Genealogy Wise

The Genealogy & Family History Social Network

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?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lee Kinnan Fazzari on July 16, 2009 at 9:18pm
1 - no
2- only if genealogy related
3 - no - but with caution.

Many sites I have been on have a "report this post" button for readers to report objectionable content. Knowing that moderators can not be everywhere, this might be a helpful option.
Permalink Reply by Dianne Welch on July 16, 2009 at 10:10pm
This is a family website! past and present. We are here to look for our ancesters. We are not here to buy things not associated with our goals. This is not the place for adult content. They have sites for that. Everyone has an opinion. There is no reason if you diagree that you can't do it in a civil manner. I have been on sites where rudeness is totally out of control. Don't let this be ruined. Folks will leave if they are insulted. Let's make this site a success. Dianne Welch
Permalink Reply by Betty Snow on July 17, 2009 at 12:39am
(1) I don't want this and would leave if it became a regular feature.
(2) I would prefer if this was in a specified area so I could find it when I wanted it but would not have to wade through it at other times.
(3) Courtesy should be the tone that we all use, this does not need to limit vigorous discussion and disagreement but should not offend readers. There may always be some issues in a worldwide discussion when language usage differs but this should not be deliberately offensive.
Permalink Reply by Penelope Bell on July 17, 2009 at 2:10am
All content of the type listed should be monitored and, if necessary, removed.
Permalink Reply by Rosemary Taylor on August 9, 2009 at 3:12pm
I agree with the above comments, and second the opinion that a "report this post" button is needed.
Permalink Reply by Andrew Witham on July 17, 2009 at 10:04am
As others have already commented (1) and (2) are a given and have no place here. Even content promoting genealogy products and services could perhaps be limited to its own place. I would like to have somewhere to go if I am looking for a service or a product, but do not particularly want to see blatant promotion in, for instance, a discussion about a specific last name.

"Disrespectful and rude" is harder to police. My standards of what constitutes disrespectful and rude is likely to be very different to other members. On other fora I have debates, for instance, about the inclusion of same-sex marriages decline very rapidly into name calling and attacks on social and religious opinion. Opinion is very human - but we need to respect that opinions differ. I know that while I may support one view, other may not. I believe that any member who cannot accept that there are differing views on such topics should be (1) warned (2) suspended and (3) banned for repeated unsocial behavior, with the site owners deciding the level based on member feedback on examples of acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Permalink Reply by Amy Crooks on July 17, 2009 at 10:45am
yes, things like that do not belong on such a great website. They will scare away your following.
Permalink Reply by Georgie Trammell on July 17, 2009 at 10:46am
I agree with the above, with one exception and that is genealogy related businesses, which I feel should be limited and brief, or should have a seperate area of the group dedicated to those services. I have dropped membership from several groups because the majority of the messages I received promoted a business.

Now to tell on myself, I do occasionally read something on a web site and think are they stupid or just nuts, but I am put off when I read something that either states that or strongly implys that. When I respond I try really hard to be at civil, but I guess I can be to blunt for some taste as I have been dinged on - if you can believe it the Yahoo Question site.

And finally, if I want to review Adult content, I will go there and not to a site that is suppose to be about Genealogy to please above all block that type of junk, as I don't need or want it appearing in my e-mail. Thanks for the opportunity to provide input on group policy.
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.
Permalink Reply by Tony Ruffell on July 17, 2009 at 10:51am
I agree with the censoring of all three types of post cited.
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.
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.

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