MODS & MEMBERS: REGARDING SIGNATURES

[Jaybats]

This is with reference to the section in the thread on GT Board Rules. This is a formal complaint: Mods, please establish and enforce a limit on signature size and content. If you can impose an all-English rule, you can impose signature limits.

Otherwise, everyone: please be reminded of the Proboards Terms of Service, Section 3. Content Restrictions:

"User's web site may not contain content promoting the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, nudity, or any other form of adult content, profanity, hate, "spam," fraud, racism, mlm, pyramid schemes, or promote any illegal activity."

Now everybody, I am normally pretty liberal about things, and I never thought I'd be writing this, but lately I've found myself getting increasingly irritated at seeing the same large ecchi image up the same cartoon panties and the same scantily clad cartoon girls more than 5-7 times every time I try to check the "most recent posts" page. And then go through it again when I go to individual threads.

Even if the image isn't ecchi, seeing the same image over and over again on the same page gets quite boring really fast.

It's bad enough if it's in pretty bad taste. It's worse that it gets posted repeatedly, and it's the worst that the pattern of postings every time is practically trolling. It's a total waste of time, space, and bandwidth. Initially, I could ignore it, but I find that I can't ignore something that keeps getting right there in my face every frakkin' time I check the board.

I don't know about you, but I am here to see and read about toys, not other people's juvenile fetishes. I'm not interested in them, so please keep those to yourself, or do it in an appropriate BBS somewhere else. I want to be able to check this board wherever and whenever I want, whether at home, office, school, or library, without feeling like I should hide in a closet. I want to be able to show the stuff in here to children without looking like a pedophile, or to women without looking like a pervert. And I want to see different images and pictures on a page, not the same thing over and over again.

I remember that this place used to be very interesting without gigantic graphic sigs of any kind, but right now, it's getting really, really annoying.

*sigh*

[Protoform-S]

Jay,

You do bring an interesting point. However, unlike the all english rule, the issue with the signatures and its contents are a more complicated matter.

The all english rule is very specific. All posts have to be in English. That is easy to manage.

Regarding the signature size, we haven't decided on the right size. We can put it as a max of 640x120 pixels.

Regarding the content, that is very subjective. Some pics can be construed as a form of adult content by some but not by others. So it is more difficult to decide whether the sig should be removed or not. Plus monitoring it would be difficult for us moderators.

The only option that I can see right now is to turn off the signature feature of this board. That way we can comply with proboards' TOS.

[archaznable]

I just wanted to suggest regarding signatures maybe we need to impose a rule on signatures such as banners to just a 468x60 banner size. 640x120 size is already big and takes a lot of space. Since the regular banner is just 468x60 size.

I second the motion to jaybats. Yeah there are some who are using ecchi's as banners and also remember there are children here that are also reading the boards since that this is a toy collectors board.

[PilapZ]

i also agree with jaybats but i think it would be best not to 'turn off' the signature.

we just need to discipline ourselves and know when the sig is kinda 'risque'.

[Jaybats]

firstpredacon said:

Regarding the content, that is very subjective. Some pics can be construed as a form of adult content by some but not by others. So it is more difficult to decide whether the sig should be removed or not. Plus monitoring it would be difficult for us moderators.

The only option that I can see right now is to turn off the signature feature of this board. That way we can comply with proboards' TOS.

Thanks for the prompt response.

I also recognize that turning off the signature feature may be a bit too drastic since there are more legitimate signatures than the offending ones. It would be a case of allowing the exceptions to control the general rule, which is not my intention. I do have suggestions:

1) Everytime a mod checks the "recent posts" page, s/he immediately sees the signatures, particularly of those that appear most often.

2) Imposing a signature size can limit the amount of recognizable imagery presented, so that is already a first step in enforcing the restriction. Archaznable's suggestion of a 468x60 prescription is quite reasonable.

3) Monitoring and enforcing signature-sizes don not appear to be that different than monitoring and enforcing the all-English rule. It is easily seen, and the owner can be notified immediately. Image-signatures can be even more obvious than non-English posts, especially if it is connected with the "trolling" behavior which calls attention in the first place.

4) The standard for determining whether a signature has adult content should be defined in relation to the general purpose of the board, which is to present and discuss a wide variety of toys for all ages. It is a little easier then to determine what kind of content is clearly not relevant to this purpose, and should be considered "adult", as follows:

a. Images that can be generally and reasonably perceived as being intended to cause sexual arousal in an ordinary person are adult in nature. So, an image of a naked woman or man in a sexually provocative pose, or the whole or part of her/his private parts, would violate the rule. But, if somebody has a leather or shoe fetish and is aroused by plain leather textures and stilleto shoes, a signature containing that would not be violating the rule because it doesn't ordinarily arouse people.

b. Sex toys are definitely considered to be adult content. I don't think any parent would want his/her child to know about sex toys before they can appreciate the responsibilities and risks that come with sexual maturity... and even most Filipino parents themselves don't want to know.

c. Portrayals of acts of violence and/or sex should be considered as adult content, because of the potential that under-aged children who can see the board.

5) If the sig qualifies under the above definition, then a single Mod has all the authority s/he needs to warn the owner of the offending signature to take it out. It's only in case there is doubt that the Mods as a group will have to discuss and decide.

6) That being said, though, PilapZ is correct, the first line of enforcement is responsibility and self-discipline. People with signatures should ask themselves whether the signature they put here is something they would like their 7-year old little brother or sister to see. And if they don't have or can't imagine having a sibling, whether it's something their parents would have approved of seeing when they were 7 years old. Why 7 years old? Because my nephews are that age and they already surf the internet quite a lot.

7) Since the signature feature appears to have been turned off, this would be the opportunity to make people notice the issue and to set the rules. If the sigs are off for at least 2 weeks, that can inform all frequent members who use sigs about the restrictions for future use when the Mods decide to reactivate the signature feature.

[Garvy]

pilapz said:

i also agree with jaybats but i think it would be best not to 'turn off' the signature.

we just need to discipline ourselves and know when the sig is kinda 'risque'.

Yes, it would be unfortunate if the signature feature is turned off due to one or a handful of members who choose to be uncooperative.

then again, if we can't discipline ourselves, the fairest measure may in fact be to just turn off the signatures altogether.

again, if it comes to that, it would be unfortunate as that will affect everyone, including the mods!

let's hope that enlightened minds will prevail.

cheers,

Garvy

[matttracker]

If I may comment, I think that we are all mature enough to understand what is right from wrong. Yes, this is a discussion for toys and some miscellaneous stuff we also have to understand our limits. ^_^

[miasong]

well, i second to that. I do agree with kids viewing the boards.. and hopefully not poison non-members/member's viewpoint on this toy collection forum..

[ThunderBreak]

ok. here's the action that we will make

...consolidate your requests and inform Malvin asap... and immediately implement agreements

[PilapZ]

i suggest a separate guideline for the signatures. nothing 'adult-esque' pics, or 'negative signatures' such as mutilations/gore/etc.

if posts are 'policed', the same goes with signatures. sig shouldnt be too big, so it wont eat up the bandwidth. you guys can come up with a decent size.

hope that helps. Cheers to a more friendly and fun forum!

[kingferic]

may i suggest that not only the signatures be monitored but also the avatars... because i've seen some avatars that may seem too violent for children to see... for example avatars which depicts blood and gore...i think would be unpleasant for children viewing these kinds of avatars over and over...

[mykeleleng]

Ive read this post and Im very much happy to follow the concerns of the majority. Its all for the better of this Forum, members or non-members wise.

This is just my personal concern.., but I hope the Mods will do something about Ecchi Banners (No Offence Dudes). I am currently based in Saudi and Pips here are strict about Nudity or anything to do about Women in General that somewhat strikes as malicious. Be it Anime's or in Real life.

I find it hard sometimes to browse the net for the toys i really like and collect. Scrolling them down and avoiding them immediately wont always do the trick. So i hope Members will consider other member''s concern.

(its so sad that i have just recently joined a well known "Figurine Club" and feels like i could contribute in someway but i couldn't even introduce myself becoz of some ecchi Banners.) ( No offence again. )

[LC]

Hmm, its a tad late replying to this thread, but if some members are irritated or not comfortable on viewing banners from other members...Its a VERY simple matter of saving yourselves the frustration by turning-off the "View Signature" option found under your Profile settings...

[mykeleleng]

hehe.
It's all good now coz seeing that most of the members sigs followed what are requested had it not been brought up. Atleast it somehow made an impact and members took notes.

But first.. wapak! (-slaps forehead.) ;D

[ThunderBreak]

If you have problems with an avatar or sig... just PM us and we will communicate with the avatar/sig owner.

... i think this is the simplest way to resolve this.