Finding A Solution

I'm completely against censorship, as an avid fan of all things horror. However, I think there's a difference with a morale obligation to uphold certain decencies and protect minors. As far as Opuss goes, children are here so that has to form some part in where the line is drawn. There will always be a line, some will continue to be offended when it's not crossed, others will want to cross it thinking they are not going too far. I've said before the standard has to be set by 'the average prrson's opinion' in a democracy that seems fair. Like the limits to free speech, the balancing act can never please everyone, but it needs to be there.. IMO 😉 my thumb is in need of a rest!

Food for thought ain't it? Maybe apps that minors can freely download should have a function whereby parents are invited to check out the content before letting the kids loose on them. Not sure how that could be implemented, but as we touched on before, parents clearly have to take more notice of what's happening on their kids smartphones. IMO. 👍 Great piece hun. 👏👏😘

Agree with you but in the case of opuss who sets the average persons opinions? and does that mean every time these posts come up there's going to be an outcry, would it not be better for one person to speak to the individual in question in a sympathetic method? I guess I'm just thinking out loud 😳

@Burrfoot thanks for the RP 😘

IMO the problem cannot be blamed on any one things its a combination of many factors! Example: blame society! But that's easy to say, break it down and it's a far bigger issue! Media, parenting, technology, peers, influences, music, film, books, war, crime ect ect and its all so very easily available to the kids these days so IMO the kids are almost forced to grow up too quickly and the pressure and responsibility of life is too much especially if they don't know who they are within themselves, it breeds confusion, depression and kids and adults need a release from it all. So, so many broken families put there too, kids having kids and grandparents at age of 30-ish. Respect is a big thing too, they think they can demand it rather than earn it and they become lazy, arrogance and egos.....they expect to walk into a well payed job at 17/18.

@sjw the outcry suggests the average opinion, the voice of one person rarely has any effect 😒

@leelee101 do kids even need smartphones? Omg! Becoming a mother as made me start to sound like my mother 😂😘

@leelee101 mwaah for the RP 😘

@Burrfoot not sure I agree an outcry can come from two three people that doesn't suggest average opinion unless I learnt my averages wrong 😉

@smellyfingers agreed.. But as for censorship on Opuss, I don't think there has been any.. Several people expressed opinions about posts expressing other opinions. All still stand, it's not till we get into legal argument that posts disappear

@smellyfingers agree that's why I suggest giving them the tools they need to make the right decisions for themselves so does it all come down to nurturing and the teaching of good morales? Thanks for the RP babe 😘

@sjw I wouldn't call it an outcry either, I borrowed your word 😉 of all the comments I've read the scales are certainly weighted in one direction. The opinion of those that don't speak up can not be counted, that's an unfortunate result of apathy

@Burrfoot yeah maybe outcry was a bit strong( must choose my words more carefully) fair point but then what if such posts have likes on them that out weigh the comments made against them? Does that mean its a case of 'we like these posts so you who don't pipe down' not my opinion btw just a thought 😉

I think because cutting is an addictive thing, it has to be moderated. Teens jump from trend to trend depending on what's in (cuttingforbieber!) so authors should take heed of their potential influence. We all struggle with our difficulties, drinking to gambling to self harming and even more. But how we post it, how we phrase it...if done correctly you're sharing your pain/anger and putting a warning to others as well that this is NOT the solution. Idk, I just think you can share and still keep the "innocent" innocent.

@patdolan thanks for the RP 😘

@sjw well i guess it must help but it's human nature to rebel isn't it? Well educated extremely rich families can still have issues with their kids. IMO it's about communication, talking and listening to kids, as individuals cos no 2 people are the same, if the foundations at early family life are not set they can go off the rails. Not enough love, attention, wants and needs ect then survival instincts kick in, if a child has less then it's friends (say not cool clothes or latest gadgets or what ever) then they will with peer pressure go get what they want, anyway and anyhow to fit in with the crowd. Adults do it too, look at London riots and the looters reasoning (well its a big multi millionaire company or everyone else was doing it so why not), to make a real change we surely must change perspectives and realise the consequences of our actions??? The "he got away with it so I will" attitude is wrong. Believe it or not I know people that come from broken homes and have sod all in life (no money, job, family ect) and would rather commit crime as they get the basics in prison for free (food, bed, water ect) but I also know people who were in similar situations that went to prison and learned to read/write and got more qualifications than me and set up own companies with HELP and we ALL need help from time to time! Like I said before communication is key and change from within. Why do we rebel? We are told what/how and when to do something often without reason and kids have egos lol here's a less known fact: some schools in London open early so kids can shower and wash their clothes at school!! If ya parents are high on drugs and booze and don't care why would a child care?? X IMO the country needs a backbone and a leader with some balls as we are being led into mass depression lol

@sjw def not on either side, (apart from a post I was asked to remove ages ago) the only removal of posts I'm aware of has been due to copyright or possible slander. There is no censorship on Opuss and that's great, but also a reason why debate is so important also. To bring balance to contentious issues.

@chickgamer agree and I really don't like those glamourising posts but they make me sad more than angry...because its a reflection of our youth today which means somewhere along the line they are being failed, like smellyfingers said I think the media is one of the biggest problems 😔

@Stablish thank you for the RP 😘

Sorry, that's not true, racist posts have been removed and rightly so and posts of a similar nature.

@sjw no they don't do they, but there's the peer pressure again hun. So and so's got one... It's nearly impossible to find the solution. ❤

@chickgamer @chickgamer People cut because they believe it to be the solution. It pumps adrenaline and endorphins into their system, relieving them of pain, stress, worry, depression etc ... All those emotions flood back soon after, but then they simply cut again and the emotions disappear once more. To assume that all people who cut believe it to be wrong is ignorant of their situation. Some truly believe that it does help, and from that comes the "glamorisation" of cutting.

@smellyfingers exactly I think you've hit the nail on the head we rebel more so when we aren't told and explained why we can't do certain things, I know I did No! Was never enough for me it was more a point I needed to prove and I did come from a stable home life, communication is key like you I know ppl with that same attitude prison is stress free they just beef up or keep their heads down how sad is that, the media is turning kids into clones and individuality is frowned upon, kids/young adults need to been given the confidence to know they don't have to be a victim of circumstances they can and many do make better lives for themselves definitely need a leader with balls how's your social diary looking 😂😘

@Burrfoot agree debate is healthy 😘

@Jamtots I understand that but I meant that sharing it here, with others who don't self harm and if they do, don't share it with others is seeking out attention to glamourise it. Even if it helps you, sharing it almost gives the idea that "hey this could work for you cos it works for me!" Do you see what I mean?

@leelee101 I know but when I was a kid "so and so got was" wasn't a valid reason for me to have it, if anything my parents were more determined I shouldn't have it because they didn't want me to be a sheep lol (my dads words) my brother has brought up his daughters with the same principle and I have three very individual free thinking teenage nieces so it didn't do them any harm 😘

@Jamtots that may be correct for some children, although its hard to imagine a person reaching any level of education whereby they feel no shame or thought that it is 'wrong'. If there are some then all the more reason to try and educate.

I was thinking about what posts have been removed/censored and as above it's for legal reasons or hate reasons.. Here's a thought, if a post inciting hate about a section of the community is removed on those grounds, why not remove a post inciting self hate 😉

@sjw and it was the same for me too hun. Just seems to me they've become an unnecessary necessity so they can all be cool. The perils and pitfalls of which are being highlighted today.

@Burrfoot but then self hate is aimed at yourself if I wanted to hate myself is that offensive to you? If I choose to hate a whole section of society say Jews for ex then clearly that's offensive is that not a difference?

@Burrfoot that isn't offensive to anyone. You actually wish to outlaw self-hate? I think that's going a step too far.

@chickgamer Are you referring to all posts about cutting or only those who share it in a positive light, such as "painting a picture"? But yes, I get your point. I was simply laying out the thought process of such a person (:

@sjw your most welcome, I would love to debate but my job isn't giving me much time at all 😓😘

@Jamtots only those who try to dress it up and make it pretty, so like painting a picture. I've seen people

*Discuss self harm without anyway making it appealing or a poem about their struggle to over come it. This is the first time I've seen posts that make it "appealing" if that's the right word @jamtots

@sjw the key phrase is 'incitement to hate' to encourage hatred against a person. If that is designed to encourage hatred directed towards oneself, is it less dangerous? A minor point that I don't want to dilute a debate with. @Jamtots attempted suicide is already against the law.

@Burrfoot inciting hate would anger me and I'd report it and hope the admin would deal with it self harm saddens me and no it isn't less dangerous to the person concerned but on society as a whole yes it is, you can't liken a self harmer to say...EDL or a jihadist movement 😳

@Burrfoot wasn't saying that you were just an example 😊

I'm fully booked up hun!! Attempted suicide is against the law @Burrfoot so if I pop loads of pills and wash it down with booze and survive I'll get arrested? What a joke!! Surely I should be given help/guidance and counselling? Not a criminal record?? Lets turn that around: I smoke, I know I'll get cancer as does my government but cos they make huge profit in tax it's legal to smoke, it's also highly addictive, my gov know so are they assisting me in suicide? I suppose the margins of tax on fags to my nhs bill is too huge for them!! Yet it's still one of the biggest killers! And sure I have a choice to give up just like others have choices lol

@sjw youre right I can't compare those examples. But I can compare pieces of writing that encourage or promote hate. Just because it is only dangerous to the victim, who is also the perpetrator, doesn't lessen it's impact.

@smellyfingers if you try to kill yourself and refuse medical help you will get locked up. It is against the law to safeguard 'you'. You will then be given the chance to accept help. Unfortunately these days it's rare for help to be forced on ppl and the law is the only thing left to pick up the pieces.

@Burrfoot yes you can but my point is do we have a right to say "you can't write that" or ask for it to be removed because if we do then what about other posts that ppl find offensive that's my whole point where does censorship begin and end and does it mean those of us with the loudest voices views are more important than the rest?

@smellyfingers a good point about smoking!

@Burrfoot of course it is, I was having a brain fart lol. Locked up under mental health act? I guess most people may live with the illness in silence then attempt suicide as "a way out" or "cry for help" I'm sure repeat suicides get help tho.

@sjw yes I think we have the right to protect children and say 'you can't right that'. However, I have not asked for any of the posts to be removed as I prefer to debate it. It's not the loudest voices, it's the most voices that power a democracy.

@smellyfingers can be mental health act in Scotland only in a public place. Otherwise it would be a breach of the peace, often threatening to self harm is sufficient.

@smellyfingers I've seen some faces every week, take them to a place of safety only for them to be let out half hour later 😒

@Burrfoot of course we do, and that's why I wouldn't let my kids have so much free access to any form of media, not that Poppie is bothered about any of that yet 😂

The most voices? So does 20+ likes beat 4 or 5 voices just a thought 😊

@Burrfoot 👆

@sjw but we know there are many kids on here, so that horse has bolted. I'm confused about the 20 likes though?

Which pro cutting piece has 20+ likes? And a like is not the same as a voice on here as there is no dislike.. But I go back to my point that there has been no censorship on pro cutting posts so it seems the bosses share that view.

@Burrfoot it was just a theoretical question hun, but how is a like not the same as a voice it's still showing that you like something isn't it? to me that's a voice my likes are people voicing that they like my words is it not?

@sjw so there's no pro cutting piece that has shown its widely accepted, or 'liked' yet there are enough voices to deduce it is not widely welcomed. Theoretical points to the different just confuse me. As for likes v voices, yes a like is a compliment as is a positive voice. However in terms of judging average opinion I would err towards counting the voices as there is the capability to add for or against comments to make direct co

Direct comparison.. But no 'dislike' button to make equivalent comparison

@Burrfoot I don't know tbh I don't always read them or take note, but possibly not or would imagine there would be a lot more posts in response to the posts that complain about it

@sjw you lost me there 😂 bottom line IMO is that censorship is a fact in our (uk) society. Common morality and sense dictates the balance between the protection of people and the rights of free speech. This will always be tested and evolve, whether that's for tighter or looser censorship will ebb and flow with public opinion. For me, the responsibility to protect children takes precedence. Each controversial subject matter can be tested on its own merits, but IMO glamourising self harm fails every test. In the absence of such censorship we have debate and expressing an alternative voice, which has happened today. For me it's a more important subject to debate and object to than seeing quotes, or instagram posters getting loads of likes, or plagiarism.

😂 I lost myself! As regards to the self harm I'm indecisive because I've never done it and whilst I'm not comfortable with the glamourising of it...I don't know the reasons behind it yes there seems to be a trend, but then there are still the ones who do it for there own personal reasons which I don't agree with but also don't understand so I find it hard to make a judgement, for me to responsibility to protect children is of course my priority which makes me wonder if Opuss should have an age restriction but that's a whole other debate lol 😘

@sjw self censorship works for me! If I like it then great,if I don't then I don't look or listen! Great topic babe 👏🌟❤xx

@gazplend thank you! And for that in depth comment lmao 😘xx

@sjw I haven't got time to debate! If people don't like my opinion then tough luck! 😂😂❤xx

@sjw 👏👍 .. There is an age restriction, but it's openly flouted.. Mind you it would just be secretly flouted otherwise.. If it was up to me the lower age limit would be 21 and there would be a curfew on all yoofs after 9pm 😂

@Burrfoot is there? I didn't realise what age is it? 21! Curfew 😂

@sjw 14 I think, it came up during a spat a kid has with someone.. 😉 god help my kids, they ain't gonna be out the door without a chaperone

@Burrfoot good for you! We are going to be exactly the same 😂 14 I had no idea lots on here younger than that 😱

Exactly something like that would work for opuss, and yeah I think 16+ your old enough to make up your own mind and shouldn't be censored, most 16yr olds are well equipped to make choices hopefully the right ones lol it's definitely a marketing tool isn't it, if I'm told I can't do something it makes me want to do it even more 😜 thanks for the RP Rich x

@RichWithey 👆

Like this 👏👏👏👏👌😃

@Burrfoot @sjw the age limit is supposed to be 13 (it was my argument with a kid 😂) and ugh, this issue makes me cry. If you motive the age of those posting 'pro-cutting' posts they are mainly under 16's. Which is why I worry. Idk what the answer is (and all your debating has hurt my brain) 😜

*notice not 'motive'

Oh yes. And what do we think about pro-ana or pro-Mia posts that get bandied around from time to time?

As repellent as cutting may be, I can't condone censorship to the level of someone else judging what is "glamorizing" and what shines a light on a problem or issue. I write from a perspective that is literally opposite to what I actually believe on a regular basis; I don't need anyone telling me whether Binary Man glamorizes small minded ness or opposes it: that's for the reader to decide. I'm pretty happy with the voluntary self ratings we impose on ourselves here. As far as underage users, that is a different issue that should be addressed, though I honestly can't imagine how.