Is it finally time for a 'Mature' section?

[Netdroid9]

In light of recent events (e.g. the concerned parents scandel) it would appear that a suggestion we recieved a little while ago (in the popular 'Offspring' thread) may now be considered appropriate.

The suggestion in question was in reference to a 'Mature' section. This sub-forum would contain materials too violent or sexually explicit for our normal roleplaying forums. As the normal roleplaying forums have become increasingly violent as of late, such a suggestion may not only be considered appropriate but vital for the correct operation of the forum under a PG-13 basis. The forum would be only accesible to adults (or children who have their parent's or legal guardian's permission) who could confirm their identity via e-mail or the like.

Within such a forum the PG-13 rating would be lifted to an M or even MA rating (no X-rated hardcore pornography yet, folks ) so that users could let out their more offensive ideas without causing potential trauma to the innocent children who visit our forums regularly.

[Danikat]

Having finally found and read the 'concerned parents' thread I really don't think we have anything to worry about.

Although its not what I said to them it really wouldn't suprise me if these 'parents' children were entirely fictional. I know for a fact that there are groups out there who spend their time searching the internet for sites like this one to post rants like that one which eventually degrade into nothing by extremist right-wing christian preaching.
I know this because unfortunately I've seen them at it before.

In my personal opinion their little better than hackers or spam bots who also pick sites and harass them for their own gain.

(No offence intended to DP or any of the other millions of perfectly sane and reasonable chritians out there. I'm reffering to a select few here.)

In short I don't beleive we've done anything wrong, I don't think any of the content on this site comes close to needing an M rating and I don't believe we need a section to allow stuff that does.

[Embri]

Hmm, that's quite possible, Danikat. Blackstar has also recently appeared on the Google search list associated with RP and Roleplaying, so it's possible one of these groups stumbled in through a search, or we have one (or more) users who's parents are causing problems, and they are calling in the cavalry.

[GBE]

I don't think having a mature section isn't actually a bad idea...

Net is right, it means that more adult related violence can be performed without offence to others.

I know I certainly wouldn't mind such an area, but then, it would have to moderated so that it wasn't too extreme...

As for permissions to enter this area, like its been pointed out, people can lie about their age... How would that bit work....?

[LordPsycho]

well, in threads on gameware and the EC's private forums, people have posted pics of themselves. They send me a scan of a photo ID with a birthdate showing on the same side as the pic, and I compare that pic to their photo where ever (without telling them, of course), and if it matches, I let them in.

[GBE]

Before I say this, I'm not accusing you of being any criminal or anything DP.

But I'm sure some people are a little nervous of sending their I.D. online to you... Anything could go wrong in sending things online. And hackers and all that.

I'm not calling it a stupid idea, I'm just a little unsure of peoples reactions to this idea...

[3kul]

The other problem is that those who you don't know what they look like can send just about any picture in. For all you lot know, I could be anything from some old sea captain wannabe with a peg leg to a religious biker tough guy who tears it up around the local church (just so you know, I'm neither of those ). If a kid's underaged, all they need is somebody else's ID and we'd be forced to assume that that's who they really were.

[addman]

So Dani, are you suggesting that Mr. Paige and company aren't even parents? I suppose it's possible, I'd never even thought of that. Very sneaky way of getting their censorship viewpoints heard by pretending to be victims.

I reckon if we have an M rated section, the posts in it wouldn't be much more "mature" in content as they are now. I think most of the people on these forums wouldn't want to use excessive swearing, or even things like detailled intercourse in their posts, as most of us are not that way inclined to do so. Often, a discreet nod towards the topic is enough to get our meaning across, without the need for foul language and imagery.

[LordPsycho]

GBE: Just shoot holes in my idea. I hadn't thought of that, but most people's id do contain personal info.

3kul: that's the beauty and a flaw in my plan. It depends on them posting earlier in a pic thread, and if they were to change that pic to an Identical picture, I'd have to assume they are lying and deny them access.

However, if they were to post a pic of their parents/other close adult friend, and send in an edited form of their ID (to hide all info but D.o.B. and the pic) and change their pic to a pic of that person they just happened to have...yeah. The system fails there

[Danikat]