For clarification on the matter of profanity

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Swan

I've always found it odd when they bleep out God Damn it....and the only part bleeped is God.


I can sort of see where they are coming from...but still

Well you know, in this day and age of seperation of church and state, you cant use the lords name in vain.







.....wait a minute.

[Professor S]

To clear up any confision, I base my choice of removal of swear words based on the standard set by our automatic censor. I don't just randomly edit or censor material because I want to "flex my muscle". Thats simply silly. I used the standard not only set by the censor, but by the MPAA. If you use the "F-word" in a movie, you get an R-rating. This is at worst a PG-13 forum and we have always tried to keep it to that standard. I actually thought by moving it to the Think Tank I was being lenient compared to how I normally treat material with profane content, which is that I normally remove it all together. Instead I seemed to create a swirling whirlwind of shock and indignation to what was simply a well established policy.

As for inconsistencies in censoring banned material... moderating ain't my job. Its a hobby. I have a real life with a real job, real classes, a real chick, real live friends, real bills and real responsibilities. I edit and remove what I find. If I miss something, then it gets through the cracks. If I find it, then I take the appropriate and well established action. Censoring linked material is not new, so I don't see what the big deal is.

As for the word nigger not being automatically removed, thats because any offense it may cause depends solely on its context. If nigger is used to attack someone on these forums, then I would take immediate action, remove the post or thread, and the poster would be warned and possibly BANNED depending on the curcumstances. If someone uses the word in a historical or academic context, then there is no reason to censor its use.

**** cannot be used in appropriate manner. In fact, the words power and effect depends solely on the fact that it is considered a bad word worthy of censoring. The idea that it is censorable is the only reason why the word is so great and powerful. To remove its taboo is to remove its reason to exist.

Final point: I have been to forums that felt that the use of curse words was completely acceptable, and their forums are a complete mess. The quality of the posting is awful and the members tend to be trolls who prefer flaming members and picking fights to actually contributing to conversations. We avoid most of these idiots because their little tirades are simply **** out. So they don't come, they don't join and most importantly they don't post because they can't get off on their own tired predictable "irreverance". Yes, this might not let us grow by leaps and bounds, but then again, GameTavern would then turn into a forum that few of use would want to be members of anymore.

BTW, thanks for the heads up about the porn link. The post with the link has been removed, per our policy.

[Typhoid]

Strangie, about your final point, we can still flame people.


Example (lighthearted and totally for example purposes, I might point out now):

I'm pretty sure that can still be considered flaming.

Its also considered editable, thanks for playing.

[Dylflon]

Hey Prof, thought this might amuse you:

If a film uses "one of the harsher sexually-derived words" (such as f*ck) once, it is routine today for the film to receive a PG-13 rating, provided that the word is used as an expletive and not with a sexual meaning (this was mentioned in Be Cool, when Chili Palmer complains about the movie industry. Ironically, "f*ck" is said only in that scene, giving the movie a PG-13); exceptions may be allowed, "by a special vote of the ratings board" where the board feels such an exception would better reflect the sensibilities of American parents. A content analysis of the rated films of 1991 shows that 50% of the PG-13 films of that year used "f*ck" as an expletive, and half of those allowed two uses. It is a common misconception that if a movie uses "f*ck," in a non-sexual context, more than once, it will automatically receive an R rating. In reality, PG-13 movies are routinely allowed two or 3 uses.

Now...did that Nintendo video swear enough times to merit being moved out of the PG-13 bracket?

[Professor S]

Honestly, this is just childish. Swearing is banned, get over it. If you want to play little games and stick little asterix in your little swear words, go right ahead. Once again, the censor is my model along with common coutresy and general decency. Our established rules will be inforced if I come across any posts or links that break them, they'll be removed. Nothings changed, you're just wasting you time and making asses of yourselves in the process. Typhoids last little assinine "joke" was perfect example of why the censor is in effect as we don't want that kind of drivel here.

If you all want to sit around and giggle at your little game of "guess what word I can say!" and "look how I can manipulate the MAN and be all REBELLIOUS", go right ahead. Its tiresome.

In conclusion... Grow Up.