While signing on, I did something I virtually never do…..
I read the fine print! Specifically the Registration User Agreement… I know… I know… I'm always supposed to read the fine print. But how often do we actually do that? Besides, I seem to be ending the week slightly more cynical that I started it….
Anyway, I ended up having some questions about the User Agreement I just agreed to. I was wondering if the agreement is something specifically put together for this forum or some kind of boilerplate that comes with the software? Specifically…
User Agreement wrote:The phpBB software only facilitates Internet based discussions and the GPL strictly forbids them in what we allow and/or disallow as permissible content and/or conduct.
First of all… I don't really understand what that sentence means. It just doesn't parse for me. Does it mean that GPL specifically forbids discussions? Or that the GPL somehow controls content and/or conduct? Either way, the GPL only relates to the copying, modifying, distribution, licensing, etc. of GPL software, not content generated using software . I also suspect that the Free Software Foundation would be disturbed that the GPL was being interpreted in such a way that it was being used to control speech and behavior.
Anyway, moving on…
User Agreement wrote:You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-orientated or…
Slanderous and threatening probably have legal implications (as may abusive), so it seems reasonable to have them here. Restricting obscene, vulgar, and sexually-orientated posting is really defining what kind of environment we want here… a form of social contract. No problem. However, I cringe when I see "hateful." It is such an ambiguous term. I mean I could say something totally silly like "venison are ugly" or "bulldogs is tasty" and someone, somewhere would find it hateful (Heh, heh… I violated my agreement on my 1st post!). I guess I am just sensitive to the way the term "Hate" has been used to shut down discussion that people disagree with; or to tack ultra-extra-special-super-harsh punishment to actions that are already criminal! There isn't really anything, other that "things I disagree with", contained in hateful that isn't already covered by slanderous, threatening, or abusive, so why not eliminate a term that is being used as a justification for the punishment of Though Crimes and the ideological advancement of PfasCism.
User Agreement wrote:… or any other material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where “MNGunTalk.com” is hosted or International Law.
Do we really need to worry about violating international law? After all I am a citizen of the U.S.A. not a subject of the international court.
For reference, the entire User Agreement is here.
User Agreement wrote:By accessing “MNGunTalk.com” (hereinafter “we”, “us”, “our”, “MNGunTalk.com”, “http://mnguntalk.com”), you agree to be legally bound by the following terms. If you do not agree to be legally bound by all of the following terms then please do not access and/or use “MNGunTalk.com”. We may change these at any time and we’ll do our utmost in informing you, though it would be prudent to review this regularly yourself as your continued usage of “MNGunTalk.com” after changes mean you agree to be legally bound by these terms as they are updated and/or amended.
Our forums are powered by phpBB (hereinafter “they”, “them”, “their”, “phpBB software”, “www.phpbb.com”, “phpBB Group”, “phpBB Teams”) which is a bulletin board solution released under the “General Public License” (hereinafter “GPL”) and can be downloaded from http://www.phpbb.com. The phpBB software only facilitates Internet based discussions and the GPL strictly forbids them in what we allow and/or disallow as permissible content and/or conduct. For further information about phpBB, please see: http://www.phpbb.com/.
You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-orientated or any other material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where “MNGunTalk.com” is hosted or International Law. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned, with notification of your Internet Service Provider if deemed required by us. The IP address of all posts are recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. You agree that “MNGunTalk.com” have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should we see fit. As a user you agree to any information you have entered to being stored in a database. While this information will not be disclosed to any third party without your consent, neither “MNGunTalk.com” nor phpBB shall be held responsible for any hacking attempt that may lead to the data being compromised.
Discuss.
.1/ICC II.
