Hangar Chat - What Topics Are Not Allowed?

[dave2013 1,129]

Hi.  On several occasions, forum moderators have shut down discussions of climate and weather in the Hangar Chat forum.

While I think we all understand that religion and politics are sensitive subjects that are best avoided, must we add climate to that list as well?  What about alternative energy?  Although AVSIM is focused on flight simulation and aviation, there have been for years discussions of other science and engineering topics.

Would the forum moderators, and/or whoever is ultimately in charge here at AVSIM, please provide a list of which subjects are banned? 

Thank you.

Dave

 

[Biggles2010 343]

I have always felt that when any discussion is shut down, it deserves at least a word or two of explanation, as a courtesy to forum members. This often does not happen, and there does seem to be some inconsistency in what different mods find unacceptable and how they deal with it. Commenting about moderation is itself a sensitive area so this topic may not go very far.

[Reader 2,021]

I am given to understand that comments about the posts that a moderator may make are subject to a ban, even when they have nothing to do with forum moderation. I think we must accept that the moderators will allow only what they decide is permissible and that, as mentioned already, appears to vary from moderator to moderator. Fortunately, these are only flight simulation based forums and not of any real substance in the greater scheme of things and I think we should leave the control of them in the hands of those who are prepared to exercise it. If we do not like or agree with what is posted or done in the name of forum moderation, we are all free to move on.

[charliearon 3,023]

Religion, Sex, and Politics are the "major" no no's!  Since we had a 100+page discussion of the pandemic, That is now subject to closure.  ANY topic that becomes an argument between members will be considered for locking.

Under normal circumstances,  I will give a brief reason for the lock. 😃

Hope this was a fair explanation!

[HighBypass 2,339]

EULA discussion and Piracy advocation are two others which I'm aware of.

Different forums other than AVSIM have different rules. We all have different opinions and like to express them now and again. The volunteer mods can consult the board as well as just acting alone within AVSIM's rules. If we wish those rules to be changed, then I wouldn't know how to go about that, short of asking if a review can be made.

However, there are usually warnings given out, and Hangar Chat can venture down the rabbit holes, at least a little bit.

[Chock 17,769]

Climate, as opposed to weather, is one of those subjects which can easily get political, since it often leads to people talking about national policies on environmental damage, energy policies etc, and these can often be very different between opposing political parties. In fact that exact scenario occurred this week in the US, when various politicos - from all sides - were trying to score points against one another over the difficulties in Texas as a result of the snow, turning it into a political football.

On the other hand, if you are discussing climate and weather in relation to aviation, it'll usually stay on topic, unless someone deliberately decides to launch in the direction of the environmental effects of aviation, since from there is the potential for things to get political. Thus I doubt anyone is going to say you can't discuss weather or climate, so long as that is what you genuinely are discussing, because it's probably true that most other subjects could get political if people are inclined to make them so with a bit of diversionary comment. So the guidelines in this regard are essentially to 'stay on target'.

As such, everyone knows the major forum topic guideline no go areas are, no politics, no religion and no overt sexual stuff. From there it's common sense all the way, and in spite of some possibly thinking this is censoring their views, it isn't; it's keeping a flight sim website and forum discussing its chosen topic, in the same way that if you went on some porn forum, you could feel free to discuss that stuff, but if you started insisting you should be able to have discussions about the recommended V1 speed for the Airbus A340 at MTOW on a dry runway, everyone would be wondering what on Earth you were doing there.

Edited February 19, 2021 by Chock

[dave2013 1,129]

2 hours ago, Chock said:

Climate, as opposed to weather, is one of those subjects which can easily get political, since it often leads to people talking about national policies on environmental damage, energy policies etc, and these can often be very different between opposing political parties.

Yes, and those posts that venture into the realm of politics can be edited or removed, instead of closing the entire discussion.

I myself have been warned about my political comments and have ceased making any.

I just think that a discussion and debate about climate change/global warming and alternative energy are legitimate topics that should be allowed to run their course, provided that contributors don't inject politics, religion, or personal attacks.  I don't know if there is a limit to the number of pages allocated for a topic, but if there is, fine. 

Dave

[Chock 17,769]

25 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

I just think that a discussion and debate about climate change/global warming and alternative energy are legitimate topics that should be allowed to run their course, provided that contributors don't inject politics, religion, or personal attacks.

Nuts! what with those areas off limits, now I can't discuss which Ganesh would think was more sexy or politically correct: A wind turbine or a coal-fired power station? 🤣

Edited February 19, 2021 by Chock

[Patco Lch 1,465]

I have wondered why the discussion of EULA's is so forbidden when that is a topic quite important to simmers, especially relating to a certain popular sim.  Is there a legal liability to discuss EULA's?

OOPs! Did I just discuss EULA's?😕 

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

14 minutes ago, PATCO LCH said:

OOPs! Did I just discuss EULA's?😕 

I think you answered your own question.. why not just leave it be..

[charliearon 3,023]

30 minutes ago, PATCO LCH said:

I have wondered why the discussion of EULA's is so forbidden when that is a topic quite important to simmers, especially relating to a certain popular sim.  Is there a legal liability to discuss EULA's?

OOPs! Did I just discuss EULA's?😕 

We don't want every lawyer-wannabe's crawling out of the woodwork spouting their nonsense and causing arguments.

In the TOS last paragraph:

» Piracy, Key Sharing, Link Sharing, EULA Busting, etc.: Any message, post or topic heading that appears to advocate or perpetuates piracy, shares cracked software, links to or other like material, advocates avoidance of or contravening of End User License Agreements (EULAs) or can be interpreted as approval of piracy or EULA "busting", will be immediately removed and the poster banned. Piracy of software destroys the basis of our hobby and AVSIM enforces anti-piracy policies strictly. If you are a pirate, advocate piracy, or use pirated material, do not register. We place EULA busting in the same category.

The discussions of EULA will more than likely lead to EULA busting!

[Ray Proudfoot 8,945]

I was subject to a week's ban many years ago long before I became a moderator. My 'crime'? I asked the whereabouts of a regular member who, unknown to me, had been banned. I pleaded innocence but it fell on deaf ears. I served my ban and have been a good lad ever since.

Remember moderators are just the policemen, not the rule makers. We use our judgement as best we can and I would never lock a topic without giving a reason. I also give gentle public warnings if someone steps out of line rather than just go for the formal warning. That depends on the post of course.

None of us are perfect and we will occasionally make errors of judement. Isn't that just how life works for all of us though?

[IanHarrison 522]

On 2/19/2021 at 7:48 PM, Chock said:

same way that if you went on some porn forum, you could feel free to discuss that stuff, but if you started insisting you should be able to have discussions about the recommended V1 speed for the Airbus A340 at MTOW on a dry runway, everyone would be wondering what on Earth you were doing there.

Is that from personal experience, Alan?😄

[HighBypass 2,339]

I'm now tempted to venture to the orange youtube and pose such questions