modified

So what is the worst possible consequence if moderators removed images that were considered inappropriate but did not ban people for them? By banning people, what will this achieve, over the alternative of not banning people?

Again, context will be an important factor. I dont believe there can be a generic, instantaneous 'punishment' for any rule breach really, particularly with regards to sexual material. The best we can do at this stage is include a guideline that requests that no pornographic material be posted, and deal with instances of this request being disregarded as they arise, in the best way we can.

I think of the ban as both a deterrent and a "time out". However, I see your point especially given, for example, that we respond to threats of violence by deleting them - and only ban with repeated offences. Surely as similar response to posting porn would make sense. So the rule would be:

Posting pornographic material and/or links is unacceptable and mods will remove such material from posts or remove the entire thread if necessary

.

Final call for comments

I agree that simply removing the offensive material is a much better response, and bans only if they don't get the message.

and the wording? Do you agree with the definition of pornography I set out a couple of posts back - and the problem of residual subjectivity in any wording?

O.K. I'm happy with

Posting pornographic material and/or links is unacceptable and mods will remove such material from posts or remove the entire thread if necessary

The mods will finalise it in the next few days.

The mods have decided to add it to the guidelines as quoted in the post above.
Thanks to all the users who engaged in discussion and/or PM'd the mods with regard to this matter.

I posted a thread about a new rule a while back and got a couple of comments. I have decided to add it to the rules:

Where threads degenerate into ongoing abusive personal attacks they may be locked. Users who post such attacks may have their posts deleted and repeated attacks will result in a ban.

If you see such attacks occuring or are the victim of one do not respond in the thread with your own attack, PM a mod with the relevant link to the thread, indicating the offending post.