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

Post Reply New Topic

I think you bring up a good point here. I'm going to branch off of it a bit.

Something we'd do well to keep in mind is that when we give people a platform from which to talk about certain topics, we're not just giving those people the ability to say what's on their minds, we're giving them the opportunity to release viral information and ideas into the minds of others. "Free speech" sounds great--who wants to be persecuted for uttering their thoughts? But sometimes I wonder if by valuing it too much, we turn a blind eye to ideas that really are harmful, in the name of tolerance, and we give those ideas a safe place to grow. Nobody wants to be saddled with the label of bigot or prude, so they don't speak up.

I was startled to see in one thread the other day that several posters essentially agreed that rape was a fun and legitimate thing to watch in pornographic material, and that it was silly to say it wasn't okay. No one else said a word to the contrary. Instances like this gives the impression of a solid majority believing a certain way and that does tend to silence people who have more moderate opinions.

Please note I'm not pushing for having things one way or the other at this point. But I want to encourage people to keep debating this subject. If anybody's uncomfortable talking here, because they don't want their views to be criticised publicly, feel free to PM me or any other mod.

I am not aware of the posts you mention above, although I did read the beginnings of one thread dealing with 'force being the only way to get a girl' or some similar wording.

The posts you mention about the rape conversation speak of someone's desire to hurt/abuse another person.
These are clearly wrong even when given in the context of it being legitimate to watch even through pornography.
Hopefully the actors in the pornography were not really being raped.
I do believe it is wrong to allow a thread that deals with illegal matters in such a way.

If someone were discussing how they were drawn to 'rape' scenarios in pornography and were trying to understand why it would have such an effect on them, I would have no trouble with the thread.
Hopefully they would understand that it is wrong to force people into such acts and if they find excitement with those ideas, perhaps discussing them here and getting mature, critical feedback would help them with the issue.

I have never advocated for unrestricted free speech here on the forum.
I do believe, and I have said so before, that there are topics that do not belong here because they are illegal and/or are attacks on people.

I disagree with this statement though.. "Instances like this gives the impression of a solid majority believing a certain way and that does tend to silence people who have more moderate opinions.".
While I am sure it does give that impression to some people, I also believe there are going to be plenty of folks who take it as just another example of the apathy of people.
The fact that no one argued against those posts may just mean that no one in opposition was aware of them, or was presently online to argue against them.
I'll have to read them to know better, but I have been in discussions with people who have said such things.
I had one last night at work about acting out violence in online gaming.
The person arguing in favor of it believes that acting out one's agressions online helps to diffuse those pent-up emotions, whereas someone who does not do this or have another safe outlet, may very well take those feeling out on real people.
The same argument may be what you are referring to about those posts... watching sexual assault or sex with children on video is a 'healthy' way to get those feelings out instead of doing them in real life.
The problem with that argument is that those people who believe this are not backing it up with fact.
I do believe they are just fooling themselves and not dealing with greater/deeper issues they have.
DISCLAIMER What I said above is NOT that I think such behavior is okay, or that Gwenevyn said so... read carefully, I only say that it is an argument some people put forth to validate their interest in viewing such matter!




Thank you.
I enjoy healthy debate. The internet is a difficult medium in which to do so because of the missing element of face-to-face interaction. The smilies help somewhat though!

I didn't notice that thread.

Often, If I think a thread contains things I won't want to know about or if I make a judgment about the conversation levels in a thread, I'll deliberately not make a comment because I don't want a new mail message every time someone posts there. I know I can turn them off but I'm not sure if I even want to make a mark in the thread.

Unlike a lot of people here, I'm being myself, so I need to be sensible about my image.

Of course, you raise an important point.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmond Burke, member of British Parliament (1729-1797)

Perhaps you didn't really mean "a lot of people"?

I tend to believe that everyone is 'being themself' here.
Being sensible about one's image is relative.

wsmac wrote

Sorry, clear cut case of writing half of what's in my head and leaving half to interpretation.

I think most people here are BEING themselves but what I mean is that I'm being a bit open about who I am (ie: That's my picture in my avatar, though granted it isn't my Tardis).

I'm willing to bet that you probably don't really look like a couple of cats.

GOT IT! although I am rather disappointed that your background has turned out to be fake.
I was in awe of you until you revealed that one.

I've posted my picture around here in a couple of posts, but the kitties were some local transients who occupied my house for a few weeks until I could find them homes... I kept my skateboard though!

wsmac: Some of my comment was directed at you, but a lot of it had the metaphorical 'you' as in everybody. I tend to do that a lot in a conversation. I felt a bit peeved at the attitude in gerneral by certain people (It may not necessarily be confined to here) at others who are maybe a little more vulnerable than those making the obsevations. You may have gotten caught up in the crossfire.

We also need to remember that many young and impressionable aspies join forums such as these. I'm not saying we should never discuss taboo subjects but just that a great deal of care is used to avoid encouraging newbies to think it's a good idea to do illegal things when they probably don't understand the consequences and are emotionally unable to deal with them.

I can agree with this wholeheartedly. But the thing is, on the internet it's difficult to assure who the audience really is.
I wish there was a really good way to have a secure forum for these topics and other open discussion forums available for teens and younger who might actually be quite mature.
Anyway, thanks for posting this.



OW!.. so this is what being in the crossfire is like? I GIVE UP! DON'T SHOOT!:cheers:

Thanks for the explanation... I still like you just fine!


I've been enjoying this whole discussion and although some have felt to be targets of other people's words, it seems like things are still going pretty well here.

The only good way I've ever seen is to ASK adult questions before letting them in.

Anyone remember the questions at the front of the Leisure Suit Larry games?

Of course, the problem is that the people here are aspies and were generally mature enough at young ages to know the answers. It would probably work well for NTs though.

The most charitable explanation I can put to the "inappropriate" comments from a few posters is that they do not understand what is appropriate for general consumption and what is not. But I'm pretty sure that this only explains some of them and that the others are coming from people hitting out at all members of a particular group because they've had bad experiences with one or a few of them.

To lessen the danger a bit, I think it would be a really good idea to put the kid's crater well away from the adult's forum and not under it where the kids could look in at the adult forum on the way down to the kid's crater.

Brilliant point Pandora - Alex/Mods... is it possible to move these?

This discussion makes the essence of introvert and extrovert AS. At least do I think so. Now, get to gether and give eachother a big hug and say "anyway, thanks for being you.".

Of course there's things that in some societys can't be dwelled, even if I find it very akward, like being married and having separate rooms for sleeping etc... Wtf, if I love somebody I want to go asleep with her and wake up with her. Otherwise it's just a theatre of "love".

All my three kids is aware of how kids are made, and they don't cry about that, they find it interesting, but is aware of the responsability too. But in the case of drugs, I happily live with the consequences of adult awareness. That means if you try that, You're on your own and See Ya.

I have a lot more to say but I'm darn busy trying to make some christmas food that all of my kids kan eat without being hospitalized... (cow milk proteine, soyaproteine, gluten, egg, fish)

Maybe if somebody other than me said it, they might listen.

You were heard Pandora. It's just that Alex/Mods don't think it's as important an issue as you and gbollard do. Nevertheless, your input is appreciated. If you can find a dozen other established members who feel the same, or even just a half-dozen, we will revisit the issue.

So you think it's okay for kids to be corrupted? I think you're asking me to do an NT thing by networking but I will see what support I can drum up. I also don't know how difficult it would be to do such a shift.