Signatures and the TOS

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Here again I am now unclear to the role the Terms of Service and how it is enforced on this site. In the terms of service it states:

• Post Content intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against members of a protected group. For instance, racist or sexist content may be considered hate speech.

• Publish, Post, upload, distribute or disseminate or offer to do the same any inappropriate, defamatory, infringing, obscene, or unlawful material, information, or in general, Content.

When I've brought attention to particular signatures I have been told that no enforcement can occur despite a TOS violation. Instead I was directed to hide signatures. As per this direction from the moderating group I can only assume that ANYTHING can be placed within a signature as long as it does not directly reference a user of VJ or is pornographic in nature?

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Here again I am now unclear to the role the Terms of Service and how it is enforced on this site. In the terms of service it states:

• Post Content intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against members of a protected group. For instance, racist or sexist content may be considered hate speech.

• Publish, Post, upload, distribute or disseminate or offer to do the same any inappropriate, defamatory, infringing, obscene, or unlawful material, information, or in general, Content.

When I've brought attention to particular signatures I have been told that no enforcement can occur despite a TOS violation. Instead I was directed to hide signatures. As per this direction from the moderating group I can only assume that ANYTHING can be placed within a signature as long as it does not directly reference a user of VJ or is pornographic in nature?

You're on the internet dude. I see things in my e-mail daily that I would never normally look at. Why are you reporting ppls signatures anyways? I mean take for instance your avatar. Perhaps I find the image of a person sticking a gun to their head offensive or inappropriate. Before you report any signature or anything you should look at your profile.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Its not a gun but instead an evoker. http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Evoker

Anyway what I'm wondering is this. Is a signature an effective window through which a user can violate TOS without recourse?

Edited October 10, 2009 by lancer1655

[rebeccajo 14]

Members have been asked to remove signatures before. The particular instance that comes to mind was one which used a good deal of profanity. Another threatened another user.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So then its 3 things?

1. Reference to a user

2. Pornography

3. Profanity

Anything else?

[Jenn! 918]

Signatures are subject to the TOS just like anything else. Maybe there was some miscommunication. In all likelihood the reported signature was deemed not to be a TOS violation.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Its not a gun but instead an evoker. http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Evoker

Anyway what I'm wondering is this. Is a signature an effective window through which a user can violate TOS without recourse?

Ok, But to me it looks like a gun. Just making the point of a man holding of what looks like a gun and is shaped like a gun to his head can be found offensive. My point being, that offensive is relative. I have said a few things on VJ that I though was just being honest and opinionated and earned a 24 hour ban for this while I have reported others for making racist, or stereotypical comments about different cultures and had no reply from the mods at all.

And I would have to say "yes" if that is what the moderators told you. Although, I don't what would exclude the signature from the rest of the site and TOS.

E-mail Ewok, he would probably be the best person to help you.

Why are you so hellbent on the signatures? Was there something really that offensive to you?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I certainly get your point and I did actually have an objectionable title underneath at one time that I removed (of my own accord).

Yeah its just one signature in particular that has religious connotations and probably fits under an attack on a group of people. I was told that the decision had nothing to do with TOS its just that if that user were asked to remove it then they'd have to start looking at all of our signatures which is too much trouble.

I brought this up mainly because I'm unclear now. For instance during the Gaza crisis I wanted to add a photo of a casualty to bring attention to the conflict. However I think its somewhat objectionable and felt I'd get warned or banned if I posted it. Now I'm not so sure...i'm thinking I probably could add it.

Edited October 11, 2009 by lancer1655

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Actually, that is not quite correct, Lancer1655.

You were told that while you might have found the image in question personally offensive, you could hide it if it really bothered you. The image itself was not a violation of TOS, although I will agree that it was in questionable taste. It is easy for political and religious images to be perceived as offensive by those who have differing positions..

You were also told that your own avatar is of questionable taste and that many would find it offensive. You call it an 'evoker' - but semantics doesn't change the fact that it is a gun held to the image's head - a very potent image of potential violence - and actually appears more likely to violate TOS than the image you reported. At the very least it is in poor taste - just like the image to which you objected - and yet you seem to have no problems posting it and justifying its use. Just because something is in bad taste and you find it offensive does not necessarily mean it is a violation of TOS.

Edited October 11, 2009 by Kathryn41

[rebeccajo 14]

I certainly get your point and I did actually have an objectionable title underneath at one time that I removed (of my own accord).

Yeah its just one signature in particular that has religious connotations and probably fits under an attack on a group of people. I was told that it had nothing to do with TOS its just that if that user were asked to remove it then they'd have to start looking at all of our signatures which is too much trouble.

I brought this up mainly because I'm unclear now. For instance during the Gaza crisis I wanted to add a photo of a casualty to bring attention to the conflict. However I think its somewhat objectionable and felt I'd get warned or banned if I posted it. Now I'm not so sure...i'm thinking I probably could add it.

IMO the highlighted part of your post (the answer you were given) is sort of an odd answer. As far as I know, there's nobody patrolling Vj looking for particular problems. There are too few moderators for that to be happening. My understanding is most things aren't dealt with unless they are reported (including signatures).

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Actually TOS wasn't mentioned at all in the response to me and I'd certainly change my avatar if that would bring about the change of the signature.

Edited October 11, 2009 by lancer1655

[Chris_Жанна 11]

I certainly get your point and I did actually have an objectionable title underneath at one time that I removed (of my own accord).

Yeah its just one signature in particular that has religious connotations and probably fits under an attack on a group of people. I was told that the decision had nothing to do with TOS its just that if that user were asked to remove it then they'd have to start looking at all of our signatures which is too much trouble.

I brought this up mainly because I'm unclear now. For instance during the Gaza crisis I wanted to add a photo of a casualty to bring attention to the conflict. However I think its somewhat objectionable and felt I'd get warned or banned if I posted it. Now I'm not so sure...i'm thinking I probably could add it.

I think you can block the user if you want.

BTW I like your avatar.

Save the email the mods sent and put up what you please. If they try to say something just say "Well this is the e-mail you sent me when I made a complaint. Why are the rules different for me?".

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Thanks, that's probably the best advice.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

you wrote: "its just that if that user were asked to remove it then they'd have to start looking at all of our signatures which is too much trouble."

Actually, that is not what you were told at all. You were told that if the moderators removed everything that was offensive to someone then the VJ OT would have nothing left in it.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Doesn't that violate:

Post any information obtained or originally transmitted in confidence or with the implied belief that the message was to be kept in confidence without the express permission of the original author of the communication. Additionally any direct communication (with the exception of publicly viewable Posts on the discussion forums) between administrators or moderators and a member are strictly prohibited from being Posted to the discussion forums or retransmitted in any way. ???

How do you report a moderator lol?