Please take note:

[oaktree]

Originally Posted by rberhow
NM, I will not deny that I participated fully in the threads in question as the chatting threads and understand your point but I would like to bring up a few questions to you as well. There are numerous members here that flood worthwhile posts with drivel and spam and post just as many posts as what was contained in these chatting threads. Because these numerous posts are spread out across the board and contained in many threads, these go on. NOw I am not saying that we were right to have these chat threads but my question is, isn't it better if this chatting is contained in one spot and not spread out across the board taking up just as much space and taking worthwhile threads off topic? Also, we attempted to obtain each others IM names to take this off the board as this is our common link and the only way to get them, but that thread was deleted so we weren't able to do that. I know it is also frowned upon to exchange email addys so it would be nice if we could've been allowed to transfer this information to take this off the board. Also if we get to know each other, I think we are more apt to help each other out as well as the other members of this board in the hobby. I completely understand your point, like i said, and will take it into advisement and will try to refrain from this behavior in the future. I hope you will also consider what I had to say as well.

***)

Agreed %100

 

[lovethesea]

we have all been guilty a time or two of letting a thread get completely derailed and up and over the curb. But it is when a thread goes trashy is when it has to end. I have seen several in my years here (in and out of the aquarium) and I am always shocked that someone feels they can post this stuff randomly.
It does get agravating when a person is nicely warned to simmer down and then they make it their soul purpose to drive their point home by making the thread very hostile and not a purposeful, seeing both sides "arguement". "lets agree to disagree and state your platform is not an option to some. Hense why I do like learning about the creation/evolution of pie

 

[socal57che]

I spend a lot of time in the aquarium. I read through the other forums and post occasionally if I can offer some help, but most of you seem to have more years in the hobby so I read and learn. I love looking through the Fish Photo threads. I agree that there needs to be some way to track recurring booted members, but with so many free web based e-mail companies it'd be impossible to track them by e-mail/user name. Tracking IP numbers for their machine might work, but the time invested wouldn't be worth it IMO. I think we should disassociate ourselves from these people (we all know who they are the first time they post) to deter them.
If I ever get out of hand please don't hesitate to bring it to my attention. I occasionally post out of frustration without thinking over my statements first. On occasion I have gone back and deleted it myself or read it several times before clicking "submit reply"....But for those other times, I apologize.
Thanks NM for bringing this to our attention before the forum was just shut down.
Even though I sometimes disagree with an opinion, I have great respect for the people that devote so much of their time to moderating this site.
ps I love the smilies, too

 

[dogstar]

I am one of the members who spend most of my time in the fish tank related boards and rarely post in the Aquarium board and then IMO there are members who are just the opposite.
I use this site to farther my knowlage with keeping aquariums and to help people if I can as well with their aquariums.
I would not miss the Aquarium board if it went away at all.
I know one can say then just stay out of it then....but, alot of the people that do play these games in the aquarium sometimes bring their antics into the tank boards and that makes it wrong for the ones trying to get or give advice there.
I dont want for the Aquarium board to go away and I dont have any answers as to how to control it. I myself have used the red triangle several times when I saw things really upsetting even to me.
Im sure as said that the Mods have a really hard time watching everything and I myself really appreciate their knowledge and willingness to help people in the hobby and if monitoring the Aquarium takes them away from helping people in the Tank boards then maybe the best thing for the site as a whole would be for the aquarium to go away.
Just thinking........

 

[nw2sltfsh]

Originally Posted by socal57che
Tracking IP numbers for their machine might work, but the time invested wouldn't be worth it IMO.
IP addresses are very easy to update with a simple IPCONFIG comand at the CMD prompt from the Run menu. All you need to do is an IPCONFIG/Release and then IPCONFIG/renew
or for that matter just reboot the modem if you are using a cabel modem, Very few people unless you are on a network server with a desktop have static IP addresses.
Great Idea though. the problem is that with a free site there is no security validation that occurs that would be able to know for certain if the people are one and the same. The best everyone can do is report inappropriate threads. I know I have done so in the past when I read something while my 8 year old was shoulder surfing and told me Mommy that is really bad you shouldnt read that.
I love the aquirium and hope it remains - I like coming here throughout a stressfull day at work and laugh at some of the items. As well as think about each side of debates. I also agree closing this section would only move inappropriate items into other forums
PS - What if Shoefly Pie came first? isnt it technically a Cake? actually it isnt shoefly - I forget the name of the pie but it is a cake mix with choclate syrup on the top that falls to the bottom but it is made in a pie dish

 

[37g joe]

Alright I.P. Adresses can be changed. This is not the N.S.A. Where they have the Time and Equipment to track down these people and stop them. also for them to go into every thread and edit language would take alot of time and energy. Is it Fair to make the Mods our baby siters. No it is not Fair. Also If you want to get incontact someone look at thier public profile we all have them You can post email and if you have aim messenger you can put it on thier. So really thier is no need for all these if's and why's

 

[nm reef]

Hmmmmmmm...is it possible my little vent may produce some positive results? Say it ain't so....... :thinking:
Just to address a few points raised.
In regard to abussive and/or foul language. I'm not talkin' the now and then swear word...those I routinely edit and request members refrain from using such language and that normally works very well....folks refrain and things stay decent. What I'm reffering to in the rant is some very...extremely foul comments some of which were directed at specific members. These are usually the result of a member being agry for what ever reason....I don't excuse it. That type of outburst ....that radical of a respone it not and will not betolerated on these forums. ....and that should make clear exactly what I was reffering to ... these incidents were extreme in my opinion and will not be tolerated.
Now.....that connects the so called "chat threads"....a lot of times it is those very threads that draw back and origionally involve the very members that fly off the deep end and make the foul ststements. They usually are connected to the "chat" threads....get booted.....for what they say and how they act.....then after they get removed for actions that definitely warrented them getting booted.....well then guess what....they come back to the same type threads and make the same type contributions...which ends up getting even more of those type threads closed.
....and that is basically why "chat" threads get closed. A lot of the time the involve and at times encourage the involvment of the very folks we've had to ban for inappropiate actions.
Which brings me to my major issue. If you take action that results in you getting booted....then just LEAVE......and IF you return....please for the sake of the site...our forums....and ourmembers....stay the heack away or be civil when you come back!!!!! Please!!!!!!!
***) Now I sure hope I haven't offended anybody or pointed any fingers or stepped on any toes. Bottom line is be civil...be polite...respect the other members.....OR LEAVE.

 

[tangman99]

NM Reef,
You are absolutely right. I have been around here for a long time and I think the aquarium was removed once and was brought back after some time. The shame of it is if you do remove the aquarium, it will not get rid of the troublemakers. They will just invade the other forums. I belong to a lot of boards for many subjects and they all have an off topic forum. Most are very well managed and troublemakers are very few. I'm not sure what can be done to make it better or why it is such a problem here.
If I'm not mistake, isn't it a crime to post

[hr]
material in a public forum. It's easy enough to trace back the IP address to the IP provider who can backtrace any IP address to their customer. It's been a while since I did any internet police work though.

 

[nm reef]

I do have IP's and yea there are legal implications.....still if the very few that persist even after being booted would just accept common sense and acknowledge that this is a public forum and folks that create problems will be removed....and be respectful enough to either stay away of refrain from being a problem once you have been removed then the problems would be far less.
Plus.....respect and dignity dictate that you just don't post some of the insane trash some of these folks post. Its like....gee....I got my feelings hurt....here let me make false sexually accusations to express my hurt feelings and anger. I mean....come on people.........if thats the type of crap you want to post or be involved in this IS NOT THE PROPER place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nm reef]

I know I'm really stickin' my neck out making this thread...and to this point I sincerely appreciate the comments and feed back. Y'all try to be kind from this point on.....please....its a hobby elated site and we have basic rules. Abide by them or leave. Yuor choice....now lynch me if you must or support me if you'd like.
Either way I'm out of here 'till the mornin'
Hopefully tomorrow I won't need to monitor and delete and RANT.
Thanks for listenin' y'all

 

[connor]

i agree 100%
i could not believe some of what was said and posted yesterday

im sorry beacouse i can get chatty here im not trying to disagree but IMHO if the chatty threads are not bad in any way would we be alound to still chat in them or would they be deleted? thanks Connor

 

[beth]

It is interesting to see how many problems seem to come from members who, for the most part, participate in this forum and rarely go to other FISH forums. Meaning that they are not here for the hobby subject, but for off-topic conversation.
I for one do remember a day when the OT did not exist here, and, frankly, it was pretty nice! Especially for the moderators who could spend time in fish forums, not most of our time policing topics that have nothing to do with fish.
SWF goal is not to maintain off topic discussions, but to have a hobby site. In fact, as I recall, it was the moderators who requested the creation and re-opening of the Aquarium for you. However, at this point, its getting out of hand.
We want genuine hobbyists to visit this forum, whether that be new hobbyists or experienced, we are happy to have you! At this point, though, I think the mods agree that the Aquarium is detracting from the site.
And for the problems that keep reoccurring, there is going to come a time when we'll need to go beyond just a ban and address the problems through legal channels. Some of the material that has been posted illegally on this forum is more than a violation of BB policies, but violates real life laws.
And for those who chime in when trouble starts, you are only adding to the problem and the probability of closing down the Aquarium. If this is what you want, ok....I won't miss the Aquarium.
Will any of you?

 

[nm reef]

I can go on record supporting this forum....and I'd actually miss it. I've seen many decent threads here and I'd regret seeing it closed.
I agree with most of what Beth said... but I really would hate to see this type forum be lost. Myself as a moderator...I don't get involved with issues unless I'm basically forced to. If this sites policy is violated...and the member responsible fails to address the situation...they need to be removed....and just accept that unless they address the issue there will conyinue to be a problem. Then in response to lash out and be vulgar...well thats way over the line....
...and IF this site just allowed incidents like that to slide by then what? I don't believe the majority of the "hobby related" members would much like even more of the trash we've been seeing. The really frustrating aspects are all the time we spend tryin' to edit/delete/address these problems faster than they can come up. Myself....it seems I seldom can just respond to typical members questions......
Then the added frustration of members getting booted then immediately returning just to repeat the cycle.
...and the ultimate frustration is the very threads allowed in here ...the ones that are "chats" usually attrack/involve the very members we have major issues with. The minority of those that become vulgar.....rude.......and that participation is the main reason I have problems with "chat" room type threads. The very few pests that persist in making problems cause many different problems....and at the end of the day just blows my mind. If you don't like it here.....LEAVE....and save the rest of us any more trouble.

Stuff like that will result in this forum possibly being closed....a thing of the past.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by Beth
And for the problems that keep reoccurring, there is going to come a time when we'll need to go beyond just a ban and address the problems through legal channels. Some of the material that has been posted illegally on this forum is more than a violation of BB policies, but violates real life laws.
There has certainly been

[hr]
material posted by many people, including some claiming to be innocent

And some posted by people that are "mourned" by others on this board for being banned. I am extremely displeased that I have to see that stuff, because it is not what I signed up for, let alone some of the parents or children who do surf this board.
I would like to see it reported through legal channels, personally.

IMO, 99% of the people on this board are here to share and learn. There literally are very few - who come in under different names - that are real problems. So I do want to emphasize that we highly value the majority of our members and appreciate your patience!

Please help us by reporting posts, posters, and by not escalating or empowering certain members.

 

[wesa]

WOW! I love this site so much, please everyone, take the private, personal, profanity elsewhere. "Most" of us are adults & know all those wonderful 4+ letter words & then some. It's hard not be be frustrated & use a few 'choice' words in situations but not good practice around kids. (Yeah, I know kids can teach us a few new things on that score & in other areas, but others who do use this site aren't like that necessarily. Everyone learns by example & everyone will do what they can get away with). It's easy enough to create your own site for chatting. There are so many smart folks from this site, why don't you consider making another adult only site for chatting and invite others here and have a ball with it. I would hope the mods here along with the owners wouldn't mind providing a link to it. Everyone would be happy and we could all still share and learn here. That's my 2 cents & hope it's worth some consideration. Thank you all. Love the sharing & comraderie. Have a good night.

 

[rschultz]

I think that people need to take chill

[hr]
and stop making up false legal claims.
Just observing.

 

[thomas712]

I for one voted for the Aquarium to be here as well. However when you have to spend an hour or more editing, deleting, and just having to read most of that dribble, even if you are skimming to find the ~lets say bad apples~ then I for one could live without having the aquarium anymore. By dribble I mean the all to many posts that are chit chat, or volatile posts, flames, etc.. Many threads are interesting to be sure, and I have dabbled in many of them. But when it becomes a daily grind to weed out then its too much.
If I could be helping someone or be joined in constructive posts with someone rather than have to clean trash left my someones else then the OT conversations can go away.
No Aquarium means that any other OT=off topic thread that gets posted in any other forum would be almost certainly deleted on sight. That was part of the way it used to be.
Folks I have only really got this advice for you. When the crap thread gets started, don't join in, that is the very thing that these preditors thrive on, your joining, they love it. Just report it and move on without a response.
Thomas

 

[bs21]

i would like to see the aquarium forum stay. i am still trying to learn as much as i can by reading threads under the hobby related forums and usually don't have the experience to add to certain threads and most of my questions get answered by just reading as opposed to asking..... so the aquarium gives me a place to take a break and see what is going on with others and also gives me an area where i can contribute more. so i for one would like to see it stay and not be ruined by a few who are out to just cause trouble.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by rschultz
I think that people need to take chill

[hr]
and stop making up false legal claims.
Just observing.

Do you have any idea what the pictures were of????
In 1996, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in the case of United States v. Thomas, 74 F.3d 701 (6th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 820 (1996), was presented with the issue of defining "community" in order to determine whether materials that had been transported over the Internet were obscene.
Defendants, a husband and wife, operated a computer bulletin board system (BBS) from their home in California. A postal inspector in Tennessee became a member of their service and subsequently received images by means of a computer and by mail. These materials depicted a wide variety of sexual conduct, including bestiality, torture and excretory fetishism. The couple was convicted by a jury in the Western District of Tennessee for violating federal obscenity laws [18 USC 1462 and 1465] in connection with their operation of their BBS.
BTW, several of the described pictures were also posted on this board. Unsolicited posting of ---- on this site by certain people is unacceptable.
From:
http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/archi...awprimerV1.cfm

 

[ophiura]

LOL.... Folks ya can't even make this stuff up.
Yes, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back yet another banned member who has returned just for this very thread.

Well we are truly honored.
Thanks for proving the point.

Yup, they leave in a flurry of messages about how this board and moderators....uh...measure up (but using more colorful language and visuals), and yet they always want to come back???

We do have something good.