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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> A Desperate Outcry
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 08/27/2006 11:16:42 PM · #1
Over the past couple of months i have watched the degredation of the dpc forums. There have been posts about whisky, a pillow fight, pancakes, and definitely worst of all the sex threads. Anyway, this is not a rant, im not gonna list the off topic threads that have been made (yes, there was even one called "Get Off Topic"). I am going to ask that a line be drawn.

here is a series of quotes from other users who have also expressed their concerns for the silly nonsence that has been going on. I won't say their names because i feel that would be somewhat wrong.

"A strong sense of community is one thing that sets DPC apart from other photo sites; however, the entire community is being subjugated to the baser morality of a certain sub-set of the user group. I'm certainly not advocating the banishment of personal exchanges, or punishment of all statements containing sexual innuendo, or even arguing that off-topic threads be disallowed...but at some point a line has to be drawn."

"You know it's gotten pretty bad when a 15-year old is ignoring threads about sex" - from the 15-year old!!!

"I put so many threads on ignore that there was nothing left to look at for hours and hours...so I'm looking at other photography forums to join...."

"DPC reminds me of an annual canoe trip I used to go on. For the first few times it was awesome and everyone had fun. Then, one by one, new people joined and ruined it with their antics - now I don't go on the canoe trip anymore because I don't even recognize three-quarters of the assholes and it's not fun anymore...."

please, SC, anyone who reads this consider that dpc is a photography website. Its not just a random place for you to post all of the things that just pop into your head. I have been a memeber for almost 2 years now, and have learned almost everything i know about photography from this site. It would be a shame for other memebers and myself to frequent the site less often because we disagree with or are offended by certain posts.

So next time you post, think before doing it, think "how is this benefitting others"

So please help keep the site a comfortable place for everyone, and not just a playground for a certain group of users

thanks,
-Dan
08/27/2006 11:19:43 PM · #2
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
Over the past couple of months i have watched the degredation of the dpc forums. There have been posts about whisky, a pillow fight, pancakes, and definitely worst of all the sex threads. Anyway, this is not a rant, im not gonna list the off topic threads that have been made (yes, there was even one called "Get Off Topic"). I am going to ask that a line be drawn.

here is a series of quotes from other users who have also expressed their concerns for the silly nonsence that has been going on. I won't say their names because i feel that would be somewhat wrong.

"A strong sense of community is one thing that sets DPC apart from other photo sites; however, the entire community is being subjugated to the baser morality of a certain sub-set of the user group. I'm certainly not advocating the banishment of personal exchanges, or punishment of all statements containing sexual innuendo, or even arguing that off-topic threads be disallowed...but at some point a line has to be drawn."

"You know it's gotten pretty bad when a 15-year old is ignoring threads about sex" - from the 15-year old!!!

"I put so many threads on ignore that there was nothing left to look at for hours and hours...so I'm looking at other photography forums to join...."

"DPC reminds me of an annual canoe trip I used to go on. For the first few times it was awesome and everyone had fun. Then, one by one, new people joined and ruined it with their antics - now I don't go on the canoe trip anymore because I don't even recognize three-quarters of the assholes and it's not fun anymore...."

please, SC, anyone who reads this consider that dpc is a photography website. Its not just a random place for you to post all of the things that just pop into your head. I have been a memeber for almost 2 years now, and have learned almost everything i know about photography from this site. It would be a shame for other memebers and myself to frequent the site less often because we disagree with or are offended by certain posts.

So next time you post, think before doing it, think "how is this benefitting others"

So please help keep the site a comfortable place for everyone, and not just a playground for a certain group of users

thanks,
-Dan


Can I get an Amen!

MattO
 08/27/2006 11:24:21 PM · #3
Well said, I_Enjoy_ham!
 08/27/2006 11:26:45 PM · #4
i don't know. there is silliness here but big deal. don't read those threads. change the channel.

there is plenty of good solid photography discussion here to make up for 'pointless' threads in my opinion.
 08/27/2006 11:27:54 PM · #5
You calling everyone out from the Off topic thread or just some? I don't get it.
 08/27/2006 11:28:32 PM · #6
I have not seen any sex threads.
I miss all the good stuff.

Bummer.
 08/27/2006 11:29:06 PM · #7
Hey I was qouted, (kinda) :)
 08/27/2006 11:29:41 PM · #8
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

So please help keep the site a comfortable place for everyone, and not just a playground for a certain group of users


"to make the site less exclusionary, please exclude yourself, thank you"
 08/27/2006 11:32:21 PM · #9
Originally posted by wavelength:
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

So please help keep the site a comfortable place for everyone, and not just a playground for a certain group of users


"to make the site less exclusionary, please exclude yourself, thank you"


How is this contributing to the discussion at hand?

Did you want to start a thread nominating members for exclusion? You might be surprised at the nominations for eviction.
 08/27/2006 11:34:18 PM · #10
Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:
You calling everyone out from the Off topic thread or just some? I don't get it.


Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
Over the past couple of months...


I do not think this is in reference to one thread.
 08/27/2006 11:34:50 PM · #11
Originally posted by L2:
Originally posted by wavelength:
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

So please help keep the site a comfortable place for everyone, and not just a playground for a certain group of users


"to make the site less exclusionary, please exclude yourself, thank you"


How is this contributing to the discussion at hand?

Did you want to start a thread nominating members for exclusion? You might be surprised at the nominations for eviction.


You obviously missed the irony in the original statement that I was trying to point out.
 08/27/2006 11:35:11 PM · #12
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
(yes, there was even one called "Get Off Topic").
08/27/2006 11:35:34 PM · #13
Guys, in all honesty, it is a fine line that the SC is discussing. On the one hand, we don't want to "stifle" the community or fun -- that is just one of the things that makes dpc what it is. On the other, we have had a lot of complaints about some of the posts the past week or so. It seems, to some, that many threads are degenerating into base sexual humor.

It is a photography site, but we do have a sense of community. There are numerous other sites that I have seen where all the forums are strictly content based (that is related only to the subject at hand). They are not a lot of fun sometimes.

I think what the OP is asking and what has been asked of the SC, is that some decorum be exhibited in the forums. If you really want to make sexual overtures (and I use this example, because it is the one that has been complained about the most), maybe find a chat room or something.

I don't know what the answer is. We are a site whose membership is worldwide and as such social mores and what not are as wide and varied as the membership itself. The SC really does not want to spend all of its time policing the forums.

If it violates the TOS, please send us a ticket. Otherwise, besides ignoring threads, I am not sure what the best solution is.

The SC has been discussing it, and is discussing it. Yea, I know, we take a lot of time to do stuff that to ya'll looks easy and cut and dried, but most of the time, we are considering angles that aren't so easy. (and if we wait long enough, sometimes the "problems" actually fix themselves. :) )
 08/27/2006 11:37:21 PM · #14
Also, your friendly reminder, please keep the discussion at hand civil. There is not need to point fingers, accuse, or call names. Unless you want the thread locked really quickly. :(
 08/27/2006 11:39:34 PM · #15
I agree with the original poster.

I think that a lot of the banter and innuendo-talk that has been going on in the threads lately would be more appropriate for a private chatroom or something like that, but not here in the forums.

This is just my personal position though.



Message edited by author 2006-08-27 23:41:38.
 08/27/2006 11:42:11 PM · #16
the thing is that we shouldnt have to be ignoring threads.

people should realize that having a thread about certain things is just inapropriate. I fully understand that it isnt the SC's job to patrol the forums and that you guys have enough on your plate. Im asking that the people of dpc understand that sometime what goes on here is just not right for this type of atmoshphere.

-Dan
 08/27/2006 11:43:21 PM · #17
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
the thing is that we shouldnt have to be ignoring threads.



On the contrary, that is what that feature is for.
 08/27/2006 11:44:54 PM · #18
The unfortunate part about the subject topic is that if we limited discussion to only those things that 100% of the DPC population agreed upon and found acceptable... we would, in all likelyhood, at this very moment be staring at blank screens.

Just a thought.

Ray
 08/27/2006 11:45:20 PM · #19
If you're talking specifically about threads eralated to and consisting almost solely of sexual related material. They have little or no place on this site for me.

If you're talking about joke and nonsense threads for general PG type fun, leave people alone, IMO.
 08/27/2006 11:46:47 PM · #20
No one's trying to tear apart the site or make it less of a resource for photography, it's just a little fun, and people being themselves.

Almost all internet communities with forums have a bunch of threads that don't have much to do with the purpose of the site - that's pretty much what the internet is for.

If anyone is offended by the sexiest people thread or the off topic ones, or even the majority of what's being discussed in the forums, then isn't it possible that maybe that person would have a better time at a different site while still checking DPC for interesting threads?

I personally don't like forums being moderated for things that aren't explicitly disallowed by the rules, when that happens I sure never think better of that particular forum for it. People will discuss what they want to discuss, and until it crosses the boundaries of the forum rules, I think they should be allowed to.

Nothing's stopping someone from starting a thread and talking about the things they want to talk about, and if no one else in the forums wants to talk about it, maybe another forum would be better.
 08/27/2006 11:48:15 PM · #21
I am not with you at all here. I think that silliness is fun and this site is where I go to unwind, so I say let people say what they will. In fact your post itself contained a word that most people consider vulgar when referring to your canoe mates. However, we are a community, and if you really want to change your community, don't go "tell teacher" or the SC. Get a group of people to scour the forums and when you see something offensive simply call it out on the forum it was posted. If every time a sexual joke is made, it is quickly followed up by an admonishment people will stop, and you will have a squeaky clean site where people aren't saying what they want to once again (if it was ever any different really)

drake
 08/27/2006 11:49:13 PM · #22
A simple solution is to add a forum where anything goes -- but, 'anything goes' never goes well.

A good solution, if things are to continue as they are, is to add the ability to ignore all posts made by certain users. Half a dozen ignores and a person can walk along the forums without having to watch where they step.

But the best solution would be to give the content back to the forums. This is a site based on the challenges -- the less we are allowed to talk about the current challenges, the less we (as a community) have to talk about at all. The more control put on 'on topic' discussion, the more 'off topic' discussion there will be. Very simple to understand, but not so simple for some to take apparently.

And as far as the formation of a community is concerned, disruptive behavior has never created anything but a mess. Disruptive behavior is not benefiting the sense of community in any way -- it is destroying it.

David

Message edited by author 2006-08-27 23:53:17.
 08/27/2006 11:49:16 PM · #23
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
the thing is that we shouldnt have to be ignoring threads.



On the contrary, that is what that feature is for.


on the contrary, if the posts were about photography then we would get back to the real reason for the ignore button which was to protect younger peoples and offended people from nude threads and other offensive things, not innapropriate blabber about random toppics :)

-Dan
 08/27/2006 11:49:24 PM · #24
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
the thing is that we shouldnt have to be ignoring threads.



On the contrary, that is what that feature is for.


I'm not sure I agree. While it's certainly useful for allowing users to pick and choose which threads are viewed, I wonder if it's original intended purpose was self-defense against reading about the sexual escapades and fantasies of a few random (though vocal) users.
 08/27/2006 11:50:29 PM · #25
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
No one's trying to tear apart the site or make it less of a resource for photography, it's just a little fun, and people being themselves.

Almost all internet communities with forums have a bunch of threads that don't have much to do with the purpose of the site - that's pretty much what the internet is for.

If anyone is offended by the sexiest people thread or the off topic ones, or even the majority of what's being discussed in the forums, then isn't it possible that maybe that person would have a better time at a different site while still checking DPC for interesting threads?

I personally don't like forums being moderated for things that aren't explicitly disallowed by the rules, when that happens I sure never think better of that particular forum for it. People will discuss what they want to discuss, and until it crosses the boundaries of the forum rules, I think they should be allowed to.

Nothing's stopping someone from starting a thread and talking about the things they want to talk about, and if no one else in the forums wants to talk about it, maybe another forum would be better.


It isn't so much the threads that you mention, those can be put on ignore if you so choose. What's problematic (IMO) is the rather frequent hijacking of other threads. Again IMO not every other thread has to end up in jokes about cheese or in talk about whips and other stuff like that.

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