Profanity

[Focal]

Hi,

I am not questioning this rule, nor the way it is enforced, but was curious as to why it is an infraction when certain words can be censored by the site?

For example, I've typed out f-er on other forums and it will translate it out to ****er or ******, which I'm assuming is part of the forums filter.

It just seems like it might set someone up for failure because it's allowed on one part of the site and not the rest, and if someone isn't paying attention, it can slip. Of course, maybe that's the reason it isn't censored, so Hell can be uncensored or for legal reasons in the BOI? Does censorship go for the whole site when selected?

Just curious and bored.

 

[WebSlave]

Yes, the censorship admin option is a global setting. So it would affect the HELL forum, which would pretty much negate the attraction to some folks.

Also, there is an infraction for profanity for those who cannot control their appropriate word usage in a conversation on a publicly viewable forum. Some people will self censor themselves by using asterisks to replace some or all of a profane word in a post. Should those people be reprimanded along with those people who actually DID use a profane word and the system automatically censored it? We would not be able to tell the difference.

 

[hhmoore]

The other problem with profanity filters is that the administrator would have to set what would be disallowed....and people would simply try to find ways to beat the system. Then, they would argue that the resultant infraction is unfair, because the filter didn't take out the word.

Besides, there IS a profanity filter in chat...and it is pretty easy to make the words show up uncensored. Heck, even I know how to do it.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Curosity about why you can hear S**t on regular TV but here it gets you an infraction? You can even hear worse than that over the radio in your car

 

[WebSlave]

Curosity about why you can hear S**t on regular TV but here it gets you an infraction? You can even hear worse than that over the radio in your car

Because that is how I want it here on this site.

 

[Wraith]

Curosity about why you can hear S**t on regular TV but here it gets you an infraction? You can even hear worse than that over the radio in your car

Because this is a private website and the owner can make whatever censorship rules he wants... freedom of speech does not exist in this context.

 

[E.Shell]

I welcome anti-profanity rules.

It is refreshing to get away from the increasingly common public usage (which actually shows a lack of respect for the listeners, as if we all employ such a limited and crude vocabulary), and the continuous exploitation of the shock value by the various media. It seems writers take pains to write in profanity anywhere it will slide through, and it's getting worse. I really don't want my kids hearing it, nor am I impressed myself by the gratuitous use of profanity in polite company and public media. You can normally hear the juvenile amusement the DJs experience in their voices when they "push the envelope" and "get away with" saying increasingly vulgar things.

See an adult rated movie and hear profanity used in context? Great. Hear it on public airwaves in the presence of your kids, to whom you're trying to instill decent values, only "because they can"...not so cool.

While I freely admit many things I might say privately should not be heard by my mother, word usage of this sort is simply not appropriate for civilized discussion among mixed company and minors, regardless of how permissible it is made to seem in many contexts, such as trash media.

Again, I don't want to seem "above it all", but it is very simply inappropriate language in most contexts and this is one of them.

 

[Focal]

Devils advocate here... What defines profanity? My mom would have whooped the hell out of me for saying "hell." Just implying the word was bad enough. I would have been whooped up for saying "fugly" or "bullish." So if the intent is to be profane, why is that no different?

Honestly, I don't really care. Just thinking.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Because that is how I want it here on this site.

Well fecal matter

 

[deborahbroadus]

I welcome anti-profanity rules.

It is refreshing to get away from the increasingly common public usage (which actually shows a lack of respect for the listeners, as if we all employ such a limited and crude vocabulary), and the continuous exploitation of the shock value by the various media. It seems writers take pains to write in profanity anywhere it will slide through, and it's getting worse. I really don't want my kids hearing it, nor am I impressed myself by the gratuitous use of profanity in polite company and public media. You can normally hear the juvenile amusement the DJs experience in their voices when they "push the envelope" and "get away with" saying increasingly vulgar things.

See an adult rated movie and hear profanity used in context? Great. Hear it on public airwaves in the presence of your kids, to whom you're trying to instill decent values, only "because they can"...not so cool.

While I freely admit many things I might say privately should not be heard by my mother, word usage of this sort is simply not appropriate for civilized discussion among mixed company and minors, regardless of how permissible it is made to seem in many contexts, such as trash media.

Again, I don't want to seem "above it all", but it is very simply inappropriate language in most contexts and this is one of them.

The world needs more of your ilk.

 

[TriangleReptiles]

I for one am glad to be able to go to a discussiuon and not be bombarded with the profanity and vulgarity. I am not a prude, but it accomplishes nothing but showing the users lack of vocabulary.

 

[The BoidSmith]

I for one am glad to be able to go to a discussiuon and not be bombarded with the profanity and vulgarity. I am not a prude, but it accomplishes nothing but showing the users lack of vocabulary.

Absolutely! Those programs teenagers watch on TV are incredible. It's almost impossible to follow the conversation as it goes like this: "yea, it's bleep bleep

 

[WebSlave]

Yeah, I've been on forums where profanity is not only the norm, but each member apparently tries to outdo the other. I figure the forum is overrun with either kids trying to impress each other, knuckle draggers who don't know any better, or both.

I was on one music forum where the owner used a huge helping of profanity to lash out at members just because they were discussing a topic he disagreed with. I told the guy what I thought of him, NOT using profanity, mind you, and pointed out how unprofessional he appears to his audience.

I haven't been back since, and probably got banned. No loss to me....

Obviously I have seen enough of that sort of thing that I just don't want my site viewed the same way. My only concession is the HELL forum, and even then I sometimes get the urge to put the axe to that one. I don't think I have used profanity even there.

 

[GreenCountryHerp]

Yeah, I've been on forums where profanity is not only the norm, but each member apparently tries to outdo the other. I figure the forum is overrun with either kids trying to impress each other, knuckle draggers who don't know any better, or both.

I was on one music forum where the owner used a huge helping of profanity to lash out at members just because they were discussing a topic he disagreed with. I told the guy what I thought of him, NOT using profanity, mind you, and pointed out how unprofessional he appears to his audience.

I haven't been back since, and probably got banned. No loss to me....

Obviously I have seen enough of that sort of thing that I just don't want my site viewed the same way. My only concession is the HELL forum, and even then I sometimes get the urge to put the axe to that one. I don't think I have used profanity even there.

Totally agree
Adults should act like adults, profanity isn't necessary and it seems like the young ones like to use it more than the older mature people. I guess the younger generation is always trying to one up each other.

 

[WebSlave]

I think I need to re-address this issue.

Been seeing an increase in members using profanity on this site, and then in some instances lashing out at the moderator who gave them an infraction. Of course, they use even more foul language in their responses to the moderator, apparently believing that their use of profanity is some sort of God given right that management here has to allow.

First off, this is a publicly accessible message board. In some instances, corporate firewall filters will filter out and/or block sites completely that have a large helping of profane words used in the posted text. Since many people will view this site from their work computers, I do not want that to happen to this site. I am trying to encourage more traffic and more participation, so this route is directly contrary to what I hope to accomplish here.

Plus minors will often view this site, having a budding interest in animals and wanting to learn more. So when their parents note the amount of profanity seen in the postings their children are viewing, they will likely block this site's access to them as well. Do I want potential new participants and advertisers blocked from this site? Do sellers here want potentially new customers blocked from viewing their ads? I don't think you need to be a genius to come up with the correct answers to those questions.

Now if anyone can present a convincing argument to me why I should not be concerned about such things, and welcome profanity all across this site, and that perspective is completely wrong, then by all means, take a stab at it. But just to head the argument off before it starts, I don't CARE what has become more commonplace in the media. I don't CARE what is normal for you, your family, and your friends. If you feel that the use of profanity in your publicly posted messages is absolutely necessary for your own wellbeing, health, comfort, or survival, then quite likely you need to come to realize that this site is just not one you are going to be welcome to participate within. But go ahead, prove me wrong. I've been known to change my mind once or twice in my lifetime.

Now, as far as members sending profanity laced private messages or emails using this site's functions, please consider that as your swan song. The moderators are volunteers here, and they just do not deserve that sort of abuse. They are helping me to keep this site running in a manner that will hopefully be acceptable to the majority of the participants. If YOU make it uncomfortable or distressful for them having to deal with YOU, then trust me, YOU are a whole lot more expendable to me than they are. You will be lucky if they ban you for only three days. If I get to you first, it will be a ban for a LOT longer. Depending on the severity of the discourse, perhaps even permanent. As for sending ME profanity laced PMs or emails, I will assume that you have no desire nor intention of coming back to this site and will treat that notice as is deserved. I just don't need such people in my life, so they will be booted out of it.

I have been ratcheting up the severity of such infractions over the past couple of years rather than just jumping in and throwing up a brick wall for people to smash into overnight, not realizing my goals. I actually did that once, and it didn't go over very well, so I am being more conservative this time around about the pressure I want to apply here. But I am prepared to ratchet the pressure up another notch, even if it means weeding out the people who can't seem to live without typing in profanity. Not quite to the "one strike and you are out" level yet, but I'm getting aggravated enough about people crapping in my site to where that is a distinct possibility in the very near future.

Seriously people, you can't make your point without profanity? Do you really think it makes YOU look better in other people's eyes? Seriously? I mean, SERIOUSLY?? How early in life did your education and maturity just STOP?

 

[Lucille]

I think many people make the grave mistake here of thinking that Fauna is like Las Vegas (what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, it's a saying I heard once. I've never been to Las Vegas so I don't know for sure). They couldn't be more wrong.

It has just about become a part of due diligence for companies to do internet searches prior to employment. Your real name is here and whatever you say is going to come right up for the consideration of your prospective boss.

You might think about that before you hit the 'submit' button on a profanity laced comment made in the heat of the moment.

 

[WebSlave]

I think many people make the grave mistake here of thinking that Fauna is like Las Vegas (what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, it's a saying I heard once. I've never been to Las Vegas so I don't know for sure). They couldn't be more wrong.

It has just about become a part of due diligence for companies to do internet searches prior to employment. Your real name is here and whatever you say is going to come right up for the consideration of your prospective boss.

You might think about that before you hit the 'submit' button on a profanity laced comment made in the heat of the moment.

Actually this is very true. Along the same lines, I have gotten many requests over the years to delete old BOI threads because the person was distraught about prospective employers reading about them in those threads. My take on it that this is very good incentive for people to do good business NOW and don't cheat or scam people. When your wrong doings get exposed, no matter how far into the future, you have no one to blame but yourself. So, basically, TOUGH. You made your life. Tough on you that now you find your life uncomfortable because of your poor choices in the past. Yeah, you CAN get out of reptiles, but you still can't escape the past you made.

Same with the potential that some prospective employer might not be all that thrilled about the idea of hiring someone with anger management issues being implied by their use of profanity in postings here. Jobs are getting tougher and tougher to come by, so if you just put yourself at a disadvantage by how you act in a public forum, that's a REAL shame for you. Don't come to me crying about not getting the jobs you want because of what you posted here coming back to haunt you. They will NOT be deleted or edited, so don't even bother asking.

 

[Helenthereef]

I'm in total agreement, I use profanity in everyday speech, and think it's funny in many of the contexts used in the Hell forum, but wouldn't use it in regular postings and certainly don't need to read it in such. It often raises the temperature of arguments and reduces rationality.

Anyway it's good for the brain to have to stretch a little and find some alternative phrases...

 

[Magic]

Call me old fashioned, but there are some profane expressions that I just plain find offensive. I can (and do!) use the cursing alternative of darnit and crap, but some of the other words and phrasing? No.

Overall, I very much so enjoy this site and it's relatively safe language. I appreciate the mods who make it so.

 

[LauraB]

Now if anyone can present a convincing argument to me why I should not be concerned about such things, and welcome profanity all across this site, and that perspective is completely wrong, then by all means, take a stab at it.

There is no convincing argument (IMO) that should sway your prospective.

Even as one who did, in fact, receive an infraction for failing to delete the profanity from someone's email I cut and pasted in an old post, I would never want to see the rules lifted or even relaxed. I can't think of something more damaging to Fauna than a site-wide trash mouth free-for-all.