General / Off-Topic Censorship

[noodle]

It seems to me that there are two issues being discussed here:

1. The censorship of the word "" when used as per it's original meaning. I am opposed to censoring a word just because it refers to something unpleasant.

2. The censorship of the word "" when used casually to refer to something other than . I am comfortable with this being considered inappropriate, and would be happy with the mods dealing with it on an ad-hoc basis. But the position should perhaps be clarified.

 

[Robert Maynard]

Does this imply that your child rearing methods are open to public criticism?

And further...are you by this post suggesting that the word "<SNIP>" must by censored?

Assuming a resounding "yes" to both of those questions, kindly list all the other offensive terms that you feel should be considered for censorship. Take your time, there are a great many.

If you wish to drag down the discussion with ad-hominem, then fill your boots.

I am not suggesting that any particular word should be censored - however I find no problem with Moderators <snipping> out words that they deem unfit to remain.

I am, however, suggesting that you re-aquaint yourself with the "Terms of Use" that you signed up to - they haven't changed since you did.

.... and reading them again, my reference to my son is moot - he won't be accessing the forums for another 26 months, in accordance with 4.c of the ToU. However there will be other young persons who become interested in the game - why should they be subjected to such language?

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Their house, their rules... If they want to keep the site family friendly, then that's fine by me. It's not like there aren't a thousand other outlets on the internet for saying what you want to say.

There are sites that don't censor anything at all if you look for them, but that part of the internet can be quite unpleasant at times. Personally I'd rather have a few odd <Snip> cases than no moderation at all. Discussing the pros and cons of each specific decision is kind of boring.

 

[Vlodec]

Their house, their rules... If they want to keep the site family friendly, then that's fine by me. It's not like there aren't a thousand other outlets on the internet for saying what you want to say.

There are sites that don't censor anything at all if you look for them, but that part of the internet can be quite unpleasant at times. Personally I'd rather have a few odd <Snip> cases than no moderation at all. Discussing the pros and cons of each specific decision is kind of boring.

Then why contribute? Presumably the contributors don't find it boring.

I don't feel I'm discussing a specific point, far from it. A general principle.

 

[Vlodec]

If you wish to drag down the discussion with ad-hominem, then fill your boots.

I am not suggesting that any particular word should be censored - however I find no problem with Moderators <snipping> out words that they deem unfit to remain.

I am, however, suggesting that you re-aquaint yourself with the "Terms of Use" that you signed up to - they haven't changed since you did.

.... and reading them again, my reference to my son is moot - he won't be accessing the forums for another 26 months, in accordance with 4.c of the ToU. However there will be other young persons who become interested in the game - why should they be subjected to such language?

I've already responded to all of these points. Kindly read the responses.

"Ad Hominem"? you brought him into the conversation not I. Read what's written, you'll see I implied it was inadvisable.

==================================

I see the temperature rising in this thread. Only a matter of time before a moderator uses this as an excuse to "<SNIP>" it. Which of course is exactly the result that some of you want. Better to "<SNIP>" than that you should allow freedom of expression.

 

[Rog]

If you're referring to the racist N word then it already is as when you add an S in front to imply laughing a la Muttley then it gets the 6 star treatment from the profanity filter.

I confess I was referring to the other 'N' word, something of a forum bête noire. Rhymes with 'Etonian'.

 

[Robert Maynard]

If you're referring to this post:

and this means I can't question it or lobby for change. Why?

then yes, I read it - you don't seem to like the rules and you want them changed - start a poll.... Oh, wait.

I've already responded to all of these points. Kindly read the responses.

"Ad Hominem"? you brought him into the conversation not I. Read what's written, you'll see I implied it was inadvisable.

==================================

I see the temperature rising in this thread. Only a matter of time before a moderator uses this as an excuse to "<SNIP>" it. Which of course is exactly the result that some of you want. Better to "<SNIP>" than that you should allow freedom of expression.

Bringing the concept of children using the forums into the discussion, using "one I made earlier" as an example, should not be taken as carte blanche to criticise another's parenting methods. This is a forum after all, according to the ToU, that expects persons of the age of 13 and over to participate. Inadvisable to mention a potential forum user - why?

There is no temperature in the thread - it is all down to the "tone of voice" that each of us applies to the words we are reading on a screen.

Moderators, as Frontier's agents on the forum, are quite entitled under TOU#4a to take whatever action they see fit with respect to the content of posts.

 

[Vlodec]

If you're referring to this post:



then yes, I read it - you don't seem to like the rules and you want them changed - start a poll.... Oh, wait.



Bringing the concept of children using the forums into the discussion, using "one I made earlier" as an example, should not be taken as carte blanche to criticise another's parenting methods. This is a forum after all, according to the ToU, that expects persons of the age of 13 and over to participate. Inadvisable to mention a potential forum user - why?

There is no temperature in the thread - it is all down to the "tone of voice" that each of us applies to the words we are reading on a screen.

Moderators, as Frontier's agents on the forum, are quite entitled under TOU#4a to take whatever action they see fit with respect to the content of posts.

Answered in previous posts. Read again.

 

[Robert Maynard]

Answered in previous threads. Read again.

Which other threads?

 

[Vlodec]

Which other threads?

I beg your pardon, "previous posts". Last post amended accordingly.

 

[Robert Maynard]

I beg your pardon, "previous posts". Last post amended accordingly.

If you mean the OP, I understand that you are opposed to any form of censorship. What I find confusing is that you have used the forums for nearly eight years and only now feel the need to raise it. We all signed up for the forums with these ToU in place - is it surprising that there are different views to your own given that fact?

 

[Vlodec]

If you mean the OP, I understand that you are opposed to any form of censorship. What I find confusing is that you have used the forums for nearly eight years and only now feel the need to raise it. We all signed up for the forums with these ToU in place - is it surprising that there are different views to your own given that fact?

No, of course it isn't. Do you still not understand the whole point of this thread? Try harder.

And.....let's leave your son out of this altogether. It's for the best.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Then why contribute? Presumably the contributors don't find it boring.

I don't feel I'm discussing a specific point, far from it. A general principle.

I only said I found discussing the specific case boring, and that's because I'm perfectly content to accept slightly arbitrary application of the rules. The mods are humans and not robots. The OP was about specific incidence, which I can see could be considered out of keeping with the forum's tone, and a lot of the discussion has revolved around the ins and outs of that. I skipped those bits.

If your general principle is that this forum should have zero censorship, and allow pornography and gory pictures of corpses and whatnot like other sites, then I completely disagree. If you think the line in the sand should be drawn where you want it, I disagree with that too.

Personally, I think of forums like pubs. Sometimes I'm in a family pub*, and I don't swear, or start up certain topics of conversation. Other times I'm in a complete dive, and I tend not to hold back so much... This is a family pub.

*Like earlier today...

 

[Robert Maynard]

No, of course it isn't. Do you still not understand the whole point of this thread? Try harder.

What's the average age of contributors to this forum? I would guess mid thirties at the youngest, and yet we must be prevented from using and even seeing this term.

Average age has nothing to do with it - minimum permissible age does, and that's 13.

I hate censorship very much - and I'm not keen on those who feel able to apply it - though I understand some people are allergic to certain terms and we must protect these delicate flowers lest they crumple and die. But there is a limit and this moderator has crossed it, and then walked a few miles.

You don't like censorship and you don't like moderators who practice it. You also have a pejorative view of people who do not agree with your viewpoint.

Is that a better summary?

 

[Vlodec]

I only said I found discussing the specific case boring, and that's because I'm perfectly content to accept slightly arbitrary application of the rules. The mods are humans and not robots. The OP was about specific incidence, which I can see could be considered out of keeping with the forum's tone, and a lot of the discussion has revolved around the ins and outs of that. I skipped those bits.

If your general principle is that this forum should have zero censorship, and allow pornography and gory pictures of corpses and whatnot like other sites, then I completely disagree. If you think the line in the sand should be drawn where you want it, I disagree with that too.

Personally, I think of forums like pubs. Sometimes I'm in a family pub*, and I don't swear, or start up certain topics of conversation. Other times I'm in a complete dive, and I tend not to hold back so much... This is a family pub.

*Like earlier today...

I understand. Let me remind you that it was not the discussion that was "<SNIP>"ed, just the word. A word not included in the language filter. Do you see?

I want you to understand something here Slawk, nothing just ends. The process continues. If you object to the use of a word, and ban it on that account, which word will others object to next? I've no doubt you can think of many, and - trust me - they also will be banned in time.

Banning even the use of the word "<SNIP>" is breathtakingly fatuous.

 

[Vlodec]

Average age has nothing to do with it - minimum permissible age does, and that's 13.



You don't like censorship and you don't like moderators who practice it. You also have a pejorative view of people who do not agree with your viewpoint.

Is that a better summary?

No. Try harder. All I require is freedom of expression.

 

[Brett C]

Hi there,

As per the forum rules, some words can and sometimes are acted upon and are edited out manually. For the most part, most swear words are already pre-blocked by the forums built-in filtering system.

With that stated,

1. No Abuse or Disrespectful Behaviour
The following forum rules are in place to promote the Frontier forums as a safe, friendly and welcoming place for the community. Discussion and debate are welcomed but not at the expense of common sense and decency, as exemplified by the rules below.

You must not:

• Be insulting to any person through obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory comments in order to bait other users into responding. This is also known as trolling or flame-baiting.
• De-rail the original topic of the original poster (unless you can bring it back on track quickly and promptly!).
• Use sexually explicit or harmful language including the use of misspelled or punctuated words to insinuate, represent any of the above - also known as "masked swearing".
• Partake in personal arguments with other members of the community on the forums. If you have problems with other members either resolve your issues in private via PM or email, or use the "Ignore" feature of the bulletin board system in order to ignore that person.
• Promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, age or other criteria that offends other users.
• Use the discussion board features to call out individuals or groups in thread titles, polls and/or posts to simply demean or insult them.

In particular, the third bullet on that list.

In addition to that section, this topic does contest a moderator's decision.

Contesting A Moderator's Decision
If you disagree with a moderator's course of action over an incident, whether that be the closing of a thread or the issuing of an infraction, you must contact them or another member of the moderation team privately to voice your grievance. It is not acceptable to do this in a public thread, any attempt to do so will be seen as an attempt to undermine the moderation team and will result in an infraction. If you disagree with a moderator's decision it is also not acceptable to verbally abuse or harass them, either through the forum or any other form of communication- any attempt to do so may result in a permanent ban from the forums.

When you, and everyone else registered an account on this discussion board you agreed to the Frontier Terms and Conditions, which can be found here: http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8 or at http://www.frontier.co.uk/legal/terms/
Within this section, we feel that this discussion has fallen into section six, "Use of frontier.co.uk Communications." part c, " transmit content Frontier considers in its sole discretion to be disruptive, unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable; "


Please message Mark Boss, our local community manager regarding the moderation actions of the moderators on this board.

Thanks for understanding, I will be closing this thread now.