Guidelines to stay off hate lists/blocked sites? And how to check if you are on one?

[CZ Eddie]

I don't own the site or make the rules, but I do keep it updated/manage the Xenforo part for the owners.
It's a biker website. And an "anything goes" kind of forum. Within reason of course.
We have people from all of the world, all races, all religions, all political affiliations, etc.
Everyone is welcome as long as they share our love for Motorcycles.

Unfortunately, the "anything goes" policy means the few idiots on the forum are free to express their opinions as loud and often as they want.
And as you know, the sore thumb sticks out the most.

I heard from a member that we seem to be blocked from Military bases/etc.
I guess we got marked as a "hate site"?
I hate nobody.

Do you folks know of any way to check if we are banned by various servers?
Does anyone know how we can go about getting the site removed from any "hate site" lists?
Or how to request a review so they can see we aren't a hate site?

Also, do you have any suggestions on how we can maintain an "anything goes (within reason)" feeling among the members without it ruining the board for everyone else who is fairly sane and normal?

Oh, and suggestions on how to handle the occasional member posting up nude pictures.
Which is allowed per the site owners, but I suspect it should be handled in a certain way?
It's not a porn site. But you can find the occasional nekid pics.

 

[CZ Eddie]

One member saw another member posting racist comments, so he asked a moderator to delete his entire membership and any posts he's ever made in the last 20 years.
Because he was worried about his employer finding out that he participated in a webforum that has racists.

Racism sucks, btw.
Myself and most of the membership feel the same way.

 

[djbaxter]

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[CZ Eddie]

Thanks for posting those.
We weren't on any of them, thankfully.
I know we were on some Military blacklist at one point though.
It was rough back when some of our members were in Iraq/Afghanistan and were unable to post up and let us know how they were doing.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Also, do you have any suggestions on how we can maintain an "anything goes (within reason)" feeling among the members without it ruining the board for everyone else who is fairly sane and normal?

I would just moderate it so you don't have anything racist, sexist, or any other kind of discrimination. Adult (nude) pics...hmmm....that is maybe crossing a line. If they are art that is one thing, but if not then what is the point if it isn't either a porn site or maybe objectifying women (if they are female nudes). While many would not define that kind os thing as hate obviously, it's probably going to get you blacklisted from some places as you mention.

Because he was worried about his employer finding out that he participated in a webforum that has racists.

Or a forum that allows racists and racist comments. It is a moderated forum, hence you are responsible to get rid of that stuff.

he asked a moderator to delete his entire membership and any posts he's ever made in the last 20 years.

Totally unnecessary, all you need do (legally) is delete and anonymise his account. Deleting his posts can make a nonsense of loads of threads. certainly if any posts indemtify him personally then that is fair enough, otherwise I'd leave them

 

[djbaxter]

Thanks for posting those.
We weren't on any of them, thankfully.
I know we were on some Military blacklist at one point though.
It was rough back when some of our members were in Iraq/Afghanistan and were unable to post up and let us know how they were doing.

In my experience, military on offshore posting are really restricted in internet access and even when posted in their own country are often restricted in what sites they can access. Just the nature of military security.

 

[briansol]

make it member's only in the anything goes area. that keeps bots out any any questionable content is not indexed leading to a ban from any automated indexes.

 

[CZ Eddie]

In my experience, military on offshore posting are really restricted in internet access and even when posted in their own country are often restricted in what sites they can access. Just the nature of military security.

I was wondering if that might simply be the case here!

make it member's only in the anything goes area. that keeps bots out any any questionable content is not indexed leading to a ban from any automated indexes.

Good tip, and it's something the membership have discussed in the past and even tried out once.
It didn't last long, though I can't remember why.
In today's atmosphere, it may be time to revisit the option.

"Be politically correct in your own personal life, on your own personal time, or be fired from your day job"

 

[briansol]

You represent everything you are associated with at all times. Most large companies have a social media policy that governs even personal posts. My company requires us to hashtag #employeeofxyz when we may have any 'insider' opinion or influence on a subject.

You represent:
your family.
your company.
your friends.
and everything else relating to you at all times.

Leave an image on the un-deletable internet that you are proud of and would want your mom and daughter to see.

 

[motowebmaster]

My site has a private forum for non-motorcycle subjects, but don't allow religion/politics/discrimination in any part of the site.

Regardless, my site is blocked is by some enterprise web content filtering solutions (such as Palo Alto Networks). This is primarily because some organizations consider motorcycle forums as not productive on company time

 

[CZ Eddie]

You represent everything you are associated with at all times. Most large companies have a social media policy that governs even personal posts. My company requires us to hashtag #employeeofxyz when we may have any 'insider' opinion or influence on a subject.

You represent:
your family.
your company.
your friends.
and everything else relating to you at all times.

You are a wonderful comrad.

My site has a private forum for non-motorcycle subjects, but don't allow religion/politics/discrimination in any part of the site.

Regardless, my site is blocked is by some enterprise web content filtering solutions (such as Palo Alto Networks). This is primarily because some organizations consider motorcycle forums as not productive on company time

The owners allow all three subjects (to an extent).
But you need to have thick skin and be prepared to be blasted from both sides of each subject.

 

[CZ Eddie]

I didn't think to check my workplace content filtering and see if we're blocked. Good idea.