Animation Source Forums

I'm with you, man!

Agreed. Mates should not be allowed on Baltosource between members. I have nothing (absolutely nothing) against online relationships but, there are alot of children on this site and I have to say most kids would have a mate just to have a mate...and not because they actually have feelings for the other person...And because alot of the members here are children and don't really know how to handle a relationship. (When I say children I mean kids 12 and under)

Although, when you say character shouldn't have mates, what do you mean exactly? If you mean someone can't create a character and then create a mate for him\her...then, I disagree. I think mates for fictional characters are fine.

Not going to happen.

1) Mates have been widely accepted in the world of canine fanfiction ever since they began, there's even an example in the Balto sequel that Balto and Jenna are mates
2) Doing so would greatly restrict the options left for a member here to submit works thus a reduce in a section already lacking quality
3) If it were ever done, there would be outrage.

Okay, I can see your concern. In the past there has been issues with that sort of thing, but with the mate box gone and a few things ironed out there's not so much as a problem as the occaisonal trouble maker.

Characters have not been used as scapegoats yet because people haven't realised this potential.
Scapegoating of characters is easily detectable and not allowed.
Anyone who openly used scapegoating would probably be chucked out first thing.

There's no problem with scapegoating yet... I can see why you would want to prevent it ever from happening. But it would also hurt the members that do stay within the rules. Think about it... the site would become a soulless happy bouncy child's world. No vibrancy in the fanfics, just the same old "HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY". Less creative options, more trouble.
If it ever happened, it'd be crazy. And no doubt people would rebel.

Mates was not complety disgusting, sad and anoying...it was stupid -.- It should be banned, after all I've seen I'm relived it has been. It has digusted my the way people have joined only for it.

For example, a member came on (Name not to be mentioned) who saw the whole mates thing and went on the RP box asking if this a porn site, which frankly I find completly disgraceful >d Noit to metion the countless profiles I have seen in my time here that have nothing but 'Hi I need a Mate, PM me please!!!1'

As for characters, I think it should be ok. It's a different thing altoghether, nothing to do with all this 'Virtull boy/girlfriend thing'

Somone comes onto a website trying to find him(her)self a 'Online Partner' There's only one word..and thats 'Pathetic' The Fire has spoken. -.-

Finally!

People rarely look at "why" mates aren't allowed on the shout boxes. They're too busy fussing about how they get into trouble when they try to get jiggy with a "mate" in the RP box. And I agree - this is a childrens' site. However, I am seeing a lot of teenagers on the site; and fewer "children" (meaning pre-teens and lower). Teens (I am speaking as one myself) tend to think they don't have to follow rules. They already know enough to get along in the world, and their hormones don't help either.

So few have in mind what "Balto" is, and see the site as a "hang-out" as opposed to a fan site.

I'd like to clear this up, though:
Mates were also banned, not because of the annoyance it caused, but because the staff recieved some e-mails from concerned parents about their child having "sex" with someone online; taking it further and further each time. With this under our "belt," the staff decided to get rid of mates for the sake of pedophilia, which has also been suspected (as with any other site).

People think that this is MySpace or something, really. Get a "mate," and you're cool. Yes, Bruno and I have "one," but mine is my character (not me). As far as I know, Bruno's "mate" is also his girlfriend.

We're not trying to dictate our members. It's not a struggle for power. It's simply trying to protect our younger users on our site. It hurts me when I hear on the news: "Today a young girl was found.... met the man on myspace...." It's reality. People are really out there to "get" younger girls, knowing the age when they think they are old enough to "fall in love." When they can't locally, they turn to the net. We want this to be safe for people of all ages, and obviously mates provoke such behavior.

I agree, though, that it should be banned from the forums, as well. It's no different than acting it out in the role play. If it's more mutual, though; such as a hug here and a cuddle there, I can handle it. But those "mate-based" role plays are just too much! Am I saying ban it entirely? No. Mating is also reality for all animals, including wolves and lions. So drawing your character with a "mate" (not your FURSONA)? Between friends? Keep it appropriate! I've got a commission of two "secret lovers" I am working on - it's not that hard to make a picture tender yet appropriate. Same with role plays and fictions.

Yes, it's annoying. I'm walking the fence here myself. Personally, I don't see the point in: "you're my 'mate' and I love you. For reals." Especially if that person lives in another country. Is it possible? Sure. But you're "loving" what they tell you, not who they are. That, or you fall in "love" with the idea of them.

As far as I'm concerned, mate-based role plays should not be here. As I said above, it provokes the nasty behavior. Want to have a mate? It's called Private Message [PM] for a reason - don't go all PDA and make some people think less of you.

In general I agree, as Kirada said, the main point of banning mates is to protect the members of Balto/Lion King/Animation Source.

I think some clarity is needed though. Mates for your characters (using a popular couple as an example) like Draco's Achak and Cat's Kiona, is fine. It's for the sake of fanfiction and normally fanart aswell.

Mates as in you or your fursona is not allowed. It is more than possible that it could lead to a member ending up in very real danger.

As for forum RP's, I can think of much better things to RP about than mates especially as there's no real point to it. Actual "mating" is most defiantely not allowed. It is possible to create an interesting RP based on other things.

All in all, I agree with Kirada on this one.

Ah, fursona. Got a bit confused.

Fursona mates are basically the same as the banned form of mates, ye, and banned they shall stay.

I agree, characters should be allowed to have mates within stories. But in RPs and such, that can be a problem.

RPing as mates is allowed on the forums and RPbox, yes... I haven't seen anyone take it too far though...