hello

[Bows n Arrows]

Well...as a former staff member I can say we worked hard to balance 'free speech' with 'damage control', and by that I mean that presenting your ideas in an intelligent, non-hostile, explanatory manner was protected, and flaming and/or malicious trolling is not. We've had people on this board who have violently opposed to various ideas, or been things we didn't find very savory, and their right to express themselves within the guidelines of this forum was strictly enforced.

I think much of the problem was the way it was all handled.....er, wasn't.


for instance, would it possibly have been moved to one of your other forums?- the 18 and older, etc.

[thesummerqueen]

I think much of the problem was the way it was all handled.....er, wasn't.


for instance, would it possibly have been moved to one of your other forums?- the 18 and older, etc.

That would entirely depend on the content. We keep any truly adult things - salacious talk about sex, porn, etc, in Area 69.

Some of it is judgment factor though - for instance, I personally think it is possible to have a mature, reasoned, and fairly clinical discussion about some aspect of sex or psychological sexual things without being pornographic about it, and I think people under 18 can and do benefit from the exposure to it and shouldn't be shielded from it. It's not like they won't find a plethora of shit about it on the net anyway.

It's the same with pedophilia: it is possible to discuss this in clinical ways, or in testimonial ways, without being pornographic, and in such a manner as to invite rational discussion about a topic that receives incredibly irrational (not blaming anyone at all for it) feelings as knee-jerk responses.

This is my personal opinion though, and other staff members (of any forum) who have children 18 or younger may feel differently. In my experience of the staff here though, rational discussion about how to run the forum, despite personal feelings, about a subject DOES go on. And despite many outwardly flippant attitudes, the staff here takes their jobs very seriously. I know I did, which is why I left for a time and didn't come back on as staff - I didn't want the responsibility (which I held in as high regard as you can hold something which exists in virtual reality) again.

---

Oh, actually, making a joke on anjele's thread reminded me:

We've had some problems with former members who decided they didn't like how 'repressive' we were being, so this might crop up from time to time, but after experiencing this attitude here and in meatspace in the local atheist group I belong to, I've come to realize that there are some people who, for whatever reason IRL or online, run into personal problems and decide to take it out on everyone else and create a massive 'conspiracy' against themselves inside their own heads because it makes them feel better to think that everyone is out to get them than to realize sometimes you're powerless against outside problems.

So if any of you left because of the above reason and you think to play the martyr here, you won't get much sympathy. If you left because you couldn't stand the negativity and want to hold discussions with friendly, inclusive people, you've come to the right place.

[Bows n Arrows]

If you left because you couldn't stand the negativity and want to hold discussions with friendly, inclusive people, you've come to the right place.

This. friendly & inclusive is what I am looking for.....nothing more, nothing less.

[thesummerqueen]

If you left because you couldn't stand the negativity and want to hold discussions with friendly, inclusive people, you've come to the right place.

This. friendly & inclusive is what I am looking for.....nothing more, nothing less.

Well, despite what some of our theist members say...you've come to the right place.

[arewethereyet]

I think the reason I was considered a problem is that I tend to speak up. I can get rather passionate. Funny thing is that the person who publicly said I was a problem had sent many messages saying I was an asset to the board. Go figure. I try to be supportive of people who are hurting and I also like to talk about things with people who have a sense of humor and a reasonable level of intelligence.

My rep is pretty decent over there and I was recently named a veteran...I am certainly not a martyr...just sick and tired of stupid shit and admins making rules as they go along...as in "cause I said so". Or the reverse...not being able to make a decision while Rome burns.

Allowing pedophiles to start showing up and telling us how victims really aren't hurt that bad by being molested did the forum no good. It certainly wasn't a clinical or scientific discussion. And to have a minor there communicating via PM with one of them and it being condoned put me over the edge. I am not good with anyone who hurts kids.

Off my soapbox...will enjoy getting to know all of you here...

[Mystical]

I am very pleased wifth the admins of this forum. They don't take bullshit but they still let me say bullshit

Yeah pedophilia is a hard subject for anyone to endure.

All I know is I like all you new guys andgirls and I might cry if you leave us like the last batch of disgruntled member immigrants