Young Writers Society

I usually pass denial pretty quickly and go to anger. I'll admit it. I'm an angry person.

=P I went through all of them, anger stage was relatively quick I must say but none the less. I thought the newbies between now and then who hadn't seen that would get a kick out of it.

To all those who think the reaction has been over the top: It's very easy to criticize something when you have absolutely no responsibility for it. It's very easy for you to sit back and say, "This is disappointing." It's very easy to talk in superior tones.

However, it's not so easy when you are responsible, or when you are actually in legal danger. Something happened, and the fact that it is on a need-to-know basis should be enough for you considering that YWS is free and all the hard work that has gone into this site. But instead, you're a stupid free-loader who doesn't deserve the privilege of being a member of YWS.

Who would want to be a member of a group where you aren't allowed to disagree with the people in charge?

Rei you're allowed to, just don't expect to get anywhere with it.

Rei, I hate to be rude, but you are being extremely immature about this. You have every right to disagree, and to complain about it, but you're going about it in completely the wrong way, and it's obviously upsetting a lot of people.

This is a free website, and the people who run it do everything they can to ensure it's members safety. Personally, I'm extremely grateful for that, because I'd hate to be put into a bad situation online because no one was looking out for me and I made a stupid mistake (and trust me, at fifteen, you make stupid mistakes). As Sam so fittingly stated:

I'm a teenage girl. Nothing screams, "RAPE ME" more than that in our society.

You may think that you can take care of yourself because you're over 20, and that's fine, but I know that I love YWS and I love that I can count on people like Nate to make it a good, safe, and productive site.

If you don't like the way Nate is running things, no one is forcing you to stay. You keep saying you're not trying to start an argument, but you're being extremely argumentative, both in this thread and in the PM you sent me.

Alice is right, you are allowed to disagree, but don't expect to get anywhere with it, or to make anyone happy when an ordeal is caused because of it.

Methinks... since the chat is obviously not coming back, any more debate is pointless. So maybe someone should close this thread before more arguing erupts.

Prokaryote

I agree with Pork!

I do not cause you to see raging anger where only mild annoyance exists.

Yeah, I hate to say it, but Prok is right.

This thread will be locked tomorrow morning my time (roughly 12 hours from now).

Thanks Nate!

I think the chat was a great component on YWS, which allowed for greater socialisation yes - with the associated dangers - but was also really beneficial, in that it got a lot more people to stay on and continue browsing through YWS, which in turn led to more reviews and such.

I understand that something dangerous occured and this isn't just a precautionary method, but having said that, removing the chat doesn't really remove the danger of online predators does it? They can still register, still pretend to be people they're not and make friends with unsuspecting members via PMs and from that of course, to IM.

The only difference is now there is no supervision at all. Now members are entirely on their own. I think that removing the chat is actually a bad move in that sense because 80-90% of the time an older member of mod was at hand to supervise and regulate. And if thats not enough, then perhaps the move that should be made mandatory that at least one mod has to be present for the chat to operate.

In regards to online predators, people just have to use your common sense. Some basic rules for the youngins:

1) Never meet up with YWS people you don't know, without an adult present and aware of what your doing. Always make sure your parents know where you are.
2) Notify a mod immediately if you are approached in a suspicious or creepy way.

I'm not the expert on these things but I think workshops explaining these things and raising awareness of the dangers and how to spot/react to them would be a far better move then a crackdown on great services YWS offers which doesn't deal with the danger at all.

Cheers,
Jiggy

Jiggity ->> You bring up a good point, which is why other measures are being currently discussed by the mod squad. Sam's mom actually made a bunch of great suggestions that are being implemented, albeit far slower than I would like owing to scant time on my part.

However, your suggestion is duly noted. But, the chat room will not be returning except for special events.

Cool, as long as all the bases are being covered.

Better slowly with more effect, than rushed with little to none.


Cheers.

That's pretty cool, Nate, to know that even other members parents are taking interest.

I'd mention it to mine, but they're so paranoid as is, I'm half-afraid they'd make me stop getting on YWS.

Once again, I thank you for being insanely awesome!

<3

~Bella Bambina - The plushy~