Sertrel wrote:Everyone keeps saying, "public forum, public forum," but let's take the real-world example. Imagine you saw a large group of people in the lobby of the Baltimore Convention Center, milling around, having fun, chatting, discussing a party they were planning. You recognize one person who you met once before at another party. Would you go up and invite yourself to their party? Would you say that just because they were discussing it in a public forum where anyone could hear them, you should be allowed to join them? Would you say that because you shared a hobby or an interest, you should be allowed to join them?
You example is flawed. You see, in that example, the discussion isn't heard by anyone who doesn't recognize anyone. Only those people who find those people come and hear the conversation. Therefor, anyone who DOESN'T recognize someone will NOT hear the conversation. In essence, that is what I'm asking for.
Sertrel wrote:Turn it around. Imagine if you were in your hotel room with a few friends, and suddenly someone you met once at another con drops by, along with three or four of his/her friends. And they said they overheard you talking about this party in a public area, and presumed it was an announcement.
What your not getting is the difference between talking in private in a public place and having a Thread in a Public Forum.
Talking privately in a public place allows people who are either there or people who may notice someone and walk over to hear the general conversation.
A Thread on an Internet Public Forum is a lot different. Because its on a public forum on the INTERNET, that allows for pretty much anyone to join in. The reason for this is because, since its a highly controllable forum (allowing certain restrictions and whatnot), if no restrictions are applied, that would make it open to everyone .
Although it would be nice, you can't always say "Well hey! This is how it would be in real life, why can't it be the same on the internet?!?" Because of flaws that I just mentioned.
Sertrel wrote:Nowhere in this thread was there an "open invitation," or any sort of invitation at all. See <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=51982">this thread</a> or <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=48499">this thread</a> for examples of threads with an invitation. Note the difference in tone and tenor.
Mooo on page 5 wrote:It's pretty much if your a friend of a friend of a friend etc. you're in.
Mooo on page 9 wrote:It's not like there is any intricate guest list or something people usually ask to go to. It's kinda like Person A is going to the party, and he happens to bring persons B through D. So even though we might only know Person A, the friends that he/she brings along are always welcome.
Now, I'm not saying that is an invitation, but can you not see how it can be construed as a "If you know a guy at the party, you can go and bring a friend and be welcomed." Again, not saying that is what is being said, but can you not see how it can be thought of that way by another person?
Now, if this were all done via the livejournal thing I present before, here is how it could have gone:
Person: Can I go?
Corbo Peeps: Do you know someone?
Person: Yeah, I know (someone).
Corbo Peeps: Ask them for an invite to the Corbo Bash Livejournal thing.
If Person knows (someone) and (someone) gives them an invite. They are in. No misunderstandings or anything. Nothing but clean fun.
I'm not telling anyone to shut up. I'm telling you that you shouldn't do this in a public forum and NOT expect stuff like this to happen. It CAN be avoided by doing so via a private medium.
1 more thing...
Sertrel wrote:go hide themselves somewhere private
They don't have to hide themselves anywhere. But if the topic of discussion isn't public, put that someplace private, not public. For reasons I've already mentioned.
Again, let me reiterate that I am not saying "Leave these forums! We all hate you!" I have nothing against anyone. I'm just telling you that confusions CAN be eliminated. I'm simply asking you to do so.
You don't have to. I'm not going to make you. But don't be suprised if there are more confusions next year/this year about this private party if it keeps ending up in a public forum.
~Seen


