[25-MAY-2012] re: The concerns of quite a few users

BLF Site-related Issues
1

Hi everyone, this is a re-posting of some issues that came up in another thread. I wanted to give this a little more visibility. Thanks for reading!


iPad Compatibility / Editor Issues:
I'm still looking for way to enable a simple post editor by default that works on all devices. This is not particularly easy to configure on the Drupal backend that we use, which is why I have been holding off. But I hope to have a solution soon. Meanwhile, to post with an iPad or smartphone, please expand the "Input format" menu below the post editor and click on "No GUI Editor". The advanced post editor will still be enabled for those who need advanced functionality for reviews, etc.

Fixed. Please see the update to this post.


Inappropriate Content
This is something that does concern me a lot. It's true that most of us dislike using forums that are heavily censored or moderated in a dictatorial way. Some other forums block users or delete posts about flashlight products at the whim of a moderator that doesn't share that opinion. For that reason, BLF was created for users to freely express their opinions about flashlight products. But please keep in mind that this lack of restrictions applies strictly to discussions about flashlight products and should not be confused with freedom to discuss lewd (dirty) topics. The goal of BLF has always been to offer clean, family-friendly content that follows the site rules. So I would like to request that anybody who has posted lewd (dirty) images or used language that is inappropriate for children to please go back and remove it from their posts. I always try to kindly warn users via a PM if I personally notice inappropriate content, and I ask them to remove it. But I can't read every single post on BLF. So please do me a favor and review your own posts from the standpoint of a child on his dad's lap or a woman looking over her husband's shoulder. And please PM me if offensive posts aren't fixed up within a few days from now.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and for making an effort to keep things clean around here. Have fun!

Hi everyone, this is a re-posting of some issues that came up in another thread. I wanted to give this a little more visibility. Thanks for reading!


iPad Compatibility / Editor Issues:
I'm still looking for way to enable a simple post editor by default that works on all devices. This is not particularly easy to configure on the Drupal backend that we use, which is why I have been holding off. But I hope to have a solution soon. Meanwhile, to post with an iPad or smartphone, please expand the "Input format" menu below the post editor and click on "No GUI Editor". The advanced post editor will still be enabled for those who need advanced functionality for reviews, etc.

Fixed. Please see the update to this post.


Inappropriate Content
This is something that does concern me a lot. It's true that most of us dislike using forums that are heavily censored or moderated in a dictatorial way. Some other forums block users or delete posts about flashlight products at the whim of a moderator that doesn't share that opinion. For that reason, BLF was created for users to freely express their opinions about flashlight products. But please keep in mind that this lack of restrictions applies strictly to discussions about flashlight products and should not be confused with freedom to discuss lewd (dirty) topics. The goal of BLF has always been to offer clean, family-friendly content that follows the site rules. So I would like to request that anybody who has posted lewd (dirty) images or used language that is inappropriate for children to please go back and remove it from their posts. I always try to kindly warn users via a PM if I personally notice inappropriate content, and I ask them to remove it. But I can't read every single post on BLF. So please do me a favor and review your own posts from the standpoint of a child on his dad's lap or a woman looking over her husband's shoulder. And please PM me if offensive posts aren't fixed up within a few days from now.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and for making an effort to keep things clean around here. Have fun!

2

Thx SB, much appreciated for all you do!

One thing I've noticed while editing posts seems to be that an inserted break changes the entire post into a single selectable "pic" making it very hard to just place your cursor in the middle of a large block of text. Instead, I've had to click at the very top and manually scroll down. Not a big deal but perhaps something you can look into as time allows.

Thx again!,

Tim

3

Thanks, SB. I too am interested in a solution on the iPad/iPhone posting difficulties, but I do 90% of my posts on a desktop or laptop where it's not really an issue.

On content - I agree with your warning completely and thank your for providing a clarification instead of coming down too heavily. We are all adults and should be able to keep our emotions and opinions in check. Flare ups like the iPad thread will happen in any forum - I do not think that instance is indicative of any problems with BLF - The Best Little Forum on the Inter-Webs!

4

I agree with your comments regarding content as well. Even if children aren't reading the forum it's still a good idea to keep the discussion on a higher plane since almost any forum that doesn't do so sees its threads reduced to the lowest common denominator pretty quickly.

Lewd jokes are funny in a sense but they are also easy and ultimately boring. Off-color language is the and ultimately people get offended when someone forgets and uses it directly at someone else.

To me it's not a matter of everyone being "adults". That kind of humor and language may be used on occasion by adults but in most of our everyday lives I doubt that it is used often or in as concentrated form as would be the case in an online forum.

5

You know, In one forum I belonged to they had a section called "The Locker Room". This was a place where anything goes. I can't remember if it was PW protected or your acct had to be verified by the owner to enter. anyhow it would lock out the unsuspecting browser of that section. And it was fun for those that participated in it.

EDIT: It was a place to go to find humor in all things even if they seem offensive or over the top. The disclaimer was "enter at your own risk, and shrug and laugh it off". Most pics and jokes were actually funny, agree with them or not. It after all was the Locker Room :)

6

+1! I like this idea.

7

+2 I'm for that.

8

+3. And not visible on front page?

9

+4 Another forum I was on had a similar thing except it was called "The Dark Side".

10

+5 Great idea! I like it a lot!

11

12

I think a new forum skin is in order as well. I've designed my own for the time being (I like to do this for my favorite sites if they happen to need a makeover):




13

+1

14

thanks for the effort and clarification Mr Admin. I would continue to contribute and participate in this forum. We have some of the most intellectual and coolest guys around here.

Br,

tom.

15

I agree. Someone posted some videos on here not long ago of girls riding in cars that were linked to some bad adult content.

16

Are there even any females on this forum?

17

My guess is no, lol. Pretty much every forum I am on has no or only a few females, car audio and computer forums, not that I care.

18

I think I can almost be certain, that the flashlight hobby is 100% macho!!

19

Just want to add that I don't think I have any (lewd) posts to delete...but...I do have to make an effort to not be lewd so maybe I don't recall. Feel free to point any out to me (or delete them) with complete impunity :)

20

We've had some short visits by a few females, but they didn't stick around for long.

+1 about the locker room.

+1 about the lovely design!

Viktor