A Land Far Away

I have come to the realization that one of two things need to happen.

1. I (along with my staff) need to stop moderating chat and let it dwindle into the mindless drivel those that push the limits are looking for. However.... should this option be chosen, the #alfa channel will have to be keyed (that's a password to get in for those of you that aren't quite IRC savvy.)

Or....

2. I convince the community that #alfa is a public channel and, therefore, is able to be viewed by anyone.

Now....

One of the things that need to be determined is whether or not this community has an age limit any longer. I have seen some disquieting posts in chat regarding that very topic and have been told that the age limit has been lifted. If that is truly the case, then the purpose of moderation in the ONLY public chat channel we have is paramount to us showing the world at large that we are a respectable community and not just some collection of depraved DnD freaks.

If this community still maintains a 13 or older policy for it's members, then a little slack in the chat channels might be acceptable. It won't be for me, but if the community wants it....

So..... My questions for this poll are as follows, I guess:

First Choice: Completely lift the moderation on language as we are a collection of idiotic drivel who want to keep driving away any decent people that show any indication that they want to play here.

Second Choice: Keep the ban in place with a clear definition of what's acceptable and what is not so that any violators in #alfa (and only that public channel) are immediately banned for 24 hours, with repetitive offenders getting increasingly larger bans, up to and including a permaban from this wonderful community.

Third Choice: I don't care, since I only go into chat on the occasion that I need something from someone at some time.

Fourth Choice: I have no preference, as I never go into chat and don't really care what sort of image this community shows the world at large.

These are the choices. Pick the one you feel most strongly about. The outcome will determine what happens in #alfa, most likely.

B.

Just for the sake of saying, I chose the second option.

I Swear like a sailor in RL ... but I really dont want to hear/read burt/{Insert other njub here} cussing with every other word an saying some sick crap in chat.

Voted for 1. This is the only community I'm in that's heavily moderated, and the only appreciable difference between ALFA and the others is that people are on edge and afraid of getting banned here. And you can say "kick-ass" without being booted in other communities.

Barendd wrote:Second Choice: Keep the ban in place with a clear definition of what's acceptable and what is not so that any violators in #alfa (and only that public channel) are immediately banned for 24 hours, with repetitive offenders getting increasingly larger bans, up to and including a permaban from this wonderful community.

This is what ive been trying to find out for almost a week, with no clear answer from anyone, and a few contradictions thrown in for good measure. Despite my absolute dislike of cencorship, im fine with PG-13 rating, so long as it is consistent with PG-13 ratings elsewhere. When people are getting banned for saying 'ass' which can be heard in almost any PG-13 rated movie in the world, thats what i dont like.

<GF|playin> If the moderation were just remotely reasonable, there wouldn't be such a problem.

My thoughts exactly. The level of moderation we are seeing atm is compareable to a channel with a G rating, not a PG-13 rating.

I voted option one, despite the horribly biased description it has been given. The only time you see shocking amounts of profanity in chat is during heated debates, and those lose their steam after about a half hour and arent all that regular anyway.

Edit: It would also be nice if the options were rewritten to be less crap like

First Choice: Completely lift the moderation on language as we are a collection of idiotic drivel who want to keep driving away any decent people that show any indication that they want to play here

That is merely an opinion of yours, with absolutely no proof to back it up. I also fail to see why #alfa would have to have a key to enter the room.

I don't mind moderation, but such heavy moderation that we get kicked/banned if we say f*ck a few times to many or b*tch or whatever else. Kids can hear worse on a playground these days, so just moderate people who are being asses to newbies and leave the rest of us well enough alone.

Ban!

Vendrin said A**

I completely agree with Lafter. I personally don't swear IRL or online. I don't want to hear graphic cyber or disgusting, derogatory comments.

However, I am a bit disheartened when I see people banned or booted for using the word b*tch or a** in a completely non-obscene way; getting practically baby-sat in chat...

I don't think it's ALFA's job to make sure 13 year olds don't see occassional swear words. If their parent is so over-protective that one or two swear words will cause them to go into a heart-attack, they shouldn't let their kid on the internet in the first place.

I'm going to abstain from voting, because I don't think either option is that good:

1.) I don't think ending the hardcore moderation will turn the channel into some pirate filled smut-house, but I don't want a full, unmoderated channel. I don't want to see people using sexual expressions just because the channel is un-moderated.
but -
2.) I hate the current moderation rules. They're undefined and it reminds me of church. You can not apply a movie rating system designed for a two hour long movie to a persistent chat channel. I also dislike how the moderators act some times, a bit too police-state and unfair. (No offense, just my personal opinion; which is why my chat-channel use has been cut in at least half since a particular incident.)

And, since it's always better to be part of the solution/discussion than problem; my personal ideal chat channel would be:

Allow people to casually swear. If anyone is offended by something, they can send a PM to a moderator, who can then review what was said.

The hard and fast rules would be- 1.) No sexual talk. No words like c*nt, tw*t, etc. 2.) No swearing just to swear, sentences like "MFing son of a MFing b*tch" (just explicitly spelled out) is too much. 3.) No swearing aimed at people in the community, whatsoever. 4.) No racist/sexist/etc. statements/jokes of any kind.

I vote 1. if you publicly post that chat is PG-13 you have an obligation to keep it PG-13 and could incur liability if you fail to do so.

Keeping chat as a totally free members only channel (or alternatively as a public adults channel) where we are all over 18 will solve any problems you may be worried about.

frankly the community at large is hardly 13 yr olds.....it's mostly dirty college students. also I endure enough bullshit PC censorship at work as it is -- I don't want it in my free time.


EdITED sorry you guys are fast posters

Castano wrote:I vote 1. if you publicly post that chat is PG-13 you have an obligation to keep it PG-13 and could incur liability if you fail to do so.

Keeping chat as a totally free memebrs only channel where we can all sign up as over 18 will solve any problems you may be worried about.

frankly the community at large is hardly 13 yr olds.....it's mostly dirty college students.

So you honestly want people to be able to say any word in the book about/at you without you being able to do anything about it?

Make GF the chat mod and let him take care of it all.

Make everyone ops, and then if someone is offended, they can kickban the offensive person.

Magile wrote:

Castano wrote:I vote 1. if you publicly post that chat is PG-13 you have an obligation to keep it PG-13 and could incur liability if you fail to do so.

Keeping chat as a totally free memebrs only channel where we can all sign up as over 18 will solve any problems you may be worried about.

frankly the community at large is hardly 13 yr olds.....it's mostly dirty college students.

So you honestly want people to be able to say any word in the book about/at you without you being able to do anything about it?

oh I can do stuff about it.

Magile wrote: So you honestly want people to be able to say any word in the book about/at you without you being able to do anything about it?

Oh NO! They are saying mean things about me!

If it gets to a point to where someone is saying really nasty things, chat is usually self moderated with everyone else telling the one person to stfu.

Vendrin wrote:

Magile wrote: So you honestly want people to be able to say any word in the book about/at you without you being able to do anything about it?

Oh NO! They are saying mean things about me! If it gets to a point to where someone is saying really nasty things, chat is usually self moderated with everyone else telling the one person to stfu.

exactly what with this "do anything about it" -- tell em they are idiots and ignore them - i assume chat has an ignore feature to shut out messages from jackasses