Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Jason Toddman » Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:47 am

Lately there have been some personality conflicts between certain members, and harsh words are being exchanged. While i believe in free speech, should that include exchanges in public forums that everyone can see and which many of us find disagreeable?
Basically, should i leave such posts alone or should mods like myself impartially delete all such posts (taking no sides) when things get too heated?
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby xtc » Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:46 pm

As you will remember, the Mods and I have disagreed over "freedom of speech" in the past. We now appear to have swapped sides!

When the kids don't play nicely together, it's a pain to all of us but I don't know that that gives us (Or, in this case, you) the right to play daddy as an immediate knee-jerk reaction. Recently things have gone too far in spite of certain parties trying to pour oil on troubled waters. When someone is determined that they can do no wrong and that everyone else is against them . . . . well, you know hat they say: just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

Please, the idea (of removing acrimonious posts) immediately sounds attractive but surely there is a danger of jumping in too quickly.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!

More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Jason Toddman » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:17 pm

i definitely agree xtc; that's one of the reasons for this poll in the first place. We haven't so much switched sides as met each other halfway and did a do-si-do, i think. :D
Not that i'd necessarily be bound by the results of the poll; i just want to know what other peoples' opinions are.
Oh, and just in case I wasn't clear i'm not necessarily targeting any particular members here or current feuds (though that's a part of it). I'm thinking just as much of people who have caused us grief in the past and have since been banned, such as Mirae (Mira) and Vantran (who just made a rather clumsy attempt to return and got banned again under a new guise), and of any conflicts that may (and will) arise in the future.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby xtc » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:31 pm

Ah, I wondered if that was she!
By the way, we English callers call it (a do-si-do) a back-to-back! Which is a pain in the arse because the dancers look at you funny until you say, "Do-si-do" when the buggers all fold their arms and start mincing!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!

More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Mister Mistoffelees » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:10 pm

I'm really of two minds about this whole issue. This is not really a public forum; it is a board owned by the admins, who of course have the authority to ban anyone they choose to ban. This is to counter anyone who decides to scream "First Amendment Freedom o' Speech!!!1!" at the idea that posts or posters could be banned. On the other hand, such bans are certainly uncomfortable for all, because such things can be done very arbitrarily by unscrupulous admins. If I had to select any of your options, it would be to allow bans only after appropriate warnings. This gives warning to feuding members to clean up their acts, while allowing the admins the necessary freedom to cut off anyone who insists on disrupting the community.

Lately, there have been too many members who have deliberately sought to be confrontational, and of course we have too many running feuds between members which leave the rest of us walking on proverbial eggshells in their presence. We all wish that a natural tendency toward civility would keep these boards civil, but clearly that isn't happening, so I must conclude that the mods/admins need the authority to clean up messes when they threaten the serenity of the boards...
Welcome to Snowden! Enter at your own risk...

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby drawscore » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:14 pm

Freedom of speech has its limits. As the saying goes, such freedom is not a license "to yell 'fire' in a crowded theater."

That being said, the occasional "pissing contests" between members can range from being amusing, to being annoying. But as long as it does not degenerate into the arguing parties being overly hostile, and loudly calling each other 17 different kinds of ringtailed sons of bitches, I'd just ignore it.

Drawscore

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby cloud » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:22 am

Hello.

Feels like a long time science I have posted here, probably is..... I check the forum every day and the amount of internal conflict is starting to annoy me, yes the site might go days without any new posts in the general discussion areas, but that don't then mean that it must be filled with several posts in different area about people having conflict with others.

I would say the best course of action is to create a set of rules, something along the lines of bellow.
If any mod decides that a thread is confrontational or if it turns confrontational and is aimed at a cirtian member(s) then it will be removed and the poster will be contacted and asked what it is about, a post will be made in the admin area telling the other admins the name of the person along with a copy of the offending thread for reference.

If the problem persists then the thread should be removed and a official warning should be issued, using the forum's warning system (built into phpbb forums) and the thread about the user in the admin section will be updated.

At this point if the user posts 1 more offensive post according to the moderators or admin then they will be banned (or referred to be banned if the moderators don't have that power).


This will outline clearly what happens and the warning system, while allowing all of the moderators and admins to know the same information where it is relevant. This also clearly shows that it is up to the moderators or admins digression and dose depend on who reads it. In general if the forum members see it as confrontational then it will escalate until a moderator or admin notices it.

This may seam a bit harsh to people, but when you consider the amount of members on this forum, and that it is easy to join (not needed to be invited or approved in person) then something needs to be done to ensure that it is a nice enviorment for people to stay in.

p.s.
According to the barn dance I went to last month (yes..... I really did >.<) then it is a do-si-do and not a back-to-back, the band called do-si-do and everyone knew what they meant (some even came from abroad but the band was local).
Oh, a TUG! Do I have to play alone?
First Fictional Story (chapters 0-18): Moved Closer by Bondage

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby xtc » Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:37 am

Some of us retain the traditional names (although I wouldn't go so far as to call a right-handed star a "thumbs up".
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!

More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Kyle » Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:34 pm

Considering the forum, why don't we just tie them up and gag them in the corner?

More seriously, I would usually prefer erring on the side of letting people speak, but if it is something that is being repeatedly done or is extremely vitriolic, there need to be warnings given, then moderators should step in and stop it. I've been on a forum where things were allowed to get out of control and it's not pretty.

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Jason Toddman » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:51 pm

Kyle wrote:Considering the forum, why don't we just tie them up and gag them in the corner?

More seriously, I would usually prefer erring on the side of letting people speak, but if it is something that is being repeatedly done or is extremely vitriolic, there need to be warnings given, then moderators should step in and stop it. I've been on a forum where things were allowed to get out of control and it's not pretty.

That is, in a nutshell, exactly what I had in mind when I began this poll... I'm seeking the fine line between doing too little and doing too much.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby FelixSH » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:00 am

I´m in general a fan of light moderation. One reason why I like this forum is that we have that here, while other forums remind me a bit of a police-state, with the slightest deviation from a topic as off-topic or similar things. The way it is handled here is favourable to me. I also don´t really see a neccessity of stronger moderation in general. From time to time we have someone like vantran and this racist guy from some month ago, but you are doing a good job in dealing with them in a timely manner, Jason. And the way you did it with Mikey and Scott in bondagefreaks thread also seems the right way.

In short: The way you are doing is, as far as I am concerned, ideal. So, keep up the good work.

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:20 am

FelixSH wrote:In short: The way you are doing is, as far as I am concerned, ideal. So, keep up the good work.

Thank you, Felixsh. I do wish to continue with a light and even touch. I have no problem with members talking unfriendly to other members (well, to a point anyway) within their own threads, but when it impacts the thread of someone not involved in the conflict at all, that's going too far imo. But I certainly hope to never come off as arbitrary, unfair, tyrannical, or anything like that. Even after fifteen months as a mod, I most definitely prefer to act with caution with than haste. I just hope everyone else understands that.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Kyle » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:34 am

Jason Toddman wrote:
Kyle wrote:Considering the forum, why don't we just tie them up and gag them in the corner?

More seriously, I would usually prefer erring on the side of letting people speak, but if it is something that is being repeatedly done or is extremely vitriolic, there need to be warnings given, then moderators should step in and stop it. I've been on a forum where things were allowed to get out of control and it's not pretty.

That is, in a nutshell, exactly what I had in mind when I began this poll... I'm seeking the fine line between doing too little and doing too much.


This is probably where you'd get 12 different ideas if you asked 12 people on here.

Re: Poll: Free Speech - Unlimited or Not?

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:43 am

Kyle wrote: This is probably where you'd get 12 different ideas if you asked 12 people on here.

Oh I have no doubt of that, but it's still pretty informative to hear as many different viewpoints as i can.
After all, this site is for all of us.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...