Off-Topic Topics and Closed Threads

[Rodgers]

OK OK OK - I know there are rules etc - my point was that a discussion about birth control etc COULD take on a form that dealt purely with the ethical side of the debate and didn't get into the more, er, "sticky" side of that topic. If it's too much of a risk that it might not stay so clean then fair enough, thats your judgment and you're the bloke who has to make the call. Just offering my view.

That said, to those who always respond to these sorts of discussions by saying "this is a game site remember" (I've seen this said by a number of different posters here in the past) - I take it then that your posts relate purely to the game concerned and you NEVER post in OT or the other non-civ forums? What on earth is the point of those forums if not to talk about topics NOT related to the game?

 

[floppa21]

This is not directed at anyone in particular. With that said, other sites will allow talk of sex, condoms, etc. This one does not. Whatever the reason may be, the rules apply. Similar to rules of a county or state or country. If you don't like them, you can complain til you're blue in the face or you can move to another country or just take a vacation to one. Not saying I want to see people leave. Some have and that is that. Plenty here go to more sites than just CFC. Hell. Point is, rules are in effect and there is no breaking of them. Simple really.

 

[kojimanard]

Many of these posts are very well thought out. On this simple point, AoA sumed it up. This is not an adult only site, and CFC doesnt want to be sued (BTW, I'm a lawyer, but I certainly wouldnt take a case in this area). Those outside the US may not realize that how easy it is to bring a legal action here and how costly it can be to defend it, even when there is little merit to the suit.

 

[Pongui]

I can't help but think that some things are OK to show graphically, but not OK to describe verbally.

For example, to accurately describe a typical picture in the Babe Thread, so that one has a clear image in mind, I would use a pornographic, explicit, highly sexual style of writing. Even a clinical description of these ladies and their poses would seem unacceptably graphic. It's OK so long as we don't talk about it?

Another example is the Trojan condom banner (among other adult-oriented ads) which appears sometimes on this site's main page. A picture of condoms in their packets, alongside an intimate-looking couple. If everyone who visits this site can view the image, we should be able to discuss it.

I would actually prefer some things not postable as graphics, but open to verbal discussion.

 

[Perfection]

Well heres my two cents, I believe that in this site the rules should be, talk of sexually related items should be allowed with these excetions.
1. Talk of sexual actions themselves
2. Descripions of things that could be viewed as sexually explicit.
3. Using words that are evocotive
The condom thread really doesn't fit into 1 or 2, but for 3 I can see its merit. So for that catagory I think it's the mods call. I personelly disagree with AoA, but I will accept the fact that it is his judgement and act accordingly.

 

[cromagnon]

Very thoughtful, Perfection, but I think it all boils down to Thunderfall's decision. He knows the risks involved with this sort of thing better than most of us, and he's the one assuming the vast majority of the risk.

Please do not take this as a "well, you didn't close this thread down!" or "I told you so," but I found the thread on the legality of homosexuality to be quite stimulating (NOT like that, Rodgers!) and interesting. In comparison, the condom thread was quite tame and mature in its tone.

I only bring this up because there ought to be more uniform application of the rules. I guess it all depends on what you define as "sexually oriented."

 

[Perfection]

Exactly my point Cromagnon, It's in this gray zone of stuff that might be placed in either one, one of the ways that might help is an allowing of some of these lighter shades of grey as long as they are not generating any compliants and is promoting a healthy interesting conversation. When compliants are brought up, we can send in the Mods to close 'er down.

 

[Alcibiaties of Athenae]

I disgree boys.

You will open us up too "you allowed this, why not that?"

It's either/or in my mind.

 

[philippe]

Well listen up i once was a MOd in a certain Belgian forum(in the games section) and i was surprised by the lack of order and right so i started banning everyone who was a pain in the ass and was flaming/trolling or spamming.
Then 98% said i should quit and under pressure i had to step off
becuase i was like an "old man"
I rather be a member here then a MOD in such backward idiotic forum.
Since them i got a great respect for AOA and other mods around here

 

[Zwelgje]

Well, banning everybody isn't something that's good for a forum to do. It's a good thing the rules at CFC have always been strict so everybody should know what they can and can't post. The rules are clear, the policy is clear.
Indeed when a forum has always been very loose on the rules, it's strange to start imposing the rules very strict at a random moment. Posters will not know what they can or can't post.
So the policy at CFC has been good over the past years and with the mods we've got now I don't think that will change!

 

[philippe]

well not everybody of 162 members 114 members isn't that much?

 

[sabo]

Originally posted by philippe
I rather be a member here then a MOD in such backward idiotic forum.
Since them i got a great respect for AOA and other mods around here

Exactly, I would never do what they do, for two reasons. It's very time consuming and I just don't have the time, and like I mentioned in another post I used to do the same thing as them back when we were called Sysops, it was a chat site call "twin cities chat" The mods are visual so they are natural targets for alot of people, I would rather just be a poster here, then when someone ticks me off I can tell them to take a "flying fornication" <<-- had to pretty up that saying, but you know what I mean. The mods can't (or shouldn't do that) let's give them a hand...!

 

[Ohkrana]

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae
I disgree boys.

You will open us up too "you allowed this, why not that?"

It's either/or in my mind.

Thats exactly what will happen.

And isn't there enough whining already?

And some people, prefer to come to this site for lack of sexual content. Hell it's all over the bloody net, if thats what your looking for sex related topics and anything else; find a site that has it post there and quit b*tching.

And if you want to encourage female membership. I'll hazard a guess by saying that they would prefer a site without sexual content.

Not that I would dare tell a woman what they want or don't want.

Not too mention there is something a little too 'happy' about guys discussing sex topics with other guys.

 

[floppa21]

Originally posted by civ1-addict
Well, banning everybody isn't something that's good for a forum to do.

Says who? Oh fine, so maybe it isn't the GREATEST idea, but I still think it could, maybe, work.

 

[Zwelgje]

Originally posted by floppa21
Says who? Oh fine, so maybe it isn't the GREATEST idea, but I still think it could, maybe, work.

I should have seen this one coming...

 

[Alcibiaties of Athenae]

Well, if people want it, I don't want to moderate it, I take an enormous amount of heat as it is.

Someone else will have to moderate those threads, I'm not going to deal with it.

Every day I get some complaint about this or that, and that is on established rules stated clearly in the Faq, and now you want to make me add judgement calls on sexual content?

About the condom question, that is purely about having sex, and avoiding the concequences of the act (either desease or pregnacy), that is all there is too it.
What do you want, comments on how it feels?
If that is to be the standard, not only would I not want to moderate it, I would not even want to be part of the community at all, there are plenty of sites to discuss sex openly.

Someone brought up the adverse effect such topics have on women posters. I have activily sought to have the ladies join our site, and enjoy it, and in fact, we have over a dozen who post somewhat on a regular basis.
Apolyton, which allows such threads, has two or three at most.
Another truth is, and I know this for a fact, at that site some women hide their gender because they feel uncomfortible with the topics and atmosphere.
So, to please a few, we have to offend others?
I don't want to be part of that.

Some people say we are prudes.

Bull****.

If you can't have one game site that doesn't have to have constant sexual threads, then you a deviant.
Control your homones, I refuse to do it for you.

 

[Zcylen]

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae


There are also other matters to consider, such as do you want YOUR children to be provided sex education by laymen on a game website?
That's what you will get.
We have youngsters here, quite a few, it's a GAME site.

there's lot of sites where sex is shown without restrictions, those webmasters dont care about family, children, morality, education or anything else.
what they want is money.
Im glad this place "restricts" some topics, I see no problem.

 

[cgannon64]

Well now that I've been (finally ) unbanned, I'd just like to post my two cents in this thread, as I AM the person who started the whole thing.

I was aware of the rules. I didn't purposely mean to break them, I had kind of forgotten about them. However, I knew my thread was borderline, and I thought (read: hoped) that it would be allowed to stay. I was wrong. I disobeyed the rules, and my ban was fine. Rules are rules, agree with them or not. Follow them or get punished, its the way life works.

For one thing, I thought my thread wasn't even that sexual in nature. There were NO direct sexual references; I purposely tried to avoid that. I tried to keep the discussion as clean as possible, but I can only do so much. I thought, if I avoid the sexual side of birth control, and stick to the behaviorial side of it, I could get a way. I guess I underestimated the mods, though.

Another reason I thought it would slide is the condom ads they run on this site. I haven't seen them in a while but...after all, it is pretty ironic, you must admit.

EDIT: One last thing I thought before posting the thread. I figured, what kids would I offend? I'm the youngest regular poster in OT, after all...

Oh well, I was wrong. I'll admit it. Whether I agree with the rules or not is irrelevant. I can't change them. And hey, at least I got a three (no...five ) day ban instead of seven. Lets hope this all dies down.

interesting unbanning system we have here

 

[SunTzu]

and Cgannon has been re-educated

 

[Alcibiaties of Athenae]

Got his mind right after his failure to communicate.