quote:
Originally posted by Lavindathar:
Once again Sigmar, thanx for ur concern. I deleted the post, because a mod thought I wud get suspended for it. I on the other hand, thought it was perfectly aceptable. But in this time of unstability, I thought I best delete it.
Ok, considering I was the one who was part of the disagreement on the nude beaches thread, I will say I agree with what Downunda says, and I think that we should all respect the moderators.
But I do believe in freedom of opinion and speech...but if this greatly offends someone, and it can be seen why, then I think that censorship is perfectly ok.
There is only one little quibble I have, but I am not going to argue as it was Big Z who made the comment: He said that kids should not read posts about nude beaches....now, I think this is a regional difference. My likkle bro (Beaumanoir) is only 13, and if I told him he was too young to look at a thread about nude beaches, he'd laugh at me. He knows every swear word in the book, and he has probably seen many naked people (not in a sexual way, but maybe passin on a beach or somethin) whilst on holiday.
He is 12. I am 17. And if the thread is held in a mature fashion, I don't see why a 8 year old cant talk about nude beaches.......if you follow.
EG - Just checking back on GD, in the top 10 threads, 2 read:
Pedophiles and the Church - (I think he spelt Pedophile wrong)
Bra Shopping
Both of these too me seem nothing subjects (as in trouble wise), and if both are held in mature conversation will be fine (i've not read either as of yet)...but aren't they as bad/if not worse as a discussion on nude beaches? I'm not questioning, just wondering 
BTW - this isn't trying to cause an argument, just offerin my opinion, and if what Z says, goes. 
[ 02-06-2002: Message edited by: Lavindathar ]
Lavi, you bring up some good points. One of the problems we have to deal with at IW is that this is an International forum, albeit based in the States. I say "International" because we have posters from around the world, and they all come from different backgrounds with differing social mores.
I am very much aware that Europeans, for example do not view nudity and certain "colorful" epithets in language as bad. Your example of Beaumanoir's not being offended by nude beaches is a case in point. Unfortunately, here in the States and possibly other areas of the world, such topics are considered off-color for young people under a certain age (17 comes to mind here in the US).
Now, suppose one of our junior members is reading one of the "mature" topics, and Mommy comes in and looks over his/her shoulder; or, junior brings up the topic at the dinner table. Mommy, already being fearful of the Internet and its negative effects on her child, reacts with *WHAT KIND OF PLACES ARE YOU GOING ON THE INTERNET?* Best case, Junior gets his privileges revoked (which is bad). Worst case? Ziroc could be slapped with a lawsuit for providing material inappropriate to a minor.
Ok, that's a fictional account, but quite plausible in this day and age. Unless Ziroc restricts Ironworks to be a 18 or older only forum (which we DON'T want, we'd lose a load of wonderful members), we have to abide, unfortunately, by the stricter set of rules dictated by the different societies we have posting here.
That's not to say, of course, that it's set in stone. Mature topics do flourish here. It depends on how they are handled, and how people are conducting themselves in them. If members start acting up, misbehaving, or using foul or crude language to express things that could better be expressed in other manners (for example, using the f*** word to express an intimate act when "copulate" would have done just as well, or better)...well, that's when Ziroc or one of us steps in and closes the thread.
Anyway, I hope this helps clear things up a bit. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Cheers,