http://www.sluggoproductions.com/iac/vi ... .php?t=733
I decided to move the ensuing discussion of whether or not my avatar was appropriate to this forum in order to continue this discussion. I did write and then did receive responses from both Colin and Sluggo. Since this is their site, they have the right to tell me if they believe that I have posted something inappropriate. I don't have a problem with that. However, what I do have a problem with is inconsistency about what is obscene and what isn't. I believe that your take on what is considered "unacceptable" should be CLEARLY delineated, as right now, at least in practice, it is NOT.
Case in point:
(Taken from the other thread:)
I'd like your take then on the following smilies that VW kids and their VW parents can now see perusing these forums:Amskeptic wrote: If we want VW kids to bond with their VW parents (we do) while perusing this VW forum, I think we can all extend a welcome by not spewing swear words at them.
I'd say these smilies were questionable, yet they are permitted. Why is that?
What about Sluggo's avatar flipping the bird? I haven't looked at all the avatars that all of the members have, but there's bound to be at least one that might be considered obscene or at the very least sexist. I am not about pointing that out personally as being offensive, but I am simply saying, if you are going to hold one person to a standard, then imho the standard should apply across the board in order to be fair to all.
Ok, here's some thoughts:
When you begin to limit what people can do in a forum based on 'how someone might react' or 'what someone might see', then where is the freedom of expression? Where is the freedom of speech? I am truly not trying to be an ass about this, but I have forums I visit regarding social issues and step-parenting and I can tell you that language in those forums (for the most part) is not stifled. But then the intended audience is adult by nature and design. This is the first time I have ever seen someone post "a child might see what's on your screen" in 4+ years of writing for and posting in online forums.
I guess I am wondering with all of the images, etc., in the media, how does an "offended parent" manage to keep his or her children from seeing or hearing everything out there? One thing I know from my experience of being in school M-F, in practice most teens (in particular) curse far more than I ever have or probably will.
One final thought to you Colin: Jeffrey mentioned to me that one of the reasons this website was started was because of your "freedom of speech" being squashed, deleted or unceremoniously edited. Aside from the fact that you and Randy own this domain and/or will own the next incarnation, where is there a difference between those actions on TS and this?
I am really asking here.
Let's express our opinions here about this issue please so that we can all go forward knowing what's acceptable.