Official ruling on profanity?

WillJ · Jul 17, 2003

From the forum rules:

"What can't you post?
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this forum."

(emphasis added by me, of course)

Yet everyone knows that things like "sh*t" and "****" are posted all the time, without punishment. In fact, a while ago it was perfectly acceptable, AFAIK, and then Lefty posted that it isn't allowed, * or otherwise. But I don't think too many people saw it, and it still happens all the time (I myself sometimes do it).

So I'm looking for a clarification: Has that ruling changed? Is "b*tch" or an equivalent allowed? What about complete *ness (****, etc.)? What about something like @$#%? If a mod or TF says that it's not, I'll be sure to never do it again.

And maybe it could be clarified and emphasized in the forum rules.

cgannon64 · Jul 17, 2003

I often post the words b*tch and b*stard, and they usually go un-modded.

I think those two, along with *ss, are "minor" curses that are acceptable when used in joking, non-insulting manner.

EDIT: I usually post those words withouth the stars, BTW.

EDIT 2: While this topic is up: Can I use the word sh*t in my sig? have a hilarious Churchill quote that involves it.

china444 · Jul 17, 2003

I got banned for this:

Originally posted by china444

DONT PASS THE GODD*** PUCK SO F***** MUCH, SHOOOOT!

So i wont do it again, i thought it was acceptable, but I guess it wasnt.....so it wont happen again.

Duke of Marlbrough · Jul 17, 2003

And yet you quote it? :mischief:

cgannon64 · Jul 17, 2003

You got banned for that China? I've gotten away with uncensored b*stard in OT. Usually its in a joking form, of course.

Tell me, did I get away with it because it was unnoticed or because a mod decided not to ban me for it? Because that would make my second banning that I heavily disagree with... :mischief:

china444 · Jul 17, 2003

And by the way, i had the asterisks in, so its not like I used the real word or anything.

cg, dont argue with your bans. They just make em longer.

WillJ · Jul 17, 2003

Originally posted by cgannon64
I often post the words b*tch and b*stard, and they usually go un-modded.

I think those two, along with *ss, are "minor" curses that are acceptable when used in joking, non-insulting manner.

I don't think "b*tch" is a "minor" curse, considering it's censored. And are any words allowed when used in an insulting manner?

And I seriously doubt bastard, damn, ass, etc. are in any way considered any worse than other words, otherwise they'd be censored, right? I also don't think adding a single * should be any better than typing out the entire word (if we could, of course). I mean, who thinks that sh*t is less offensive than the spelled-out word? Gee, I wonder what that * is covering... :rolleyes:

So I guess it'd make sense if it weren't allowed (it's sort of "cheating" the censor), even though we're often tempted to use it.

Duke of Marlbrough · Jul 17, 2003

I think the general rule is that if it gets sensored when you type the actual word, then you shouldn't do things to get around the sensor.

WillJ · Jul 17, 2003

Originally posted by Duke of Marlbrough
I think the general rule is that if it gets sensored when you type the actual word, then you shouldn't do things to get around the sensor.

That makes sense. So is typing in the actual word and letting the censor handle it allowed? If so, this is exactly how I think it should be. :goodjob:

cgannon64 · Jul 17, 2003

Originally posted by Duke of Marlbrough
I think the general rule is that if it gets sensored when you type the actual word, then you shouldn't do things to get around the sensor.

OK, I just want to try something then, I'll edit it in a second.

OK, apparently the f-word and female dog are not allowed, but bastard is.

Yay!

Duke of Marlbrough · Jul 17, 2003

Originally posted by WillJ
That makes sense. So is typing in the actual word and letting the censor handle it allowed? If so, this is exactly how I think it should be.

Yep.

Knight-Dragon · Jul 17, 2003

I'm very intolerant of profanities. If you cannot post w/o keeping it polite, perhaps certain measures shld be taken... :cool:

And be warned, when I ban people, it's at the extreme end. No puny 3-day bans for me, except when mitigating responses are received.

You've been warned. :smoke:

china444 · Jul 17, 2003

Whats wrong with 3 Day Bans?

I think being off CFC for 3 days is just as bad as 7, and i learn the same lesson.

EDIT: Congrats on your 7000th post XII!

china444 · Jul 17, 2003

Originally posted by XIII
I'm very intolerant of profanities. If you cannot post w/o keeping it polite, perhaps certain measures shld be taken...

And be warned, when I ban people, it's at the extreme end. No puny 3-day bans for me, except when mitigating responses are received.

You've been warned.

Posts: 7000

Very fitting that your 7000th comes on a post about your moderation techniques.....

But congrats! You deserve it!

Padma · Jul 17, 2003

Like XIII, I am also very intolerant of profanities and vulgarities. I try to keep the Civ3 forums Civ-ilized, and warn/edit (I haven't had to ban, yet

) for any of the above words being spelled out, "misspelled", or even just *****ed out. You can say "ass" if you are talking about a certain horse-like animal, but if you talk about someone getting theirs whooped, you better find another way to say it. Likewise, b!tch. If you are discussing female dogs, fine. If not .... (well, it gets auto-censored anyway, but still....)

A few words I may let go by, if I feel they are appropriate to the specific post. For instance, in a story thread, a character may say "Damn!", and I probably won't touch it. On the other hand, if he calls another character a "******* *** ** * *****", we may have a little discussion.

Some may call me old-fashioned, or a fool, but I don't think there is any need for vulgar language.

Immortal · Jul 17, 2003

3 may be as bad as 7 days, but I doubt its as bad as 14.

:mischief:

Perfection · Jul 18, 2003

So what, about b@stard, I tend to use that word frequently

WildFire · Jul 18, 2003

Originally posted by Immortal
3 may be as bad as 7 days, but I doubt its as bad as 14.

Sounds like someone is gloating... and here I was thinking bans were bad

Darkness · Jul 18, 2003

Originally posted by WildFire

Sounds like someone is gloating... and here I was thinking bans were bad

Where did you get that silly idea.... :crazyeye:

floppa21 · Jul 18, 2003

XIII talks about bans but I dunno... I think XIII is a big :sheep:

myself...

And "bastard" CAN'T be outlawed! It's in my Title! It is me and I am it!

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