I haven't posed the question to you all yet, but this is becoming and more and more persistant issue and so I will allow the site to decide ... to some degree. This question is a big one and an important one for any website, and I feel it should be decided by everyone whom this will affect:
Where is the line between helpful guardianship and meddling censorship?
I want you to help me define what we as admins and moderators should be doing in the way of keeping crap off the site. I have my own standards that I will enforce no matter what you all decide: I want good spelling/grammar/writing, material appropriate for PG-13 movies, and nothing inherently racist/sexist/bigotted.
Of course, there is a bit of a grey area even with what I am looking for, so I want to get everyone's opinions on things. Recognize that this is not an open invitation to rewrite site policy/rules -- I am asking for your opinion, however, just because I am asking for your opinion does not mean I will actually use it.
So, what do you think?
All that needs to be said is this: FIRE = BAD |
I like the way this site is run, and to quote one of my favorite teachers:
That is the perfect way to put it. You can't let people do whatever they please on your site, whereas you can't bury them in totalitarian might, either. I think you are good at maintaining this balance. Of course, when someone questions something on the site such as the cosmetics of it or maybe installing a kiddie pool, more or less you leave the debate up to us and then you don't even have to say no, because everyone else does. I think everything s maintained quite smoothly on the site, I am very happy with it and desire no change.
I'd have to say the line between guardianship and censorship is not a clear one. One abuse does not determine the difference, nor two, but a series of abuses over a period of time. That being said, you are doing very well by all of us and I am glad we have an administrator like you on such a fine and rare site.
You lose.
Zombie-fying a devolving argument has been a good practice.
As wearisome as it might be, I'd suggest that your standards of grammar and spelling should be exhibited consistently throughout the site. Don't do it yourself. Call upon all of your article writers to do a quick check of their work.
I messed with Texas.
It was you against the site, nobody wants it. That deserved to be zombified.
You lose.
Please leave other topics in the other topics. If someone has a problem with a topic, they are to send a message to a moderator. If a moderator zombifies a topic, there is a good reason for it. If one is not clear on that reason, they can PM that or any other moderator and may even get the topic reopened. It would not be the first time something like this has happened. Now, please return to the topic in question. Thanks.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
I think the site has been run fine. If you are worried about being the bad guy for cutting off certain lines of discussion based your judgement, I wouldn't worry about that so much.
As long as I have nothing, you can never take what's mine.
Furnace, are you arguing with yourself, because it sounds like you're trying to argue, but no one seems to be arguing with you. Oh well.
Dylan, I will tell you that we can spend all of our time and ban half the members for spelling/grammar problems. I just let the members go on autopilot, so long as I can read it and understand it, I won't really say much, but let the members patrol themselves.
Regardless, we are getting distracted from what I wanted to find out.
I want the edge defined. Clearly. I don't care whether or not I agree with you, I want your opinions. Tell me what you don't want to see on ZPI or what you think it makes sense for us to remove.
Nudity? Swearing? Offensive wording (i.e., "don't be such a pussy", "I just got Gypped/Jewwed", faggot, nigger, bitch). Offensive user names?
Language has an amazing level of subtlety to it so there are many things that might be a grey area, but I want to get as close to a clearly defined list as possible.
EDIT: And eveyone, stop saying "you guys do fine" ... while I, and I'm sure other mods, like to hear that people are generally satisfied with the choices we make, I want to know where YOU would draw the lines if you were in charge, put it into words.
All that needs to be said is this: FIRE = BAD
And why haven't you banned me yet?
Personally the basic standards you set are good. I'd prefer that any attempt to post information on making explosives remain prohibited and reloading information be added.
Then follow the P.I.P rule:
Petty, Irrelevant, or Personal... That's a good loose line to draw.
As for grammar, I was speaking of the permanently posted articles. It allows one to throw stones (grammatical that is) out of one's non-glass house. It speaks to a level of consistency and professionalism on part of the editor/moderator/owner.
But it's only a suggestion.
I messed with Texas.
I see the racial slurs as past the edge. I am generally in favor of nudity in virtually all situations even if it is over the edge!
Guys calling each other bitch is something I enjoy seeing.
As long as I have nothing, you can never take what's mine.
I mod at a kiddie forum, so I spend a lot of my time censoring people. It really depends on the target audience... A zombie forum doesn't really need to be censored that much, since the people you'd need to censor for shouldn't be on here anyway. But say, and Artemis Fowl forum would need more censoring, because kids come on there all the time.