Can we have a restricted section?

[Wintruz]

I'm usually bemused when I see accounts that have been open for two days welcoming others on the introductions forum. I've been here a few months and I still think of myself as a new account, so forgive me if asking for this is out of turn...

Even if the recent bout of the terminally posting newcomer subsides, it's only a matter of time before another one comes along. This is probably not a bad thing. Sometimes good questions can be asked and perspectives changed by those looking at things with fresh eyes. However, it would be nice to be able to write in a thread that isn't going to be waylaid by this kind of thing. So...

Would there be any support for a section where posting is by invitation only (the posts themselves could still be read by any visitor to the site) and those invitations are given only to those who have proven themselves over a few months to be sane, stable and serious? Obviously it could encompass mature people of any paths; it's the seriousness that's the criteria rather than adherence to one paradigm or another. Thoughts?

 

[Wintruz]

I second a lot of @Lazarus' ideas here.

If a user does have difficulties in word focus and self-discipline, having a daily post limit might actually help them with that so that by the time their probation of 30 days (or whatever) is over, they're already acclimatised to the forum to a degree. If they're making posts of high quality, then the probation could be ended earlier. If they're being trollish, it could be extended.

This would, of course, remove the need for a restricted section entirely.

For my part, as much as my desire to, erm, impress some sense into some users comes from a good place, I am going to elect to not engage unless the circumstance absolutely calls for it or unless I'm tagged for my opinion. I will focus my efforts through sharing threads in the sections most relevant to my experience (i.e.; Vampyrism and LHP).

 

[DurumKebab]

Not quite.
There are degrees of self-control and the harder something is, the more self-control you need.

For example, you exert self-control to respect the rules of your country, rather than do whatever you want.You exert self control to cut contact with someone rather than simply go hurt or kill them.You exert self-control when you decide to pick a healthier option of food one time, rather than the temptation that you know isn't healthy.

Having self-control for one thing doesn't mean that you'll have it for everything.

We're talking about whether to write something on an online forum or not, not about killing or choosing a diet. Self-control is mediated by consequences, reinforcement, and punishment, hence why they're so important. If there's so much self-control as you say, why does the staff have to keep warning or banning people from the forum? Clarifying the principles is the next step.

@SkullTraill, I understand it's your philosophy, but even in the first American amendment, freedom of speech doesn't include things like defamation, fraud, obscenity, threats, etc. Freedom of speech has limits because it doesn't exempt responsibility for its consequences.

You yourself deleted one of my links from a post because you said it was 'dangerous.' If someone does something that could negatively affect the community, they're punished. If someone complains post after post and it's clear they're not doing anything, they're ignored, and we don't do what we've been doing.

The philosophy is freedom of speech, we all agree, but the limits of it are missing, the principles that govern it, though it may seem like an oxymoron. There's freedom of speech, and the principles are, for example: 1. You have a problem, explain it in detail and briefly, don't spam by creating multiple posts, you'll be helped when possible. 2. No to hate speech or those that talk about a criminal plan you want to do (like killing or whatever they come up with.) 3. No threatening someone on the forum, etc. The principles have to be yours, they're more than just examples.

Having good intentions also doesn't mean we owe anything to anyone here, there's no reason to respect if they don't give reasons, at least they should demonstrate it with coherent posts.

Let's say there are those who just want to talk about things, OK, we're people and maybe we want to get to know each other or laugh, we open a channel for you to talk in Discord as much as you want.

Also, there's the type and quality of content, we can't say that what someone who has studied a topic for 10 years says is better than someone who has been studying for a week. If there's someone better than me, then I can follow in their footsteps or learn from them, I aspire towards something, if we're all equal then what are we doing here? There are rules because there's better and worse, one type of response is better than another, having rules is better than not having them.

 

[Taudefindi]

My ban gun is fully loaded, fully automatic, and has aimbot and wallhacks.

And you can use it 360 noscope.

I can just imagine the dreaded regularly-scheduled monthly staff sessions in which we'd have to discuss and assess the quality of +200 newbies and their posts...

Post automatically merged: May 14, 2024

Well, what determines quality?

I think quality posts are posts where, even if going slightly off topic sometimes, we still have a lot of useful information and insights.

It may be about teaching an unknown ritual, some tips that more experienced people developed from their own practices and think others would benefit from it, sharing of views in order to get a broader understanding, etc.

We're talking about whether to write something on an online forum or not, not about killing or choosing a diet.

Those were examples of moments of self-control, because self-control isn't a static thing that "once achieved, you got it".It is constantly challenged, everyday you have many ways in which you have to express your self-control.

Writing on a forum is one of them.

If there's so much self-control as you say, why does the staff have to keep warning or banning people from the forum?

I didn't say that "there's so much self-control", I said

There are degrees of self-control

And that

Having self-control for one thing doesn't mean that you'll have it for everything.

So a person might have some self-control on some areas of their life but be a complete mess in other areas.
And we have to keep warning and banning because some people disregard the rules, simple as that.

Let's say there are those who just want to talk about things, OK, we're people and maybe we want to get to know each other or laugh

If there isn't a place on the forum for that, people can use PMs for that.As long as nothing shady is going on, no one will care what two or more users are talking about in those.