Internet orientation course #1

**kro** · 19th March 2006, 09:22

I will most likely get banned for this, but here goes......
Having been a KB member now for a few months, I am astounded at the absolute lack of understanding of what a forum board is.

What a forum board is:
A place to share thoughts, opinions, pictures, knowledge, and lame ass little love notes, should the need take you there.
A place for any alter egos to be heard.

What a forum board isn't:
A place to distribute illegal information, such as illegal pornography, copied software, or info deemed dangerous, like how to make bombs and shit. Very few of you will know that a website owner is deemed 100% responsible for all content on his website, and can be charged under a multitude of laws, resulting in fines that make your speeding tickets suddenly seem insignificant.

Scenario #1
You go riding with a group of people, one of whom you don't like, and after a few beers at the end of the ride, you tell this person what you think of him. At this point, a "social etiquette" officer does not spring from the shadows, and send you to the sin-bin.

Scenario #2
You go riding with a group of people, one of whom you don't like, and after a few beers at the end of the ride, you tell this person what you think of him on the KB forums. At this point, a "social etiquette" officer doth spring from the shadows, and send you to the sin-bin.

So.......... Why is "Scenario #1, so much easier than "Scenario #2"?. Because everyone knows there are no social etiquette wardens. This is left up to the individual to regulate, by way of either social pressure, or conscience.

Ok, there are people on this forum, whom astound me at the levels of socially "retarded" behaviour they display, but what would I achieve by telling them my opinion of them?. I would achieve nothing. Some people truly believe they achieve something by doing this, when the truth is probably miles away in a small town called " Idontgiveashit"

Personally, I think some of the censoring of what goes on in KB is often unnecessary, and takes away from some of us, a damn good laugh watching people who say they are adults, and look like adults, behave like fucking 7 year olds.

Summary:
If you cannot handle differences of opinion, or someone telling you what they really think of you, then a message board such as KB, is somewhere you don't want to be. To offset this, those dishing out the opinions do have to consider just how far it needs to go, before it's just getting petty, and childish. Posting "you are a retard" 7 times in one thread, kind of turns the gun on yourself, and not the intended victim.

Take what you need from this.

**Devil** · 19th March 2006, 09:29

Originally Posted by kro

To offset this, those dishing out the opinions do have to consider just how far it needs to go, before it's just getting petty, and childish. Posting "you are a retard" 7 times in one thread, kind of turns the gun on yourself, and not the intended victim.

...and herein lies the problem. You can lead a moron to reasoning, but you cant make him think.

Censorship does have a place on the boards, free reign should not be given to any Tom, Dick or Harry that wants to talk constant shit.

Status quo is running well. Leave the bollocks off the board.

**GR81** · 19th March 2006, 10:12

nobody likes an e-thug!

**onearmedbandit** · 19th March 2006, 10:42

If this was a private forum with no access to the threads unless you had an age-verified account then sure, go for your lives calling each other names, flaming, posting worthless crap. But as long as this is a public forum that anyone can see then some decorum is required.

**Winston001** · 19th March 2006, 10:54

Maybe I'm naive but there appears to be very little censorship on the board. I belong to another forum where no swearing is acceptable or abuse of other people. It runs well with vigorous discussions and members aging in range from 12 to 80.

Personally I accept Kiwibiker for what it is and ignore the language and flames. But it is a public forum, not a bunch of people meeting in a pub. Anyone can read posts.

Furthermore I don't think abuse is acceptable (except in fun) in the pub or here.

**Colapop** · 19th March 2006, 11:03

The biggest difference between this forum and others is that this one crosses over into 'real' life. I agree that not everyone here has the social skills to be able to behave 'appropriately' at times, but then who does? I am a social retard. I joined this forum, not to make friends or to become a member of a group but to gain some knowledge from people who have a huge amount of knowledge. I have made friends here and when I've met them in 'real' life I haven't felt uneasy enough to commit social suicide and have to have my foot removed surgically from my mouth.

Behaviour is individual. If peopel choose to come one here and become an alter ego, then that is their perogative. If the adminstators of this forum decide that their needs to be some sort of moderation then it is their perogative as the people who provide this site for us.

There is always going to be a difference of opinion as to what is abuse and what is not.

**kro** · 19th March 2006, 11:22

Originally Posted by Devil

...and herein lies the problem. You can lead a moron to reasoning, but you cant make him think.

Censorship does have a place on the boards, free reign should not be given to any Tom, Dick or Harry that wants to talk constant shit.

Status quo is running well. Leave the bollocks off the board.

I agree that censorship has a place, what my thoughs are, is that if someone disagrees with your opinion, you have 3 options:

Say " I disagree", and leave it at that
Say " you're a useless fucking retard, and your mum was a whore"
Say nothing.

I'm not saying we don't flex the admin muscle, but to pick and choose what is worth actually taking the time to censor.

The rest of it was basically a challenge to people to think about what is actually worth saying, and what can be kept "in your pants"

**inlinefour** · 19th March 2006, 11:46

I no longer have much of an opinion on this, not worth the hassle...

Anyone for a ride?

Anyone want a beer, as long as its a DB Draught...

**Ixion** · 19th March 2006, 11:51

7 posts. Is that the quickest a thread has descended to the universal end of all KB threads - beer (well, it's either beer , or sex. Or both). Speights for me, only [insert approbrious epiphet of choice] drink [insert non speights brand]. Let beer wars commence.

Was this what you were talking about ?

**Joni** · 19th March 2006, 11:53

I enjoy a good Stella!

:spudguita

**Colapop** · 19th March 2006, 11:56

Stella is good... so is Tui, Heinekin, Export and Free! Nothing like free beer!

**inlinefour** · 19th March 2006, 11:56

Originally Posted by Joni

I enjoy a good Stella!

:spudguita

I won't hold that against ya

Also do Jim Beam & L & P or vodka, generally straight

**onearmedbandit** · 19th March 2006, 12:00

Drinking stops me from riding my bike so therefore drinking is bad.

**Ixion** · 19th March 2006, 12:08

I used to know a girl called Stella. I did enjoy her, and she was good.

**inlinefour** · 19th March 2006, 12:37

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Drinking stops me from riding my bike so therefore drinking is bad.

kinda reminds me that both times I laid into the ETOH that I was quite crook the next day. Must make sure next time that the lads & ladesses get on it that the weather is crappy. Although in saying his I intend to have a few with whoever is still in Wanganui on Boxing Day evening