a separate forum for the kiddies?
25 Jan '10 07:001 editwhile we don't need unmitigated profanity in general forum, a forum suitable for 13yos probably isn't the best solution for adults either. it's all a bit ridiculous. i think a forum in which adult subjects could sometimes be discussed in an adult manner is desirable. such a forum could still be moderated so things don't get out of hand, but at least the standard would be more appropriate to adults, who constitute, as far as i can see, almost all the posters in this forum.
really, there don't seem to be that many under-age posters in here, apart from Chadradi (sp?) and a couple of characters with the mental capacities of a 13yo - ironically, the same characters who want everyone to adhere to standards suitable for a kiddies' forum.
so, here's the proposal. it comes in two parts. first, a one-time-only declaration by each poster entering the forum that they are an adult. that is, you declare it once, and after that it is transparent, and you just enter the forum as you do now; second, so the kiddies don't feel left out, there could be a kiddies forum where the 13yo standards could apply. those who had declared themselves to be adults wouldn't have access.
at the moment the mods, through no fault of their own, are being forced to administer standards totally inappropriate to an adult-dominated forum. i also don't blame the owners, as they have to minimise their legal liability. i believe this solution would cater to that need also. if there is any blame, it is to be allocated to the puritanically-minded among us (you know who you are), who want the entire forum to conform to their own ideas of what is right, and use the cloak of concern for the welfare of underage users of the site to get their way.
here's a recent example of what i am talking about: i quoted from 'The Exorcist', which is shown on free-to-air television. the quote included profanity, which i used '*'s to partially mask out. in this form, at least, i think it is entirely ok for use in an adult-dominated forum. yet the mod had to remove it once alerted. just seems silly to me.
really, there don't seem to be that many under-age posters in here, apart from Chadradi (sp?) and a couple of characters with the mental capacities of a 13yo - ironically, the same characters who want everyone to adhere to standards suitable for a kiddies' forum.
so, here's the proposal. it comes in two parts. first, a one-time-only declaration by each poster entering the forum that they are an adult. that is, you declare it once, and after that it is transparent, and you just enter the forum as you do now; second, so the kiddies don't feel left out, there could be a kiddies forum where the 13yo standards could apply. those who had declared themselves to be adults wouldn't have access.
at the moment the mods, through no fault of their own, are being forced to administer standards totally inappropriate to an adult-dominated forum. i also don't blame the owners, as they have to minimise their legal liability. i believe this solution would cater to that need also. if there is any blame, it is to be allocated to the puritanically-minded among us (you know who you are), who want the entire forum to conform to their own ideas of what is right, and use the cloak of concern for the welfare of underage users of the site to get their way.
here's a recent example of what i am talking about: i quoted from 'The Exorcist', which is shown on free-to-air television. the quote included profanity, which i used '*'s to partially mask out. in this form, at least, i think it is entirely ok for use in an adult-dominated forum. yet the mod had to remove it once alerted. just seems silly to me.
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