You are all wonderful people for putting this international family together, but there are many concerns in regard to the SoM family's development I feel more people should speak up about. You are all fantastic, awesome, and hard-working people. Thank you for giving me this wonderful place that I call my virtual home.
I've been an avid member for 7 years on and off. I have seen drastic changes over time. But, there are serious obstacles that many members complain about that is tearing away the potential of this site and family expanding. Please know I am not by any means trying to start a riot; I am only addressing commonly complained about issues for the others and myself. Please allow me to take the time to explain these issues and how they impact SoM's community as a whole.
1. Fluff Spells Published And Remained: As far as I know, I thought the entire site was moderated for fluffy content. We all know that fluffy content does not relate to magick or Pagan religion in any way. Many newbies come here with a genuine interest in walking this path, but then they see those fluffy spells that are listed in the Spells section and probably begin to feel concerned. This possibly allows our family to lose new family members. I feel that all fluffy spells should be removed from the page entirely so we can better represent what true magickal art is.
2. True Fluff Members Listed As Members: I understand there are many profiles to moderate. I respect the hard work that is done. Lately, I've read many profiles that indicate that user is posting fluff content and claiming to be fantasy creatures on their About Me sections. Again, there are tons of genuine people that see those profiles up and feel discouraged from settling here. It's sad that we may lose too many people that wanted to be a part of this family. Also, these profiles and messages from the fluff users are annoying; I know messages can't be stopped, but what they post on their profiles can. Is there a strategy for this?
3. Website Age Requirement: Considering the fluffs, many claim to be ages 13-17. Magick can lead into teaching minors about religions their parents may not be comfortable with them knowing about. I feel that maybe boosting the sign up age requirement to 18 would make this site a more mature atmosphere for those who truly want to learn. Could there be a possibility of this?
I'm sorry this post was long. I just wanted to put my thoughts and ideas out there for anyone to see. Thank you, moderators, for all you do. I'm only trying to help improve this home with suggestions.