Requesting TOS "without reason" clarification

[xualas]

I became a Supporter somewhat recently and wanted to know a bit more about the Supporter Image section.

"Supporter-only Image Share section

An image share section for Supporters only. The terms and conditions for this section are different and more open and liberal than the normal image share section."

http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/users/supporter/?

There was no link to these "different" Supporter terms and conditions, so I checked in full Terms and Conditions.

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

Decided to read through it all. Under "Uploading files and images":

"Nexus staff reserve the right to edit details relating to your file (but not the uploaded files themselves) or remove it completely without warning or reason at their own discretion."

Searched the forums for "without warning or reason", but no topics directly referenced "or reason".

I understand the owners of the Nexus have every right to handle it as they see fit, and I have no problem with that. It just seems strange to leave something so... vague? Catch-all? Like I could publish a mod that follows all of the rules, but any staff member could just walk by and delete the whole thing on a whim, and if I ask the staff why it was removed, "Eh, no reason" could be seen as an acceptable answer.

Obviously, I'm not trying to say the Nexus staff are careless or inconsiderate like that. If they were, I wouldn't have become a supporter in the first place. I'm simply wondering what the inclusion of "or reason" really means.

Thank you for your time, and if this was posted in the wrong section, I apologize.

[Dark0ne]

Catch all, as you say.

[xualas]

Ah. Understood, then. I still think there could be a better word than "reason", but I'm sure you guys have put a lot more thought into it than I have, so it probably makes more sense than I realize. Either way, thanks for the response.

[Thandal]

@xualas; Would it read better (for Americans) if it said, "... without giving any warning or reason"?

[Oubliette]

@xualas; Would it read better (for Americans) if it said, "... without giving any warning or reason"?

 

Reads fine for this American.

[xualas]

@xualas; Would it read better (for Americans) if it said, "... without giving any warning or reason"?

 

Well, when I read things like this, I section them out to see if they make sense at the core. So here's how I tested it:

 

remove it completely without warning or reason at their own discretion.

remove it without warning or reason.

remove it without warning.

remove it without reason.

 

The content is fine, but it's the context that bothers me in that last line. I would assume there actually is a reason for something to be removed, but to not be provided a reason for it doesn't sound fair. Now, since Dark0ne confirmed it as a catch-all, I'm actually starting to wonder if "or reason" is really necessary. When that is paired with "at their own discretion", it becomes a redundant statement, since both parts are there for the same reason - to cover situations that are too numerous and/or complex to simplify into a reasonable space. A catch-all.

 

To have it say, "... remove it completely without warning, at their own discretion." That tells me they have a reason of some sort, but they don't have to tell me about it before the mod gets removed. It gets the point across perfectly.

[bben46]

Or, we could have a 12 page addendum to the TOS explaining in lawyer weasel words that no one will understand exactly what each and every one of the reasons are. Then someone will find a reason that isn't listed and try to get away with uploading something we missed. Instead, we use a catch all just like many legal documents do to avoid this scenario. So, yes it really is necessary. :yes:

 

Unlike most other sites we usually do tell why something was removed. Sometimes if it is something that the author just overlooked that explanation will be just to the author to give them a chance to correct it. But if whatever it was warranted a ban or formal warning, It will public and anyone can see why it was removed.

[xualas]

Man, this is one reason I would never want to handle a business like the Nexus. I mean, you guys are doing a fantastic job, but frig if I don't envy the legalese side of things. So even though "or reason" is redundant, that redundancy is needed for the sake of technicalities. It's dumb, but I get it. If only people weren't such opportunistic loophole seekers, TOS docs could be so much simpler. "Terms of Service: Yeah, uh... Be nice, keep things organized and enjoy sharing stuff, I guess." Haha. That would be the life, eh?

 

Oh, also, in regards to the Supporter Image section, is the only difference the allowance of nudity? From the way it's described, it sounds like there's more to it than that. I just wanna make sure I understand it.

 

Lastly (completely off-topic): I noticed you guys are closing in on 11 million members. Congratulations. ^^

[Thandal]

Oh, also, in regards to the Supporter Image section, is the only difference the allowance of nudity? From the way it's described, it sounds like there's more to it than that. I just wanna make sure I understand it.

 

Nudity, gore, any other NSFW stuff...

[bben46]

 

"Terms of Service: Yeah, uh... Be nice, keep things organized and enjoy sharing stuff, I guess." Haha. That would be the life, eh?

Yeah, that would be nice. But the internet jerks just won't cooperate. :whistling:

 

I think the original TOS was "Don't be a dick." :D