Ban links to violent content?

magpie

As far as I can make out Boards does not allow any links to porn, so I wonder is it time to start applying the same policy to other 'nasties', in other words violence.

What got me thinking about it was this thread which has the warning "violent video" rather than "Video containing audio recordings of death screams of person being shot repeatedly". There have been a few of these kinds of thing, like links to the 2 guys in Baghdad set on fire and dragged behind cars etc.

I wonder is it time to put a ban on these links for the same reason as the porn ones; in other words:

"Its out there if you really want to find it, but we don't necessarily condone or encourage you to watch it."

Doctor J

I'd agree with this 100%

The Bollox

I also agree

feylya

Agreed. While discussion of it is ok imo for political, humanitarian or other reasons, linking directly to the videos is wrong. There's plenty of other places on the internet to find these videos, no point making Boards.ie one of them.

TerrorFirmer

Also agree with this one.

Boston

I completely disagree. While the linking to any graphic material should not be allowed if it's soul purpose is voyeurism or some kinda perverted entertainment, I can think of many instances where it would be acceptable to do so. For instance of a "Is the dead penalty ok" thread, should material should be allowed.

me too

Giblet

It's really an admin choice here, what they want posted on their servers. I have no bias either way, I just don't look at it.

Firewalkwithme

LiouVille wrote:

I completely disagree. While the linking to any graphic material should not be allowed if it's soul purpose is voyeurism or some kinda perverted entertainment, I can think of many instances where it would be acceptable to do so. For instance of a "Is the dead penalty ok" thread, should material should be allowed.

I don't think anyone here needs to view a video of an execution on order to make a judgement on whether or not the death penalty is a suitable method of punishment!

CuLT

I'm pretty sure that rule is already there, it's just not written down because most people have more sense.

Boston

Despatch wrote:

I don't think anyone here needs to view a video of an execution on order to make a judgement on whether or not the death penalty is a suitable method of punishment!

Did I say that?

However an audio recording of a murder victium is another question,.

breadmonkey

There was a pretty graphic written account of the incident in question contained int he thread. After reading that, I don't know why anyone would watch it.

As Giblet said, I just don't watch it. Why did you?

Firewalkwithme

LiouVille wrote:

Did I say that?

Well TBH your post didn't make a whole lot of sense so it was a little difficult to try to work out what your point was.

Boston

Despatch wrote:

Well TBH your post didn't make a whole lot of sense so it was a little difficult to try to work out what your point was.

blah blah blah

Firewalkwithme

LiouVille wrote:

blah blah blah

Thanks for clearing that up :rolleyes:

lostexpectation

CuLT wrote:

I'm pretty sure that rule is already there, it's just not written down because most people have more sense.

well then the post should be removed now then.



you shouldn't post links like that for cheap thrills, there sites out there for that

stevenmu

I'd disagree tbh, as long as it's on-topic and suitably marked then I think it's fine. I'd actually feel the same way about porn too, but because of the Irish religious history and the gender issues involved there's always going to be a much stronger outcry against porn. Also, at least a violent video is going to potentially promote some kind of discussion about the horrors of war or whatever the context is. Porn generally is a very good conversation starter

magpie wrote:

"violent video" rather than "Video containing audio recordings of death screams of person being shot repeatedly".

I haven't watched the video, or looked at thread, having no interest in seeing it, but that seems like an adequate warning to me.

Gilgamesh

lostexpectation wrote:

well then the post should be removed now then.



you shouldn't post links like that for cheap thrills, there sites out there for that

well did you report the post at any time? I bet not
normally if enough people do so, the mods will react,

Goodshape

Aye, the video in question was claerly marked and tbh wasn't all that visually graphic.

Although without the written description which followed (a couple of posts later) the video did not offer much in the way of a discussion piece; it's just screams and gun shots - quite imposable to know whats actually going on. With the written description of the event, the video itself wasn't really needed at all.

seamus

In general, yes.

That thread remained because I wanted to wait until I got home from work before looking at it. By that time, a surprisingly intelligent and reasonable debate had sprung up about it.

Aside from that, I wouldn't consider the video to be graphic. Haunting, yes, graphic, no. You don't see anyone get shot, you see the guns firing. Far less graphic than a Vietnam movie, except that people don't actually die or distrubingly scream in pain/fear in the movies.

Ultimately, Gilgamesh brings up the best point. I haven't received a single report about the post.

[Edit: Just as a sidenote on Goodshape's point - the screams wouldn't be as bad if I hadn't read the news piece first, in fact the entire scene would have made less sense.]

chern0byl

Im sorry i watched the video. It should have had a better warning message but dont push the nanny state.This place in the last year has become "nannyish" enough already.

stevenmu

I don't think anybody has mentioned why this type of video clip should be banned, is it because it could have some kind of impact or do some kind of damage to people, or is it, as I suspect, really just a question of taste ?

Going on the assumption that most people wouldn't like pickled onion, tuna and brown sauce sandwiches, should delis be banned form serving them in case someone accidentally orders one without realising what's in it ?

CuLT

stevenmu wrote:

I don't think anybody has mentioned why this type of video clip should be banned, is it because it could have some kind of impact or do some kind of damage to people, or is it, as I suspect, really just a question of taste ?

Going on the assumption that most people wouldn't like pickled onion, tuna and brown sauce sandwiches, should delis be banned form serving them in case someone accidentally orders one without realising what's in it ?

Most people don't take personal offence at tuna.

I agree in general with the "where would we draw the line?" idea though.

ARGINITE

magpie wrote:

other 'nasties'

I think we would have a hard time finding things that we could talk about then.

If people really found it offensive then seamus would know about it.

seamus wrote:

Ultimately, Gilgamesh brings up the best point. I haven't received a single report about the post.

So should this be gotten rid of to?

Karoma

As long as it is in context, on-topic, and clearly labelled - I see no problem with posting to anything; either pornographic or violent. Ultimately, the choice to click on a link is the individual user's and neither should it be the responsibility / perogative! I can understand the concern that it may lower the general tone of a forum or Boards.ie in general - but taste is subjective, and again, the responsibility of each user. (Example: Try censoring and distinguishing between porn and nudity in an arts forum. There is a line - and it is really down to a mod or mods to judge; and they'll generally wait until somebody raises an objection (You know the link!) )

(I haven't read any of the threads, or viewed the content linked previously - simply because I have no interest. I am writing in general terms as the discussion was centred on more wide/general issue of censorship. So, I apologise if I am missing a key point..)

Dave!

I disagree... There was sufficient warning for that video; if you didn't want to see a violent video, then why did you go into the thread? Nobody needs to be mammied, use your own sense. Maybe making a warning compulsary would be a better idea, to please all parties.

chern0byl

DaveMcG wrote:

I disagree... There was sufficient warning for that video.

"Warning violent video" is not sufficient when what actually happened is some bloke was murdered with the most horrible screams i have ever heard.

Dave!

What did you expect? People standing in a circle holding hands? It meets all the criteria of a violent video... Should the thread-starter have put 'Very violent video' instead? Did you go into that thread hoping for some "light" violence, or something? Where should we cross the line? People are offended/disgusted by different things; I don't like clowns, they scare me -- should clowns be banned too?

Like I said, a clear warning and maybe an outline of what happens might be in order. But really, going into a thread with 'Warning violent video' in the subject, what did you expect? And the thread-starter had a little sad face, too... That's not the norm if it's some bloke getting hit in the head with a football kind of violence. But not to get into the thread-starter's psychology, if you were at all skeptical about the content, you could have scrolled down the page and read exactly what happens (although the video doesn't actually show most of it), and other users' responses. On top of that, the screams and gun-fire don't happen until about a minute into the video, so it's not like you clicked on the link and immediately saw someone's brains exploding on the screen. You had sufficient warning as far as I'm concerned.

WhiteWashMan

seamus wrote:

I haven't received a single report about the post.
.]

recheck your mail....

i didnt delete it because you got in there first, so im leaving it to you to deal with.
personally, i agree that this sort of material should not be on here.
if you want this stuff, go to ogrish.com or whatever its called. you can see plenty of good snuff movies there if thats what blows your skirt up.

regi

I'm not the moral compass of the admins, I'm afraid.

I'd wonder what the legal position was. I would incline towards Seamus' view that the debate at least is definately worth keeping.

Karoma

chern0byl wrote:

"Warning violent video" is not sufficient when what actually happened is some bloke was murdered with the most horrible screams i have ever heard.

It said VIOLENT.... WTF did you expect!?!
Would you rather, that any material that is the least bit controversial be submitted the [strike]MiniTruth?[/strike] mods? - after which, a meeting of all the mods will convene. Tea will be drank. Videos watched. And certs of PG/15/18 applied.
pfft! The material is linked -not embedded. You have to click on a link/make an effort to retrieve the information. Tip: if it says violent..chances are there is going to be violence! (shocking!?) It is a qualitive term, and as such "how violent" will be subject to different tastes. As you seem to be offended, how about you don't click on anything that may offend you (Like things marked "violent")

:rolleyes: