Acceptable user policy

[MikeH]

Up to date this forum has been used for all kinds of light hearted "Non Saab Related topics"
So I see no need for anyone Admin or otherwise to police the system as is seen in the Who to run away with topic,if the majority disagree with me I will shut my trap

[Gordy]

Well I see the website in general as being set up for Saab related topics. I enjoy the light hearted topics and I think that they add value to the site. However, I also respect the right of the admins to censor anything that they feel might offend someone. Remember, something that you and I might feel is a light hearted comment could be be perceived as offensive by someone else, especially as the board is visited by people from around the world with a huge diversity of cultural influences.

I've not been on the board for very long but I trust the admins judgement to be in the best interests of the board.

[Paco]

Hmm tricky one, it does surprise me how banale some posts are, but then if they're of no interest, surely no-one will respond? And the definition of "Non-Saab chat" is pretty open to interpretation.

I agree with Gordy that I'll trust the admin. judgement on matters likely to cause offence, but I hope that topics remain wide and varied otherwise

Where does "Information" end and "Entertainment" begin? There's a big one for you....NEW TOPIC!!!!!

[Gordy]

Sorry I forgot to add:

"notwithstanding the fact that it's their board and they can do what the heck they want with it"

[MikeH]

OK with head bowed,I shut my trap.

[welshwizard]

The fact is the site is run privately and if you examine carefully the site there is no advertisement. Admin (not me I might add, but a very fine gentleman) has given much of their time to keep this site going, voluntarily, and the bandwith is supported with contributions from forum members, and as a result this is an excellently run site, there have been occasions where topics have conspired to spiral out of control and yet Admin succeeded in stopping a potentially volatile situation going out of control.

I do browse the other forum (SaabCentral) and the administrators on there do have a different perspective and the main difference is that there is much more advertisement and unrelated items being discussed. Each has its own merits and I would rather not have people spouting out on other forums negative feelings about other Saab forums.

At the end of the day the forum administrators run these sites out of goodwill, and for the sake of keeping these forums alive I would like to keep on their good side, they are pretty decent people....

[chucktv]

While I certainly agree that the off-topic forum is a great way to get to know the personalities and find common threads, beyond the obvious Saab connection, among people from all over the world, I have to respect the judgement of those who created and give their time to keep this site going. It would be a sad day indeed if it were to go dark. While I didn't personally have a problem with the topic in question and in fact put my two cents in on another site, I am not everyone and it's certainly not my call.

I also have to agree with WelshWizard that it serves no purpose to criticize one site on another just because someone didn't agree.

I've learned a lot and shared what little knowlege I have and have met some cool people here and I hope I can look some of you up when I can make it to Europe.

Cheers, grazie, danke, thanks!

[wherewolfe]

Gentlemen:

Since you are speaking of my post that was locked out by the Adm, let me express my view as well.

I have no issue with the Adm locking out any post
they deem unsuitable. I do have an issue with the PUBLIC ADMONISHMENT that the Adm made of my post. A gentleman would have sent me a PM and that would have been that. I also find issue with
"are they're any gardner's out there" as being the same, "idle chit-chat" as my post was referred to. If you set a standard, maintain that standard for everyone's benefit.

WelshWizard: As far as my "spounting off"-that is my priviledge and called,"Freedom of Speech" on an open forum. As I mentioned above, who you call a "gentleman" should have had the courtesy to admonish me privately. You seemed more concerned to "shine his armour" in your post.

I have appreciated the Saabscene forums and hopefully I have brought both helpful and humorous
points to this forum. I feel many of the members have appreciated and enjoyed my contributions.

The people who created this site and maintain it have my respect and appreciation for doing so. As was mentioned in your post, WelshWizard, none of us would want it to go dark.

I have always treated everyone at this site with respect and appreciate the same returned. My posts have been carefully thought of as to not offend.

But, I was offended. And any of you who would have received the embarassing public admonishment I did would not be pleased as well.

wherewolfe

[saabscene]

All users are reminded that we have an Acceptable Use Policy, and you are all invited to review it from time to time. We have an AUP for a reason - it is the framework within which SSc operates to ensure that it remains a useful source of knowledge for all Saab owners.

Generally speaking, there has been an increase in the number of irrelevant (as defined by point 1) posts. SSc has specifically been established to exchange Saab/motoring-related information - and we will stick to that. There are other places on the internet for chat, jokes, etc.

The Car Park was set up as an off-topic area where people could exchange help and advice on other issues: Computers, Gardening, whatever - the idea is that it is still a useful source of information.

The SSc staff take a dim view of censorship (we don't like it) and they take an even dimmer view of those who abuse the SSc no-censorship policy!

The original post was not deleted but was closed and annotated as to why it had been closed to remind people what the purpose of SSc is for. The topic in question adds nothing to the pool of knowledge that we have on SSc.

The SSc staff have recognised that, with an increasing number of members, that the AUP may need to be clearer. We will be reviewing the AUP next week so that all staff and all members can be clear on what the house rules are.

If you do not like the way in which SSc is run, we do not expect you to post here. We also do not expect you to post your criticism of SSc on other boards on the internet - and nor would we want anyone criticising other boards here. They all have their place and they are all run slightly differently. Find one you are comfortable with.

SSc costs a lot to run, both in terms of pound notes and in terms of the time that many experienced people put into it, for you, for free! A message to all members is to refrain from posting outside the AUP or the spirit of SSc as you will be doing the other members a disservice.

We wish to keep SSc a useful reference and community source of information with the emphasis on technical information, and help and advice (help and advice or relevant discussion in the car park, aswell, please). Posts that do not add to the combined knowledge of the community are liaible to be closed or deleted by Saabscene staff. Do not expect a PM to inform you since you should be aware of the AUP before you post.

I am pleased that this topic has been raised - I think it is an important one and one of which all members are aware. Therefore, I have moved it to the customer service desk to give it more prominence.

[sgould]

Although I'm a facilitator of the board I'll express a personal view here.

I would have no hesitatation in deleting any post that was a clear breach of the acceptable user policy, especially in the areas of personal abuse and obscenity. I would be even more ready to do this if the post showed a deliberate attempt to circumvent the automatic filter.

The areas that I feel need more thought, and that is why I welcome the open discussion, are the jokes and off topic items. My view is that the odd joke or wry comment is perfectly acceptable within the context of a thread - if it's not then I'm probably more guilty than most. A bulletin board without humour is not a place I'd stay for long.

Where I think we need to be a bit more careful is where the joke or comment is the whole purpose of the thread. As admin says there are places elsewhere on the internet for this.

There are five things I would like to see clarified in the revised AUP:

Non-Saab topics that ask opinions and are likely to run to long threads.

Non-Saab topics that make a one-off comment or joke.

Saab topics that run wildly off-topic during the thread.

Saab topics that criticise suppliers / dealers.

Use/abuse of the "naughty word" filter especially now that the board is more international. There are words that offend in one country that are acceptable in another.

I'm sure I'll think of more but that will do for a start.

In the meantime I would apologise if I have offended anyone who has transgressed the AUP unwittingly. I know myself that it's very easy on these boards to get carried away and chat as if you were in a private conversation with a friend. I have to remind myself from time to time that anything I say is in the public domain.

[wherewolfe]

After several PM's between the adm and myself, I believe that Saab 9-1's post clearly defines what type of posting the Car Park should be based around. It is clear to me, now, that there is a need to curtain the topics that don't exchange information. The lightheartedness of some of our responses is still welcome as long as it does not become something that quickly moves away from the original topic and becomes pure frivolity.

The intent, as I see it now, is "let me help you and let you help me" in exchanging knowledge.

The five points that sgould makes on his post should clearly be benchmarks that we can all understand and appreciate.

I appreciate the clarity of what is acceptable user guidelines and hope that we all benefit from
these clarifications

Thanks to the administrators for taking the time to address these issues for the benefit of our mutual enjoyment of this website.

Wherewolfe

[markcanderson]

I also find it a good moment to refresh myself with the contents of the AUP, and will re-align myself to make sure my posts are in-line with it.