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Last post Author Topic: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?  (Read 124408 times)

Renegade

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #125 on: January 04, 2008, 11:42 PM »
What's a preview and would it have prevented me (and others) from stumbling into Renegade's "Dark Dungeon?" (just teasing :) ).  Seriously, my concept of a "Preview" is essentially an abbreviated (size or duration) of the real deal.  I don't get how that would help?  I must be missing something.

It lets you see the URL before you go there without loading the page or displaying any images. You need to determine whether or not to proceed based on the URL, which is useless in some contexts, but useful in others. In this case the domain name itself is descriptive enough to let you know whether or not you want to continue to the site.

It's basically to give people confidence in that they are continuing to a trusted site, and not a malicious site since the nature of the tinyurl obfuscates the link.

Click the link and you'll see a tinyurl page with the domain name and a link asking you if you want to proceed to the "Dark Dungeon". :)
Slow Down Music - Where I commit thought crimes...

Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong. - John Diefenbaker

Carol Haynes

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #126 on: January 05, 2008, 05:00 AM »
slightly off topic, and to avoid hijacking this thread...

Not really so off-topic.

Porn drives technology online. Gaming drives hardware technology (video cards especially). There are other factors of course that drive IT developments (server requirements filter down into desktops too), but the point for this thread is that porn is a very real factor in our daily lives with how it drives the market forwards.

Porn was the deciding factor in the Beta vs. VHS war...

Actually the "Porn drives technology online" argument doesn't hold water for me - in fact I think I find it pretty offensive as an argument. "Online" wasn't set up fro porn (AIUI it was originally aimed at academic exchanges) so that was a pretty big technological leap without the need for the support of porn. Porn is an abusive by-product of the internet not a driving force. That by-product is almost always (IMHO) bad - not because of the content (as far as I am concerned people can do or watch whatever they like in the privacy of their own home provided it doesn't cause problems for others) but because of the way it is produced and distributed via so many unpleasant means - actual abuse of participants in many cases (not to mention the vile growth in child abuse), blanket spamming of the entire world by email including vulnerable children with graphic images and links to even more horrid material, and the ever abusive use of annoying and offensive popups and malware to trap people into seeing materials they have no desire or interest to see. The same can be pretty much said for the abuse of online gambling.

I personally don't want to see or experience pornography on the internet as I find it thoroughly unpleasant (even Hollywood feature films with a high sex content have me reaching for the off button). It isn't that I am prudish or don't enjoy a sex life I just don't particularly want to watch other people at it like rabbits (or even worse endorsing unpleasant and potentially dangerous acts). I don't really want to discuss it that much either (even in this sort of abstract way).

Maybe it is my circle of friends but I don't know of anyone who actively seeks out porn on the web (or at least admit to it) - and most people are sick to death of the onslaught of viagra ads and penis enlargement spam (which in my email now seems to be arriving in a 10:1 ratio - ie. 1 wanted email to 10 adverts for sex aids). Even checking through my spam folder for the odd stray real email has me ready to axe the screen at times.

Luckily I have my system set up so that I can pretty much avoid all this crap - which is where this argument came in really.

I find it quite strange that talking about pornography on DC.com or YouPorn.com or whatever seems to cause few raised eyebrows and generally a "its not much of an issue" attitude from many but as a forum we don't discuss politics or religion because they are too inflammatory ...

Haven't we got our priorities a bit skewed?

mouser

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #127 on: January 05, 2008, 05:23 AM »
I think the key is the context..  this forum is mostly about software and technology and things like that.. if someone has a post on sexuality and technology, or a post on politics and technology, that may be relevant and worth discussing here.

The avoidance of general religion and politics on this site is simply an acknowledgement that such discussions can often get extremely heated and antagonistic and tend to devolve quickly.  Personally I think that everyone should be debating religion+politics, the question is only whether we need to discuss it here.  In the same vein, this isn't a site for discussing your favorite porn links, or for arguing whether porn is ok or not.

However, if there are interesting articles dealing with the technology and software of politics or sex, then i think that's fair game.  just my 2 cents.

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #128 on: January 05, 2008, 05:59 AM »
Carol et al.

Let me take a minute to present a slightly different spin on this issue codeTRUCKER has raised in light of your comments. And I shall do so by dragging somebody kicking and screaming into this thread, Urlwolf.  ;) I share a common interest with Jose, the Attention Economy. To summarize the idea, our time, our attention, is very valuable, possibly *the* most valuable asset we have. Many many things fight for our attention and we should have control over what gets our attention.

Some of you have expressed your difficulty in finding some of the topics discussed in this thread as "offensive" while others have expressed their distaste for such topics. I would like to propose that we, for the moment, put aside the specifics of labeling some topic as "taboo" or "offensive" in terms of what is socially acceptable and simply throw them in the big bucket labeled "Off Topic".

(Now hear me out. I understand some have pointed to things which they feel are "on topic".)

People participate/lurk in various forums for various reasons. Most forums have a central "theme" (for lack of a better term) that draws the *attention* of people to it. That theme is something they all have a common interest in. In DonationCoder's case, that theme, that common interest is...

DonationCoder.com is..
  • .. the official home for tons of exclusive professional-quality freeware/donationware programs.
  • .. the source of the most comprehensive reviews in the shareware industry.
  • .. the best place to get the biggest discounts on the world's best programs.
  • .. one of the most active forums on the internet for software connoisseurs.
  • .. one of only a handfull of microdonation-enabled sites in the world, where you can request custom-made software.
  • .. all funded by voluntary user donations.

But besides those explicitly stated topics, each of us has weaved between and around those topics other topics which we see as partially overlapping. As we get further and further from the core theme, members will start to disagree on what is "relevant" to the community. Some message boards choose to have a specific "off-topic" forum for those posts which are blatantly so, but some posts sit on both sides of the fence.

Let's take the Attention Economy and Information/Knowledge Management as two examples of topics I have personally interwoven with those topics explicitly stated as of interest to the DC community. When somebody posts a question about choosing a "more efficient RSS reader" it starts to cross into those two topics. However, there are other issues in "Academic Productivity" that don't involve software that I may be interested in and I'd be delighted to learn about them through a comment Jose makes on DC forums, especially because 1) Jose has already vetted it and found it interesting and 2) because he will most likely present it in a manner that shows how they interrelate in a manner I would agree with.

So, in this new light, try to simply consider sex/porn/vulgarity/cursing/etc. as just another "category", as just another topic that is sometimes interwoven with those explicitly focused upon by DC forums. And in this light I see this as "just another" Attention Economy issue. We all would like the tools to be able to find(or filter) nuggets of information that we *personally* feel is worthwhile (or worthless).

So, as has been stated here already by others, let's all try to put the specifics of the "off topic" item of your personal choosing aside, and concentrate on making DonationCoder forums more Attention Economy-friendly, thereby making DC even better for each and everyone of us by allowing us to easily share our common interests in the "city center" while allowing for discussion of our varied related topics in the "suburbs" of the forums without distracting those who choose to not participate in your particular shade of gray.

BTW, this "problem" isn't unique to DonationCoder by any stretch of the imagination. This is a fundamental issue at the core of all "online communities". This is a subject many great minds have attempted to conquer. If we can find some small way to make DC even more valuable to codeTRUCKER and Carol, as well as to Renegade and f0dder, then we, as a community, will have accomplished to make a perl from the grain of sand that is this thread. (intelligent design or evolution?  :P )
« Last Edit: January 05, 2008, 06:13 AM by tinjaw »

f0dder

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #129 on: January 05, 2008, 06:07 AM »
If we can find some small way to make DC even more valuable to codeTRUCKER and Carol, as well as to Renegade and f0dder, then we, as a community, will have accomplished to make a perl from the grain of sand that is this thread. (intelligent design or evolution?  :P )
Oh my gawd, you just called me a perverted sex fiend!

(Sorry, couldn't resist. Your post makes sense :)).
- carpe noctem

Carol Haynes

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #130 on: January 05, 2008, 06:29 AM »
I'm pretty happy with both Mouser's and tinjaw's comments (fOdder is just a naughty boy after all) ... and don't get me wrong I have argued elsewhere in this thread (and privately with codeTrucker) that I don't really see a need for censorship (or approve of it) but that doesn't mean that there should be guidelines to make life reasonably comfortable for all.

I don't particularly have a problem with the YouPorn thread myself as nothing offensive was included in the thread and the following discussion was just the usually DC friendly banter and silliness. However, I didn't choose to click the link or make a comment and it did make my eyebrow raise and wonder if it was an appropriate topic when it was originally posted.

What is the limit though ... what if a site YouPaedo appears? Could some post a similar thread? In many countries accessing such a site would be illegal and may result in a prison sentence (certainly in big brother UK) but exactly the same 'technology' arguments for inclusion apply.

I don't believe in censorship but neither do I believe in 'anything goes' especially in areas such as pornography where so many people around the world are physically, emotionally and mentally abused and even trapped in real slavery just for the titillation of a few 'free thinkers'.

Just because people smile on screen doesn't mean they are actually having a good time or have a fulfilled life!

CodeTRUCKER

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #131 on: January 05, 2008, 01:48 PM »
Carol has expressed my revulsion of a horrible epedemic quite succinctly and has also debunked the "it drives technology" sham as well, so I won't belabor those points.  I do have two things I'd like to point out.

1 - I didn't have a choice, the  article landed in my RSS otherwise I would have never have seen it.  I certainly wasn't looking for it!  If I click on the link after, well I'm taking my own chances and I did because I was wanting to see what the response was as it could have a bearing on my compatibility with DC.  What I read provoked this thread.

2.....
So, in this new light, try to simply consider sex/porn/vulgarity/cursing/etc. as just another "category", as just another topic that is sometimes interwoven with those explicitly focused upon by DC forums. And in this light I see this as "just another" Attention Economy issue.
This sounds very innocuous on the surface, but it only serves those that participate in them.  It is like someone lighting up a very pungent incense.  Only one did it because he had a right to, but everyone there will be forced to "relish the bouquet" or split. 

Here is something to think about.  tinjaw subscribes to the Flying Spaghetti Monster and I'm not ruffled by that at all because it is his life.  I am an apologist for Jesus Christ, Truth and the power I have seen in my own life.  You could label me as a "Christian" as well, but I have never subscribed to the "ram it down anyones throat" technique of "witnessing" and regrettably many abuses have been done in that Name.  What if I was to do reviews on all the software and technology associated with Jesus Christ (and there is a plethora)?  Would my posts find open arms as just another "technology" or would it be deemed heresy because it involves religion and the Judeo-Christian religion in particular?  I think the answer is obvious and is so much so that I have refrained from presenting it in order to prevent creating a firestorm (even though the software could benefit many).  It has value for technology and would apply at DC, but even my Bible says, "all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient."  While I have every right to present all of these reviews, bible software tech blogs, etc. here at DC as technology and software, I have chosen to not do so as it would upset the sweetness that is the heart of DC. 

I have heard the excuse that "DC is far better than anywhere else" a multitude of times, but for me that is a cop out.  Just cause we are better than some doesn't mean we can't be better than we are, does it?  Let me hasten to add that I am not the one to determine what is better as this is a community and  the community will ultimately define what would be better and tremendous thanks goes to Mouser for allowing that to happen.  My point is let's stop patting ourselves on the back.  There is always room for improvement.

« Last Edit: January 05, 2008, 01:51 PM by CodeTRUCKER »

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #132 on: January 05, 2008, 02:21 PM »
Just for the record. I would have absolutely no problem with even the creation (no pun intended, but you gotta admit it's a good one) of a whole forum on "Religious Software". And I would just choose not to read it most of the time. Although a good catchy subject title might peak my interest. In fact, come to think of it, I already do this. I am a PC person and ignore all of the Apple related posts. So, see! Even religious postings don't bother me. Oh! and let's not forget vim vs. emacs! It makes The Crusades look like dodge ball in comparison.

And this bring to mind something that I have been meaning to ask somebody. Now is as good a time as any. So let me start a new thread.

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #133 on: January 05, 2008, 02:36 PM »
I just thought of something I'm sure we can all agree on.

What's worse that pornography threads on DonationCoder?

Family-Friendly Answer
Gri, posting pornography threads on DonationCoder and asking for gravitations.


app103

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #134 on: January 05, 2008, 02:42 PM »
I just thought of something I'm sure we can all agree on.

What's worse that pornography threads on DonationCoder?

* app103 shudders.  :o

Lashiec

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #135 on: January 05, 2008, 02:43 PM »
Nobody understands him anyway. And "Report to moderator" is sooo close ;D

Carol Haynes

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #136 on: January 05, 2008, 03:05 PM »
Just for the record. I would have absolutely no problem with even the creation (no pun intended, but you gotta admit it's a good one) of a whole forum on "Religious Software". And I would just choose not to read it most of the time.

That assumes you only read by forum - I don't know about others but I don't open individual forums very often (usually only when I am looking for something specific - and even then I mostly use search). The way i read forum posts is to use the "Unread Posts" button at the top. Unfortunately that would mean I would be faced with all of the religious software threads whether I wanted to see them or not. OK I don't have to open them but to my way of thinking they would be just as bad as the Junk folder in my email that I have trawl through.

To me codeTRUCKER hit the essence of the argument - he know some people (and I'd guess around here it would be substabtial group of people) would be offended by overtly religious references - software related or not. For me, as a rational being and an atheist, religious belief is akin to "pornography of the mind which serves to remove thought and embed dogma" so promoting software that propagates such a belief system would be as objectionable to me as whole pages of pornographic images.

There I just proved the point!  :-*

Footnote for codeTRUCKER
codeTRUCKER that little tirade was not actually aimed at you and your belief but rather to illustrate (genuinely) that what you said was true, for me at least


CodeTRUCKER

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #137 on: January 05, 2008, 03:07 PM »
Nobody understands him anyway. And "Report to moderator" is sooo close ;D
Personally, I think it's the language barrier, but his conception and vision of Grivitation is not too dis-similar from Galileo's, complete with the accompanying persecution. 

f0dder

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #138 on: January 05, 2008, 03:09 PM »
That assumes you only read by forum - I don't know about others but I don't open individual forums very often (usually only when I am looking for something specific - and even then I mostly use search). The way i read forum posts is to use the "Unread Posts" button at the top. Unfortunately that would mean I would be faced with all of the religious software threads whether I wanted to see them or not. OK I don't have to open them but to my way of thinking they would be just as bad as the Junk folder in my email that I have trawl through.
I view the forum basically the same way.

An option would obviously be to have a forum setting where you could checkmark the subforums you don't want included in "View unread". Dunno if it's SMF default, but iirc we have it at asmcommunity.net .
- carpe noctem

CodeTRUCKER

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #139 on: January 05, 2008, 03:14 PM »
To me codeTRUCKER hit the essence of the argument - he know some people (and I'd guess around here it would be substabtial group of people) would be offended by overtly religious references - software related or not. For me, as a rational being and an atheist, religious belief is akin to "pornography of the mind which serves to remove thought and embed dogma" so promoting software that propagates such a belief system would be as objectionable to me as whole pages of pornographic images.

There I just proved the point!  :-*


ToDo:  Make special tag for Carol and tinjaw... NSFA 

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #140 on: January 05, 2008, 03:21 PM »
Look at your profile page. There is a way to block forums. I did it to block the SMF forum to avoid Gri posts.

2008-01-05_1519.pngWhat is appropriate content for DonationCoder?

Darwin

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #141 on: January 05, 2008, 03:47 PM »
NSFA -  ;D

EDIT - Crumb! Forgot to insert the smiley! Doh!
« Last Edit: January 05, 2008, 03:50 PM by Darwin »

Darwin

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #142 on: January 05, 2008, 03:51 PM »
[OFF-TOPIC]Is there also a way to ignore threads? I swear that there used to be, but it seems to have gone AWOL[/OFF-TOPIC]

CodeTRUCKER

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #143 on: January 05, 2008, 03:51 PM »
Look at your profile page. There is a way to block forums. I did it to block the SMF forum to avoid Gri posts.
 (see attachment in previous post)
Good point - Thanks for the heads-up!

CodeTRUCKER

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #144 on: January 05, 2008, 03:54 PM »
[OFF-TOPIC]Is there also a way to ignore threads? I swear that there used to be, but it seems to have gone AWOL[/OFF-TOPIC]
What are you talking about..."OFF TOPIC?!?"  That's what this whole thread is about!
« Last Edit: January 06, 2008, 05:12 AM by CodeTRUCKER »

Darwin

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #145 on: January 05, 2008, 03:58 PM »
Heh, heh - I suppose you're right! I wasn't thinking about it from that perspective, but now that you point it out, of course it ties right in with this discussion  :). I was motivated to ask the question because I have the "show new replies to your posts" page set as one of my startup tabs. There is one active thread here that I've no interest in following any longer but which I posted in once. I'd like to be able to flag it so that I am no longer alerted to new posts...

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #146 on: January 05, 2008, 04:02 PM »
There is one active thread here that I've no interest in following any longer but which I posted in once. I'd like to be able to flag it so that I am no longer alerted to new posts...

Check the box next to the thread and click Unsubscribe.

2008-01-05_1601.pngWhat is appropriate content for DonationCoder?

Darwin

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #147 on: January 05, 2008, 04:12 PM »
Thanks, Chaim. That's not what I was thining of and I don't *think* that it will solve the problem that I am having as I don't have any Current Topic Notifications set up. Oh well. It's a really minor point anyway and I shall continue to select "Mark topic read" before I navigate away from "Show new replies to your posts".

tinjaw

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #148 on: January 05, 2008, 04:18 PM »
Ah! Yes! I misunderstood your question.  :-[ Best 2 out of 3? What's your next question?  :P

Josh

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Re: What is appropriate content for DonationCoder?
« Reply #149 on: January 05, 2008, 04:21 PM »
I am looking for the same thing. How do I stop new replies to certain topics from showing up in the "Unread topics" section of dc?