Why are people just so open about illegality on this board?

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But I am a parent myself so that is why I take this seriously. Sure, it is up to parents to keep an eye on what their kids look at, but they can't be everywhere all the time.

You can say all you like that you're not making personal attacks on me but you and I know it's bunk.

The case I was talking about was NOT about a young man going to a prostitute and getting arrested. It was someone who was speaking about having troubling thoughts and who got some bad advice on this site (NOT from Alex I might add - he did all he could to help the man). Had some of these comments been deleted earlier, the situation might not have led to three people dying at the hand of this young man.

I'm not suggesting that all adult comments are wrong. I like some rude jokes and all that but there is a big difference between that and people posting really perverted and offensive stuff and then expecting it won't be challenged.

I really wish you would take my words on face-value Pandora.
I know it's NOT bunk!
What reason would I have to attack you personally?
I state my beliefs but I do not pose them as fact.
When I say that you appear to have an agenda of cleaning up WP, and other such things, I try to make it clear that this is how I am perceiving your words and actions. That's all.
Anyway, I just don't think I'm going to get this across to you.
I am sorry you cannot accept the truth I am telling you... I have no reason and no intention of attacking you personally.
I will respond to your posts with my own thoughts though.
I will try to keep a civil tongue.
If I err, and realize it, I will come back and apologize.
I believe I have demonstrated this several other times here on WP.


I understood what you were talking about, I just have not heard the story of the murders/suicide.
I do see that as a completely different situation compared to someone seeing a prostitute.
I have gone on record here before stating that I also feel there are some topics and individual posts that are inappropriate and even illegal and should not be allowed here.
I am not for a 'Wide Open Door' policy on discussing or sharing anything and everything in life, here on WP.


Being challenged is not the problem.
Calling for an outright ban on some of the subjects you have taken offense to is something I have taken issue with.
But I have never and will never tell you not to post your feelings here.

I still stand by my feelings that this is a place where Aspies and Adders can come to express themselves and ask questions about things that might be more comfortably done in the company of people who understand our personalities.
If we shove some of these topics out and tell people they can only discuss them on 'other' websites, it's quite possible that Aspies and Adders will NOT go to those other websites because of the reception they get there or the content at those places.
Many of the topics in the Adult forum seem to me to be genuinely interesting topics and the people asking questions there seem to desire healthy answers to these questions.

I have seen topics that I thought would just be a bunch of guys cursing and denegrating other people... like women... turn into some very good discussions.
This is an example of what I call Learning and Growing!
I have sometimes seen the original posters turn their comments/beliefs around after some serious and informative debate about a topic.
Herein lies the value of public discourse.
From my personal experience, I know that squelching questions about sexuality, gender, drugs, alcohol, etc., leads to more harm than good.

Once more, I agree that certain topics should not be present here when introduced in certain ways. I reacted to a post recently by a member concerning 'young girls' which I felt was an inappropriate comment about pedophilia.
Alex reacted to this member's comment and took action.
Presented in a different manner, pedophilia can be a topic that could see serious and appropriate discussion, perhaps even to the enlightenment of young people here.

The discussion about visiting an Escort turned out to be quite revealing and educational in what I saw as a positive manner.

I believe that Alex and the moderators do a very good job watching over this place.
I believe the membership does too.
Yes, we have had some moments when things seemed to get a little out of hand, but I see no real problems with how this place is operated.

Well, I'm all over the place now... or so it feels anyway...

Please continue to reply to my posts as you see fit Pandora... I do welcome your view as well as anyone else's.

I do sincerely hope that some day you will stop taking my replies so personally... I do not mean them so.

Perhaps I am just a tad paranoid at times.

The sad thing is that both wsmac and pandora have good points but seem to be getting so personal that you're missing the good in each others posts.

I don't think that anyone would doubt that WP has a reputation to protect and needs to protect itself from legal issues as best it can.

Similarly, it's quite obvious that even the worst of topics can develop into useful discussions. A good example being a recent trolling exercise about asking offensive questions. I was a little miffed at the original poster but not because of the subject matter (as wsmac originally thought - and jumped on me for) - it's because I hate trolls.

The discussion eventually turned around into something that I'm glad was covered - and in that sense, I had to eat my words. The troll however unwittingly, actually did us a service.

The real concerns here seem to be centered around accessibility of topics to children and the limits on what should be discussed. There's obviously no point in arguing back and forward since nobody will agree on total freedom or a total ban.

Pandora has made a brilliant first move (IMHO) by suggesting that the forum be moved. This is achievable and could help to prevent accidental browsing - nothing will stop a determined youngster from accessing whatever they want - and there are more suitable/juicy sites out there than WP. Plans are underway to see what can be done to implement Pandora's suggestion.

I'd welcome any other suggestions for things that actually can be done.

That leaves the topics that are suitable... I don't know how this can be resolved. I can see a degree of legal protection is required but don't have the experience to know what exactly is needed. We also don't want to restrict freedom of speech - subject to applicable laws - eg: I don't think you can talk terrorism in Australia (?).

So, what exactly are we trying to prevent / protect against - and who are we trying to protect - since the only kiddies in the forum will be ones who deliberately ignored warnings and went in there.

Why would I PM you about a subject that should be discussed publicly?

I did not say is discussed it with you. I said "I supported you at that time". You originally raised the subject here:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp1033184.html#1033184
A few hours later, I did exactly what I said I did. Thereafter, you shied away from doing anything further about the issue.

It has just taken me about an hour, finding the above, as you made me wonder if MY memory was at fault. I knew it was a while ago (actually over a month ago), but you have just posted on that three-page thread - which is why I had trouble finding it - I foolishly was assuming it had drifted down the page.

At that time, you were accusing Alex of not liking you.

At least gbollard has now done the sensible thing - opening a thread to discuss the subject. Something that you could have done a month ago.

Good point! Thanks


You're right GBollard.


This is good and I'm glad to hear of it.

I do have to ask you though.... what are you 'wearing' in your avatar?
Looks like something from StarWars or a similar SciFi movie.
I do a double take everytime I see it!



Well, I am sorry if I have said things that bring it on.
I'm hoping we work out our differences here Pandora

Lau, I just think it would have been good manners to have PMed me as well as talked about things publicly. Unfortunately my short term memory is not the best so I forgot that you were supportive before. My apologies for that.

I didn't think Alex liked me and instead of saying it's rubbish and making out it's my fault, I needed more reassurance.

Wsmac, it would take a fair bit of convincing because I don't trust easily. I'm not saying it can't be done but it would be difficult as people who don't trust usually have plenty of reason to have become that way in the first place so you need to be able to cut through years of conditioning and it's far from easy. If I could do it myself, I would be a happy person.

Thanks for letting me know Pandora.

Yes, counselling never did the trick and in fact, bad experiences with counsellors made me more distrustful still. If it helps, I am a bit like a feral cat that hisses and runs when people get near but is not a complete write-off.

Ooh Ooh! I get this! Seriously!
My avatar is of three little kittens a feral mommy cat had in my backyard this year.
I caught all of them (the mom and babies), got the mom fixed along with a health check-up and released her back into the world she knows.
The kittens were adopted by three different families with whom I have some contact and can get updates from.

Yes! I feel that way about the Mommy cat!
I feel that way about people too.... I hate to 'write off' people just because they think and act differently from me.
I try to compose my writing on the internet very carefully, but there are times when I either 'misspeak' or folks just don't get what I'm trying to say.
I definitely can get overly excited about an issue and launch into what some folks might describe as a diatribe.

I try to recognize when I've done something I need to back off of or apologize about.

I'm glad you're still 'talking' to me Pandora!

That's okay. I do identify a lot with cats.

I was horribly confused while reading the whole front page, because I kept thinking 'Since when's prostitution of adults illegal??' Until someone mentioned the US. I didn't know it was illegal in the US, where I live this is actually recognised as a real job and has been for a few years now. I remember seeing about it in the news.
Anyway, it's confusing when people assume that everybody knows about the laws in the US. Pupils where I live aren't even allowed to speak American English in class, only Oxford British unless they have a valid reason to do otherwise.

I heard a very funny quote of a TV Programme which might have some relevance (Adapted of course though).

"Opinions are like a***holes. Everyone has one, and they all stink."

Some opinions like some bums stink worse than others.