October 31st 2006

Eliminating the Sex Channel from Netscape

Posted by C.K. Sample, III

› tags: channel, decommission, porn, sex, spam

You may have noticed that the Sex Channel no longer appears in the list of channels in the right hand column on Netscape and that Sex is no longer an option when submitting stories to Netscape. When we first relaunched Netscape back in July, our hopes were that the Sex Channel would be a place where we could discuss issues pertaining to sex and sexuality in the 21st century's ever-shrinking world.

We were naive.

Unfortunately, the Sex Channel became a never-ending nexus of spam and porn. So we've killed the channel entirely, and very soon all the old stories that were submitted to the Sex Channel will disappear and any links out on Google or elsewhere that point you to them will direct you to a page explaining this tale of dreams shattered and innocence lost. Then you'll have a link to the homepage of Netscape where you can find lots of less spammy and less porn-plagued content.

related links ›

Comments

(Page 1)

4:30PMZeitgeist

Good move!....now...about that anti-semitism and hate speech...

Any hope for some movement on that front?

7:30PMCristian Mezei

How about a page with all (not just 5) my friend's stories listed with pagination too maybe (10 stories each page). And let me vote on stories right on that page. Not make me visit each story's URL. :-)

8:38AMC.K.

Hi, Zeitgeist,

We're killing the comments and blocking accounts when we spot them, but we need the help of members reporting the comments that cross the line.

3:49PMismael sanvicente

i wanna the sex chanel get back i enjoy this chanel very much

6:25PMZeitgeist

Hiyas CK...hope you are well...

I'd be happy to help you out...but I have been banned for some reason...

The funny thing is...the guy who made threats to me...hasnt...

Someone...saw fit to remove the threat (which I am grateful for)...but the member wasnt banned for clear violations of the terms of service...I just checked...

Nor have people who routinely engage in anti-semetic comments...I just checked..

Neither have have the hundred or so truthers that post stories and link to websites that contain hate speech and spam your boards with fake accounts...I think this is called sock puppet voting...even when cought red handed...fabien didnt ban any of those members...she just locked the thread....I just checked...

Did I make some extreme comments in lampooning the truthers?...sure I did...but I didnt threaten anyone...nor did I post links to websites containing hate speech...or post links to websites that clealry advocate violence against elected officials...nor did I sock puppet vote on truther stories...

So what am I to think of this?

You've got a serious problem here...and it needs to be rectified...

If you're serious about really doing something about it..rather than just covering peoples tracks (that can be seen from space)...I'll be more than happy to be a good little zeitgeist and help you out....I wont even request to have my account re-instated until you totally trust my intentions..

You can send me a private e-mail addy...and I will drop you links to the hate speech and provide the user names of those posting it...you can verify it...and then take the appropriate action...

Or...if you are just blowing smoke....I'll just keep making a giant pain in the butt out of myself...

Your choice bro...not a threat at all...just a promise...

You've got some rats in the hen house (foxes are way smarter)...and I'm certain a few of them are mods and admins as well...

I know you are busy..and maybe you missed my posts here on the other blog thread:
http://blog.netscape.com/2006/10/19/netscape-etiquette-part-2-comment-abuse-will-not-be-tolerated/3#comments

I'm just getting warmed up...

Yeah I spammed that message on every truther thread I could find...and until I posted that message...I wasnt banned...

Again...what am I to think of this...other than it was an ovious attempt to kill the message AND the messenger..

If you didnt ban me...chances are you didnt see the post either...

If you did...than please explain how that post was in violation of the terms of service....yet the spammers and sock puppet voters never get banned...

I think someone has some explaining to do...

With this many members...and this many posts being generated per hour, you simply dont have the numbers you need to police these boards properly...and thus protect netscape from being a target of litigation eventually...

If I were you....I'd purge the staff that have obviously either been asleep at the wheel...or may even actually a PART of your problems...(by using multiple accounts)

I'd Clear the boards completely and start over....and take your position as lead admin seriously....and watch these peeps like a hawk...

I'd institute a one login policy..and enforce it with IP banns...

I'd block the websites linked to anti-semites and hate speech...

And I'd get some more help....there are tons of decent members here who know hate speech when they see it...let them be your allies...

Netscape has been infected with the decease of anti-semitism....an amputation may be your only hope of survival...

Some action is needed before the ADL comes down on netscape like a hammer.

I'll gage how serious you are by your actions...and not your words...

Sincerly,

Zeitgeist

6:53PMC.K.

Hi, Zeitgest,

One of your comments was evidently quoting one of the people you were trying to out and you had posted it to 3 different threads, so it showed up as spam. I'll unblock your account. You can email me at ck at new netscape dot com.

Cheers,

C.K.

7:14PMZeitgeist

Wow....THANK YOU!

That is WAY more than I ever expected...

For such an honorable action...I make the public pledge not to spam the netscape boards with my cut and paste message..although you may expect to see comments from on on just about every truther thread...

I also pledge to curb the lampooning (a bit) and not engage in "personal" attacks...although I will continue to be my snarky self...I also pledge to mock the truthers with every charactor in my font...*grin*

This action alone illustrates that you are in fact genuine in your concern for netscape as a news portal...rather than a jump point to hate speech...

And I will do everything in my power to assist you in an effort to purge anti-semites from your site...

You have greatly honored me...

I will never forget that...

As a small point of reference...even FAR left websites like Democratic Underground do not give a platform for truthers to spread their messages of hate and gain recruits...

And IMHO ...some of your advertisers would be horrified to such content here...having questions about 9/11 is one thing...jumping to conclusions is quite another matter...

Again...I thank you..

sincerly,

Zeitgeist

5:42AMAlex

Great Move, Netscapers!

But I completely disagree with your decision about my web-resource.

You've tagged my website as spam website, but this is not true!
I've collected there articles from different writes and made article analysis by different mathematical algorithms.
And another point is that I've personally looked for interesting articles for many netscape's channels and have posted only the best of articles found. And this is not spam again.

I'd be very appreciated if you change your decision about my website.

With kind regards,
Alex Filatov

10:47AMfrancis

Hi. I never really viewed the sex channel but I did participate in Netscape which I really like. However, for some reason my site was banned as porn and user can no longer submit my articles. I like Netscape and I welcomed the traffic so it seemed like a good deal for everyone. However, I am banned now, but my site is not pornography. At least by common standards. I understand that everyone's definition of porn is different, and I'll understand if you still feel my site is considered outside your TOS, but can you tell me what constitutes porn in Netscape? My site is a pop culture blog with celebrity news and commentary. Occasionally there are some "adult" themed posts- meaning adult language or mild nudity. However, my site does not contain pornography, nor do I try to make money from pornography. The pictures and stories I use are readily available on most pop culture web sites on the internet. I would appreciate some clarification if possible. Thanks!
Francis.

8:55PMMartin

If there is no sex channel, spammers will begin spilling into other categories. Why not just let the votes work everything out? I thought that was supposed to be the point of social bookmarking.

7:58AMSearch Engines WEB

bring back the sex channel - just improve the filtering algorithms

why should the bad ruin it for the good - the topic and goals are STILL valid.

It is important that we strive towards overcoming obstacles - but never give up :-)

8:30AMbruce hyatt

Imagine that, the "Sex Channel" has porn!!!!

12:06AMWendy

bring back the sex channel

http://yournaughtyvideos.com

7:02PMvinay kumar jha

my heartiest congrets. now a days 'sex' and 'sex habits' have become joicee food and junk food which spoils our new growing brains more than teach them intricacies and truenees of loving and loves therein. frankly the brain adopts such elaborations as machines and thinks 'sex' and 'sexing' as machining and sparing entertainments than a responsibility to continue our life-systems.

12:03AML

I think people are just too fucking prejudiced. The world was supposed to get better as we became more 'civilized' but how can a person hope when there is still racism, and sexism and all those disgusting things out there?