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Help us determine the level of censorship at GenealogyWise
Today is the one-week birthday of GenealogyWise. In the last couple of days we have had to face some censorship issues for the first time. We have not been around long enough to have set policies for these kind of issues. So, we want to turn to you, our members, to help us set our censorship policies. We invite each of you to respond letting us know whether or not you think the following types of posts should be censored:
(1) Content related to pornography or adult content
(2) Content promoting products and services not related to genealogy (business opportunities, etc.)
(3) Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.)
We value your feedback and want your help in setting policies. What do you think?
(1) Content related to pornography or adult content
(2) Content promoting products and services not related to genealogy (business opportunities, etc.)
(3) Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.)
We value your feedback and want your help in setting policies. What do you think?
Views: 154
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sherry Hightower on -
Well, I see I am late to this discussion and guess I have already "stepped off in it", meaning I just sent a little lite email to my friends here reminding them of the approaching holidays. Since I started a group to bring together our members who are creative and use their talents, I figure we can be supportive on them,etc. After all, you can't just walk into WalMart and find a genealogy related gift unless it is a dvd or a book...so, if I have over stepped it here, let me apologize right now!
Anyway, item #1 is a no brainer. Porn is porn, art is art and historical items are just that, historical. There are a great many ancient artifacts the public doesn't get to see because they are deemed offensive by todays standards.
#2.. I wouldn't want anything overboard either. If you are the creative type and have a cafepress or zazzle gallery, or any other outlet, come to the Cemetery Lover's Gift group and I'll highlight you there.
#3. Short of name calling and flaming, I don't have a problem with disagreements. Some of my best friendships started out as strong disagreements...just my 2cents
It isn't number 4 but I have been reading some of the discussion about the look-up group. I see no problem with look-ups which by their very discription is brief. It isn't like you are copying an entire book or dvd/cd. A look-up is just that. You can quote copyrighted works as long as it is brief and cited.
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Permalink Reply by Judy Mann on -
1) Content related to pornography or adult content - no business being here so yes, moderation is needed.
(2) Content promoting products and services not related to genealogy (business opportunities, etc.)
- this is a grey area. As others have said, I didn’t register here to shop. (or to play games, I might add) There are so many other websites to play games, visit to shop, and read about different products IF I WANTED to do that. If I do, I know where to find them. I don’t expect to find them on this website. However there’s a fine line and MANY genealogy products and aids that we all swear by and use because of word of mouth from others. You already have various commercial groups such as several family tree and website software groups, podcasts, etc. - just where do you draw the line? If you decide not to allow product promoting, are you going to toss those ready-made groups out? I agree, if they’re allowed, having them in a separate area and those who WANT to shop can do so and those of us who don’t won’t bother. Our world is full of subliminal and obvious advertising logos where ever we look these days, and soon you’re going to see creative logos pop up in avatars – be warned – I didn’t want to mention it, but have seen it happen.
(3) Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.)
- should be moderated if needed. - simple “respect of others” is the key. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen such nasty comments directed at a person, with the offender responding in the lame “I was just kidding, can’t you take a joke?” response of giving a flippant “sorry.” Not taking responsibility for one’s actions is very much part of society these days. Moderators need to keep on top of this. We’ve had months of a teen murder trial in my area that mainly revolved around “I was just kidding!”
4) profanity
- should be moderated however what is profanity to some is not or no big deal to others and it’s not necessarily a generation situation. I’ve been a member of an international chat room and forum for 10 years. English is the language of choice. For the majority of members English is their second language and third or fourth for some. Many of those members have joined our community, not only for as an interest group to them, but to be able to practise their language and writing skills. Many have learned English on the net in various forums such as private messaging, chat rooms, TV and movies. Just look how the language in North American prime time TV shows has changed in the past 5 - 10 years. , Many of our members have learned from these mediums that the English they’re hearing and using is acceptable in our culture. To some it is, others it isn’t. We have had to use a word filter and moderate certain expressions and make some of our members realize it isn’t accepted everywhere. It mainly involves phrases and expressions, name calling and vocabulary relating to specific parts of the body – more in the pornography line. On the other hand, one American gentleman in his late 70’s now, has a VERY hard time with certain common slang expressions used by the English and Australians. This community was set up to be a global community. Hopefully in our family history discussions we can refrain situations, 1, 3, and 4, but I think the moderators do need to be on their toes.
Off topic and not intending to hijack the topic at hand:
Thank you for asking our opinions. Once any policies are put into place is when you’ll hear from the others. I’m surprised simple guidelines weren’t in place before GW was launched. 4000+ people later is not time to start. Note I use the word guidelines rather than rules. And the copyright issue should be established quickly too.
Also as this is a global community, may I suggest you have moderators in various corners of the world covering the various time zones so the moderation is round the clock and not just in US time or Monday - Friday?
When we registered with GW we were asked for our real names which clearly identify us. I see some people are using a screen name. If GW requests that we use our real names, then why should “FamilyLink” representing GW hide behind a faceless screen name?
Thanks for listening
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Permalink Reply by Glenn Tuley on -
(1) Content related to pornography or adult content - Way off-topic! Of course it should be removed ASAP.
(2) Content promoting products and services not related to genealogy (business opportunities, etc.) - Off-topic! Of course they should be removed. I would add that GenealogyWise should be selective in the advertising they accept. People will come here for genealogy related information, so ads for cars and home loans probably wouldn't get you a lot of "click through revenue" to make them worth your effort to put them in.
(3) Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.) - "Name calling" should not be allowed, but "disrespectful" and "rude" can be very subjective, so examples should be used along with the general principle. I once had the statement, "Everyone has the right to be wrong." censored. That company was so picky that it went out of business.
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Permalink Reply by Douglas P Henry on -
On above 1),= SHOULD BE BANDED AND REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.
On above 2),= this should only be allowed if taken to another site by clear statements only and no name of business, prices or anything that could show its a business. Example is as follows and be placed on a side area that does not interfer with the site; Its John Does birthday, would like to send them a gift? Click here. or its mothers day, would you like to send a mothers day card/ Click Here. This is similar to what Facebook does and Myheritage.com and a few other sites do. This can be a great way to earn a cash flow to your company. Also suggest you donate a 1.00 or higher amount to help feed starving children in the US with every purchase made or for every $20.00 spent. Facebook and many sites do online cards for free but if you want to add music etc,... it cost money. I am sure that someone is aware of these marketing strategies.
3.) Deal with this just like AOL does, web user are able to report the disrespectful or rude name calling. AOL investigates it and if they see it as such, they will notify the main person that signed up for AOL and block use of AOL until they call AOL and respond with why the rude and or disrespectful name calling was made. Sometimes they are banned from AOL. sometimes the Police are notified if comments are serious or life threatening. I am sure their is software that can immediately detect much of tis language also and instantly remove the words and block the user.
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Permalink Reply by Whitney D Lund on -
1) Why would porno or adult content be allowed? What does it have to do with genealogy or family history?
2) Bus. opportunities should not be allowed unless they promote genealogy or family history such as other businesses related to genealogy research or scrapping booking, or personal journals, etc.
3) Being Disrespectful or Rude? What's the point of that? If it happens, the person should be banned from this website.
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Permalink Reply by Thomas MacEntee on -
I've been looking at some of the latest posts and I don't believe some who have come in late to the conversation realize the impetus for this post or may be misunderstanding the intent.
My take is that no one is anticipating Genealogy Wise to be a site where you can find porn. Period. But there may be the occasional spammer who sneaks in and wants to use Genealogy Wise that way. So we are being asked how Genealogy Wise should handle such situations.
Same thing for promoting non-genealogy related products.
Most of the comments/replies above pertain to the more subjective area of posts and content that are deemed to be disrespectful or rude. That seems to be the real heart of the discussion (and by saying that I don't mean to diminish the great side discussions about copyright and whether 1890s burlesque photos of great-grandma are considered porn - these are valuable)
It might be time to end this forum topic and perhaps start separates ones on sub-topics like copyright, like non-genealogy businesses, etc. I don't think we need a discussion any more on porn.
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Permalink Reply by Eileen Cogan on -
yeah, we DO seem to be stuck!
Maybe I haven't been to enough gene forums but I don't understand why we are having this conversation. I have never seen porn on gene sites and genealogists are probably the most considerate and respectful users on the web. I don't think they need to have a baby-sitter!! As far as SPAM goes, are there ANY sites on the internet that tolerate SPAM? Come on! I don't think anyone was implying that if I mention to someone that I like FTM, it is at all the same thing as a professional genealogist inserting promotional comments in the middle of a brick wall conversation. (for example)
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Permalink Reply by faye parker on -
I think it shouldn't have politics, religion or other controversial subjects, except as it applies to genealogy.
Like asking what a Shaker was is okay, but discussing beliefs or tenets of faith isn't. Or asking who the 5th vice president was would be okay but telling what you think of obama or clinton wouldn't be.
I think historical information should be included. Our families aren't just names, its who they went to school with, their environment, world events etc.
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Permalink Reply by Frances Keenan on
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Yes all 3 should be censored. I am moderator for a Taylor group and have first hand knowledge of what kind of things people try to send. There are spammers out there that make it their life work to spam all lists.
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Permalink Reply by John Archer on -
Yes all three definitely.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Price on -
(1) Content related to pornography or adult content - Definitely YES.
(2) Content promoting products and services not related to genealogy (business opportunities, etc.) - Definitely YES I just signed up and already I am receiving spam -- yuck!
(3) Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.) - I can't give a solid YES but there is a line that should not be stepped over. No name calling is over the line. This may need to be handled on a case-by-case basis with offended parties reporting abuse. This does not make it easy for GW but that may be the only way to go.
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