Profanity and Censor Circumvention on the Rise

Can you add "libtard" to the list of words that are frowned upon? There is no need to use the word "tard" or "retard" for any reason. (Though I myself did it once and feel bad about it)

well

I apologise for my use of circumventing censorship and will change my conduct in future. The problem is with exciting debates to get involved in who would sit and read Boring T & Cs. I was not aware circumvention was wrong.

T

[edit on 24-5-2010 by Tiger5]

[edit on 24-5-2010 by Tiger5]

Originally posted by InvisibleAlbatross
Can you add "libtard" to the list of words that are frowned upon? There is no need to use the word "tard" or "retard" for any reason. (Though I myself did it once and feel bad about it)

But what if a member calls another member tardy? Is that ok?

IRM

I had actually begun to think that ATS had relaxed its policy on the issue .


Censorship.


" Careful Now ! "

" Down with this sort of thing ! "

I don't even get what's so bad about profanity anyway.

To be brutally honest, a lot of the threads here have content that is far more offensive than coarse language, and I think that censor circumvention isn't all that bad. Sometimes you just really need to swear.

Originally posted by schrodingers dog
Testing:

Fluffybottomsfartypants

Sweet.

hmmmmm at it again with those really derogatory comments eh s-dog

reply to post by Whine Flu


Swearing / Profanity and such will not be tolerated on ATS.

Originally posted by Whine Flu
I don't even get what's so bad about profanity anyway.

To be brutally honest, a lot of the threads here have content that is far more offensive than coarse language, and I think that censor circumvention isn't all that bad. Sometimes you just really need to swear.

It isn't about "offensive". It is about ignorance, and sounding as such.

You can say some really nasty stuff without ever swearing. It is frowned on just the same.

Base discussion is the playground of the ignorant, and has no place here.

Originally posted by Tiger5
well

I apologise for my use of circumventing censorship and will change my conduct in future. The problem is with exciting debates to get involved in who would sit and read Boring T & Cs. I was not aware circumvention was wrong.

T

[edit on 24-5-2010 by Tiger5]

[edit on 24-5-2010 by Tiger5]

Yeah, your statement is totally logical. They put a censor in place, but there obviously isn't any reason to do so. I mean, what else is a reasonable person to do other than circumvent it?

Just like those pesky fences at military bases. how are we supposed to know that you shouldn't climb over them?

reply to post by Whine Flu

I don't even get what's so bad about profanity anyway.

Truthfully, although we do have children on the site, most members are older and even the younger members will be familiar with profanity.

So it's not so much the 'prude factor' (let's face it, most of us can handle it). However, ATS strives for classy, intellectual, and courteous debate. Which is why we don't allow personal attacks or name calling against members.

The system seems to work well. I would much prefer it than to have a forum that swarms with cussing, name calling, flaming, one liners, etc. Forums that allow such typically degrade quickly. So it's a nice way to keep things civil and intellectual instead of rowdy, profane, and nonsensical.

Yes, sometimes we come across a story that makes us want to cuss. But use that as a challenge to express yourself in more intellectual terms.

Think of it like nudity. We've all know what a naked body looks like and there is nothing inherently bad about it. However, we don't allow nudity in posts or avatars, etc. None of us will probably faint if we hear a curse word but at the same time, it keeps the site so much more classy when we express ourselves in more friendly terms.

reply to post by masqua


It is because foul language is about the only acceptable way to describe the oil spill situation.

I agree that I have seen a lot more foul language. I don't condone it, but I am pretty sure the oil rig disaster is the main cause.

Maybe you all should set up a new oil spill disaster forum, and allow foul language in it.

The language used on here is just a reflection of how people speak in 'real' life.
When socialising with my friends or in all male company I tend to swear more than I do at other times.

I also tend to swear more when I get angry or passionate about something.

I agree that certain words should be censored, but, bearing in mind the subject matters getting discussed, I think it's understandable that people will get pasionate and volatile occassionally.

I think that that automatic censor fails to take in the context in which the swearing has occured.
Of course it is unacceptable for one member to tell another one to eff off etc or to call each other names which include swear words.

But when swearing in itself is not even a crime in most of the countries, if not all, that ATS members come from, I do find it slightly draconian at times, restrictive and imposing a set of moral values upon people.

Slightly at odds with 'Deny Ignorance'.

I would like to re-iterate though that I fully support the site principles of demanding respectful debate at all times.

Another thing is that certain words that most would consider swear words are not censored and others that aren't that are.
Indeed I have known SO himself use swear words on occassion, and quite appropriately in my view.

And I found it quite funny the other day when someone posted something about an event in the town in England called S#horpe, to most outside of England they could well be at a complete loss as to where it happened.
And for those who are unaware, it is pronounced Scun Thorpe.

It is not quite as black and white as some would have it!

I have to say I just had a good laugh while reading this thread.

I remember not too long ago someone distorting BigFatFurryTexan's picture AND also calling him BigfatfurryballTexan or something really close to that.

After falling on the floor in an uncontrollable fit of laughing until I p....

I then got up and thought those kinds of typo's should be censored for sure!

I have never been able to look at BigfatfurryTexan the same since! Shame on whoever's fingers slipped on the keyboard.

P.S. BFFT is adorable and I try to read his posts whenever possible.

edit to delete a letter from the a word.

[edit on 24-5-2010 by sweetliberty]

[edit on 24-5-2010 by sweetliberty]

Originally posted by downtown436

Maybe you all should set up a new oil spill disaster forum, and allow foul language in it.

If you can't say what you want to say without using foul language, then don't say it. We won't tolerate foul language. As for an oil spill forum (without foul language), we may look into that. Suggestions can be submitted via the complaints/suggestions feature.



Btw, use some common sense people. There's no need to try how far you can push the boundries. Insults won't be tolerated. Go for the ball and not the player. And if someone is going for the player instead of the ball, use the alert button to make mods aware of it. However, insults are not the topic of this thread. The topic of this thread is profanity and censor circumvention.


"lmao" and "wtf" is not profanity nor censor circumvention. "FU" is, and won't be tolerated.

I suggest that the 'alternative' pronunciation of Teapartier be prohibited. I think most of us know what I mean. It is derogatory and meant to ridicule. I believe SO said that those terms would be prohibited in a recent thread.

reply to post by mishigas


The topic of this thread is not about insults. The point of this thread is that we don't want to see posts with F this and F that.



edit: won't -> don't want to

[edit on 24 May 2010 by Hellmutt]

reply to post by Hellmutt



All the 'Carlin 7' deal with one of two themes: sexual or excretory. The word I suggested is definitely of a sexual nature.

But as long as people know what the boundaries are, eh?

reply to post by masqua


While I accept that the terms and conditions are clear, and I accept that people THINK there is a perfectly good reason for having censorship rules on a site which claims to deny ignorance, I cannot and will not accept that those rules are correct.
I will abide by them, but all you do by censoring how people feel and speak in thier every day lives, is watering down the reality of the lives lived, and the expriences of the membership. I know there are some weakspined folks on the planet who hate reality , and anyone who speaks its language, and I know those folks find a potty mouth difficult to take. Its not the fault of regular hard working folk, that the world makes us want to spit and curse. We arent AFRAID of reality , we spit in its eye, and tell it how we feel in bitter language, because thats who we are, and how we feel about it . Censoring that basicaly removes us from what makes us different to people who embrace ignorance, it takes away our right to be honest about how we feel about the subjects we are discussing.
It isnt right for a person to have to change the way they communicate, just because they are on a messege board. On this board, as it stands, you cant tell someone how mad you might be about something, because if you are mad enough about something, the only way to express that is to string bitter curses ,verbal acid into every single scentence. Like when people call truthers idiots. Saying that "I felt quite annoyed by that" doesnt cut it. Dropping into a staggering display of expletives, and detaling the many months of torture that ought be vested on people who "Just accept what the government said" IS the only way to accurately communicate ones feelings on some subjects. Argue all you want, the FACT is there should not be a cap on how real you can be on a site which attempts to banish ignorance. As the old saying goes, if you cant stand the language, get the hell out of my reality.

Originally posted by TrueBrit

I will abide by them,

That's all we ask.