Request/Invitation Forums

[nitroburn]

Personally, I don't see the point and I think it would not have enough activity....

buuuuut....

The idea of hidden or passworded forums on 'touchy' subjects has been suggested. And in the spirit of keeping things fair, it deserves some open discussion.

Do you think there should be forums on this site which are hidden unless one wishes to participate in them. For example, i'm guessing its related to the MJ forum.

The final choice comes down to Andy and where he feel it can fall legally.

[VajraPirate]

I don't want an anything goes forum, but somewhere to discuss certain topics W/o incrimination, of course, might not be so bad.

Something to consider: How would we go about deciding who gets the pw and who does not? Should evryone get it? Decided by post count/ frequency? Moderator decision on an individual basis?

Maybe not, I dunno.

Just call me flip the flopper.

[nitroburn]

I think it was more everyone will know what forums there are, you just have to ASK to actually have access. That way people aren't feeling they will be connected with those forums. Because a simple check shows they never had access.

I think thats the idea.. heh

[TooStonedToType]

I don't think invitation forums are a good idea. It makes people who aren't invited feel excluded from the discussion.  Its not like topics of concern can't and aren't discussed in the open forums already without violating the no incrimination rule.  We have pm's, which eliminate the need for a secret forum as well.  the only exception would maybe a secret moderators forum to discuss issues that may come up like at the old spf.

[Cassie]

i like the idea; it sounds like a win-win situation as long as Andy isn't compromised

[nitroburn]

TooStonedToType, its not really exclusion. Anyone can request access, they just have to request it before they can enter. Of course no self incrimination. But its just so that members who wish to be protected from the contents of particular forums can be protected. Ie, the marijuana forum again. Some countries is fine to openly discuss that topic, some its near deathly illegal, so to respect each individuals laws, people must Request access.

an idea.

[CJ]

I like the idea. Saying it is 'invite only' is actually just bad language we have adopted. It should be 'positive acceptance' to participate in such a forum. That`s how I handled the mushroom forum,

     I wasn`t there.

     But  hypothetically now ,if you state an active desire to be in the MJ forum,that forum then be 'unlocked',on your computer.

      I have a conservative streak,I do not even think the forum should be openly listed,but in a seperate heading(at the top,bottom etc.) be explained as a possability. A Little different then I was saying about myself previously,but it adds up to the same thing,and protects those who honestly feel` s  such a forum sucks swampwater.

     Or bongwater.

     Whatever.

     Though I am not hearing LW`s position(either I have not read enough or he has not posted,) but I still value his previous views,stripped of the personal judgements. He did what he could to protect SPF. What he would say now would not necc,. change my opinion,but one thing I do understand, that he acted, in the past at least, to protect a site he valued. We should do the same,whether he has taken himself out of it or not.

      Personally,I saw a clique of sorts,but I have no rancer. That`s because therewere/are always people to talk to (Where`s Aliumiun,Know I gots his name wrong,but perfect example,knowledgable and loner. I liked and learned from him,quiet man)

     So I`d prolly still vote forLW, if it`s the generally kind and evenminded LW of the old SPF. Sorry about trailing off subject a little, this was on my mind also.

[thinbuddha]

Bad idea- and not necessary.

Such a forum could leat to people thinking that it is the "free for all" forum.  Who would moderate that mess?

Also- if there ever was any legal fallout- the admin, all members of the hidden forum, and (in our ever enlightened newfound police state prettymuch every member of the greater spiritplants forum) would be screwed.  I don't think that I'd be comfortable with sticking around if there was a forum that I didn't know what was going on in..... and I don't think I'd be comfortable joining that forum just to see if it was all cool either.

-tb

[dendro]

closed forum, sounds like fun!

____________

I am the BSOD!

[CJ]

Your first objection T.B. could be handled by some very pubically stated rules. And that`s pretty subjective,to say that it would be a mess, and I do think there was a mod ready for it.

     But legal ramifications? Yes... I kind of agree,but again,no one thinks about that about the forest floor,do they? Or is it all about edible fungi,and I am missing the point.        :?:

      Tell you the truth,where I come from, a shroom bust is much nastier than a MJ bust, depending of course on amount.

     But of course,it is a accepted entheogen, so legal ramifications were bravely tossed aside....

[judih]

nitro (or anybody), what are the legal ramifications of password protected forums? They're not open to the public, to minors, to random wanderers.

Is there still a problem? Can i not speak my thoughts in such a forum?

What are we coming to? This is getting dark ages.

i was simply thinking of a place where i could relax and not censor my comments (similar to my living room). Is that a thing of the past?

Who would get the password? Those who ask. Right now, that's no problem, cause those of us who are here are familiars. But what happens after a few months, years, when strangers find the place. How will the admins know who to grant access? In my opinion, it'll be each case on its own merits.

Any admin here is a good judge.

so yeah, i'm in favour.

judih

[TroutMask]

I would like a forum that is for me only and is invisible to everyone, including me, and in which no one can post, including me. Please let me know when it exists (because I won't be able to see it.) Thanks!

-TM

[laughingwillow]

I just peeped this thread for the first time. I suggest, from the bottom of my heart that you folks just set up the desired public forums then do your best to keep it non-incriminatory.

cj: I'm real sorry if you saw the old spf as cliquey. I usually root for the underdog and wanted everyone to feel welcome; especially peeps who felt they didn't fit in.

lw

[CJ]

I More appreciatte you are around....

      You can`t always complain about tendencies or human nature. This  Was what I was saying. It was secondary noise on my part.

      Everything else I have said, to me ,has more importance now.In this present time.

      Which in turn, strongly involves my first statement in this post.

[Stonehenge]

A protected forum might give people the idea they can discuss secrets and possibly compromise themselves and others. OTOH, (on the other hand) is it really protected if anyone can register, make a few posts and get access? If that's the case then you might as well make it open. I'd say the only way it would be any good is if the standards to get in were fairly stiff and at the same time it was moderated with rules to discourage people from saying too much, ie, no self incrimination, keep it timeless and so on. That might be the place to discuss the not so legal cactus or shrub that someone you know is growing. Or a theoretical extraction or something.

What standards should there be to get in this protected forum? X number of months posting or x number of posts? Since we are new in this spot, people's rep from before or from other boards should count. Should it be 3 months and 100 posts or would that keep out too many people? Or is that too lenient? If we are going to have standards lets spell them out. I suggest the forum be secret by invitation only. Otherwise, you make people feel bad who aren't in and it gives other people an incentive to post a lot just to get in, leo for example though that may be a little paranoid. Not too many paranoid people get into trouble I've noticed.

Stoney