the profanity problem

[Moss]

Giving an official list would be idiotic since in the end it depends on how they are being used and if you were really to produce a list then it would end up being rediculously long and still wouldn't cover every possible combination of bannable words...

Agreed. It isn't always the word that is being used, it is how the word is being used. Kind of like you can say God, but you can't say God in a derogatory way.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Recently I saw that somebody used the d-word (male sexual organ) in a post. I was thinking wow, he's going to get banned. As far as I can tell though he wasnt. Not that I WANT him to be banned, I have no problem with colorful language, but I think its a mistake to make a blanket statement that people who use profanity will be banned, and then not do it. If there isnt any consistency to it, it just leads to confusion and people later will end up being banned through no fault of their own. Either it should be zero tolerance, or better to forget the whole thing.

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

That is the usual thing of 'we have to see it to be able to act on it'.

 

[Dell19]

If someone had reported the post saying that they found it offensive then he might have been banned or warned... Although then again it might be an acceptable use of the word...

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

After a quick search I found one that stood out and took care of it. Thanks.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Oh no! Now Im a rat! I only brought it up because I thought it was seen and not considered offensive.

 

[Perfection]

Apparently I'm not allowed to take the Lord's name in vain now either!

What?!?!?!

I thought this only applied to things that were autocensored.

 

[cgannon64]

Nope, I said God damn it, and I was banned for a day.

I used to say that and bastard all the time (not at posters, usually like "that politician is a bastard") thinking it was fine, but now I don't know...

 

[WillJ]

Giving an official list would be idiotic since in the end it depends on how they are being used and if you were really to produce a list then it would end up being rediculously long and still wouldn't cover every possible combination of bannable words...

Autocensored words aren't allowed no matter what. What I was wondering is if there are any other words that are the same. I know that I shouldn't say, for example, "You are a moron," but only because that's insulting you, not because of profanity. I'm looking for a list of PROFANE words.

Edit: And let me say that I'm disgusted by this. For example, CG being banned for saying "God damn it" and "bastard"? What the hell? What, and now am I going to be banned for saying "hell"? Oops, guys, I meant "heck"; sorry to all the overprotected children. *throws up*

 

[Ankka]

You could try.

 

[Dell19]

Words that are on the auto censored list are clear cut, they are either on it or not on it. If we are talking about any words that could result in a ban then there is no longer any easy way to define the list since there will be many other factors which influence whether a ban actually occurs... So it would be hard to say which other words could result in a ban.

 

[Perfection]

Nope, I said God damn it, and I was banned for a day.

I used to say that and bastard all the time (not at posters, usually like "that politician is a bastard") thinking it was fine, but now I don't know...

You did?!?!?!

I think I've said things along those lines since the bgan was in place an haven't heard a peep from mods.

I've even used the a-word on occasion.

I think that banning for usingthe s-word and the f-word is okay, but stuff like "god damn it", but in your case I think it was overboard.

 

[WillJ]

Words that are on the auto censored list are clear cut, they are either on it or not on it. If we are talking about any words that could result in a ban then there is no longer any easy way to define the list since there will be many other factors which influence whether a ban actually occurs... So it would be hard to say which other words could result in a ban.

I was under the impression that you are only banned if you break the site rules. Let's take a look at the part of the rules that applies to this:

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.

Please explain to me how "God damn it" breaks the rules. It's not false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, hateful, harassing, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law.

The only things that it could said to be are vulgar, obscene, and profane. But I was under the impression that only things that are autocensored are vulgar, obscene, and profane. Is it so much to ask for a clarifaction of this part of the rules? Apparently my own judgement, along with CG's, Perf's, and others', isn't good enough. Perhaps you disagree, but I think you CAN, very easily in fact, make a list of vulgar, obscene, and profane words and phrases. In other words, I can't think of one factor that it would depend on, besides breaking the OTHER site rules, which is obvious.

 

[Moss]

Just think before you post...and you won't have a problem. You shouldn't have to be told what phrases are bad and which aren't. Use common sense, and remember this forum is strict when it comes to profane wordes and phrases. Don't walk the thin line, but stay far on the side of caution.

 

[Tomoyo]

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.

Is "knowingly" being distributed to all the adjectives? If it is, then accidently cursing is allowed. Also, "vulgar" means "pertaining to the people", doesn't it? It sure has experienced a degeneration in meaning... Also, the "hateful" part. Is it disallowed for Marinecorps to hate AOL?

EDIT: Inaccurate is hard to follow

 

[WillJ]

Just think before you post...and you won't have a problem. You shouldn't have to be told what phrases are bad and which aren't. Use common sense, and remember this forum is strict when it comes to profane wordes and phrases. Don't walk the thin line, but stay far on the side of caution.

I MYSELF will do that, and in fact I might stop using the word "damn," for example, but I'm disgruntled that that's how profanity is handled on this site. Just like I'd be disgruntled if America decided to abandon its Constitution and replace it with a document saying, "Just use common sense." I'd certainly hate to be a moderator, that's for sure.

 

[Padma]

Well said, Moss.

The line is thin, and it can be quite fuzzy. We have noticed lately that many posters are toeing the edge of that line, and falling over on the other side. (I'm not saying it hasn't been that way for a while, just that it was *noticed* lately.)

Think before you post!

I realize that's a hard concept for some, but try it.


WillJ: Just for the record, to a Christian, "God damn it" is probably one of the most profane expressions there is!

 

[WillJ]

WillJ: Just for the record, to a Christian, "God damn it" is probably one of the most profane expressions there is!

And just for the record, cgannon is a Christian!

 

[Tomoyo]

A little tweaking of the RBCiv rules spirit makes:

If it feels like it's bad, then it probably is.

Therefore: If "God damn it" doesn't feel like it's bad, it probably isn't?

 

[cgannon64]

And just for the record, cgannon is a Christian!

Yes. The third commandment is the most boring one.