Animation Source Forums

I agree with cobalt on this one. But I think that there should be mate contest for characters but not so many. At least make one or two contest threads about the character's mate but if ya want an online mate then take it to pms or somewhere else.....

"Mates" aren't allowed anywhere except the rp forums and fanfics. Why?
1. Mate content can be moderated quite easily when it is in one spot like the rp forums
2. Once again it can be moderated easily when a fanfic moderator reads through the fanfics

To an extent, "mates" are necessary for many fanfics and quality rps, for love and family is part of life. Although I'd say that an rp or a fanfic only revolving around mates shouldn't be put on this site.

As for some who still don't want to understand why mate intolerance has risen to such a degree:

1. Years ago it wasn't too much of a problem. Yet with the growth of the site, and therefore a growth in "mates" fights broke out. And those were hourly fights.
2. These fights disconcerted and in many cases hurt the feelings of other members who weren't a part of the fight.
3. Eventually there was a separate box; a "mate box". That became worse, since all the fuss and fights got squeezed together in a thicker ball and the seemingly "ok" mate situations were cut away from good roleplay. Eventually that was removed and mates were actually forbidden in the boxes...
4. This is a Balto site for all ages. It is not a dating site! Quite a few members abused the site (via mates). They didn't make the site richer or contribute to it; they made it seem ugly and aggressive for other members who wanted to enjoy it.
5. Rumours and news of fights and rated explicit content to do with specific members on the site attracted such people as predators and inapropriate content users. You know what I mean. People would also go to the extent of misusing someone (meaning as far as it can go) in the roleplay box, private messages, or a totally different site or through a private messenger. This is NOT acceptable. It hurts people, and once members are hurt, the ones they find themselves surrounded by start feeling it too.
6. The whole mateship made others think they were supposed to have mates too. This brought about a larger potential of hardly knowing anyone at all and putting oneself into a situation where a less life experienced child could be tricked into something horrible by unknown people. There were cases of dangerous people using the "mate" pretext to get information out of children and to force things upon them. They could be banned and might have never seen a Balto picture since, but by that time (they only needed a short time) they already had other ways of communicating with the child (such as e-mails, private messengers, etc).
7. Many people were emotionally scarred. They couldn't realize what they were doing was roleplay, yet they "comitted" themselves in whatever emotional way they did... And moderators had to mess with and fix personal problems. Personally I had to stop suicides and hammer "poisoned" brains. It was horrible. And yet they wouldn't realize how much of my time they were wasting...
8. The site recieved letters from parents who were worried about their children, and for good reasons at that. We were told numerous things these kids had done online and who the people were they had befriended and become "mates" with. Many kids here don't know many concepts yet, and the allowing of mates was putting them in both physical and emotional danger.

An all-age friendly Balto site shouldn't encourage any dangerous activities. If someone wants to, well there's a myraid of private messengers to choose from. These problems exist all over the Internet, but it is by the means of the right rules that dangerous situations (either made dangerous by an unknown person or made dangerous by the strength of biased feelings (like heartbreaks, suicide, etc)) can be avoided (always to an extent though).
The aim is to keep members as safe as possible on the site, and provide a clean and comfortable environment for all Balto (and of course TLK) fans. Extreme partnership is something personal and not public, and so far the greater majority of the site goes, "mates" should never even attempt a return.

You know, if we could actually get some clarification from the mods themselves that'd make things a lot easier

Well, if he does mean fursonas...then, that's pretty much the same as Rping as yourself...Tell me if I'm wrong, but I always thought fursonas were animal(or creature, whatever) version of oneself?

So, if I am correct, fursona mates (of course unless they are made up characters that the writer\artist created themselves or they are together in REAL life) should be banned as well.

You just did from atleast 3. And very detailed replies at that.

Blatant "mate contests" aren't allowed. The mate concept is only allowed in forum roleplays (to an extent) and in fanfics (as far as apropriate goes).

I'm not really into the mate things myself, I'd much rather have a real relationship with a person. I think it's a little strange too, but I wouldn't be mean to someone about it either. I love animals, but I've no interest in them in that way.

I hope he does clear up this confusion soon though =S

About the contests:
Mate contests are mate content, which isn't allowed on the site. Now if it's included in some fanfiction project and characters and what not, that's a different story.
And I disagree. Mate contests shouldn't be allowed for characters - that would simply contradict the no mate rule. If they are forbidden on the site, why create contests for mates on the site? Simply illogical.

Most of them were so useless that they were deactivated. Mate rules apply there as they do for the whole site.

I mean as some actual consistent solid information that clearly defines what is allowed and what is not. Unless we don't have that?

RPing as mates is allowed on the forums and RPbox, yes... I haven't seen anyone take it too far though...[/quote]
I agree with cobalt on this one. But I think that there should be mate contest for characters but not so many. At least make one or two contest threads about the character's mate but if ya want an online mate then take it to pms or somewhere else.....[/quote]
"Mates" aren't allowed anywhere except the rp forums and fanfics. Why?
1. Mate content can be moderated quite easily when it is in one spot like the rp forums
2. Once again it can be moderated easily when a fanfic moderator reads through the fanfics

To an extent, "mates" are necessary for many fanfics and quality rps, for love and family is part of life. Although I'd say that an rp or a fanfic only revolving around mates shouldn't be put on this site.

As for some who still don't want to understand why mate intolerance has risen to such a degree:

1. Years ago it wasn't too much of a problem. Yet with the growth of the site, and therefore a growth in "mates" fights broke out. And those were hourly fights.
2. These fights disconcerted and in many cases hurt the feelings of other members who weren't a part of the fight.
3. Eventually there was a separate box; a "mate box". That became worse, since all the fuss and fights got squeezed together in a thicker ball and the seemingly "ok" mate situations were cut away from good roleplay. Eventually that was removed and mates were actually forbidden in the boxes...
4. This is a Balto site for all ages. It is not a dating site! Quite a few members abused the site (via mates). They didn't make the site richer or contribute to it; they made it seem ugly and aggressive for other members who wanted to enjoy it.
5. Rumours and news of fights and rated explicit content to do with specific members on the site attracted such people as predators and inapropriate content users. You know what I mean. People would also go to the extent of misusing someone (meaning as far as it can go) in the roleplay box, private messages, or a totally different site or through a private messenger. This is NOT acceptable. It hurts people, and once members are hurt, the ones they find themselves surrounded by start feeling it too.
6. The whole mateship made others think they were supposed to have mates too. This brought about a larger potential of hardly knowing anyone at all and putting oneself into a situation where a less life experienced child could be tricked into something horrible by unknown people. There were cases of dangerous people using the "mate" pretext to get information out of children and to force things upon them. They could be banned and might have never seen a Balto picture since, but by that time (they only needed a short time) they already had other ways of communicating with the child (such as e-mails, private messengers, etc).
7. Many people were emotionally scarred. They couldn't realize what they were doing was roleplay, yet they "comitted" themselves in whatever emotional way they did... And moderators had to mess with and fix personal problems. Personally I had to stop suicides and hammer "poisoned" brains. It was horrible. And yet they wouldn't realize how much of my time they were wasting...
8. The site recieved letters from parents who were worried about their children, and for good reasons at that. We were told numerous things these kids had done online and who the people were they had befriended and become "mates" with. Many kids here don't know many concepts yet, and the allowing of mates was putting them in both physical and emotional danger.

An all-age friendly Balto site shouldn't encourage any dangerous activities. If someone wants to, well there's a myraid of private messengers to choose from. These problems exist all over the Internet, but it is by the means of the right rules that dangerous situations (either made dangerous by an unknown person or made dangerous by the strength of biased feelings (like heartbreaks, suicide, etc)) can be avoided (always to an extent though).
The aim is to keep members as safe as possible on the site, and provide a clean and comfortable environment for all Balto (and of course TLK) fans. Extreme partnership is something personal and not public, and so far the greater majority of the site goes, "mates" should never even attempt a return.[/quote]


Man is that true. Couldn't agree more.



I need to get this out before I explode.
This is not directed to any one person, but EVERYONE if they had a mate or not. This is for EVERYONE.
No mates. Deal With It. I don't care. I don't. And this is not years ago, nor with it ever be years ago again. And steet's not about to go crazy anytime soon, so don't be hopin' for mates to return. Because they won't. And I tell you now, so read right. If mates come back, some members would hate coming on, and might leave. Your bugging people by saying " Hi baby! Whats up hottie!'' C'mon, Do They Care?
No.
No, They Don't.
Boo Hoo!

Personally, I think you all that had a mate should grow up. Taking mates of the site was a major step forward. So... What the flip are you thinking?
I know. Yes, I know!

''omg steet and the mds r sooo unfare 4 takin mts of the ste!!!''

Cry. Me. A. Flippin. River.

Do I care? Do I? Obviously not. If you all knew about how unsafe mates were. You would understand. Seriously. YOU WOULD!

What The Flip Are You Thinking? Making Kids Think They Should Have A Mate Because You Do? Uh Thats A No No!


I just had to get that off my chest.
WesternWonders