On some forums, you will find discussions about hacking, blackhat SEO and other illegal (or at least objectionable) topics. Sometimes a forum will focus on these subjects, so it just makes sense they would allow such discussions. But, on other forums, it might not be appropriate and such illegal discussions could endanger Adsense or cause a forum to lose members.
What's your policy when someone posts a topic about an illegal or objectionable subject? Do you lock it or delete it? Do you warn the member? Also, what would you consider to be an objectionable topic for your forum?
I don't mind (to a degree) if people talk about illegal things. Like maybe about how piracy isn't affecting the software industry as much as they claim or maybe how murder can sometimes be justified.
But that doesn't mean I'm ok with people giving detailed info on how to go commit illegal acts. So no details about how to make/use drugs or things like that.
So in these cases I'd delete the comments and warn the users not to talk about that stuff on site.
Hacking is something I'd be wary of since there are two sides to it. I mean if the forum is based around protecting people from hackers then they may need to be able to discuss various exploits in order to come up with a defence/patch to cover the exploit. But for people to just share exploits that wouldn't be acceptable at all.
But where our site is very clearly not about that I'd delete any comments talking about various exploits and ask them to report them to the owners so they can help patch them (rather than leave it on our forum for others to see).
I try do discourage such discussions. I'm kind of interested in such topics myself, but my forum is a general discussion forum for all ages, and younger members don't need to read those types of discussions. I don't mind the occasional: "My forum's been hacked, what do I do?" type topic, but methods of hacking forums, whatever, are absolutely forbidden. What I mean are discussions like "Have you ever hacked a forum before?" that kind of thing. Topics like "Have you ever been hacked before" are OK, just as long as it doesn't get too out of hand. If it does get out of line, I put a stop to it ASAP. For instance, say if we're discussing experience where we've had our sites hacked, and all of a sudden a topic turns into something like "I want to hack a forum, how is it done?" then those topics are automatically trashed.
If they're posting about illegal things I'll generally remove the topic and warn the user not to post things of that nature. If they decide to disobey me and do it again I'll ban their account.
Depends on the discussion, if it's about roms or how to hack your own PC because you locked yourself out I would let it go. But if you were talking about how to hack another person's forum or smuggle something then I would lock it.
Depends on the topic. I don't tend to block discussion of video game ROMs and stuff (as long as no links are given), since I have some involvement in said scene and consider it hypocritical to do otherwise.
I do allow discussion on Roms/emulators/free movies. As long as it doesn't go to far. I have clearly explained on the opening post of these threads that no links should be posted. These threads simply ask for opinions.
If it's anything more serious like Hacking (and other illegal topics which are similar) then I wouldn't allow it. I would delete and send a polite warning to the thread creator. If they continue to do it, then a ban is in order.
As long as they don't risk getting the community shut down by the law, then I'm usually all for it. As long as people are being considerate of others, then there really isn't a problem.
Discourage & if that does not work, disable it. That info there is for all time & the last thing you want is to become compromised by having facilitated illegal practices.
I don't allow it generally, however I take it case by case because sometimes the topic at hand isn't really doing any harm. As long as it's not breaking the ToS of my host, then I generally don't remove it unless it gets out of hand. 😛 It's all on a case by case basis and up to the mods discretion really. We also have to take into consideration what's "illegal" and "legal" considering everyone is in different countries. 😛
If it breaks my hosts TOS I have to delete/trash it. I will pm the creator of the topic and let them know that it breaks the TOS and that's about it.
I don't want my forum to be shut down just because of a topic, so I rather keep things in order Usually most things 'illegal' shouldn't be frowned against, at least discussion wise as long as it isn't linking downloadable illegal content, then I can see where the issue can come in.
For me it boils down to intention. We do keep a close watch in case someone slips, but in general the idea is you can discuss the topics so long you're not encouraging or facilitating to commit them.
It's up to you. Do you like it? Do u feel want to have that topic? Which way do you want your forum go? If you like Blackhat, you can join them. If not, just close and warn them. Or else, if u think that topic won't make any trouble, so let it be. 🙂
Usually most things 'illegal' shouldn't be frowned against, at least discussion wise as long as it isn't linking downloadable illegal content, then I can see where the issue can come in.
