We are growing up!

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Hey There My Fellow Ridders!

Right this is a suggestion which I have had fired at me a few times and I thought I would bring it to the point where all of my lovely friends can bring in their opinions!

Basically all of us are growing up and as a result the themes of our threads are getting more adult. The suggestion I was given was that maybe the age rating on the site is increased however I think this would be unfair on our younger users as we do have them.

Now ways around this could be for people to put age ratings and warnings on certain threads so people who could possibly be offended do not have to read it. Or alternatively a password protected bored could be created…but I think that is just a tiny bit OTT.

Personally I do not want the site to turn into threads full of soft porn, but I know that when it comes to threads with characters getting rather smutty I am one of the main culprits.
Also swearing, we have reduced the amount of words that get replaced with ‘merlin’ however I know that even in the final Harry book JK swore a fair bit so I was thinking knowing that non of you will abuse it, maybe we reduce the swearing restrictions…

Once again I want everyone’s opinion before any decision is made. Please remember that as of present Ridd is still a PG13 site!
Thank You!

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

I think this is a great idea. We are getting older and it would be nice to have something like this. I prefer the seperate locked board idea, because unfortunately not everyone may read the warning and if they do, they may chose to ignore it. The problem with the locked board idea, is how do we know if those entering it and posting in it, are really of age to be doing so. Like how do you know I'm 18 for example? I could be lying to you all. I could only be 15 or 16. I'm not, but I could be. it's hard to know who to trust/believe on the internet. these are my main concerns.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Thats the point Kris we dont. But if they lie about their age then we cant be blamed for something they may or may not read. Besides, if you put the warning in both the title and the beginning of the thread you are hardly likely to miss it. A locked board is a good idea I agree with you there but a lot of people wont like that idea even though it is probably the best one.

I definatly vote for upping the age. If anyone younger joins, then we should like PM them or something to make sure they know that they are joining a site which may have offensive material on it. At least that way they know so again, we can not be blamed.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

i do see your point dan, but my concern is not that people will not see it, but will chose to ignore it, then try to blame us if they are offended. i do sincerely hope that no one here is immature enough to do that, but... you never know.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

I think we should do this, the whole school thing is cool but it does get a little dull from time to time having to be so PG all the time lol. I think a little bit of naughty can't hurt, but I do understand that there are some younger members on the board, so I think that there should be a seperate NC 17 section that can't be seen by everyone, and people have to get persmission to view said bored by proving that they are 17 or older.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Yeah I know the point you are making but if we, as RPers, make the warnings as clear as day and then they DO try to blame us, we can say the warnings WERE there and that they chose to ignore it. Then, if they continue with their immature little selves then they dont belong with us ^_^

(says the most immature of them all)

Edit: I dont think we should go too overboard with the adultness though.. still keep it relatively clean.. no porn for heavens sake.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Jun 7, 2009 18:23:06 GMT Professor Jackson Shaw said:

Yeah I know the point you are making but if we, as RPers, make the warnings as clear as day and then they DO try to blame us, we can say the warnings WERE there and that they chose to ignore it. Then, if they continue with their immature little selves then they dont belong with us ^_^

(says the most immature of them all)

LMAO. You've finally admitted it! lol

so it looks like everyone is pretty much in agreement here?

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Okie Dokie!

So everyone so far seems to be liking this idea which is always a good start, I shall wait to hear what peeps like Ally, Nicole, Kaitlyn and Lynn have to say on the matter

But yes, if we have warnings then it is not our fault as we have stated it, just like in the cinema with the certificates. The separate bored would provide more protection and so all the smut is controlled in one section haha. And yes, not too graphic stuff I mean I want no actual description of sexual intercourse people! There will still be limits!

[Adelaine Russo]

I agree with basically everyone you guys have said (so original, I know << )

I think we need to bump up the age because Hogwarts, I imagine, is like high school. And in high school, there is a lot of swearing, and scandals, and random makeout session in bathrooms (I've been scarred for life). Outside of Hubbles (no offense Liz xD ) we've had no huge scandals or drama moments. Honestly, what happened to all the manwhores in high school?

And I like swearing :]

[/useless information]

(ps- I totally laughed when you said porn xD )

[Ellie Rook]

Ok heres my two cents.

I agree that we should make the site a little grittier. Hogwarts can not be full of little goody goodies that don't swear...walk into any public high school and prepare to brace yourself for some of the smuttiest language around. I agree that some words, like racial words and the "f" word should still be kept in the vault. However in a way to portray these characters, I think we should let loose a little, though I think we should do this for age appropriate characters. Obviously, I don't want first years going around curseing out the Professors.

As for the sex issue. I agree that this is difficult, especially on a step like this where the wrong step could end up with the site being shut down. However, I think that inferences past kissing are acceptable. Like "Then Jane and Jack went in side, closed the bedroom door and were not seen for another hour or so" obviously we know what happens...as for the students, I have man whore (Adrian), and I find it hard for him to function with out this little bit of leeway.

As for the younger members, I think we will have to set up a rating system to put in the name of the thread just to be safe, so no one stumbles upon something they don't want to read. If you are worried about people lying, I think we just have to make it very clear in the rules and character registration what the ratings are and that it is at their own risk to ignore it if they are under age, just so we can't get in trouble at all, we have a safe backup.

Kris, basically its like a warning on a label...if you choose to ignore the warning that says don't use the hairdryer in the bath tub, and you die because you took a bath and used a blow dryer at the same time...your parents can't sue the company because they had a warning. simple as that.

Well, I just rambled about nothing.

<3

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Only two Lynn hehehe!

Okay so it seems that everyone is up for the whole moving up a certificate so okay then that is good! But lol Lynn you made me laugh then thinking that the ‘f’ word is bad hahaha! You have not heard us English talk then lol, it is used in every sentence! But yes the raciest ones and very crude ones as well defiantly not!

Yeah, I think we are all sensible not to (lol) go the full way! But it will allow the manwhores to stand on their own because they do have to be a bit restrained. So okay right…everyone seem in favour of it!

Okay so are we having a special password protected board or just warning signs before a post?

[Erys Grace]

I'm for upping the age, but I think that locking the boards to people who are younger than 18 (or password protecting them) would be a discouragement, because I know that I'm one of the people who enjoys reading other peoples threads, and I myself am not old enough. Thats not to say I'm going to play peeping tom on the more private ones, but still. I'm turning seventeen in a month, but even at a younger age when I first started roleplaying I was aware of more adult concepts. Being I'm not yet the age deemed appropriate for that kind of thing, would I be locked out of those boards?

I think we should just put a warning on the threads.[/color]

[Ellie Rook]

i agree warnings only so not to cut everyone out. I was watching R rated movies when I was fourteen, I obviously knew what was going on. I think that in the time period we live in, as sad as it is, kids are maturing faster and for the sake of the wonderful writing going on on this site, warning would be a good idea, and they can use their discretion to view. I think we are all mature enough on this site, even our younger members.



wow, i'm just a little too prophetic tonight.

[Prudence Russo]

I disagree with making a whole board just for this. It's against the Proboards TOC to have any sort of sexual content in the boards, and the general rule is known as "fade to black" ( very self explanatory, oui? ). And I don't just disagree because I'm the youngest member and I'd feel left out. That is true, but I also think it's just ridiculous to have a shaggin' board xD

A note telling you it's R-rated or Mature in the title should be enough and people can stop reading a thread anytime they want to.
That's all i really have to say.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Fantastic, it seems that everyone is in agreement then!

• NO special locked section! (lol Shagging board haha)
  
• There WILL be warnings in the title of threads to make people aware that a thread may contain reference/language which may cause offence!
  
• There will be NO porno threads! As had been mentioned and Nicole put it ‘fade to black’ moments.
  
• SOME limitations will be taken off swearing! However the basic rules still apply, NO racist or discriminative comments allowed…EVER! If anyone ever does this they will be kicked off the site faster then you can say Quidditch!

These changes are being done to give a little bit more leeway when posting, it is not saying to people ‘okay now make your threads as dirty as possible’ … never that! Remember at heart we are still a Harry rp site not a Sex in the City one so just keep it all on the down low mostly lol what we have nowish I guess it just stops you from feeling too guilty or a mod having to pop up going ‘PG13 guys!’

Have fun but just be safe and sensible The mod’s shall be watching!!

Any questions?