Swearing against the rules?

[Kaelic]

I've seen moderators edit posts using swear words, referring to it as "foul". I've read the rules and I don't see where common swear words as negative adjectives or pejoratives comes up.

To be frank, thats what I expect on a forum for children or in the USA, but not for a forum ran out of Europe. Please clarify the rules regarding swear words.

I find the moderation of swearing a bit shit (<- intentional).

 

[Augustus93]

"You will not use expressions that are considered foul, vulgar, sexually harassing, racially offensive or in any way discriminatory. These expressions include, but are not limited to, Sexist language, ethnic slurs, hate speech and religious epithets. Whether an expression fits under this definition will be determined by Paradox staff at the time." Rule 3.
In short it is against forum rules...

 

[Castellon]

This is a work safe forum, as many people view it from work.
I understand that swearing is prevalent in some peer groups, but we are going for more upscale here.
It does not hurt you to refrain from swearing and it makes the forum usable for those that do not appreciate that kind of language.
We therefore have a rule against swearing, since our goal is to make the forum accessible to as many people as possible.
Thanks for understanding.

 

[Kaelic]

Fair enough. I suggest you increase the wording on the rules, as the quoted rules do not include swearing by my use of English.

Additionally you should simply put a swear filter on rather than waste time moderating petty uses of words, in my opinion.

I got an infraction for questioning a moderator, I've been on this forum for 10 years and somehow now am some kind of "bad boy" receiving infractions. I find it a little off putting as a very long term fan...very off putting actually. Would this be a customer relationship with a long term business I'd have expected some consideration, but as it is I'm just another troll on the Internet apparently.

tldr; Clarify the rules to specifically mean swearing, 'vulgar' and 'foul' are incredibly ambiguous.

 

[Kaelic]

"You will not use expressions that are considered foul, vulgar, sexually harassing, racially offensive or in any way discriminatory. These expressions include, but are not limited to, Sexist language, ethnic slurs, hate speech and religious epithets. Whether an expression fits under this definition will be determined by Paradox staff at the time." Rule 3.
In short it is against forum rules...

I'm afraid vulgar and foul are too vague, or too broad.

Vulgar can include childish toilet humour, "fart" jokes. "Burping". Is that really against the rules? I doubt it. And it certainly doesn't specifically mean swearing. Vulgarity is a behaviour, and a very debatable one at that. Who defines what is good taste of sophisticated? Certainly two cultures would find a lot of disagreement. UK and USA for example.

Foul is simply offensive to the senses, what sense is offended by a word? Or you could take the other meaning which is "immoral" but it doesn't get more vague and broad than that.

If swearing isn't allowed, put swearing on the list and add a swear filter. Simple.

 

[delra]

This forum has a filter installed already, your posts in ALL CAPS will automatically be converted to normal size, for example. Could just use it, spare everyone the drama.

 

[Vizier One]

this forum has a filter installed already, your posts in all caps will automatically be converted to normal size, for example. Could just use it, spare everyone the drama.

never knew that, cool feature (i'm saying that in all caps, of course)

 

[Konair0s]

This is a work safe forum, as many people view it from work.
I understand that swearing is prevalent in some peer groups, but we are going for more upscale here.
It does not hurt you to refrain from swearing and it makes the forum usable for those that do not appreciate that kind of language.
We therefore have a rule against swearing, since our goal is to make the forum accessible to as many people as possible.
Thanks for understanding.

But is there any list of such words? It is not very clear which are forbidden.

 

[delra]

Are there really bosses out there in the world who won't punish you for reading a gaming forum while you should be doing what you're being paid for - working, but only on condition that there were no swear words in the posts you were reading?

 

[Castellon]

Are there really bosses out there in the world who won't punish you for reading a gaming forum while you should be doing what you're being paid for - working, but only on condition that there were no swear words in the posts you were reading?

Sure on your lunch or other break, most employees are free to browse, but still expected not to have their computer display say porn, or language that co-workers or patrons would find offensive.

 

[Castellon]

Fair enough. I suggest you increase the wording on the rules, as the quoted rules do not include swearing by my use of English.

I cannot be responcible for your "use of English"

But Foul language and Swearing are synonyms in English.
Lets take a quick google search:
top 2 links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity "Profanity (also called bad language, strong language, foul language, bad words, vulgar, swearing, cursing, cussing, or using expletives)"

http://thesaurus.com/browse/foul+language = Right on the Definition Tab it says "As in Swear Word" and is listed again in the synonyms section.

Also I remind you not to discuss specific cases, they should be handled by PM, it is ok to discuss things in general like you have here.

 

[Castellon]

But is there any list of such words? It is not very clear which are forbidden.

If in doubt then do not use it. Be classy, people will actually listen to your point of view and give it more weight if it is not peppered with foul language.

Hey I enjoy a good Tarantino movie, but I do not want every conversation I have to sound like that.

 

[Konair0s]

If in doubt then do not use it. Be classy, people will actually listen to your point of view and give it more weight if it is not peppered with foul language.

Hey I enjoy a good Tarantino movie, but I do not want every conversation I have to sound like that.

Well, I am not a teenager.

The reason I ask it is not because I want to use as much words as possible, but I am genuinely not sure. Foul language in English sounds very softly.

For example, I like the "BS" abbreviation - it stands for "bullshit". It is short and accurate and it would be nice to continue use it in required situations.

 

[Castellon]

like anything context is key.
The word being complained about in the thread in a round about way is the F word, it would have to be a pretty extreme context to let you get away with that.

 

[Asantahene]

But what about when you are writing a story as in AARs? I have been most irritated to see some olde english words converted. It really detracts from it if we aren't able to use certain words (and I don't remember there being such a filter on the old site)

Just saying...

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

But what about when you are writing a story as in AARs? I have been most irritated to see some olde english words converted. It really detracts from it if we aren't able to use certain words (and I don't remember there being such a filter on the old site)

Just saying...

The filter is a recent addition (within the last month or so).

 

[Asantahene]

The filter is a recent addition (within the last month or so).

And totally over the top IMHO

 

[Mr. Capiatlist]

And totally over the top IMHO

*shrugs*

The no cursing rule has been in place for a long while and it has been clear this is intended to be a family-friendly forum.

Was enforcement 100%? No. It is surprising to me how many users think the staff is upgraded with omniscience upon taking a position. And yes, enforcement in AARland was lighter because I believe in the artistic licence of artists to create; but unfortunately forum technology does not allow us to pick and choose the filter's enforcement and I don't really think the impact on AARland really registered with the administrators.

 

[Wagonlitz]

This forum has a filter installed already, your posts in ALL CAPS will automatically be converted to normal size, for example. Could just use it, spare everyone the drama.

SEEING THIS NECROED MADE ME WONDER WHETHER THE ALL CAPS FILTER STILL EXISTS. AFTER ALL THE DAMNATIO MEMORIA FILTER IS NON EXISTING NOW AND YOU CAN SAY THINGS LIKE TOMATOCOW.

The no cursing rule has been in place for a long while and it has been clear this is intended to be a family-friendly forum.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD RULE, BUT IT HAS THE PROBLEM OF NON ENGLISH NATIVES MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SWEAR WORD IN ENGLISH. HENCE WHY I'M GLAD THE FILTER DOESN'T HAND OUT INFRACTIONS WHEN FILTERING. SOME SOME OF THE THINGS FILTERED ACTUALLY VERY WELL COULD BE THOUGHT AS INNOCENT WORDS TO NON ANGLOS. INCLUDING THE F WORD AND THE FOUR LETTER WORD STARTING WITH S WHICH MEANS POOP---AND BOTH OF THOSE (AND MANY OTHERS) HAVE VALID REASONS FOR WHY THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED INNOCENT TO PEOPLE FROM CERTAIN ETHNICITIES.

ALSO IN CASE THE ALL CAPS FILTER ISN'T THERE ANYMORE THEN I APPOLOGISE FOR WRITING IN ALL CAPS. I JUST WANTED TO TEST WHETHER IT STILL EXISTS AND DIDN'T WANT TO SPAM ANOTHER POST JUST FOR THAT.

 

[Wagonlitz]

SEEMS THAT FILTER IS GONE THEN. OR IS IT ONLY THERE WHEN THERE'S NO QUOTES?