few extreme infractions as;

1.) Threats of violence.
2.) Insults to family members.
3.) Spamming.
4.) Use of an unregistered AE.

These are not grey area items. I see no real need for a poll to ban someone who's just threatened a member. <hr /></blockquote>

I agree. And ANYTHING that even looks like child porn!!!!!!!! If someone did that, I'd want to start huntin that guy immediately! If I see it, it's GONE! I've got 3 kids! /images/graemlins/cussing.gif

 

[SEric]

I personally think that the things you are talking about justify banning for cause. Meaning instant ban with no poll. I see these few extreme infractions as;

1.) Threats of violence.
2.) Insults to family members.
3.) Spamming.
4.) Use of an unregistered AE.

These are not grey area items. I see no real need for a poll to ban someone who's just threatened a member. <hr /></blockquote>

I agree. And ANYTHING that even looks like child porn!!!!!!!! If someone did that, I'd want to start huntin that guy immediately! If I see it, it's GONE! I've got 3 kids! /images/graemlins/cussing.gif <hr /></blockquote>

Absolutely! Not only should we be allowed to remove it, we should consider ourselves REQUIRED to remove it and ban the poster. It's one of the few things that I think we could get into real legal trouble over. Non-negotiable subject.

 

[par]

This poll is now closed as the 24 hour window has passed.

The members voted with a overwhelming 76% majority that if SERIOUSLY OFFENSIVE material is posted, then the mod should immediately lock + hide the thread and block posting privilegies for that user.

Thanks to the 12 people who voted on this topic. This is a site where members decide the rules and this is one example of how the members show their will.

-Par