Language

[Lucky Bob]

I was looking back over the posts on this board and I noticed Slipknot's old idea for a TV-14 board, and the resulting response that this is an all-ages site. So here's my question, what is the moderators' stance on swearing at all? I personally disapprove of it, but I was wondering how it fit in with the whole "all ages" idea.

[Colin]

Originally posted by luckybob1985
I was looking back over the posts on this board and I noticed Slipknot's old idea for a TV-14 board, and the resulting response that this is an all-ages site. So here's my question, what ishe moderators' stance on swearing at all? I personally dissaprove of it, but I was wondering how it fit in with the whole "all ages" idea.

Certain language is okay, other language the board censor is gonna get. General rule of thumb: If it can be said on Nick at Nite, you can say it on the boards. Words like Hell and Damn are okay.... but (now here's the important part) only when used in moderation and not every other word. ;)

[Lucky Bob]

I don't recall ever hearing those on Nick at Nite, but I could be wrong.

I was just wondering, since I have seen isolated instances of stronger language on some posts, but I haven't been back to them to see if they had been bleeped by the moderators.

[Brian Cruz]

I don't think Nick-at-Nite can be used as a guide anymore. They air "All in the Family" now. I can think of a lot of words on that show I don't want to see here...

[Lucky Bob]

So, what guide are we going by?

[Calhoun07]

Kevin Smith movies!!!!! oh, wait...that can't be right... :p

[Thad Komorowski]

No, wait, let's use the American Pie movies as examples... :rolleyes: :p


-Thad

[Colin]

Originally posted by Thad K
No, wait, let's use the American Pie movies as examples... :rolleyes: :p


-Thad

...so, should I add "Stifler's Mom" to the censor? =X

[James Harvey]

"Ass" is as far up as you can go, swearing wise. Anything above that is not right.I'd hate to use them as an example, but anything that can be said on The Simpsons or King of the Hill, or Futurama is okay I suppose. No "s" word, "f" word, for example. Just use your best judgment and some common sense.

[Lucky Bob]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
"Ass" is as far up as you can go, swearing wise. Anything above that is not right.I'd hate to use them as an example, but anything that can be said on The Simpsons or King of the Hill, or Futurama is okay I suppose. No "s" word, "f" word, for example. Just use your best judgment and some common sense.

Well, that's what I was wondering about. Isn't that a little too much for an all-ages board? I know you know y'alls jobs, I was just wondering.

[Colin]

Originally posted by luckybob1985


Well, that's what I was wondering about. Isn't that a little too much for an all-ages board? I know you know y'alls jobs, I was just wondering.

Honestly, considering the following. The Rules when signing up for the board say you need to be at least 13 to register for a name (granted, we have little way to check that) ...so, you figure that this is the average type of language you will hear in the 7th grade cafeteria... and don't say it's not there, cuz you know as well as I do that it is.

Honestly, there's not really much we can do to change the way people talk... but if you come in here and every other word out of your mouth makes it sound like you took a cup of water from the toilet... well, you know we're gonna say something to ya and it's either shape up or ship out. You can't escape this language in society, no matter how hard you want to try...

[Lucky Bob]

I see. Well, thanks for answering my question.

[Pilmedium]

That idea for a TV-14 board was stupid, because there is no way of keeping a 10-year-old guest out of the board.

I don't think "bad" words should be allowed here, because as already said, some of the many guests here each day might be under 13.

[auto]

Originally posted by Pilmedium
That idea for a TV-14 board was stupid, because there is no way of keeping a 10-year-old guest out of the board.

I don't think "bad" words should be allowed here, because as already said, some of the many guests here each day might be under 13.
Also, Anyone can view the boards without getting a screenname.

[Livewire]

I'm glad you asked this question, luckybob1985, and I agree with everything you said. I don't think the "a" word should be allowed on boards that are supposed to be for all- ages. And since kids do come on here, I wish the "d" and the "h" word weren't allowed, either. (Hey, I can wish.) Just because kids may hear those words in school and other places doesn't mean they have to see those words on these forums.

[John-Paul]

hell,damn,ass,jerk,crap

The normal "Ok not really curse words" are what I think is most acceptable

[Lucky Bob]

I must say that the Toonzone moderators have been very vigilant to stop anything that has the potential to start a hurtful controversy. I applaud their decisions to stop certain threads which were in danger of going completley wrong.

However, I must add that I am disappointed in their language controls. I know they contend that this is the sort of thing that you see in society all the time, but then, so are flame wars and insults. And nobody wants those things on the board. (Especially me!) But people can get just as offended when reading bad language, and for some reason, it seems to be a bit more prevalant nowadays. Maxie Zeus has correctly pointed out that many posters are pushing the limit with their colorful use of "fuzz". That's human nature! Whatever you allow in moderation, people are going to try every way they can to take it to the extreme!

When I'm talking to someone in real life, I don't mind if they let out a word here and there in a conversation. After all, it just might be a slip. But typing is a different story. You can catch what you are typing, and you can control it.

But, that's just my two cents!

[auto]

Originally posted by luckybob1985
I must say that the Toonzone moderators have been very vigilant to stop anything that has the potential to start a hurtful controversy. I applaud their decisions to stop certain threads which were in danger of going completley wrong.

However, I must add that I am disappointed in their language controls. I know they contend that this is the sort of thing that you see in society all the time, but then, so are flame wars and insults. And nobody wants those things on the board. (Especially me!) But people can get just as offended when reading bad language, and for some reason, it seems to be a bit more prevalant nowadays. Maxie Zeus has correctly pointed out that many posters are pushing the limit with their colorful use of "fuzz". That's human nature! Whatever you allow in moderation, people are going to try every way they can to take it to the extreme!

When I'm talking to someone in real life, I don't mind if they let out a word here and there in a conversation. After all, it just might be a slip. But typing is a different story. You can catch what you are typing, and you can control it.

But, that's just my two cents!
They should give it censors like in runescape (http://www.runescape.com/)

[Harley]

Originally posted by luckybob1985
However, I must add that I am disappointed in their language controls. I know they contend that this is the sort of thing that you see in society all the time, but then, so are flame wars and insults. And nobody wants those things on the board. (Especially me!) But people can get just as offended when reading bad language, and for some reason, it seems to be a bit more prevalant nowadays. Maxie Zeus has correctly pointed out that many posters are pushing the limit with their colorful use of "fuzz". That's human nature! Whatever you allow in moderation, people are going to try every way they can to take it to the extreme!

When I'm talking to someone in real life, I don't mind if they let out a word here and there in a conversation. After all, it just might be a slip. But typing is a different story. You can catch what you are typing, and you can control it.

But, that's just my two cents!

We're already regarded as one of the strictest forums around. I can't even count the number of times we've been told we're communists, dictators and Un-American due to our current enforcement of the rules. So, that bring up the first question of, "At what point should we start being somewhat lenient?"

The second being, at what point does it become too much? Should our moderators really subscribe to a policy of micro-management of the language on the forums? We could add some of the "acceptable" words to the censors, but what if "hell" was actually being used in an intelligent discussion of Dante's Inferno on Cafe Toon Zone? Or perhaps, a critique of Steve Martin's performance in, "The Jerk"?

Also, if we concentrate fully on the lesser cuss words, at what point will it cause us to lose focus on the larger issues we're trying to head off on the forums? At what point does it simply become not feasible in light of the larger goals which must be accomplished?

Finally, can we ask our users to adhere to a strict rule that we ourselves couldn't guarantee following 100%? I admit it. I'm human. I was raised in the Bronx. Not to mention, I've worked in offices full of sales people since I was 18. I slip more often than I care to admit, even in type. I believe we ask our users to watch themselves on language that we could catch ourselves on too. Personally, I couldn't ask anyone to take on a task that I know, I couldn't accomplish myself.

While I've spent most of the discussion asking questions that might lean against your statement, let me say, 100% action would be taken if any of those words were directed at another user. And we will keep the cuss words in the realm of "moderation" and not, "acceptable in every post". While we don't go after every user, most of our moderators have excellent memories. And they are very much aware of which users genuinely slip and which make it a habit.

I would like to take the time to thank you personally for your feedback. =D

[atf487]

Don't change in the ways you conduct the forums. Trust me, you guys aren't strict. As with language, I still don't know why we even have curse words in the first place.