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Admin

Clarifying and Enforcement of Appropriateness policy

April 16, 2008 at 06:23PM View BBCode

We have made a decision to no longer allow users to use sexually suggestive images for their Avatars. If your Avatar image could be construed as sexually suggestive, we ask that you replace it with another image.

As long as we don't get complaints from your league mates, I don't have a problem with non-nudity, suggestive images in your league board. But if 1 or more owners have a problem with it, then we will enforce the policy for posted pictures in league boards.

It is in good taste to provide a link, instead of an uploaded picture, to anything that might be deemed inappropriate or offensive.

Many of our users access the site from work and from home. Your Avatar shows up every where you post. So there is no way for people at work to avoid your Avatar. Depending on your job, job environment, relationship with your significant other, etc. this could pose a major problem for you. The last thing we want is to get people in trouble at home or at work. I know we've had priests as owners on the site. Imagine him checking the message boards when one of his church members walks in.

We get about 1 complaint a month from one user about another user's Avatar being too risque. We then need to spend time and brain power on whether it is appropriate, what is appropriate, how to approach the person with the avatar, what is fair, where the line should be drawn, etc. We would like to spend this time on other things.

I apologize if you find that this line has been drawn too conservatively. It is the only way we can make sure that offensive material stays off the boards, and that we don't have to spend time debating whether these things are offensive.

Tyson
tworoosters

April 16, 2008 at 06:48PM View BBCode

So who decides what is "sexually suggestive" ?

This is censorship pure and simple, and foolish to boot.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 07:04PM View BBCode

i'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that a small group of people have been using/posting some things that others have found to be semi-greatly offensive and that this is the result. unfortunately, once a few people cross the line, there isn't much that can be done except re-draw it closer to what's conservative. i don't like it much, but i being in retail i can understand it. i think directing our displeasure at admin is probably not the place to start. as my 3rd grade teacher used to say, it just takes one or two people to ruin it for everybody.
Benne

April 16, 2008 at 07:05PM View BBCode

We're all adults here. Is it too much to ask that we act like adults?
Hamilton2

April 16, 2008 at 07:07PM View BBCode

It's unfortunate that a few sour apples can ruin the whole barrell of fun. However, I think this is a needed and appropriate step.

Thanks, Tyson.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 07:10PM View BBCode

i would be curious to find out just what the heck happened though. without the actual pics being re-posted of course.
Admin

April 16, 2008 at 07:10PM View BBCode

Hi TR - unfortunately, that is the point we have reached. We don't want to spend all our time deciding what is offensive and what is not, where to draw the line, etc. I'd much rather spend time on making the sim better.

We've spent too much time on this stuff over the last 6 months and have decided a good starting point is that Avatars should be non-sexual in nature.

If you have a question about a particular Avatar, it's probably best not to use it. Anything showing excessive skin will be taken down.

Tyson
Benne

April 16, 2008 at 07:11PM View BBCode

Go to the OGL.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 07:14PM View BBCode

Originally posted by Benne
Go to the OGL.


really????? when did you guys start with the drama? that's more of a MVL kind of thing.

which thread?
FuriousGiorge

April 16, 2008 at 07:16PM View BBCode

This thread began with a complaint originating from our league. Posted by me.
Benne

April 16, 2008 at 07:26PM View BBCode

Originally posted by dirtdevil
Originally posted by Benne
Go to the OGL.


really????? when did you guys start with the drama? that's more of a MVL kind of thing.

which thread?





If you must know...


[url=http://www.simdynasty.com/oldforum-viewthread.jsp?tid=178688]The fun begins on page 2.[/url]
whiskybear

April 16, 2008 at 07:26PM View BBCode

Originally posted by tworoosters
So who decides what is "sexually suggestive" ?

This is censorship pure and simple, and foolish to boot.


I'm sure you're only interested in censorship when it involves your right to post TnA.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 07:27PM View BBCode

Originally posted by Benne
Originally posted by dirtdevil
Originally posted by Benne
Go to the OGL.


really????? when did you guys start with the drama? that's more of a MVL kind of thing.

which thread?





If you must know...


[url=http://www.simdynasty.com/oldforum-viewthread.jsp?tid=178688]The fun begins on page 2.[/url]


i wouldn't say MUST know. i'm just rather curious about what sent this over the edge. especially coming from the one good league.
FuriousGiorge

April 16, 2008 at 07:37PM View BBCode

Only Good League.

It was simply time for it to stop. I don't know why now and not (whenever the last time was that it happened). Critical mass or something.
tworoosters

April 16, 2008 at 07:43PM View BBCode

Originally posted by whiskybear
Originally posted by tworoosters
So who decides what is "sexually suggestive" ?

This is censorship pure and simple, and foolish to boot.


I'm sure you're only interested in censorship when it involves your right to post TnA.


And you're sure of this How ?
imalbundy2

April 16, 2008 at 08:07PM View BBCode

for the love of god, dirt and i are in agreement.

What's next? Real wrath of God type stuff? Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria!
turkob

April 16, 2008 at 08:23PM View BBCode

let's not blow this out of proportion

i don't like when people post sexual pics or have sexual avatars, it's not a free speech issue, i like the pictures just fine, but when i'm at work i am nervous that someone who doesn't approve of the pictures will get upset with me

so it makes the site more enjoyable for me when i don't have to worry about those pictures, this isn't censorship, it's courtesy
todd999430

April 16, 2008 at 08:45PM View BBCode

I find it offensive that someone would post someone drinking a glass of Guinness Beer as their avatar.

Where do you draw the line, Turk?

Am I allowed to post a picture of Kobe as my Avatar or is someone in Denver going to be upset about that?

What if I find Benne's sexual anime avatar offensive?

Who's to say that some Sim Dynasty owners aren't turned on by Whiskybear's Elephant avatar?

Line. Where?
todd999430

April 16, 2008 at 08:46PM View BBCode

That said, I don't care. None of you exist.
Admin

April 16, 2008 at 08:46PM View BBCode

Todd - see the first post if you need clarification.

Tyson
todd999430

April 16, 2008 at 08:50PM View BBCode

Originally posted by Admin
Todd - see the first post if you need clarification.

Tyson



Well, i hope no one in any of my leagues posts naked pictures of ferrets or we're going to have a problem...
FuriousGiorge

April 16, 2008 at 08:54PM View BBCode

A little bit of common sense, Todd. Sexually explicit images are a different animal from the rest, for reasons that should be obvious.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 08:56PM View BBCode

Originally posted by todd999430
I find it offensive that someone would post someone drinking a glass of Guinness Beer as their avatar.

Where do you draw the line, Turk?

Am I allowed to post a picture of Kobe as my Avatar or is someone in Denver going to be upset about that?

What if I find Benne's sexual anime avatar offensive?

Who's to say that some Sim Dynasty owners aren't turned on by Whiskybear's Elephant avatar?

Line. Where?


i find it, well, gloriously silly that someone(s) can't refrain from posting/using pics that could get someone else in trouble at work when asked in a civil fashion to do so. i also find it highly silly that you're trying to compare (a) someone HOLDING a glass of beer; (b) a basketball player; (c) a fully dressed cartoon; and (d) an album cover featuring a pachyderm to pictures that could potentially (in the certain situations) get someone fired. there's no comparison at all and anyone above the age of 6 should be able to see that. it's truly regrettable that it had to come to this, but anyone acting like an adult wouldn't have come anywhere near this far with it and these are, unfortunately, the inevitable results.

or to paraphrase: Line. There.
todd999430

April 16, 2008 at 09:07PM View BBCode

Originally posted by dirtdevil
Originally posted by todd999430
I find it offensive that someone would post someone drinking a glass of Guinness Beer as their avatar.

Where do you draw the line, Turk?

Am I allowed to post a picture of Kobe as my Avatar or is someone in Denver going to be upset about that?

What if I find Benne's sexual anime avatar offensive?

Who's to say that some Sim Dynasty owners aren't turned on by Whiskybear's Elephant avatar?

Line. Where?


i find it, well, gloriously silly that someone(s) can't refrain from posting/using pics that could get someone else in trouble at work when asked in a civil fashion to do so. i also find it highly silly that you're trying to compare (a) someone HOLDING a glass of beer; (b) a basketball player; (c) a fully dressed cartoon; and (d) an album cover featuring a pachyderm to pictures that could potentially (in the certain situations) get someone fired. there's no comparison at all and anyone above the age of 6 should be able to see that. it's truly regrettable that it had to come to this, but anyone acting like an adult wouldn't have come anywhere near this far with it and these are, unfortunately, the inevitable results.

or to paraphrase: Line. There.



I hear you, Dirt.

I guess to me there are more offensive things than a 30 year old female in a bikini.

If I were at work, I'd just block images.

To each their own.
dirtdevil

April 16, 2008 at 09:17PM View BBCode

Originally posted by todd999430
I guess to me there are more offensive things than a 30 year old female in a bikini.

If I were at work, I'd just block images.


to me as well, i like hot chicks in bikinis as much as the next guy. but if i'm understanding things properly sans the photo evidence, that isn't at all what brought this on. it's just the inevitable outcome of childish behaviour. when the powers that be are made to draw a line they inevitably take away more than we would have wanted. it's like two kids arguing over a cookie. if the parents have to step in they don't split it in half and tell the kids to share, they just take away the cookie. same idea.

as for blocking images, i myself would have no idea how to go about that so i don't know that it's an option for everyone. we can't just assume that everyone on the site has the technical knowledge to censor something that really shouldn't have appeared in the first place.

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