SITE RULES...

[medusacoils]

I'm not Deano but I gots two cents to spend.

Profanity is sort of like porn. "Can't define it, but we know it when we see it". Asking for an exhaustive list or definition of profanity is just begging to have someone (not you at all Wayne, I have the highest regard for you) find an exception or a word not on the list. I remember there was one particularly unpleasant person on another forum who managed to find some derogatory wording in another language, she didn't get away with it although it took some effort to translate.

Common sense goes a long way. If one gets dinged for profanity (and I have, several times) it's a learning experience. I manage to be pretty clean most of the time, and if a mod judges I've got dirt I usually thank them and get better for a while. There ARE words that aren't really dirt, but to me, it's more important to respect the system. If Deano sez it's a cuss, it's a cuss, and considering Deano is not exactly any kind of angel, if he sez it's a cuss it prolly is.

Again Wayne, you have a good point, just want to have my little two cents here.

Thank you Lucille, I appreciate the kind words and I feel the same way about you. :cheers:

Thank you for the response too. I feel the way you do, in regard to this discussion, but at the same time, I would hate to be trapped in the proverbial gray area.

Then it comes down to personal inturpritation. What if I am in a discussion with Susan and I use a word that may or may not be a cuss, (based on each of our own personal definitions) but Deano sez it is? (or vise versa with the Deano and Susan thing), but during that conversation, Susan doesn't see it as a cuss and chooses not to act?

Hmmmm? Ya know, this topic could drive me :crazy02:

Wayne,

That FCC definition works for me, but notice how they use the word "includes." Even they don't limit their definition narrowly. It's too subjective. The mods aren't in full agreement, and we're probably never going to be. Gray areas abound. I wish I could be more specific, but I can't. :shrugs:

I get that Dean and I appreciate the attempt to clarify. I hate to be a thorn in the side or a pain in the asteroid belt, but I just wonder about this, every time I see the word "profanity".

I guess the best possible solution would be to look at the context at which the word is/was used? Would that be fair?

Wayne

 

[LBoz]

Hey, Wayne....do you need me to send you one of my OCD meds? :laugh: J/K.

I think your last point was right on the money. Context.

 

[Roy Munson]

Yep. Context is very important.

 

[medusacoils]

Hey, Wayne....do you need me to send you one of my OCD meds? :laugh: J/K.

I think your last point was right on the money. Context.

OCD meds? Hmmm, maybe? Or maybe I am being picky at the moment, because of pain meds? :shrugs:

Yep. Context is very important.

Sorry to be a pain in the buttocks, Dean!

Thanks!

Wayne

 

[Lucille]

Speaking of profanity, I am at this very moment putting up wallpaper, which I only do a little every weekend because it is such an awful job. It ranks right up there with fire ants and ex husbands as subjects deserving of the most colorful words I can invent. Which of course I will not print.

 

[medusacoils]

On an even more serious note, I do wish the mod team would crack down more on people that make disparaging, disgusting and distasteful remarks like this;

Original posters name omitted;

Internet arguing is like the special Olympics you may win but you are still retarded!

I have seen this posted several times by a couple of members of this forum. Being the parent of "Special Needs Child", I find comments, like this, far more offensive then some cuss word.

Sorry, didn't mean to go all serious on you!

Wayne

 

[Roy Munson]

I've already uttered 20 or 30 words at the dog today that I wouldn't type here even at my least angelic...

 

[carol]

Can we have some sort of warning system, like a PM or visitor message before an infraction until we get a feel for exactly what's expected?

 

[stephen]

Side Note

Please keep in mind that this forum is viewed by some schools,I know my sons biology teacher let her students visit it.
So things should be appropriate for all ages,the future of our hobby.

 

[Roy Munson]

This thread is FOR serious discussion, Wayne. No need to apologize!

I was just discussing your exact example with a friend yesterday. It's a tough one. I don't like it, and it was used in a hostile context. The problem as I see it is that there needs to be some leniency if this place is to continue to host interesting discussions. However, there seems to be a trend of decreasing civility around here. We need to find a better balance.

It should also be kept in mind that this site has moderators, not purifiers. I wouldn't want to be a purifier (and I would be an ironic choice for that role).

 

[Lucille]

Please keep in mind that this forum is viewed by some schools,I know my sons biology teacher let her students visit it.
So things should be appropriate for all ages,the future of our hobby.

I disagree. Parents/teachers who allow their children to view a site are responsible for assuring themselves that site contents are appropriate.
In the chit-chat forum there are sometimes implications that are more adult in nature, mostly tasteful, often funny. I do not believe that even though questions arising from such might put a teacher on the spot, that we should sanitize the site to such an extent that it is kinder-ready.

 

[dionythicus]

On an even more serious note, I do wish the mod team would crack down more on people that make disparaging, disgusting and distasteful remarks like this;


I have seen this posted several times by a couple of members of this forum. Being the parent of "Special Needs Child", I find comments, like this, far more offensive then some cuss word.

Sorry, didn't mean to go all serious on you!

Wayne

But it all comes down to an individual's sensitivity to a word or comment. I have friends with special needs children and they aren't offended by these kind of comments because they aren't being deliberately directed at person with the intention of inflicting emotional harm. Its a broad statement. If someone specifically told them that their kids are retarded, you bet they'd be PO'd. Like many words in our new vocabulary, the original meaning has been somewhat overlooked to become a new vernacular. Gay didn't always mean homosexual, neither did fag (and it means something completely different depending on what country you're in).

Have you ever used the word "moron" when dealing with someone? How about "idiot"? Both have the same definition as "retarded", but we use them daily. So why is the word "retarded" still regarded as offensive over those other words? Even historically "moron" and "idiot" were more offensive than "retarded" when speaking of the mentally disabled. They all started out as a statement used in ignorance are still used by most people. It can be quite demeaning, but I'm not sure people who use these words as slang these days really know the history of what they mean. That's not to say its acceptable to tell someone with disabilities they're retarded, or a moron or an idiot, that's just plain vicious, but to call someone doing something stupid one of those words had become commonplace.

 

[Roy Munson]

Can we have some sort of warning system, like a PM or visitor message before an infraction until we get a feel for exactly what's expected?

For most of the listed violations, there is an option to issue a warning instead of assigning infraction points. Personally, I think the warnings aren't of much use. Minor infractions carry minor penalties. I don't know if I've ever seen a suspension/ban triggered by accumulated infraction points. Most members who are suspended/banned are blatantly asking for it.

 

[dionythicus]

I disagree. Parents/teachers who allow their children to view a site are responsible for assuring themselves that site contents are appropriate.
In the chit-chat forum there are sometimes implications that are more adult in nature, mostly tasteful, often funny. I do not believe that even though questions arising from such might put a teacher on the spot, that we should sanitize the site to such an extent that it is kinder-ready.

Exactly. This isn't a scientific site for the discussion of cornsnakes. This is a forum where people who enjoy the hobby come together and talk about snakes, cars, women, men, politics, whatever. I don't think we need to be less of ourselves because kids are looking. If you wouldn't say it around your kids, you shouldn't say it here. We should always be aware of the fact that kids are on the web and can access this site, but I'm not going to edit myself because a teacher or parent doesn't pay attention to what their kids are doing.

 

[stephen]

I disagree. Parents/teachers who allow their children to view a site are responsible for assuring themselves that site contents are appropriate.
In the chit-chat forum there are sometimes implications that are more adult in nature, mostly tasteful, often funny. I do not believe that even though questions arising from such might put a teacher on the spot, that we should sanitize the site to such an extent that it is kinder-ready.

Thats true ,spammers came on and advertising for porn was on here before,which really kind of bummed me out.It was taken down immediately. I know this is the internet and things happen. For the students that want to learn and actually see the results of breeding different genes together by viewing the photo gallery was cool,it brought more interest and amazement.
Ever since I could walk I was fascinated by all kinds of animals and grew to love animals.For others who are like me, I am willing to try to help them in anyway I can. I was just pointing out that children maybe viewing and to try to keep that in mind when posting is all.:shrugs:

 

[Lucille]

I was just pointing out that children maybe viewing and to try to keep that in mind when posting is all.:shrugs:

And I was saying that despite the fact that I love children, I come here to relax and chat with adults. I stay within the guidelines of the site, but I do not keep in mind that children may be looking. I raised two sons and did not expect others to look out for them on the internet, and I feel it is the parents responsibility and not mine to make sure their kids are seeing age appropriate stuff.

 

[medusacoils]

But it all comes down to an individual's sensitivity to a word or comment. I have friends with special needs children and they aren't offended by these kind of comments because they aren't being deliberately directed at person with the intention of inflicting emotional harm. Its a broad statement. If someone specifically told them that their kids are retarded, you bet they'd be PO'd. Like many words in our new vocabulary, the original meaning has been somewhat overlooked to become a new vernacular. Gay didn't always mean homosexual, neither did fag (and it means something completely different depending on what country you're in).

Have you ever used the word "moron" when dealing with someone? How about "idiot"? Both have the same definition as "retarded", but we use them daily. So why is the word "retarded" still regarded as offensive over those other words? Even historically "moron" and "idiot" were more offensive than "retarded" when speaking of the mentally disabled. They all started out as a statement used in ignorance are still used by most people. It can be quite demeaning, but I'm not sure people who use these words as slang these days really know the history of what they mean. That's not to say its acceptable to tell someone with disabilities they're retarded, or a moron or an idiot, that's just plain vicious, but to call someone doing something stupid one of those words had become commonplace.

Based on this statement, the "N" word is acceptable to use in some contexts, as long as I am not directing it specifically at an African American!?!?

Thanks for clarifying!

Wayne

 

[wstphal]

And I was saying that despite the fact that I love children, I come here to relax and chat with adults. I stay within the guidelines of the site, but I do not keep in mind that children may be looking. I raised two sons and did not expect others to look out for them on the internet, and I feel it is the parents responsibility and not mine to make sure their kids are seeing age appropriate stuff.

Agreed. But the general perception is shifting toward requiring the environment to be kid friendly, rather than that adults keep kids away from the unfriendly environment. It's probably good for us to be reminded that kids do come here (and I don't mean under 18 hardcore herp lovers) & to moderate our language to avoid anything unsuitable.

Of course, I hope we don't ever have to deal with adults who feel that discussing breeding behaviors in snakes is inappropriate!

 

[LBoz]

Exactly. This isn't a scientific site for the discussion of cornsnakes. This is a forum where people who enjoy the hobby come together and talk about snakes, cars, women, men, politics, whatever. I don't think we need to be less of ourselves because kids are looking. If you wouldn't say it around your kids, you shouldn't say it here. We should always be aware of the fact that kids are on the web and can access this site, but I'm not going to edit myself because a teacher or parent doesn't pay attention to what their kids are doing.

I repped Cathy (K?) for this post but I'll voice my opinon as well. As a forum owner, I like my site to be exactly what she described above. A place for hobbyists to come and talk fish and anything else they choose within reason in a public forum. It's not my job to supervise other people's children.

I think if you keep your posts written in much the same way you would voice it in a room full of civil people, you're going to pretty much avoid any infractions. If you're a person who would walk into a room of strangers and start swearing and throwing out racial slurs or whatever, then you're likely the type of poster who will receive infractions here. Not that I haven't said things here that I wouldn't say in such a room, but I'm hoping that my meaning is clear. If the mods want us to be more civil to each other, I know I'll personally make every attempt to be a little less curmudgeonly. Not an easy task for me, but I'll try.

 

[carol]

Please keep in mind that this forum is viewed by some schools,I know my sons biology teacher let her students visit it.
So things should be appropriate for all ages,the future of our hobby.

Then again, one visit to a school campus could make some of the worst of us blush listening to students and teachers alike! My son's Chemistry teacher is in love with the F word.

So many things here are carefully implied to where a child would have no idea and if they did, someone corrupted them before we did!

For most of the listed violations, there is an option to issue a warning instead of assigning infraction points. Personally, I think the warnings aren't of much use. Minor infractions carry minor penalties. I don't know if I've ever seen a suspension/ban triggered by accumulated infraction points. Most members who are suspended/banned are blatantly asking for it.

I guess I'll just have to be ready for it then. I try really hard to behave myself but I don't always win the battle. Sometimes I just wanna....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZhys7Dg8YM

(I'm having troubles embed)