What happened to the hot guy game!?!

[Pikko]

It's gone! I'm sad

[Krissie]

I'm sadder! I didn't know it existed

[Filip]

It got pulled backstage because some images violated the rules (copyrighted images, images of pornstars, bulges etc.)

There might be a new version in the future, but that's still under discussion

[Pikko]

Le sigh... Thanks for the update.

[x2x2x2x2y2]

[Shevanel]

At least we still have our lovely ladies thread <3

[lostinthought9]

Originally Posted by Shevanel

At least we still have our lovely ladies thread <3

It's not the same!

Too bad about the thread though...

[RaRa]

I think it's time for a REVOLUTION!!

[Zach1992]

WHAT!?

[Lexington]

Without going into details, or without pointing fingers in any direction, let me tell you what's going on.

We listed some guidelines for the posted pictures. Just a few simple rules to follow to keep the thread in line, and to keep EC comfortably in the safe zone. Unfortunately, as the thread progresses, it seems nearly all those lines were at first nudged up against, and then simply crossed. Now, it MIGHT be that since the guidelines were on the first page, that some people simply weren't aware of them, or had forgotten them. But whether it was intentional or accidental, the guidelines weren't followed. Not just once or twice, but repeatedly, by a lot of posters.

We're currently in discussion as to how to proceed. We honestly don't enjoy raining on your "hot guy" parade, but we DO need to keep things on the "proper" side of the fence (in all senses of the word). This thread is one that tends to ride off the rails on a semi-regular basis, and we're currently discussing if there's a way to keep that from happening quite so much.

Lex

[x2x2x2x2y2]

Is there any way that the guidelines can be on every page without you guys having to repeatedly post it??

[Eldanesh]

or maybe the mods can approve each post before it gets posted? it'd slow it down, but it'd be better than nothing.
or everyone could send their pics/pm them to a mod, who can then post up the approved ones every so often (daily, twice daily, etc.)

[Lexington]

Those are excellent suggestions, both of you. I'll post them in our discussion.

Lex

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Eldanesh

or maybe the mods can approve each post before it gets posted? it'd slow it down, but it'd be better than nothing.

If the necessary software and manpower exist to make this happen, I'd be in favor of this solution. Hell, I'd volunteer to moderate the posts if that were possible; though I didn't like most of the pictures in the Hot Guy Game, it held a special place in my heart as a place I could go to occasionally post a picture of a guy I found hot. (And my like of chubby guys would make it easier for me to objectively judge the majority of submissions.) I jest partially, of course, but really, I'd hate to see that thread go.

[Martin]

I only have limited time so apologies for making this short, but I think Filip and Lex have pretty much covered what I'd have said.

As Lex said, the thread has been pulled whilst we discuss what way is best to proceed with moderating it. It's a bit of a kneejerk reaction to simply remove it and not re-open it again, but it has become increasingly clear that our current way of moderating it isn't working. The first thread was barely moderated and eventually got restarted, and this current thread was started with a list of 'guidelines' for what isn't acceptable, and every single one of them were violated just on the last 2 pages alone. It wasn't even a case of just having a few pubes visible because some of the hotlinks came from sites far beyond EC's PG-13 rating.

One of the things we have considered is, as Eldanesh suggested above, pre-moderating all images before they appear. I know that some people enjoy the more 'saucy' pictures that are in there, but you should really use a different browser window for that instead of posting them on EC.

The thread is likely to be restarted again once we can resolve a way to moderate it more effectively. It's a popular thread so we will explore the options to allow that to happen, but until then it's just a case of waiting patiently. I don't think anybody here wanted the thread to be removed, but it had become impossible to moderate in its current state because of the images that weren't considered appropriate.

Perhaps the guidelines are a little too ambiguous, but the staff also expect members to use common sense when deciding whether an image is PG-13. We can outline the basics (no bulges/outlines etc), but it's virtually impossible to give a crystal clear outline on what isn't appropriate due to the range of pictures out there.

But anyways, just keep a look out for the thread.

[x2x2x2x2y2]

Gah, I hate the waiting game. lol But I totally understand.

And thanks guys for keeping us posted!!

[Z3ni]

ok lets post nude on the hot girl thread to make it even!!!


( I'm only jkin btw )

[x2x2x2x2y2]

^lol

*shrugs* This is going to cause MAJOR backlash pre modding it! Its going to be one of these things where what one person things is PG-13 and someone else says its not! Causing some rather unpleasant debates I can feel. The thread in question I never thought that the images were 'close to the bone' (pardon the pun) but other may have! Its one of these one where its leave it how it is or not do it at all! I am speaking from experience here too!

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

*shrugs* This is going to cause MAJOR backlash pre modding it!

That sounds a bit dramatic. I'd also remind anybody who does have such a problem with it that it would be a lot easier to remove the thread and not allow it to be restarted, as this isn't the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth time it has caused problems this year. Hell, it isn't even the first time we've had to remove this thread and restart it again.

I think what people need to remember is that it doesn't thrill the staff to have to take precautions with threads. Having to approve images due to guidelines only creates more unnecessary work for us, and it would be a lot easier to simply keep the thread removed instead of finding a compromise. I don't want to start pointing fingers here, but any backlash directed at the staff is misguided considering they're simply enforcing EC's Code of Conduct. They weren't the ones who broke the rules in that thread.

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Its going to be one of these things where what one person things is PG-13 and someone else says its not! Causing some rather unpleasant debates I can feel. The thread in question I never thought that the images were 'close to the bone' (pardon the pun) but other may have! Its one of these one where its leave it how it is or not do it at all! I am speaking from experience here too!

The thread has various images far beyond 'close to the bone'. For example, a few recent images contain a copyright notice linking to an adult pornographic website.

Regarding subjectivity, the staff aren't going to be thrown into the deepend and told to just watch the thread. It's fair to say that common sense is subjective, but the guidelines that we put to you, and the guidelines that will be drafted by staff for enforcing the thread, will not be. It doesn't really take much interpretation to stop images that are aimed at an 18+ age range, nor is it subjective to identify pictures of cock/balls outlines.

Sure, there will be a grey area with some pictures, but we're perfectly capable of communicating as a team to make a staff decision. I'm not going to stand here and say that we are trying to develop a moderating system that is flawless and won't allow any inappropriate pictures to slip through the net, but we will take measures to ensure that the blatant rulebreaks are caught and prevented from ruining the flow of the thread.

Mistakes will probably happen, but that's why we have a team rather than just one person running the show. The focus from a staff perspective is clearly outlining what fits into EC's PG-13 context, and making sure all members (and staff) are on the same wavelength. Most of you probably know what is appropriate based on the short guidelines from the original thread, but it seems a few like to push those boundaries a bit just so they can post 'saucy' pictures. Unfortunately, doing so has just resulted in the thread being removed again and requiring a new moderation approach.