Suggestions regarding MM, your feedback here please Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello everyone!  :wave:

We've made many changes to our site since our opening in August 2003.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding our site (both the forum board and the home pages).

Here are some preliminary ideas I came up with to start:
[*] What do you like about MM?
[*] What do you think could/should be improved?
[*] Is our staff helpful?
[*] Can you contact us easily?
[*] Would you like to see anything different?
[*] Would you like to change your role here?

These are just questions to start you thinking. Honest feedback is most appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
~Cleo  :pharoah2

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello Fran and thanks for your feedback!  

What do you think could/should be improved?

Is there a simple way of listing all your work pieces posted? In each separate forum you can sort by 'topic starter' to find work, but in your profile it just shows all posts, with no way to sort.

Unfortunately, there are restrictions with Ikonboard. We did add a hack that allows you to view all posts in the profile page, however, it also shows comments you've made to other threads. Currently, what you mentioned is how I look for posts by member (within each forum itself and then sort by 'Topic Starter'.

Would you like to see anything different?

I'm not sure about mentioning this, but I think in some ways the site is a little too cosy: as one discussion mentioned, there are words used on the BBC every evening that are forbidden here and violence on the news that would be very much frowned on. However, I think it is more important to keep the atmosphere safe than please all writers all the time - so those of us writing unsuitable material will have to find other outlets for those pieces.

Good question worth mentioning. When I first began developing the site, two key elements surfaced:
[*] To offer friendly, yet thorough critiques, where we will support those members wishing to enhance their works in a setting that is relaxed, fun and challenging.
[*] Maintain a standard that is suitable for all ages and cultures of people.

Interestingly enough, our moderators had quite a discussion regarding this and the following became a brief summary that you'll find in our forums;
MM's Posting Standard:
Mosaic Musings is designed to meet a suitable standard for all ages. No dark, distasteful, explicit, obscene or profane language and/or implications thereof are allowed within our forums. If your post(s) contains any such material, then please email or PM a Praetorian.

There are many interpretations of what exactly qualifies as dark, explicit etc.. for example, some words that come to mind are:
wicca (satanic worship), cutting/self-mutilation, rape, eroticism, sexual interactions, and anything that infringes our TOU Code of Conduct: any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, obscene, abusive, tortuous, defamatory, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.

The outcome of these discussions (and there were plenty within our staff private forum)   was to agree that in the general forums, these 'questionable topics' may be moved into another of two forums:
[*]Ra's Renderings (Mentors Only) - the forum for infringed posts whereby we notify the poster by PM of the following:
'Hello (member name).

Your {title} piece posted in {forum name} has been moved into our mentor forum for discussion on content. This, in no way, reflects on you ~ rather it is intended to uphold the standards (and limitations) that Mosaic Musings has placed upon itself. We will reply to you within the next 3-7 days with the outcome of our decision. Thank you!'

If the staff deems the content 'inappropriate', then the post remains in Ra's and a follow up PM is sent to the member advising them of such.

While we acknowledge that your piece is well written, we will not be re-posting it into our public forum as the subject matter you have chosen is outside of our self-set limitations. We will be happy to receive other posts from you if you so wish. Again, this, in no way, reflects on you ~ rather it is intended to uphold the standards (and limitations) that Mosaic Musings has placed upon itself. If this subject matter is more to you liking, we suggest you post elsewhere on the Web.
[*]Shambhalan Sanctuary (Members Only) - This forum is (with a password requirement) to allow our members to post writings that tend to be of a more adult-oriented theme. Please keep in mind that the posts here must comply with our Terms of Use statement. No dark, explicit, erotic, suicidal, profane types of posts will be kept here. As long as your post is classy and shows a maturity with metaphor, rhythm etc.. it can be posted. Those posts that are just sleezy in nature have no place here at Mosaic Musings. We stand firm on this. There are plenty of other writing sites that cater to those topics and our members are free to choose as they wish.

To qualify to post here: You must ask a mentor for the password to this forum once the member has been on site for at least 90 days AND has at least 50 posts at MM. This way, we can see how the members have previously interacted with others.

This is a PRIVATE 'Members Only' forum.


Does this answer your query Fran?  

Thanks again for asking the questions!
~Cleo