Censorship and SB..how far are we going to take this???

[Geoff_H]

Well they aren't banned really are they? At least not in rebreather advertisements.

I knew it wouldn't be long before someone brought this up, and you didn't fail me.

There is an obvious difference between posting a picture of a dive boat with a girl in a bikini on or an advert showing a pretty girl with a rebreather and posting a thread full of smodels in skimpy outfits and provocative poses.

This remains one of if not the best moderated forum I've seen in 15 years on BBS's, Compuserve, usenet, email lists and web forums. I really don't want to see it descend to the levels elsewhere on the net so a bunch of guys can post smutty jokes, bikini model pictures and have religous, political and ethical fights.

It can and will spill over into the regular scuba forums - and there are plenty of places that allow it. Scubaboard doesn't need to - it's become successful by not allowing it and it will remain successful by not allowing it.

 

[BabyDuck]

effing morons, they ought to rename it again, homeland bureaucracy.

how come dennis gets to type 'effing' and i don't?!?!

i've been 'corrected' for that before and my reply 'adjusted'!

this is exactly what jep's talking about - if a child knows what 'effing' stands for, this thread didn't teach them. if they don't know, no harm no foul.

 

[sea nmf]

Jep,

I understand what you are saying and can agree with you in principle.

HOWEVER, when there is a topic that is "hot", we rarely remain civil. We resort to name-calling, cursing, etc. I'm not pointing fingers to specific members, but to the universal "we".

I think we can all agree that it is too easy to offend people, no matter how we try not to. In my view, the problem is that if we discuss something that we know starts out offensive, the only way it won't dissolve into heated, personal attacks is if no one but those that agree with it posts.

As for me, if this board allowed these types of adversarial discussions in the general forums, I would leave the board. I just think that intelligent people do not need to resort to those tactics.

Hopefully, you will see that I made my point (and you made your last one) without name-calling and cursing. We remained civil. As a matter of fact, most of the thoughtful posts in this discussion did, as well. But if we were talking about Global Warming or DIR or abortion, you and I both know it would not be probable.

 

[DandyDon]

I knew it wouldn't be long before someone brought this up, and you didn't fail me.

There is an obvious difference between posting a picture of a dive boat with a girl in a bikini on or an advert showing a pretty girl with a rebreather and posting a thread full of smodels in skimpy outfits and provocative poses.

Did you look at the linked thread offered as an example? Page 1 had a overly enhanced model - well they were all such - with a see-thru suit who may as well have been topless, and page 2 has one with see thru thong panties - hardly the same "bikinis" as on the ad?! :11: Start such here and people will cry foul when their submission is pulled.

Dandy, I read Spearboard all the time in my office and can you believe it, I don't open the thread with the bikinis. Oh, and caca doesn't have the same effect.

No I don't think Spearboard has been recognized by the filter software companies yet. Can you access Myspace, Hawaiian Tropic, naughtier? A business with a good system should block those as time wasters at best.

[-]Looks like the word **** is not being filtered?[/-] Oh yes it is. thot I saw it earlier?

how come dennis gets to type 'effing' and i don't?!?!

i've been 'corrected' for that before and my reply 'adjusted'!

Probly being allowed here only so as to let opinions be posted more freely. My guess anyway...

s-h-i-t is still going to be read as what it is intended to be. and seriously, why would someone get offended with this?

I don't think that's allowed on the other forums anyway? It may depend on cultures, but here the word is considered office-offensive.

 

[Cave Diver]

OK, if it's not "anything goes", what would the new boundaries need to be?

I just lost a lengthy reply that I'm not about to retype even if I could remember it all. So here is a somewhat paraphrased version.

There should be multiple levels of moderation.

Level 1 occurs in the general forums. These are the forums everyone can see and the first thing that new members to the board will find. These forums are strictly diving related. While spirited discussions will be encouraged, cursing name calling and the like will not. Violaters will have their posts pulled and will have the opportunity to make them compliant. If they fail to do so, then the post will be deleted and they will lose the privelege of posting after 3 strikes.

If a thread spirals out of control, it should be locked with a Mod warning rather than just "disappearing." This will keep all of the "where did xxxxx thread go?" posts from popping up constantly.

When a new poster asks a question for the umpteenth time, a Mod should post search results for the question, redirect the OP to the results, then lock the thread. There is no reason to keep answering the questions that have already been answered when there is so much good info readily available. Users can click the "report post" button to alert Mods when a thread needs attention.

One thing we all need to keep in mind. Many of these posters may be on a message board for the first time. In spite of all the FAQ's, etc. many don't have a clue how to search or find relevant information. When everyone piles on them telling them to do a search, etc. many people are discouraged and put off.

This board now has 80k+ members, but the most users ever online at once was over 2 years ago.

Level 2 should be opt in areas of general discussion. These areas would include the general chat threads, humor, non diving related stuff etc. They would allow for more "mature" discussions and topics while still remaining respectful of the variety of cultures, genders, religions, etc. Once again, questionable posts would be pulled by Mods and the poster would have the opportunity to correct, or it would disappear and their privelages revoked.

Level 3 would be individual groups. Since most of these groups are a close, tight knit group of people, it would be mostly self-policed. Users would be warned when they opt in that moderation is minimal. Pretty much a "enter at your own risk."

Those that come here strictly for the diving aspect can engage in that conversation without fear of reprisal.

Those that want more can engage in that as well under a bit looser restrictions.

Of course this is all rather idealistic. Reality says nothing is quite this simple, but perhaps its a good place to start.

 

[Web Monkey]

I wonder how many of those who want to ogle here are posting on SB at an office that has many sites with bikini models blocked?

Any US company big enough to have a lawyer will have fits over pretty much any erotic pictures.

They don't care if you like the pictures or not, or even if you chose them. They're worried about the office prude walking by your monitor, becoming offended and suing them.

Terry

 

[ffestpirate]

You know, the worst part is this. I could give a rat's hindquarters about seeing a girl in a bikini here. Those are plentiful everywhere on the net(and our beach ). What I have a huge problem with is this: Surfrace interval requires you to be 18 to opt in. Why is that? The subject of a "pg" rating came up the other night. Well, on all of our public beaches, a thong is okay. On network tv, they can now say ass and damn and occasionally push even those limits. We are creating a double standard. We are being more conservative than even the FCC and the majority of Americans(I apologize to my foriegn friends as I know this stupidity is not a consideration in most other countries, but I draw on personal experience) think the FCC are out of control with censorship. So, why then the age 18 opt in? WE ARE (for the most part) consciensious, intelligent people. If you are offended by something you see, don't look. You are smart enough to make your own decisions. If you are not, you learn from it. If you don't, Darwin has a law for you. Someone should not have to make evrything child proof for you in an adult area that YOU choose to enter. I am an adult. Those who disagree with me, I respect your right to do so. But I also ask you to respect my right to feel the way I do. Unfortunately, most pro-censorship people seem to think that theirs is the only way and they are saving society. I know this will be lost on those who most need it, but that's my 2 cents.....

 

[Geoff_H]

I am an adult. Those who disagree with me, I respect your right to do so. But I also ask you to respect my right to feel the way I do. Unfortunately, most pro-censorship people seem to think that theirs is the only way and they are saving society. I know this will be lost on those who most need it, but that's my 2 cents.....

I guess my point is is that just because something CAN be done (closed forums, opt-in's, split level moderation standards) doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done.

I think the proposed solutions would waste the developer & moderators time, for very little benefit. Once again, this is a board to talk about scuba diving. If you want to chat about politics, religion or see swimsuit calander pictures then there are plenty of better places to do so.

 

[Cave Diver]

I think the proposed solutions would waste the developer & moderators time, for very little benefit. Once again, this is a board to talk about scuba diving. If you want to chat about politics, religion or see swimsuit calander pictures then there are plenty of better places to do so.

Then why did the owner/moderator/developers provide that option?

Since it's here, obviously by their discretion, why shouldnt we make the most of it?

Just because you don't see a benefit, doesn't mean others don't.

Speaking of which, this thread has mostly NOTHING to do with SCUBA diving, other than the fact that its on a diving board. Yet many who only want SCUBA related topics have posted in here.

Seems almost contradictary...

 

[ffestpirate]

I guess the point of those who disagree with you is that just because something CAN be done (closed forums, opt-in's, split level moderation standards) doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done.

I think the proposed solutions would waste the developer & moderators time, for very little benefit. Once again, this is a board to talk about scuba diving. If you want to chat about politics, religion or see swimsuit calander pictures then there are plenty of better places to do so.

I can't help but notice that you are not a supporting member. I encourage you to send in your money and help to develop the community you defend. Whereas, I agree with the fact that there are better places, I also stand by my assertion that there are different levels of this forum. SI is an opt in choice. Once again....OPT IN. You have a choice. If you don't want to be subjected to certain things...... DO NOT OPT IN! I personally dive with several MODS and developers. They are people who do respect personal choice. You don't have to ban what you don't want to read..........just chose not to read it......