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?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amy Crooks on July 17, 2009 at 11:11am

To be a little more specific. 1) porn has no place on a site like this and if you can't make the picture of grandpa PG like someone stated early on, then it shouldn't be on here. 2) I really get sick of advertisments when I'm trying to research or communicate with others, however if someone was excited and wanted to tell me about something new they discovered I'd be interested to hear it, but like Georgie said it should be brief and then move on back to the subject at hand. But I really would hate to see people be allowed to pop on here just to addvertise their newest and lates whatever. Keep it on your own site. If I'm interested I'll visit.

3) Rudness.......well as far as I'm concerned there is really no good reason for being rude. You can simply state that you disagree with a point and this is why, but there should never be name calling, making people feel stupid or be little them. I'm sorry but there is just no good reason for picking on other people, even if your opinion is that they are nuts. Maybe they are but usually they aren't. Maybe they need someone to kindly take them under their wing and educate them just a little. But as my grandmother and mother always said.....You'll catch more flies with honey then vinigar. If we all keep that in mind and be civil and respectful even respectfully disagreeing then I can gaurantee this site will go far. However if the flame wars start if will draw attention at first and then the site will crash and burn. I know. I've seen it many times before. I've even seen site owners get so sick of it that they close up shop. I would hate to see that here. It's one of the reasons I enjoy so many genealogy blogs because I rarely see this behavior. And it's the very reason I avoid other types of blogs.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tony Ruffell on July 17, 2009 at 10:51am

I agree with the censoring of all three types of post cited.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cyndi Howells on July 17, 2009 at 12:46pm

RE: "Content that is disrespectful or rude (name calling, etc.)"
First, *who* is to determine what is disrespectful or rude? One person might consider something said as disrespectful while another person might view the same as criticism. And putting an "etc." at the end of that statement leaves it far too open to allowing all sorts of things to be tacked on.

If policies for use of an online service are to be written, they need to be very specific and use language that is clearly spelled out, not subjective.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Edward Smith on July 17, 2009 at 1:05pm

The discussion or posting of pornograpy, material of an adult nature, advertising of services or products or "flaming" is certainly not appropriate for a website such as this. I don't know at what level frank discussion becomes disrespectful or rude but I know that I can terminate my contact with this site if my personal level of tolerance is exceeded.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Marilin Meghan Dunsmore on July 17, 2009 at 1:24pm

I think people are missing the point of number 1, it's not a question of 'hey should we allow full blown porn?'; of course not, and since this is a PUBLIC forum accessible by minors, Genealogy Wise and it's parent company would be sued out the wazoo for 'porn'. I think number 1 should be changed to 'What constitutes an appropriate picture for this website'. That's the real question being asked, not 'do you wanna look at porn' but 'is aunt edna's knickers appropriate?' I really hope people do not actually have pictures of their ancestors in obviously provocative pictures, and why would YOU want to see that much less show the world? But like I said before, while I wouldn't post it; I would find pictures of a REAL burlesque show absolutely fascinating and hey, that dancer is the poster's great grandma, wow, that's really neat. But back then burlesque costumes were MILD compared to what I've seen girls wear to a club, so what is an appropriate picture in relation to your ancestors? I said before that a 'PG' rating would be appropriate, but apparently that now means brief nudity (for movies), so I think a G rating would actually be more appropriate. If the picture directly relates to your genealogy; can be made, or IS of a G rating [which rules out all forms of nudity, especially those cute pictures of the twins in the bathtub]; and does not depict a sex act it should be allowed. It's up to Genealogy Wise to really define what a 'G' picture would be - but so many people here seem to be puritanical where questionable pictures are concerned, so maybe just flat out saying 'everyone has to be fully dressed in everyday clothes, no nightgowns, bathing suits, topless-ness, or suggestive poses' should be the policy. And maybe pictures should have to be reviewed by volunteers [we the persons using Genealogy Wise], before being allowed to post to the main page. I'm not sure how it works, but I am on another site that uses this platform and anytime I upload a picture it has to be visually approved by someone at the site.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by D.L. Taylor on July 17, 2009 at 2:25pm

Pornography has no place in any family site.
Things not related to genealogy have no business here.
And we all should respect each other and be nice, no matter if we like each other or not.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Eklund, PLCGS on July 17, 2009 at 3:20pm

I might be completely oversensitive, but could possibly GW not call it a "censorship policy." Maybe a site decency policy or something along those lines. Something focused on meeting a particular respectful standard, instead of the negative tone that the word censorship expresses.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matthew Quinn on July 17, 2009 at 4:21pm

I see no need for pornography or nude photos of grandma. A bikini photo is fine, or of a historic statue or painting which has nude models (if there is some genealogical tie in RE the photo), but there are plenty of other sites available for posting that vintage picture of Uncle Leonard about to skinny dip.

I see no need for promoting non-genealogy related services. I don't see it as so much a matter of censorship as these things being irrelevant to the topic at hand. There will be enough information to wade through here, without the inclusion of non-genealogy content. Please keep them off the site.

Calling each other profanities may be safely banned, but otherwise rudeness may be a little harder to define, as there may be a disagreement about some point of research. One person may see the disagreement as rude and another may not. If one person says another's idea is stupid, is that rude? or simply an opinion of the merits of the other person's case?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wallace Masse on July 17, 2009 at 4:55pm

YES to all three:

(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.)

As for #3, I think it would be wise to warn a party once, then if the behavior is repeated to put that person on moderated only posts for 2 weeks to a month. Members who can't/won't learn to be civil should be blocked from the site.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Eklund, PLCGS on July 17, 2009 at 5:30pm

Susan, I agree that individuals should be warned about that goes against whatever code of conduct GW decides on. Probation is a good idea as well, putting the individual on moderate as you have specified.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paula Hawk on July 17, 2009 at 5:11pm

I think I should start this by saying that I am younger than the 'average' genealogist. I believe that is why I am so disturbed by the deletion of Terry's post criticizing the contest being held by GW. I would think that GW would prefer criticism be posted here, rather than on other sites. At least with it here, this gives GW the opportunity to answer it officially, if so desired, rather than having someone posting on other sites where GW may not be aware of the discussion, or may not be in a position to reply. I was away from my computer yesterday, so I am only going by what I have seen written about this situation today, on a different social site. It's my understanding that GW was quite the hot topic yesterday on both Facebook and Twitter, probably on other sites as well. By GW's knee-jerk reaction, GW has gotten quite a bit of negative publicity all across the net.

I am now worried that if I write something that someone doesn't like - will I be censored? There was no name calling in Terry's post, nor was there any profanity. Other than pure censorship, destroy that which does not agree with GW, is the only reason I see for the deletion. I didn't even see it as 'rude' - perhaps a bit sarcastic, but not rude. If sarcasm is not allowed, please let me know now, so I may leave, as I am one of the most sarcastic people I know.

On the the subject of porn - I agree with Marilin Meghan Dunsmore. Porn should not be allowed, but if someone has what was considered porn from 1880, personally, I want to see it! ;)

On the subject of business - I agree with the majority of what I've read here - only genealogy related, and preferably in a 'business only' section. But, on this subject, I also agree with Amy Crooks, in not wanting to be censored for sharing about a product or service that you are really excited about - then getting back to the subject at hand.

On the subject of "disrespectful, rude, name calling, etc" - Name calling is so childish, yes - name calling (bad names, I hope you mean), should not be allowed. Neither should profanity be allowed - UNLESS transcribing something to share with others. Cussing just to cuss simply should not be allowed. Disrespectful should not be an issue, in my opinion. It is technically disrespectful for me to speak of the girl born in the 1820s who was married before age 16 and gave birth only two months later.... Rude is another topic that should not be an issue. Some would find it rude for me to talk of the girl mentioned above. Abusive is something that should be included. Abusive behavior/language should not be tolerated. Abusive would include threatening posts. Provocative or solicitous posts should not be allowed either. This is not a dating network. I could probably sit here forever and come up with more, but I'd really rather get back to working on my genealogy.