Suggestion: Time For an Adults Only Section in Off Topic?

[LoneGunman]

I sent a msg to RPM (peace be upon him) asking about the idea of finally adding an adults only section to offtopic, requiring one extra 'agreement' page, where the reader has to click an agreement that they may be confronted with adult or explicit material.

As this Forum is getting big, the idea that one can maintain a 'nice' non offensive overall content, without chilling or stifling debate, isnt really possible. Many of the bigger forums, on whatever topics, have a 'no holds barred' section, to help members let off steam.

This doesnt mean any change in the current site censoring software - just that there's a section with an agreement page ahead of it, where anyone can let rip on potentially offensive subjects, and removing the current situation where the more sensitive members get offended 'unexpectedly' and thus run to Mods to complain.
Currently there's a wide range of topics, idea's, and concepts which - whenever they're discussed - the more sensitive forumites (perhaps justifiably) leap into action to complain about.

If there's a section where - in order to even access the area - an agreement link has to be clicked, warning the reader that this area may contain offensive material, this removes the ongoing dulling down of the forum - which is what happens when 5000+ members are required to ensure that they say nothing which might be offensive to the average 13 year old child.

This isn't possible, in reality. And to continually keep this Forum at the safe sensitive level that would not offend a 'sensitive' forumite - is actually contributing towards a stifling of healthy debate, at times. As well as it begs the simple pointing out that - why SHOULD any of us have to censor, stifle, or restrain ourselves - in order to cater to the whims, predjudices and fancies of the more sensitive Forumites?

That's not freedom of speech - its 'rule by the lowest common denominator'.

This is not a call for obscenity - its a call for a demarcated area, where concepts, idea's and statements that might offend, are allowed - and the sensitive among us must - in the interests of free speech and democratic thought on the Forum overall, acknowledge that they need to simply keep away from that area - on the offchance that they read something which upsets them.

An area, where nobody can 'accidentally' read something they might be offended by. Thus everyone, depending on their mood - has a place to rant forth about whatever's bugging them, using whatever language they like.

I think a new section is required, and would be very healthy for the Forum.

What say the Forumites? If this seems sensible, and easily achievable, then contact RPM and ask for it.

If we Forumites don't ask for it, we won't get it.

PS

Given that this all came from a harmless post I'd made, and a message from a Mod, requesting that I censor it. I then placed their message asking for censorship on forum - and received a further huffy and grumpy moan from the Mod in question, suggesting that I shouldnt have posted their REQUEST FOR CENSORSHIP on forum - its clear that something is needed to stop the secrecy and potential for abuse that the current situation is providing.

Think about it - a Mod messages someone to censor a post, and demands secrecy for this censorship request. How's that contribute towards honest, open debate? It doesn't.

[andres101]

What say the Forumites?
Great idea!

[stoke]

/me worried that the term adults only will prompt the insurgence of porn peddlers. "No holds barred" section is a good idea though.

[Luke7777]

Also exclude posts from this new forum to appear in new topics, and on front page. Would the extra agreement also imply that if you don't agree, you'll never see posts from that forum ?

[BTTB]

Also exclude posts from this new forum to appear in new topics, and on front page. Would the extra agreement also imply that if you don't agree, you'll never see posts from that forum ?
This has been my suggestion to the other Moderators and RPM.

I think it is a matter of whether VBulletin has such an option?

[bwana]

Might as well just register another domain for the "My...." stable and get it over and done with. At least that way the focus of the MyADSL/MyBroadband forum wont get any more distorted or diluted than it already is and more importantly no legal action will be able to bring MyADSL/Broadband down.

People have to remember that they are accountable for everything they say and release the MyWhatever™ site from any liability. After all you're talking about creating a section that participants will have to expect that they could find the topics offensive.

[nocilah]

aww... i thought adults only was all about naughty pics... and stuff like that...

but it is another alternative... having an adults section... barring the pr0n pics.

[TheSaint]

Might as well just register another domain for the "My...." stable and get it over and done with. At least that way the focus of the MyADSL/MyBroadband forum wont get any more distorted or diluted than it already is and more importantly no legal action will be able to bring MyADSL/Broadband down.

I have to agree I joined MyADSL to find out what i could do about current issues and I have been most informed here

IMO there needs to be more done regarding what Telkom is doing and there monopoly what ICASA is doing and what we as forumites can do to help :eek:

[TheSaint]

aww... i thought adults only was all about naughty pics... and stuff like that...

but it is another alternative... having an adults section... barring the pr0n pics.

lol

I bet that is why most of the peeps viewed thread which last stood at 91 views and now 9 replys:D

[nocilah]

either that or they couldnt get past lgm's famous 10 000 words post... :D

but re reading perhaps another name... not Adult...

Big People :D

[RichardP]

What is an adult ? how can you prove who is over 18 ?
Love the 'let off steam' .. this whole forum is riddled with steam... kids and ISP who have abused the capping systems and now are crying foul ;-)

[ettubrute]

Create another subforum under Off-Topic. Seems (from another thread) this will protect the forum as well, since the guests apparantly don't read off-topic (stupid, cause it's the best part! :D) Call it the Steamhouse...

While you're considering this change, maybe also think about creating another sub-forum, called Politics, and move all political sensitive rantings and word-fights into that one...

PS. another suggestion, although I don't know whether vBulletin can handle it: instead of banning people, limit them to be only able to post in the Steamhouse...

[nocilah]

Steamhouse...

PS. another suggestion, although I don't know whether vBulletin can handle it: instead of banning people, limit them to be only able to post in the Steamhouse...

sheer brilliance.

[ettubrute]

Aww, thanks man! Seems i still have some brainwaves and flashes of intelligence every once in a while! ;)

[Kalvaer]

Wouldn't it be possible to create a forum that was "restricted" to a certain group of people.

If you wanted access to this group you woul request it.. and "sign" or agree to the terms, with some form of proof of age.

Might be a long way around, and might also get poeple saying that there is an "elite" group of people saying things in certain folders. Part of the rules to this forum, I feel (Agree ..disagree your call)must also include that any mention of any posts from that thread in any other thread will automatically be deleted upon detection?

Of course there might be many that are of the opinion that if you want to discuss things of this nature.. you take it else where?

Just giving points of view as I've seen them in other forums with regards to "special forums threads"

[nocilah]

Like you say it's a roundabout way of dealing with things - there has to be a simple solution...

CRAIGSA throws people who p1ss mods and rpm off in jail for 24 hours :D

[AntiThesis]

I'm sure there would be a simple way to make an agreement page that links you to a "naughty" section. But I don't really see the need. I mean unless you're going to post pictures of CAT5 with their RJ45s all exposed it's not really part of broadband...

[Kalvaer]

Like you say it's a roundabout way of dealing with things - there has to be a simple solution...I like what Halicon said.. its simple and effective :)

I'm not clue'd up at all with Vbulletin boards, Though I'm sure they work in almost the same way as PHP, or BBT boards, and from those the only way I know of is to create different members groups that people have to be added into. And as you said.. that sure is not going to make RPM's job any easier as admin.

You should also be able to give "certain" members access to threads (long way around of the groups options if available)

All of them though are very time consuming, which is why I've seen in the past many Admins have just resolved to letting the people take things of that nature off the forums. I also understand why people want it on the forums because as much as they fight and moan at each other, they like each others "company" on the forum. Yet if you tell them to take it off forum, you get moaned at for censership and evreyone brings up their freedom of speech argument, its a no win situation

Do VB boards have the COPPA option.. Not that it will stop kids joining though as anyone can just click that they are over 13.. and there are a few topics on this forum that are not for people 18 years of age.. never mind 13? I think these boards of grown bigger than RPM expected, Or am I wrong? While I think its great and a good thing, I also feel that the original idea of these boards must not be forgotten in the scheme of things too come

I hope there is a "simple" solution.. though I highly doubt it.. Would be great to see it work though.. that is the next big task after finding it.. Somebody will always find a flaw, or disagree :(

[AntiThesis]

I know a lot of forum software carries "subscriptions" which members can be added to or in some cases can purchase. I'm not sure again on the innards of this forum but there might be something similar.

Otherwise, just write a small page called portal.php or something that checks a field in a user's record for whether they've asked for access to the section. If you disable linking to the new section without having a session variable you're sorted.

[Kalvaer]

Thats what I meant IC with it not being a simple solution. I dont think there is anyway that it can be done without the Admin getting involved. Which can be a huge task and end up taking more time than its worth.

Not sure if the mods can be given this type of "authentication", unless there is a way to allocate admin functions to mods with our compromising all of the admin tasks..... though that just moves the extra work to all of the mods again and still doesn't solve the problem. Even with a "subscription" option.. the admin will still have to "approve" users.

[ettubrute]

Whatever you decide, PLEASE *gets on knees* don't wipe the Off-Topic!

[TheSaint]

Whatever you decide, PLEASE *gets on knees* don't wipe the Off-Topic!
*joins ettu in plea* "what ever you say just let us be"

[ettubrute]

/me humbly thanks TheSaint for joining in plea...

[stoke]

I would like a concrete/steel/platinum/diamond decision in one direction or the other.
The uncertainty here is worse than the uncertanty being produced by the DOC.
Uncertainty breaks confidence.

[Karnaugh]

What say the Forumites? If this seems sensible, and easily achievable, then contact RPM and ask for it.

NO!

A place for people to throw mud, spit and have arguments serves no purpose to this forum, or its mainline topic.

[craigsa]

CRAIGSA throws people who p1ss mods and rpm off in jail for 24 hours :D
But then i have to jail myself as RPM deleted most of my posts the other day :):(

[AntiThesis]

So heres an idea for the minimum of admin fuss...

What you need:

1 x php/html page displaying a basic EULA (are you 18? Swear it? Really? Promise? Do you hereby indemnify MyADSL.co.za etc etc etc from everything-even-if-they-steal-your-kids?)

1 x slightly customised forum with the adult stuff in it which requires a session variable (set by the first page) to enter.

[nocilah]

we want to continue to build a [broadband] community, and I personally would not like to see the fun that was once the Off Topic forum become a victim of the recent spate of race-related posts to satisfy the few that don't consider that it brings the site down...

i think it is time to weigh the options...

how many people are interested in race related arguments vs how many people are interested in supporting a broadband comunity.

[Karnaugh]

well put ;)

[bwana]

i think it is time to weigh the options...

how many people are interested in race related arguments vs how many people are interested in supporting a broadband comunity.Simplistic beauty.

[AntiThesis]

Karnaugh, I agree 100% with you there, my reason for having [in the not too distant past] opposed a "no holds barred" forum/sub-forum, is that having/allowing perpetual flame wars, would go against our continued attempts to build a community - if forumites are at war with one another then the community will be weakened immensely, and that would not be good for MyADSL/MyBroadband, or for broadband in SA.

One thing that is not sufficiently clear in LG's post#1, is exactly why an "adult" forum? If it's a case of certain words that some forumites might find offensive, well that's likely to happen anywhere in the various MyADSL forums. If it's a case of wanting a forum in which fights are 'allowed', well I'd strongly oppose that for the reason I mentioned above.

IMO we could trial-run a "Controversial Stuff" forum, and see if that works to separate out the heated discussions from what used to be the fun Off Topic forum - that would be the only purpose - separate out the threads, but I still don't think we should allow mud slinging matches.Except that does not address the desire to maintain a level of respectability, which is of great concern - [B]we don't want to drive potential and existing members away due to offensive posts, we want to continue to build a [broadband] community, and I personally would not like to see the fun that was once the Off Topic forum become a victim of the recent spate of race-related posts to satisfy the few that don't consider that it brings the site down...
That's a very good point IC :) Someone would have to patrol it and that would add to the admin I spose.

But like I said in the beginning, I don't see the need for this kind of forum. I'm just making suggestions for how it could be done easier.

[VQuest]

i think it is time to weigh the options...

how many people are interested in race related arguments vs how many people are interested in supporting a broadband comunity.

Very well put. I think I've made it clear where I stand on this matter. Maybe it is time for a members only poll.

[Peapod]

totally opposed to any more deviation from our common cause on this forum. We are contentious enough in "OffTopic" without creating yet another diversion with an adults only section. We join here to support the struggle for decent Telecoms and Broadband, not to ogle half naked people, pron or read lewd postings...that you can do on any number of the x million x rated web sites on the net.
If we deviate any more, we may as well rename ourselves to MyLargestconsumerforuminsouthafricathatdoesnothing morethangathertogetherheretotalkaboutnothinginpart icular.co.za
It is hard enough already to remain focussed. Come on peeps, all hands to the wheel for BROADBAND and lets quit the bunfight it OT already.
Just my 5c,

[nocilah]

okay

efnet #myadsl is an irc channel where you can let off some steam...

heh... there solved.

[neio]

The board software allows for hidden forums.

[TheSaint]

I was trying to write a long story too as many of you have done but I just find myself repeating stuff
So I just going to be me and say "NO" I don’t think this will contribute to the purpose of MyADSL and in fact it could be detrimental and dangerous

Why can’t we just all get along?

[Kropotkin]

Why can’t we just all get along?
Because we don't live in Never-Never Land? :p

[TheSaint]

Because we don't live in Never-Never Land? :p
things dont go that well there too.:p

did i say that out aloud :eek:

well so i hear not like i watch perter pan or anything :rolleyes: