Profanity...

[WebSlave]

Just out of curiosity, how many other sites out there allow profanity throughout their forums? I realize my having the HELL forum here may tend to provide some incentive for people to believe it is welcomed throughout the entire site, but it seems lately that most of the infractions are because of someone just being profane within other forums, especially the BOI.

So why is that? Is it common for most people to use profanity regularly in their posting on other sites? Is this commonly allowed, and I'm just being difficult about the current fashion trends in the written language?

Seriously, is it only because I don't like it here, and from my own narrow perspective perceive it as a negative social issue, where there really is none?

I would really hate to have to get tougher with the enforcement of trying to eliminate profanity here, when it just might be me that is having a problem with it.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

I think keeping it out of the general forums is fine, many sites do that. I dont think you are too far out of line with ANY site i have been to.

I think the hell forum is a great place to vent. and since its been opened up to the general public, its getting ALOT of use lately Which is good.

 

[Seamus Haley]

Just out of curiosity, how many other sites out there allow profanity throughout their forums? I realize my having the HELL forum here may tend to provide some incentive for people to believe it is welcomed throughout the entire site, but it seems lately that most of the infractions are because of someone just being profane within other forums, especially the BOI.

So why is that? Is it common for most people to use profanity regularly in their posting on other sites? Is this commonly allowed, and I'm just being difficult about the current fashion trends in the written language?

Seriously, is it only because I don't like it here, and from my own narrow perspective perceive it as a negative social issue, where there really is none?

I would really hate to have to get tougher with the enforcement of trying to eliminate profanity here, when it just might be me that is having a problem with it.

TRR had something similar happen back when the War Room was up and running.

Some people cleaned up their language, recognizing that there was a specific hidden subforum for that kind of talk and that it definitely did not belong anywhere else on the site.

Some people were angry over things said in that subforum and it would periodically leak out into other forums, causing the rules to be broken. I can't speak for Gary or his mod team but I think that's a pretty large chunk of why he did away with it.

I look at words as tools that I can use to assemble an idea for someone else. It's all communication at it's core. Bad words are something I will sometimes use to communicate bad subjects- to emphasize anger or unhappiness. I'll also use some of the softer impolite words (damn and hell for example) for similar but less strongly felt reasons... or when I am in a situation where something stronger wouldn't be acceptable.

While I look at them as being inherently devoid of offense and as just... blocks through which offense can be built... I also know that others do not always see it the same way. When I am with some of my rowdier friends, my language might be pretty coarse and riddled with those terms. When I am with say... my mother, then it most definitely is not (and not just because she has a rolling pin and those hard yellow bars of soap, although that's certainly part of it). When I don't know with absolute certainty that the language is acceptable, I'll generally avoid using it... or give a lot of thought to the weight certain words have and only use them if I really... really... really feel a need to express that strength of sentiment.

 

[Cheryl Marchek AKA JM]

I try not to~ but I find myself often typing a few of them without even realizing I'm doing it. Just the other day I caught myself typing "well hell, why not?" and I really think it's because I consider it a "Small" profanity. But the truth is~ it either is profanity or it is not (You used that word first in this thread in the regular forums so I'm assuming it is okay for me to use in my example? If not~ fine I'll take my points) But~ while it's easy to slip over the line and use "Small" profanity without considering it a big deal~ I am often offended when I see what I consider "Bigger" profanity...........double standard. I know. Your site~ your rules...........deal with it as you feel appropriate Rich.

 

[Kiote_9]

I really only regularly visit and post on two other forums. One has a mature section for us to vent in an adult manner and such. It's very much like **HELL**. The rest of the forum is very clean as a lot of kids are members and we have to take them into consideration.

The other forum I post on is from a different country and they are pretty casual with the standard D, H and B words, but do not allow any serious swearing and absolutely no name calling or harrassment. The mods delete all inappropriate posts leaving only the name of the person who posted it and reason for deletion. If a thread gets too rowdy and argumentative they remove the entire thread. No explanation.

I would like it if the BOI and the general discussion sections were cleaner just to make it easier to read. Many people use swear words are to be descriptive and emphatic and its hard to decipher what message they are really trying to convey. It doesn't stop me from reading.

I would miss Fauna really if it were to be gone, though, and will continue to read and post here regardless. Of course, I am one of the immature nosy loud **HELL** persons.

 

[Wraith]

I think keeping it out of the general forums is fine, many sites do that. I dont think you are too far out of line with ANY site i have been to.

I think the hell forum is a great place to vent. and since its been opened up to the general public, its getting ALOT of use lately Which is good.

Agreed. The Hell forum is appropriate for it. There are some sites I go that have has something similar... one special forum that is more or less no holds barred but you better be on your best behavior everywhere else..

 

[John E Dove]

Like Ms. Berry I too have been on two other sites that had one set forum where such language is permitted. One site they added the forum shortly after I joined and upon stumbling on it I voiced my disdain. I was informed that everyone needed a place to vent or just play. It was my judgment that my age/maturity made me incompatible with that group. After informing their Administrator how I felt I logged out and never looked back/
The second site I have been told has a “Hell” type forum but I have never taken any steps to enable the usage and it is not openly accessible so I do not care. I feel the same about the “Hell” forum here. I have no desire to see people denigrate themselves or display their lack of written communication skills with the use of vulgarity so I do not take the steps to be able to view them.

IMO, there is no need or excuse for vulgarity in the average forums of Fauna.

 

[hhmoore]

I don't do much forum hopping, but I don't think that profanity is accepted on any of the ones I visit...at least nothing I've seen posted would indicate to me that it is allowed.

Even if it were common elsewhere, I think that you would find that many members would have a strong preference for keeping the profanity out of the general forums here. I know I don't want to see it; and I don't take advantage of that freedom in **HELL** when I post there. As far as I am concerned, what I post online - regardless of the site or subforum - is a reflection on me, personally and professionally...if I can't say something without profanity*, I need to step back before posting.



*I might throw in an occasional damn, or hell, but I don't really view those words as profane.

 

[Uroboros]

If profanity is welcome into the BOI, so much respect for it would be lost, it's unfathomable.

Screw other forums, lets be proud of ours.

 

[creatism123]

i do not consider hell damn even the s word profane but i still will do everything i can not to post using those words. i am active on a few other forums. one of them took a vote to not have moderators and be more of a self monitoring type thing and its worked for a couple of yrs.

thats the closest thing i have seen to your hell forum. i say keep it out of the general forums and especially boi. all it does is take away from the professionalism of the site

 

[Southern Wolf]

All of the sites I go to allow what I would consider PG Profanity... ya know.. the ones you can hear on alot of the ABC, CBS, NBC type shows (ie H***, S***, D***)... but its your site... I know I have been dingged for using one of those mentioned in the past.

 

[WebSlave]

Well, yes, there is the issue of actually defining "profanity". For the record, I have never considered "Hell" nor "damn" as being profanity, but certainly some people may. The problem is going to be trying to be reasonable in such a way that everyone will agree that it is reasonable. Most people will not read any such rules about profanity, so their first experience with running afoul of any such rule will be when they get an infraction. A while back I got VERY hard lined about the rules, whereby ANY infraction resulted in a suspension from the site requiring paying a fine to lift that suspension. Yes, I went too far with it, but I guess in my defense I will state that I had just gotten fed up with all the BS here and wanted to put the brakes on HARD and abruptly. Did it piss people off? Why certainly! Some have never been back since. I will be the first to admit that it's been a painful learning curve getting to the point we are now at.

So what I want to do is to just slap a little harder on the knuckles about this profanity problem, but not alienate too many people in the process. Perhaps just raising the infraction point level might be enough to do that. Maybe to the level of a three strikes and you are out of the game for three days. Continue with the profanity, and the ban goes to 30 days. If within a year, the member still hasn't gotten the hint, then the ban goes permanent.

Actually the infraction system is already set up much like that with some offenses. But I had considered profanity to be a rather light weight problem, all things considered, up till now. It just seems that most of the infractions lately are related to profanity, so perhaps I have just been too lax about addressing that problem....

Addendum: I am also considering putting in the automated profanity filter as well. However, that will also affect the HELL forum, which as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, will piss off some people, for certain.

 

[deborahbroadus]

Words are a powerful medium.

I believe that how one expresses themselves has a lot of impact on how they are viewed.

I think as we get older, we are more likely to THINK about the impression we are leaving when we post..I know I do.

Can I curse, Yeah..do I? Yes..but I am not trying to leave anything that my kids, grandkids, boss, potential customers... etc are going to read later! Impressions are important (imo).

 

[Jerry_c_62]

I'm sure others feel differently, but once I have to resort to profanity I have already lost the debate/argument. I would vote for insisting it stay off the general forums and take it to HELL if you must.

 

[shrap]

Does profanity bother me? Not in the least. I cuss like a drunken sailor sometimes. But as I constantly preach to my youngin, there is a time and a place for everything.

Hanging out with with friends cooking out or playing cards, etc... who cares if an f bomb here or a mutha f bomb there is dropped. Running around with a lamp shade on your head. But you sure as hell dont do that at work or your parents anniversary, or dinner at grandmas, etc, etc.

So with that being said, the general open forums aint the place for f bombs and the like. People trying to do biz or educate themselves should not have to wade through a bunch of BS and profanity to do so. It is just going to make them go somewhere else.

I would like to clarify one thing though, words like damn and hell I really dont consider to be profanity. I am sure that "damn it" comes out of my mouth at least once a day when I do something careless like spill a cup of coffee or whatever. Or a rat chew through a water bottle or water line.... "damn rat". Ok, that might come out as "f bombing rat" but I think you get my point.

 

[Lucille]

Does profanity bother me? Not in the least. I cuss like a drunken sailor sometimes. But as I constantly preach to my youngin, there is a time and a place for everything.

Hanging out with with friends cooking out or playing cards, etc... who cares if an f bomb here or a mutha f bomb there is dropped. Running around with a lamp shade on your head. But you sure as hell dont do that at work or your parents anniversary, or dinner at grandmas, etc, etc.

So with that being said, the general open forums aint the place for f bombs and the like. People trying to do biz or educate themselves should not have to wade through a bunch of BS and profanity to do so. It is just going to make them go somewhere else.

I would like to clarify one thing though, words like damn and hell I really dont consider to be profanity. I am sure that "damn it" comes out of my mouth at least once a day when I do something careless like spill a cup of coffee or whatever. Or a rat chew through a water bottle or water line.... "damn rat". Ok, that might come out as "f bombing rat" but I think you get my point.

I'm curious, Sammy. Your explanation is reasonable. Yet you are carrying that string of initials around in your signature line........?

 

[shrap]

I'm curious, Sammy. Your explanation is reasonable. Yet you are carrying that string of initials around in your signature line........?

Just keep being curious there, Lucille.

 

[Tiger Lilly]

While I also feel that there is a time and place for everything, I have also gone through some major changes in the way I live my life & present myself to others. Echoing what a few others have said, yes, I too can cuss like a sailor. Do I like that side of myself? NO. I don't feel that I have lost the argument at the point that I start cussing, but I do feel like I am losing control and that's when I check myself.
Do I think it should be allowed in the general forums? Definitely NOT. "HELL" is the appropriate place for that, whether you like that forum or not. While some may not approve of it even in that forum, they are mature enough to stay out of it. Let the people that feel the need to vent & cuss like sailors have their own little clubhouse--it is has an appropriate disclaimer on it, so anyone who is shocked at the language there either needs to get a grip, get out, or learn to read disclaimers!
Do I think that the profanity filter needs to be put in place? No. I think the mods do a fine job of keeping the biggest offenders in check. If you do that, you might as well do away with "HELL" now & get it over with.
Disclaimer: The above opinions are strictly those of the author and should not be construed as anything other than her own humble opinions. The opinions of the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Webslave, any Mods or the general public for that matter...

 

[WebSlave]

Just keep being curious there, Lucille.

"STFU and go cook or clean something".
-Chuck Kimmel

Yep, and that little line of text got Chuck banned on infraction points. I'm glad you find it humorous and worthy of copying, but the context in which Chuck used it was not appropriate and somewhat a catalyst for this thread I started.

Please remove it from your signature area. I would hate for members here to suffer from unfulfilled curiosity.....

 

[Morphie]

The BOI tends to be a very... 'adult' forum, and so a lot of people tend to push the limits of what can be said there, i think. I'm sure i've been guilty of it as well. I'll be more careful, because you're right - it is a standard courtesy on the public parts of the board.

Plus, even though you didn't have to, you provided HELL as an alternative for those of us who just really feel the need to be vulgar - so there's really no excuse.

Please accept my apologies if I've been out of line. I meant no disrespect.