Forum policy update: Avatar and signatures

**Loki** · 01-08-2009, 10:21 AM

Please note that from today, avatars and signatures containing Nazi imagery will not be permitted on Apricity forum. If in doubt, please pm me or Arctic Fox.

If you are currently using such, kindly change it as soon as possible please.

Many thanks for your understanding -- the Apricity is in no way a "Nazi" website, and we do not want to give a wrong impression to our visitors.

**~~Beorn~~** · 01-08-2009, 12:57 PM

Verstanden, mein Fuhrer....eh....I mean, Okay, Loki.

**Nachthimmel** · 01-08-2009, 01:19 PM

I'm not Nazi or anything like that, quite on the contrary I don't like the ideology, but isn't this measure to single out an ideology a tad harsh? To be honest I never liked this measure. For some reason it's very popular on these preservation sites. It already exists on Stormfront, Nordfolk, Stirpes, Skadi, and other sites because they don't want to be considered Nazi sites. I believe the only sites that allow it are Grossdeutsches Vaterland, Thiazi and e-Nationalist, and those only because they have a National Socialist oriented mission. I understand that forum owners don't want their sites to be perceived as Nazi, but that's what disclaimers are for, or am I wrong? Most internet forum have disclaimers where they say that the opinions and viewpoints held by members are NOT to be considered the site or owner's viewpoints. What happens if a good number of National Socialists register on Apricity? The site could be perceived as Nazi. What would be done in such a situation? Would registration of National Socialists become limited or would references to National Socialism not be allowed in posts?

Anyway, I am not trying to tell you how to run your site, it is just my opinion and the call is yours as it should normally be.

But if you really must insist on limiting the expression of National Socialists, why not forbid all political avatars altogether? It would not be fair if someone uploaded a Communist propaganda poster, for instance.

**Loki** · 01-08-2009, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Nachthimmel

But if you really must insist on limiting the expression of National Socialists, why not forbid all political avatars altogether? It would not be fair if someone uploaded a Communist propaganda poster, for instance.

Because people who want European preservation are not regularly slandered for being "Commies".

**~~MarcvSS~~** · 01-08-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Loki

Because people who want European preservation are not regularly slandered for being "Commies".

I do believe Nachthimmel has a point here... Not that I question your judgement comrade, but he has got a very strong point here...

On Stormfront they invoked this policy aswell a little while back. It cost them quit the number of members cause they called it a free speech forum...

**Nachthimmel** · 01-08-2009, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Loki

Because people who want European preservation are not regularly slandered for being "Commies".

So Communist avatars would be considered acceptable by forum policy?

I'm just skeptical about these mainstreaming policies all these sites have adopted. Some time ago I opened a poll on Skadi, where the staff took some measure of mainstreaming years ago and forbade Nazi avatars. Anyway, in this poll I asked if the mainstream would perceive Skadi as a racist site. Most people answered "yes" and I agree with them. Despite the fact that they took down their Nazi avatars. Racist and Nazi are almost interchangeably used by the mainstream. I think the mainstream would consider any site that stands for European preservation a Nazi site, no matter which measures it takes. The enemies of preservation use such labels to intimidate preservationists.

**Loki** · 01-08-2009, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Nachthimmel

So Communist avatars would be considered acceptable by forum policy?

Yes, by default, as we have not had any Communist invasion as of yet.

I'm just skeptical about these mainstreaming policies all these sites have adopted. Some time ago I opened a poll on Skadi, where the staff took some measure of mainstreaming years ago and forbade Nazi avatars. Anyway, in this poll I asked if the mainstream would perceive Skadi as a racist site. Most people answered "yes" and I agree with them. Despite the fact that they took down their Nazi avatars. Racist and Nazi are almost interchangeably used by the mainstream. I think the mainstream would consider any site that stands for European preservation a Nazi site, no matter which measures it takes. The enemies of preservation use such labels to intimidate preservationists.

Apricity is not one of "these sites". We are individual and don't belong to a Skadi or Stormfront club. We will set our own policies.

**Nachthimmel** · 01-08-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by KCV...

I do believe Nachthimmel has a point here... Not that I question your judgement comrade, but he has got a very strong point here...

On Stormfront they invoked this policy aswell a little while back. It cost them quit the number of members cause they called it a free speech forum...

Yes, exactly. That's why many members left Skadi too. I'm a supporter of free speech myself but I would give up some rights if it meant to gain an advantage as European preservationists. I am nevertheless afraid that no matter what European preservationists do, no matter what kind of avatars they forbid on sites, they will still be regarded as Nazis. It is something we can't change. Stormfront is still best known as the largest Nazi and racist site and that won't change in a million years, even if they remove all avatars. Like racist, anti-semite, homophobic, Islamophobic, we will have to get used to this labeling. I used to care how mainstream people regarded me, but I stopped caring. I am not looking for the sympathy of those who slander European preservation. The only time we will get rid of it will be when preservationist governments are at power in Europe again.

I'm a "she", by the way.

**Arrow Cross** · 01-08-2009, 01:38 PM

Nachthimmel has it right, as I already elaborated, I think this policy has more drawbacks than positives. The mainstream doesn't care, we are their arch-enemies, no matter how we dress ourselves here. We can and should hide our thoughts in mainstream places and forums, but this is clearly not one.

On the other hand... questions arise.

So Communist avatars would be considered acceptable by forum policy?