New Offense Structure - Political Content

[Abel]

Unfortunately over the past few days we have had a major outbreak of Political based threads and comments posted here on the forum. Political discussions serve nobody any good whatsoever. Politics is one arena that has people on both ends of the spectrum that feel very strongly about their particular views and no matter what people from the other "side" say they will never change their views. So in the end, all we end up with is an argument that is comprised of people who feel their way is the only way and no head way is made whatsoever.

In the past we didn't have a rule pertaining to political/religious discussions but after the moderators and myself found that 95% of the forums problems stemmed from these types of discussions we decided to set a rule in place which prohibits these topics from being discussed. These rules have been in place for about a year now.


Our Rules Located Here
1. Religious/Political discussions are NOT allowed.

4. Photojournalism is posted for discussion of the photography, the methods used to acquire images and media credentials, and techniques of coverage. They are NOT open for debate about the subject covered.


In the past we have issued warnings within threads in order to tell members to get back on track about the particular subject and not continue with their own personal political opinions/views. Almost always those warnings are ignored and people continue the political discussion which results in the thread being closed and deleted.

I have instructed our moderators to be more stern when it comes to posts and threads that contain political discussions and/or comments. Threads will be locked and/or deleted upon sight, no more posted warnings within the threads will be made since as I mentioned earlier, nobody ever paid attention to them as it was anyways.

Having our posted warnings blatantly ignored have led us to invoke a new method of enforcing our rules...


New Offense Structure

1st Offense: A formal warning will be sent via PM
Upon a members first offense, a PM will be sent to them informing them of the rule violation and they will also be informed of this Offense Structure.

2nd Offense: Account Suspension for 14 days
Upon a members second offense, the member will have their account suspended for 14 days. Any attempt to circumvent this suspension by creating extra accounts on the forum will directly lead into a Permanent Ban from the forum.

3rd Offense: Permanent Ban from the forum
Upon a members third offense, the member will be Permanently Banned from the forum and will never be welcomed back.



Eventually we will get members to adhere to our rules regarding this subject and/or we will have simply banned all those that have chose not to follow the rule. Either way the rule will be followed, it is now left up to the individual member to decide which route they take.

Thank you for your time...

[lhdvies]

GOOD-Thks-especially the PJ reference!

[brad]

Better watch this thread, then:

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=30722

One person's astronomy is another's politics.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by brad

Better watch this thread, then:

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=30722

One person's astronomy is another's politics.

narc.

[iCe]

Originally Posted by brad

Better watch this thread, then:

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=30722

One person's astronomy is another's politics.

Hey! Just because we were talking about Uranus doesn't make it poltical!

[Photo Mime]

. ... ... ...!

[Rick Waldroup]

Originally Posted by Photo Mime

. ... ... ...!

Now this is just too damn funny.

[markfh]

So does this mean that political content in the photograph, especially in the PJ forum, is forbidden also.

Remember, "a picture says a thousand words".

An offhand way to make a political statement, either way.

[Digital Prophet]

Originally Posted by Photo Mime

. ... ... ...!

Dude, best post ever! I love it!

Prophet out.

[Rick Waldroup]

Originally Posted by markfh

So does this mean that political content in the photograph, especially in the PJ forum, is forbidden also.

Remember, "a picture says a thousand words".

An offhand way to make a political statement, either way.

So, if I shoot a protest of one kind or another- regardless of what the protest may be about, I should not be able to post it? If that is the case, then get rid of the PJ forum, or better yet Mark, why don't I just let you take a look at it and tell me if it passes muster. I mean, we have to draw the line somewhere. More and more I am starting to like this Photo Mime guy

[iCe]

All Able is saying is no political discussions. It's not that hard. Granted, images can go both ways but in most cases it would be easy to tell if the poster is trying to make a statement or just post an image.

[LoungeLizard]

What is so damn hard to understand about this statement:

"4. Photojournalism is posted for discussion of the photography, the methods used to acquire images and media credentials, and techniques of coverage. They are NOT open for debate about the subject covered."

Post the freaking picture, but all discussion is limited to the above.

Lord, oh, Lord. When did this world lose it's common sense?

(Abel, feel free to ban me if you want.)

[Rick Waldroup]

Originally Posted by iCe

All Able is saying is no political discussions. It's not that hard. Granted, images can go both ways but in most cases it would be easy to tell if the poster is trying to make a statement or just post an image.

Michael, I got so much grief over posting photos of actual news events, protests, if you will, that I decided to stop posting them. Whenever I did post them, I never, ever once expressed a political opinion ABOUT anything. So see, sometimes, in some people's minds, they can't tell the difference. So what do we do then? Like I said, I finally stopped posting any photos at all in the PJ forum. So Jesus, if the rules are so easy to understand then try telling that to some of the other members on this forum.

[Abel]

Ok look guys... the rules are spelled out for you guys... it cant be any clearer than that.

if you can not understand/comprehend the rules we have set in place or simply choose not to follow them then maybe its best to just MOVE ON... there are plenty of other forums out there that will allow you to share your political views.... they are not welcomed here.... plain and simple.

i will no longer tolerate members straddling the line and testing the limits of our rules. If you feel up to testing them then sobeit... go right ahead...

Just a fair warning, I also reserve the right to skip the 2nd and 3rd offense punishments and simply hand down a permanent ban on the first go around if I feel so inclined...

So who wants to see if i'm bluffing...

[Michelle Allmon]

wow, i missed some major stuff, huh! abel, you are da bomb. if i ever cross the line, feel free to spank me.