MS Update - Week Ending 04 Feb 2004

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<p align=center><font face="monotype corsiva" size="6">Ye Olde Mod Squad Update</b></font></p>

<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://www.tnfj.com/Images/Smilies/deal.gif> Social Group Signatures</font></p><font size=2>Discussion continues in the Mod Squad with regards to a user?s signature containing references to their belonging to a social group on the boards. This includes, but is not limited to, the EUDF, Dark Lords, and various other groups. For the most part, we can?t moderate what?s in a signature so long as it?s within the realm of the TOS. But as with everything, however, it generally will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. For instance, if the signature is used to troll, then we can react. If the signature is too big, we can react. But for the most part, we?re going to be hands-off even if their association with the social group is false.</font>


<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://cache.eonline.com/Features/Images/ths_logo.gif> The EUC! True Hollywood Story</font>

<font size=2>A thread was created in the EUC Forum wherein regular members were given a series of questions and given the opportunity to respond in kind via PM to me. I?ve received a great number of PM?s and I appreciate all the comments and I?ve logged them all. For now, you may stop sending me the PM?s as we are in active discussion in the Mod Squad determining a path forward. Thanks.</font>


<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://www.fingertek.com/images/email_feather.gif> Fan Fiction Discussion</font></p><font size=2>It?s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. The Fan Fic mods are discussing a fun Valentine?s Day game for their forum. Keep an eye out for the love, hugs, kisses, and fun.</font>


<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://messenger.msn.com/Resource/emoticons/51_51.gif> The Password is??</font> </p><font size=2>Mace Windy has come up with a neat idea for a Word of the Day game that sounds like a good time. He promises that this will be even windier than something that was even windier the last time he said it was the windiest.</font>


<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/violent/sterb029.gif> The Infamous Ep 3 Leaked Footage</font> </p><font size=2>Wow, what a week. A marketing video presented by LFL made its rounds all over the net. Of course, this is bootleg material. In the spoilers forum, we?ve dealt with things like this numerous times over the years. For some, this might be a new experience so we?re going to remind you of the rules. I?m going to go with the last post by dehrian when he said, ?Basically, trading links in PMs is okay, but posting links publicly is not. LFL doesn't seem to have a problem with us allowing people to trade links via PM; they ask only that we keep it off the boards.? Publically telling people that the footage is available by visiting [insert name of site / links here] is not allowed. If you?re still unclear, please feel free to PM any spoiler mod who will be more than happy to help.</font>


<p align=center><font size=3><img src=http://www.tag-board.com/smilies/frog.gif> Now you see them , now you don?t.</font> </p><font size=2>They let Errant_Venture out for a few days. He?ll be in the Big Apple for the first time. As Captain Panaka said, ?He?s curious about the planet.? He?ll be away from Febuary 11th-14th. Stinrab has returned from a brief jaunt into the great unknown. And now he?s back to let us know he can really shake em? down. Kit' will b

 

Gee, Sape, where's the yellow? I was expecting your update to have something to do with your colors...

I'm still waiting for the promotion to Language Admin, as well as posting the pics of the frilly pink tutu.

 

I was going to scroll a really big 'Hear Ye...Hear Ye...' but decided to let everyone simply enjoy the yellow and black background in all its glory.

 

The Infamous Ep 3 Leaked Footage

Normally I think most of your decisions are wise Sape, but this one was used inappropriately.

When User X referred a noob to look at his sig and try visiting that sight because the footage could be somewhere at said sight, that's a little cheeky to boot some one for.
I can see someone getting in trouble for direct linking, but to say "Try episode X they have it around somewhere, there main page is in my sig" for instance is a bit strict.
Just MO.

 

I am wise. Let's not stray from that.

The line is referencing it directly or indirectly in the public domain. We did it the same way all throughout the 2SA phase.

 

I realize that Sape, but it's a little ridiculous to tell people they can't say, "Try fan site X or Y,"
This comes off like your trying to make sure people don't publicly know other sites are hosting something TFN isn't so TFN doesn't lose web traffic.
The idea that people can exchange "hot" material via PM and that's not only encouraged but even has an official thread furthers this paradoxical logic.

 

As much as we enjoy the footage, it is stolen intellectual property whose distribution is a major risk for this site.

 

This si the greatest update ever for one reason.

The humping smiley.

 

I can't believe it took that long to get some props for the humping smiley.

 

"Captain Panaka said, ?He?s curious about the planet.? "

No, he didn;t you damn liar! He said "she's".

Although you redeemed yourself regarding User X. Your course of action was perfect.

 

I can use HTML?

<center><img src="http://home.iprimus.com.au/m_wood/respond.jpg"></center>

 

I don't know if you can, but you have the admin links to be able to.

 

pssst - sape - i posted that with HTML

 

>Valentine?s Day

We discussed plans for the board with regards to this pink and white day. Expect lots of obnoxious colors and such. It?s all in good fun and temporary.<

I am FOR this, but Please make it light, not like Darth Dagsy's color.


>Private Message Changes

Zerosleep is working out the bugs for the PM system and hopes to have it up and running soon.<

Can you guys please add a Delete PM function?


And, MaidenLumpé, Congrats to you for promoted a Manager



p.s: >The Infamous Ep 3 Leaked Footage<

Does any of you know what's the Official Reaction of Lucasfilms over this?

 

> Can you guys please add a Delete PM function?

OK then, sure!

 

"Does any of you know what's the Official Reaction of Lucasfilms over this? "

George told me he was a little upset the 20 minute Howard The Duck Cameo had leaked.

UKS

 

There goes that little secret.

 

Zerosleep is working out the bugs for the PM system and hopes to have it up and running soon.

Does 'soon' mean a few more days, or the usual extra cosmic year we usually have to wait to get these things?

 

Quite possibly somewhere in between.

 

I'll give zerosleep five bucks via PayPal to double his efforts.

 

Re: "Social Group Signatures"

I'll repost this from the other thread:

Let's take a look at the whole situation. There are currently four users with information in their signatures that would be deemed as false by anyone within the groups that have fallen victim to these members. According to KnightWriter, user groups are not protected by the Terms of Service, whether the actions toward these groups are against the Terms of Service or not, apparently.

Let us all take a look at the Terms of Service for just a moment. Under the section labled "Rules of Conduct," the following sentance appears (emphasis mine):

---

User agrees not to post material that is [b]knowingly false and/or defamatory, misleading, inaccurate[/b], abusive, vulgar, [b]hateful, harassing[/b], obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, that otherwise violates any law, or that encourages conduct constituting a criminal offense.[hr][/blockquote]

These users know that the information they have in their signatures is indeed false. It is also quite defamatory of groups, as users [i]do[/i] have a reputation, and when that reputation consists of actions that are distinctly against the standards, regulations, and beliefs of a certain group, it can defame the name of the group. While quite obviously the members of a group know who is in their group and who is not, those looking from the outside may [i]not[/i] necessarily know, and therefore the name of the group can be defamed.

And yes, entire group names are defamed greatly in such situations. For example, in the Expanded Universe Defense Force, if one member is overzealous, the entire group is grossly generalized into being Expanded Universe worshipping completists who wish nothing more than to shove the Expanded Universe down the throats of any purist in sight. This, of course, is completely false, but the accusations have been thrown out left and right toward us numerous times; I have seen it myself and have had to defend not only the Expanded Universe but the Expanded Universe Defense Force from various members in my time of service with the group.

Or, for example, I am in the Dark Lords of the JC as well. Actions by a certain member in the Blue Yoda Society thread got that member a ban from the boards the other day; however, such actions are against our beliefs, and therefore someone who does not know that said member is in our group would not know any better but to believe that was in the signature was true, and therefore would have a lesser opinion of our group for allowing such members who have a history of similar behavior into a group that is strictly against such behavior.

Obviously, such information is misleading. And it is posted within a signature, something that is attached to [i]every post[/i] that you make, not just one or two. It is for this reason that spoilers are not allowed in signatures: the signature follows you around, and if you make a post outside the spoiler forum, someone could get spoiled. In this case, it is not something quite that important to the whole of the boards, though it is something that is important to those groups are vitcim to such false claims. Such information is misleading because of the fact that is leads others to believe something that is not true, and which those posting it know is not true, which has brought the first few points in a circle already.

Inaccurate of course goes on the list as well, as inaccurate is literally the opposite of accurate; it is not true. Such statemens that said members make are inaccurate no matter what your interpretation of the situation.

Many of those involved in the groups that have made it into the signatures of the imposters also feel that there are hateful intentions involved with such actions. The members who have such information in their signatures are some of the same ones who argued strongly against social groups in the recent debates on whether or not the Your Jedi Council Community should be "group and game free." If such

 

[image=http://www.ifyougolf.com/graphics/ifyougolf/playingaround/250pximages/streaker.jpg]

 

I also think (Agreed with DarthBane420) when a user say Vaguely "The link is at Episode-X or superherohype", it is ok, shouldn't be a problem. Can't believe even this isn't allowed though, it's not like it's a Direct link.

 

Publicly stating where you can get the footaqge is not allowed. Is it that hard to understand? Personally, I think if people cannot use their signature area responibly, the privelege should be taken away.

 

>Publicly stating where you can get the footaqge is not allowed. Is it that hard to understand?<

No. I can Understand where a DIRECT LINK maybe a problem, but 'A site name' is also a problem???