Am I responsible for the "culture" of MormonDiscussions.com?

[_harmony]

IS DR. SHADES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE "CULTURE" OF MORMONDISCUSSIONS.COM?

Of course not. The community is responsible for the culture here, the same as the Mormon community is responsible for Mormon culture, Americans are responsible for American culture, etc.

Just because some lame individuals on an obscure board don't like the culture here doesn't mean the culture here is a toxic environment. Could our culture be improved? Yes, definitely. There is little perfection in the world and this place doesn't qualify. By whom? Everyone, not just Shades. Will it be? Only if we want it to. Could the toxic environment on that obscure board be improved? Of a surety. By whom? Top down! Will it be? Highly unlikely...one must first acknowledge one's shortcomings in order to improve. That acknowledgement is highly unlikely with such unrighteous arrogance.

Freedom is a heady thing, especially to those who live in a tightly bound culture. With freedom comes responsibility. Some of us here fall down fairly regularly on the responsibility part. Some of us do a pretty good job of it, though, and deserve to be shown as the cream of the crop that they are.

The only way to successfully improve the culture here (or anywhere) is for those who care about the community to encourage positive change, peer to peer. Improvement does not come via the hammer or the ban button.

[_Infymus]

Legally responsible for the content posted on the site? Yes. Unfortunately Shades, yes. You own the board. You pay a company to host your site. If there are any legal issues, the host contacts you, not the people who post here.

Responsible for the culture? No, that is up to the people that register and post here. That is what makes a "board" a "board". Every board out there has its own culture. The EMF has a culture of recovery and shielding Ex-Mormons from apologists and critics of the critics. I have stricter moderation rules and I don't allow the level of freedom that you do.

The culture is and always will be what the members of the board make it. And it will ebb and flow as time goes on. Your board is seriously unique. I have been running boards since 1982 - in both BBS and Internet form. I've never seen anything like this place. And you're right. You bring in both the best and worst. The posting members here just have to deal with it. Either ignore or call them out.

There are still two aspects here. Copyrighted material and so-called defamation of character. Joseph and SWG don't like it when users post copyrighted material and they squeal. Nemesis doesn't like it when people call him a "doo-doo" head and wants more than anything to have it stopped. There is a fine line there with defamation of character and Nemesis and Timothy don't have a case. The Meme thing is nothing more than elementary school humor. While some of the images may be considered copyright - as long as they don't go into pornography then Juliann can STFU. History has a long drawn out regiment of political and comical pictures of just about everyone. That isn't going to change. Your moderators can simply ask to have it toned down OR have it moved to off topic.

Keep the board the way it is. If Nemesis, Juliann, SWG or any other reader don't like what is over here, it is simple - don't come over here.

The rest of the board needs to stop fanning the flames of this so-called board war and let that fire die. Get back to debating Mormonism again and stop with the insane amount of immaturity already.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

I AM VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO THE SEXUALLY-CHARGED "JULIANN MEMES" THAT WERE POSTED ON THE AFOREMENTIONED WEBSITE. I THINK THEY ARE IN EXTREMELY POOR TASTE AND I CONDEMN THEM IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS. WHOEVER CREATED THEM, I REQUEST THAT YOU STOP DOING SO AND DELETE THEM IF POSSIBLE.

As am I, and, I venture to say, nearly all of the folks here.

Therefore, as much for the benefit of the MD&D moderators as well as my own, please tell me:

IS DR. SHADES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE "CULTURE" OF MORMONDISCUSSIONS.COM?

For the culture of "meanness" (exhibited by the meme thing), no, you are not responsible. For the culture of free thought, free speech, divergent opinions, and open debate and dialogue, yes, you are responsible and are to be highly commended. In any open forum with free speech, you get the bad with the good. That is what makes this place so special.

Carry on the good work, doc!

[_rich kelsey]

Dr. Shades,

For me, Mormon Discussions is a very unique and special place. I wanted to find a board where I could have some dialog with Mormons active in the Church, as well as former members. I found it in this board.

I tried joining two other boards, the first one never approved my request; also, my PMs asking “why” went unanswered. The second one I did join only to get blasted off that board in short order. Ex-Mormon Forums is another story. I am very happy there. Yet, I wanted to venture out to see what is going on in the other forums.

What I see here is a board that does indeed have a lot of personal attacks. Most of which I think are done somewhat playfully, with no real malice involved. The ones that are serious are allowed because of the open format. I believe this is the issue. Should the rules be changed?

“Why me” gave some excellent suggestions, but are they practical, or even possible to enforce? They may change the board dynamics and then Mormon Discussions could become just another one of those boards.

I do not hold you “responsible for the culture” especially considering that you are/were trying something new here! I would like to see more TBMs posting though, is there a way to make the board more appealing to that crowd? The very fact that you’re asking for feedback on this matter is telling me that you care.

P.S., I am looking forward to the writer’s group which may be forming. That would be a good place for me to grow up as an aspiring author. Maybe I could get something published someday on the Internets?

[_harmony]

I would like to see more TBMs posting though, is there a way to make the board more appealing to that crowd?

The board is always open to new posters. Like the sun, the rules here shine on everyone, member or not. Any TBM is welcome to register and post their thoughts on any subject. Heck, we have Pahoran, Droopy, BCSpace... even Will and Ghost are welcome here. We don't offer special protection to anyone; nobody stands as a shield and anyone who thinks they need a shield might be more at home in Celestial. Sometimes this forum is a powderkeg, sometimes it's pretty mild.

[_stemelbow]

You are responsible for what you contribute, or add to the culture, but in a word you are not wholly responsible for the culture here.

[_Yahoo Bot]

IS DR. SHADES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE "CULTURE" OF MORMONDISCUSSIONS.COM?

Was Judas Iscariot responsible for what the Jews did with his betrayal? He obviously did not intend the consequences.

The answer is: Yes.

You've enabled a culture and collection of misfits, losers, blasphemers and profaners, and some criminals. At least one of your mods piles on frequently, making your board liable for some of the goings-ons.

You permit and endorse unrestrained personal attacks on TBMs. You may say that you are neutral; I'd say that a mod and a half are not.

That said, I whole-heartedly endorse Ms. Jack's expose of Mr. Will Shyrver, and that fellow ought to have no place in decent Christian society. But that's just my opinion.

[_Ren]

You've enabled a culture and collection of misfits, losers, blasphemers and profaners, and some criminals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGiYEWRzTik

[_Chap]

Was Judas Iscariot responsible for what the Jews did with his betrayal? He obviously did not intend the consequences.

The answer is: Yes.

Sorry - how is permitting free speech the moral equivalent of denouncing a friend to the police force of a country who you know will execute him for simply being an inconvenience to the powerful and rich?

You've enabled a culture and collection of misfits, losers, blasphemers and profaners, and some criminals.

Welcome to the board. Which category do you claim to belong to? Do you blame the founding fathers for every bit of abusive stupidity that is spoken in public or printed in the US? And of course no-one has to come here.

That said, I whole-heartedly endorse Ms. Jack's expose of Mr. Will Shyrver, and that fellow ought to have no place in decent Christian society. But that's just my opinion.

I am not sure what you think should happen to him. The decision of the Maxwell Institute not to publish his work was within their rights as a private body, but are you planning to stone him, exile him to Tierra del Fuego, or what? Fortunately, the US is not yet officially a 'decent Christian society', so Schrver's civil rights remain what they were.

[_Buffalo]

As I just said: personal attacks such as just happened with Juliann should not be permited. Likewise when children engage in internet bullying against someone they don't like. It can be harmful. Adults shuld know better and be an example for the younger generation.

How is Shades supposed to control what people post on memegenerator.com?