Groups

Groups are now ready! Start your own group to get your own forum, and start discussing stuff with people of similar interests! For example, a group might be "Christians", and there you can have all the discussions with other theists you like, which might then of course translate into debates. Go make some groups!

PS you can find new groups on the search page, or at the bottom of the home page. Groups are also listed on your profile and like teams are always public.

PPS but the forums are visible for group members only (although mind you, anyone can join a group, but still...)

admin: Just made the first group. Score.

Can we have a shoutbox in the groups?

Also, I'd like to recommend that the group creator should have admin and mod abilities within the group and should be able to give others mod abilities (within the context of the group).

Additionally, there should be a pop up saying something like "Are you sure?" when you press delete group, because I accidentally deleted the first group made on edeb8. Whoops.

Nerd Politico: Done!

admin: Does the founder have mod abilities within the group?

Nerd Politico: Psst... my own mod abilities aren't that powerful really. Working on giving group founders the ability to remove posts though.

admin: Posts and members (I have no reason to do so yet, but in the case that trolls show up). Also, the option to make it so members have to request to join the group would be nice.

Nerd Politico: I get the feeling that things like this will gradually erode the purpose of groups as being community centered not founder centered. Like - I wanted groups to be places where all people with a particular interest can hang out - not necessarily where founders approve of them.

In case trolls show up, they should be reported to me anyway. Trolling anywhere on the site should have consequences everywhere on the site.

Does that make sense or am I just being crazy?

admin: That makes sense. However, what I'm getting at is that different groups will have different standards for play.

For example, I might decide in one group that I don't mind if people swear or talk about obscene things, because it is a mini-community meant to be personal. The posts within the group are already private to all except those in the group, so what's the point of having that privacy or that ability to be close to each other and feel as though they can say anything if anybody can join?

Nerd Politico: "I might decide in one group that I don't mind if people swear or talk about obscene things"

There's a big flaw with this.

Suppose somebody made a group for NAZIs. That could get my server banned which shuts down the entire site if I don't take immediate action to shut it down. So the group admin might not care, but trust me, my hands are tied - I have to care. Obscene things simply cannot be discussed on EDEB8. For a while I considered adding filters to what kind of users could join groups ie minimum age etc, and then I realised that this would be both futile and not constructive to facilitating debates. So groups are not a way to be allowed to "say anything".

(for that matter, neither are private messages, which I periodically have to check for links to warez software etc)

Nerd Politico: I just realised something.

What happens if the founder has blocked or been blocked by the group member? Currently, they won't be able to see that member's posts, which kinda defeats the moderation purpose.

OK, we need to make a decision as a site. Would you prefer groups that are:

* General interest ie "Christianity", or
* Specific ie "ClassicRobert's inner circle"?

Remember that either way you would not be able to break the terms of use

VTL Specific

NightofTheLivingCats: VTL?

ALSO - new feature: custom group backgrounds! See here for an example: http://www.edeb8.com/group/Rainbow+Dash+Appreciation+Society

I'll add this feature to profiles too if there's interest.

General interest

admin: Can't we have both?