My website was reported for "condoning" drug use.

Wicked · 09-28-2008, 07:00 PM

Thursday of last week I got this e-mail, originally I thought it was a hoax since it was sent from unknownsender@unknownaddress:

Quote:

Hi Mark,

We have received the following abuse report
" believe several of the categories of the forums on this website may
violate terms of your hosting agreements.

[link removed, I'm not sure if it'd be considered advertising]

Namely the "Altered State" and "Porn" forums, both which seem to discuss and condone the use of those materials by, what are, no doubt underage members being allowed to participate in these discussions.

Please remove the copyright content and then mail to absue@cirtexhosting.com.
Thank you for your time.

Thanks!

Antony.

Cirtex support

So, I contacted the host, just in case it wasn't a hoax:

Quote:

I was recently checking my e-mail and stumbled acrossed this e-mail, claming to be from Cirtex, however the sender was marked as "unknownsender@unknownaddress":

"Hi Mark,

We have received the following abuse report
" believe several of the categories of the forums on this website may
violate terms of your hosting agreements.

EndGlobalBoredom.com Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Namely the "Altered State" and "Porn" forums, both which seem to discuss and
condone the use of those materials by, what are, no doubt underage members
being allowed to participate in these discussions."

Please remove the copyright content and then mail to absue@cirtexhosting.com.
Thank you for your time.

Thanks!

Antony.

Cirtex support."

Can someone confirm or deny this e-mail, I'm not going to make any changes until I get a more official notification of any type of violation of the TOS, as it would be a waste of my time in the event that this is simply a hoax.

They replied:

Quote:

Hi Mark Dunnigan,

We have received your forum abuse

EndGlobalBoredom.com Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Namely the "Altered State" and "Porn" forums, both which seem to discuss and
condone the use of those materials by, what are, no doubt underage members
being allowed to participate in these discussions."

so please disbale those option on your forum.

...And so I decided that it's time to break out the first amendment and dust it off, since apparently it doesn't exist anymore.

Quote:

I don't specifically remember reading any section under the TOS in regards to discussing safe drug use, and promoting safe use of drugs to those that choose to use them. The content in the "Altered States" forum is to be considered educational, to promote safety among drug users and to inform non-users that not all drug are to be considered dangerous, that it is just propaganda set forth by the goverments.

In regards to the "Porn" forum, all users with access to that forum must be manually added to a specific usergroup designated to those over the age of 18, there are bound to be incidents where users lie about their age, but, this is the internet. Pornography is the largest industry on the internet, and you will find it everywhere, and you will find users under the age of 18 lying about their age in order to gain access to it. I also did not read anything in regards to pornography under your TOS.

I'm willing to bet that a disgruntled user from the forums reported the site for a TOS violation because he/she was banned from using the forums for actually posting material that does in fact violate the TOS here at Cirtex.

My administrative staff and myself take necessary measures against those users who violate our TOS, and those that pose a risk to violate the TOS of our host, in that case, you guys here at Cirtex. In regards to posted content "condoning" drug use, discussing pornography, etc., it all falls under my user's first amendment right to free speech. They are exercising their right to discuss what they wish. My users have not committed anything against the law, or the TOS. While I understand that you are simply doing your job by investigating every abuse report, I ask that you also understand that there are people out there who will report sites like mine for it's content, it's expected, especially if someone has a grudge against the website, the staff, or myself.

So, what do you guys think about this? At the very least, I plan on seeking a couple months of free hosting for wasting my time. If they don't cave, I plan on moving hosts.

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