Given the rather heated discussions on the Avatars thread, are the admin team currently working on an update for the Rules and Guidelines?

If not, may I suggest that it does happen so as to ideally stop such threads happening again, or more realistically minimise there frequency and shorten their life span.

Should they be under discussion, I think it would be wise to update all of the rules, as, for example "3. No illegal material or activity." makes no reference as which country those laws are based on, there are many countries where the 'online' world has very few laws, so Illegal activity on America is not even warned against in other countries.

I entirely agree with the game and forum having 'IT'S' set of rules, which may upset a alot of people, just so it draws a line in the sand, but that line must be clear and stuck to.

The current system of each persons perception or interpretation of the rules is causing confusion and I believe mild anger.

I had a hand in writting those rules, and I'd be happy to try to review any proposed changes as well, however, I do not wish to give any shot at my own changes. I can really only hinder your effort here I'm afraid. You see, I think the rules be broad and open to interpretation is a fairly good thing, since the more definition you try to put in, the more complexity and loopholes will appear.

For instance, how far would you propose to go in explaining the difference in laws in various contries? Are ther any specific laws that should be mentioned?

What is wrong with the simple rule "nothing illegal" ? I see nothing confusing in that statement whatsoever. Maybe it should be rephrased as "if you know it is illegal, don't do it, if you're not sure, but you think it might be, DONT do it, if you have a hunch that it is... yep, DONT do it.

THis is not a legal website, and the rules are not even posted for the users to agree to before signing up for an account!! They probably more accurately a courtesy reminder for those that wish to know what sort of behavior they should expect to find here. It is a statement of attitude really, not a hard and fast list of rules to go by.

Well, that is my take.

I took time to review the avatars thread. IT was a true headache. I determined:

1. most you you in Europe are completely desinsitized to pornography. Never the less, it still is what it is mild porn

2. most of us here in the USA are desensitized to violence and a good number also to porn too.

3. It wold seem that this much dissention does merrit a revision of the rule on explicit material based on the requests of most who replies and those that didn't care "either way". However, it will only make things harder.

If a player comes along, and puts up an avatar that is "on the line" we'll have the same discussion again. The line between art and porn and fun and all that cannot be well defined. If someone complains, we as admins should act and I feel that perhaps BB is right, but only if the comunity seems to NEED a change. I guess perhaps it might, but rash jumpy decisions are not what the admin team was ever for.

I will revise the rule myself and add the following, if it really is necessary.... I guess just message me if you think it is, but this will be the change.

the rule would be defined to say "such as porn and nude photography"

I might not play in game as much but the rules also apply to the stats avatars, this forum and the game together. In the absensce of gavin's input or another moderator making the call.... there ya go.

TY and welcom back Boy! I will have to agree with BB in saying most of our admins are absent lately. I hate to see him go because he was damn good. As far as the current rules went he was right that avatar was allowed. That is not even close to my point. My point was that we need admins that are here and ready to decide when necessary. No offense to you or any admin (boy) but most seem to be absent. I hear from apache, BB (no longer admin) and DB but where is everyone else? If we are to have some defintion of rules someone or a group of someones has to be present to enforce these rules or else there is no point in having rules.

As far as BB's reason for stepping down I don't blame him the fella can't do it all himself. What scares me is all the admins will either quit or just quit playing cuz they don't wanna deal with the politics.

Here is a challenge all you admins watching the forums make one simple post here and show that you are present and accounted for I would bet that it will be days or weeks before most of you post.

Boy TY for making a stand. I will be watching to see how many admins post,

please... please, no welcoming back, although I am honored

but I never totally left, i just figure that this forum is actually a better place for resolutions that the admin forum. I have been mostly absent for various reasons, mostly outside the game. but one of which is that there were plenty of admins watching things closely. Has that really changed? All we need are about 5 admins who play and post regularly, mabye 3 or 4 would even do if they covered the time zones well.

I'm here!

I knew you would be

passes pastor a six pack.... you know the rest

Admin covereage for a 24/7 game is horrendous, given that is the size and type of game.
A Couple of regs have been slammed for saying that its the regs that police the game, when the statement is true for a good many hours of the day and thats before we mention the beginner server.
If requested I will go into detail, but my posts end up being too long as it is.

by coverage, i only mean that typically an admin comes on at some point during peak times. This way, reacurring problems can be resolved without going on too long. There will always be a couple things happen here and there.

I just realized that of course... Porn and pornagraphy are the same, I had said "including porn and nude photography" It really only needs to read "including nude photography"

hopefully that will at least define the rule. NO complaints eh?

I'll change it tonight then.

Get your hands off my wife Jinxy!!!! How ya doing dude?

Hi Boy:

Sorry to rain on your parade but since you asked:
Register this as a formal complaint.

If it only takes one admin to change the rules, then the rules are a joke.

Like the employee handbook that stated on the last page, "All rules are subject to change at anytime and without notice."

The posts on this topic don't seem to support opening up the avenue for abuse by making the rules less specific nor appointing a pornography czar.

If a Pornography Czar is appointed, hopefully it will be someone that understands the difference between Beauty and the Beast, and bestiality. Pornography and nudity are not synomamous to me. If they are to anyone here, then I suggest that setting out on a crusade to destroy the Sistine Chappel, POST HASTE is of utmost importance to your cause. Don't worry about us, just go! We'll be fine here until you get out of the looney bin.

"The student body's got a bad reputation.
What they need is adult education.
Back to school it's a bad situation.
But what you want is an adult education." - Hall and Oates

Anyone remember the movie Shane?

Come back Big Bear! Come back!

Warm Regards,

Rommel

I was just waiting for you Rommel, so glad I could count on you.

well then, smarty. suppose then we discuss the contrast between your enlightening art up there, and the booby pic. You think you're so educated, or you can trap everyone into thinking like you do? Think again.

Think about the purpose of the photo you put up. Educate yourself.

Second. One admin can enforce the rules, the rules are already there, so don't kid yourself. A clarification of the rules is different than a new rule.

If anyone is bothered that the rights of the community to display large breasts openly in scorched3d are being infringed, just go bury yourself in some free hard core porn. it is everywhere.

In closing then.... I agree with BigBear in one regard, this discussion really isn't something that we should be having. It really isn't something that the admins should even have to discuss. Even though I think he and I feel differently about whether or not the specific picture should be allowed or not, we do agree at least that much.

I did take opportunity to make the change, although my feeling is that the new clarification of the pictures allowed is rather mundane. Anyone that feels that the admin team is being over stepped, or that the 'voices' of the community are being over looked in any way, I can only say. Sorry folks! That is the way I see it, and that is the way that other moderators who have commented in admin forum see it. None of the moderators have spoken up for allowing nudity, even partial nude pictures on the game servers. This does not mean we are going to go around and act like bullies to anyone who happens to like sexy pictures. So just relax.

For those who haven't bailed out on this wall of text..... the picture posted by Rommel of the Sistine Chapel was a very old and extreemely famous pice of art that has been restored over the centuries for a whole lot of money. It is also extreemly large, and if anyone thinks it can be shrunk into a small 32X32 pixel .gif avatar and passed off for pornagraphy, you have a serious grudge against established reglion.

In any case, if you think your avatar, enlarged or otherwise, could be an image that is censored, then don't use it in the game. An admin will eventually come along and tell you to change it. The majority of the players on these servers are mature, and can handle a few questionable pictures, so sometimes people will get by with them so long as no one complains. Such is life.

Very good post, Boy.