Closing "questionable" threads?

People use BitTorrent and Kazza for legitimate uses? Really? Do you? Personally, I won't open my machines to the world anyway, but when I've seen P2P in action, I can't recall ever seeing a use that would be considered 'legal' on one end or the other.

If the odds are overwhelmingly in the favor of one side over the other, it's not out of line for the mods to believe that's what's actually happening. Instead of the mod's having to evaluate whether the use is or isn't valid, why can't the OP remove all doubt by specifically explaining what they're doing? A thread that says "I'm trying to BitTorrent the latest blockbuster..." would be slammed closed, but one that says "I'm trying to make family tree pictures available to my extended family via Kazaa..." would probably be perfectly acceptable.

Of course, nobody uses Kazza or any other P2P for the family tree. As ol' Bob Dole said; I know it, you know it, the American people know it :)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by NoBoB
People use BitTorrent and Kazza for legitimate uses? Really? Do you? Personally, I won't open my machines to the world anyway, but when I've seen P2P in action, I can't recall ever seeing a use that would be considered 'legal' on one end or the other.

---

http://torrent.dulug.duke.edu/ (BitTorrent to download latest release of the Fedora Linux project)

It has also been used by game companies to distribute trailers and demo versions.

Funny things happen to people when they get a little power!
After myself making a smart remark and getting beached at by a moderator, I have concluded that this site is an authoritarian site that wants to be politically correct... The Moderators do what they want when they want and no matter how much any of us mortals or subjects (what ever you like to call us) complain it will not be heard.

Kinda like the government, "We know what's best for you, so shut up and take it..."

I am not saying all moderators are bad or power hungry. But if you read "BIG JOHN'S" reply to this post it seems evident.

>>>We reserve the right to close, delete, edit anything we deem offensive or illegal, live with it. BJ

I'm not trying to pick on any moderators in particular... Sorry if it looks that way BJ...

OH MY!!! I guess if a moderator finds peanuts offensive and see it in a post they click on that "DELETE key!!! Well who moderates the moderators???

YOU WILL GET NO FREDOM OF SPEACH HERE... so don't expect it.

As far as Jupitermedia getting sued… I would think they have some fancy 30-page doc that lists them exempt from being responsible for what is posted here.


I dunno…. After all I am just a lowly subject also.

THE MICK

Hi, I had a thread closed here some time ago. I PM.. ed the mod and explained what I was on about, this resulted in the offer to reopen the thread. My point is that if you have a legitimate thread then I believe your case will be favorable considered.You guy's know what some other forums are like we are here because this one is legit .

Wow The Mick, your post makes me want light a joint and crank up the Buffalo Springfield

Pass that thing over here you bogart!

And to think I spelled speach that way! Hummm?

Really I was using BitTorrent for medicinal reasons!

THE MICK

Oh now you've done The Mick. You mentioned peanuts! Don't you know that there must be someone who has a terrible allergy and the mere thought of a peanut copuld be life threatening? How insensitve of you ;)

Quote:

---

Is is possible for the moderators to stand back for five seconds and look at posts before just closing them for being questions about something that is "illegal."

---

Backseat Moderation! :D

Actually this is a VERY professional site, and unlike other sites that I am a member of (oldos.org) this site has people willing to help with questions. and If your looking for Illegals you go to the legal site I gave and ask about warez, you'll probably get a warnning, but what does it hurt to ask?

We can Talk about WinMX on Vr. Dr and the topic dosn't get locked(unless some bonehead ask somthing stupid)

I myself even accedently posted a Illegal link on Vr. Dr., you know what, it got by everyone! and the topic is still open, and I AM VERY PROUD OF IT. :D

and If I want to download RedHat 9 Iso's off of Kazza, I can do that all day long LEGALLY. There are soo many forums out there, if you don't like Vr. Dr, then leave. There IS NO other site like it.

The thing is this....those of us who have been honored with a position of MODERATOR or ADMIN of this forum have been around here for years...and we know where those kinds of threads lead and what they lead to discussing....we have all seen way too many. We do reserve the right to edit, delete or lock any thread we see fit in our respective forums....but....KNOW THIS....we are not just machines that are here to edit or delete.....we also volunteer COUNTLESS hours to answering questions and researching answers that we may know know off the top of our heads....and collecting links and information to do just those 2 things alone.....that said...if we choose to lock a a thread BEFORE it gets out of hand....it is our prerogative.....and like it has been said...if you do not agree with JupiterMedias rules or Virtual Drs AUP then.....you are free to try to find a site that compares.......guarantee you.....you will not find one anywhere that has the amount of knowledge that is here.

Talking about me being rude!!! Look what DELTREE replied to a kid wanting help for a school project...

Channy, Go to GOOGLE and do a search. Do your own homework!

WOW!!! now I would say that is rude! I wonder if he got a private message like I did???

THE MICK

Quoted from THE MICK

OH MY!!! I guess if a moderator finds peanuts offensive and see it in a post they click on that "DELETE key!!! Well who moderates the moderators???







BIG JOHN Moderates us Moderators....and we do not complain....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by THE MICK
Talking about me being rude!!! Look what DELTREE replied to a kid wanting help for a school project...

Channy, Go to GOOGLE and do a search. Do your own homework!

WOW!!! now I would say that is rude! I wonder if he got a private message like I did???

THE MICK

---

That is a standard answer here.....we will help with tech support issues....but we do NOT help with school work....

Think of this like a Talkshow, thinking about the Rush Limbaugh Talk show.

Notice how the callers somtimes get accused of being "Siminar callers" you know working for the DNC!

if you start talking and don't listen to rush, you go Off-the-air and listen to rush, same way here, this is a DICTATORSHIP, so you don't like it, start your OWN forum.

:D

and notice Rush dosn't talk about his legal case about the pain killers, are you going to call Rushbo and tell him his program isn't fair.

POINT IS: It's Big Johns Site, they can do whatever they DAM want to, they don't need to "poll" the users just to ban somone.

Quote:

---

Really I was using BitTorrent for medicinal reasons!

---

Smoking weed is ALWAYS medicinal!:D

For this to be like a Talk Show there would need to be someone as a focal point. Not only do you look to this person to provide an entertainment value but to direct things towards a given theme. This is more of community where you look to the moderators to maintain rules and settle disputes. All that has been asked for was a clarifacation of those rules one in particular. A clarification that spells out exactly what the rule is and how it pertains to a particular subject. Not too much to ask for.

I would like to add a comment. I can understand both sides, but I don't neccesarily side with either. I don't use kazaa, although I admit to having used it in the past.

If Mods will automatically delete a thread that has the words Kazaa or BitTorrent in it, without checking the contents, you are giving legitimacy to the RIAA and the policy of shoot first ask later. A US court has given legitimacy to programs like Kazaa, by saying that Kazaa cannot be responsible for what users do with the program, just like they cannot be responsible what a person does with a photocopying machine and a copyrighted book. In this way, the individual has gotten the right to use Kazaa within the boundaries of the law.

On the other hand, I can understand the concern of the Mods and BJ. JupiterMedia would not like to be found liable of breaking the law, and it is a legitimate concern. I, and I am sure that many others, would be happy to see a clause in the AUP prohibiting people to talk about file sharing unless the thread would be about removing viruses or adware as previously mentioned.

Usil