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Censoring words on the boards

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Okay, bit of an update for you

In part as a result of some email discussions about a couple of old threads, in part due to chats with other moderators and in part due to discussions with the internal managers on the editorial team, I've come to a decision about the way we censor words on TheSite.org. Given the change I thought it was important to let you know.

Now obviously to discuss the issue I'm going to have to make it clear what we're talking about, much as I dislike the words in question.

Until about a week ago we censored three words (so they appeared in stars) - one of which was faggot. Given problems on the food & drink board this word was removed.

Therefore, until yesterday, TheSite.org censored only two words - nigger and paki. Btw, that's the last time I'll be using them in this thread.

However discussions about the censorship of words continually left me in a difficult position. As a matter of principal TheSite.org tries to promote the questioning of others views, especially around the use of racial and insulting terms. And as a matter of principal we never consider the use of swear words by adults to be offensive, except in certain contexts.

We believe that debates around race, gender, sexuality need to take place, and should be encouraged, and we don't allow racist postings. The users, and the mods will question those people who post in a racist manner, and we ban people who are clearly racist.

So despite promoting the idea that words and offensive terms should be challenged, rather than banned, I was in a position of having to defend why two words were banned and others weren't. Although I tried, it was a position I couldn't support.

As a result we've changed the way we censor words - we won't. From now on, no words will be censored on the boards.

This doesn't mean that the words mentioned above are in anyway acceptable on these boards - their use, especially in debates on race as a racial insult, or as personally insulting terms will pretty much result in bannings for racism. But it makes no sense to ban only those two words and not also many 100s that are equally offensive to other groups.

So thought we'd let you know, any questions?
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    CUNT - WOW! This is great - the other words, pffft @ them, know?

    Jim fixes it.
    xxx.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You know I thought it would take longer before that reply turned up ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Though that word hasn't been censored for many years
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    You know I thought it would take longer before that reply turned up ;)

    I am at work so there's like nothing for me to do apart from celebrate the word cunt, innit. :razz:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    Though that word hasn't been censored for many years

    Has it not?! I always had to put the [*I][/I*] in between it and that!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    We've been able to say cunt for ages on here! Ha, I remember when it was banned though. I think it made a lot of people's days when it was unbanned though, hehe.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Good decision in my opinion, i think most of the people that frequent these boards are mature enough to use these words in a respectable manner, and are fully aware of the impact they have.

    One question, you say they are not to be used in a debate, and as such would lead to a banning, but what in a none arguemenative "offensive" context e.g. if i said something like "In the 60 it was common for people to insult people by calling them (one of the words in question)" or "Why is it acceptable for the (one of the words) to be used in rap songs, yet by somebody of another race said even in the same tone can be viewed as deeply offensive?" etc...

    I think there is no offense meant by either sentence, yet could this lead to a ban?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think it's a good thing. Sometimes you want to have a discussion and you are not using the words in question in an offensive way, eg hasn't the word nigger been banned in New York?

    Or sometimes you want to report what someone else has said, it's all about context.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    We've been able to say cunt for ages on here! Ha, I remember when it was banned though. I think it made a lot of people's days when it was unbanned though, hehe.

    Whaaaaaaaaat! Where the FUCK have I been, mate?!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Words only ever have the power and the meaning we give them - this changes over time from over use.

    I know obviously both the terms mentioned above have really loaded meanings, but thats only because we let them. In 25 years time I'm sure niether of those words will be considered as taboo as they are now.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Mr Orange wrote: »
    Good decision in my opinion, i think most of the people that frequent these boards are mature enough to use these words in a respectable manner, and are fully aware of the impact they have.

    One question, you say they are not to be used in a debate, and as such would lead to a banning, but what in a none arguemenative "offensive" context e.g. if i said something like "In the 60 it was common for people to insult people by calling them (one of the words in question)" or "Why is it acceptable for the (one of the words) to be used in rap songs, yet by somebody of another race said even in the same tone can be viewed as deeply offensive?" etc...

    I think there is no offense meant by either sentence, yet could this lead to a ban?

    No, not at all, I guess I was just getting across that the casual use of the word would be seen as hugely offensive, my mistake in implying that it wouldn't ever be appropriate - as it katchika's example. I'll edit it to make it clear
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    See if that makes more sense now
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    See if that makes more sense now

    Spot on :thumb:

    Good decision IMO
  • Indrid ColdIndrid Cold Posts: 16,688 Skive's The Limit
    I remember when "Kermit" was a banned word. :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lol, I still consider that one of my finest hours
  • Indrid ColdIndrid Cold Posts: 16,688 Skive's The Limit
    Jim V wrote: »
    lol, I still consider that one of my finest hours
    It was ;):p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    good move!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Why do racist people get banned? They're not all about the bad aspects of the word. Sure, you get some extreme people ...

    But what I think is: It's a choice, about what people do and don't like. Reasons for being racist vary from person to person. Also, are people no longer allowed to have their own opinions on life, unless of course it conforms to a "standard"?

    But I'm glad there are no restricted words here anymore. It's up to people to put their opinions across in a decent way - which if they were serious about their debate, they would think about and understand the power of the words used.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    lol, I still consider that one of my finest hours
    :hyper:
    I must have missed that! How funny! Do you reckon you could get away with doing that again? :lol: Sorry Kermit :heart:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It was pretty funny!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Was pretty frustrasting when you typed snigger and it came up s******

    Or am I thinking of another forum?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    BritJamez wrote: »
    Why do racist people get banned? They're not all about the bad aspects of the word. Sure, you get some extreme people ...

    But what I think is: It's a choice, about what people do and don't like. Reasons for being racist vary from person to person. Also, are people no longer allowed to have their own opinions on life, unless of course it conforms to a "standard"?

    But I'm glad there are no restricted words here anymore. It's up to people to put their opinions across in a decent way - which if they were serious about their debate, they would think about and understand the power of the words used.

    You don't publish anything here - we do. We are the publishers of everyone on this website. As a funded charity that believes in involving as many different people as possible, we don't want to be the people who publish hate. We belive that on one hand it actively discourages people to post who are being threatened, attacked, defamed and demeaned by those posters, and on the other hand, we'd be actively promoting racism by choosing to publish those viewpoints.

    This is, and has always been, a moderated discussion board of a charity, not a free for all with no rules. People can have what ever rules they want, but I don't believe I should be made into a racist publisher in order to defend someones right to stereotype and restrict the freedom of other people.

    People are entirely entitled to their own views, we have a number of posters whose views could be considered racist, certainly based on stereotypes - they are entirely free to post. What they can't do is use this charity to post hate, and to post racism, and to attack the lives of others because of their skin, their sexuality, their gender, they language. That isn't why this website publishes your posts.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yes, I understand this - although for example, would a teenager who IS having racist feelings be banned from the boards because he wanted to perhaps .. get help with his feelings?

    It wouldn't make you a racist publisher, and you wouldn't be promoting racism, but opening avenues for debate about the issues, allowing both sides, not just those who are anti-racism.

    I of course understand the stance of thesite.org's boards - and respect them - I merely like to question, sometimes :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yes, and all that happens, as stated above. But if someone is spreading hate then ultimately their need has to be considered against the need of the rest of the board (I'm thinking of Luke as a particular example)

    And it's worth noting that posters like that aren't banned immediately but after a long discussion trying to provide examples how they can post within the rules.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    :thumb:

    ... and all is good in the world ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jim V wrote: »
    one of which was faggot. Given problems on the food & drink board this word was removed.

    :lol:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Was pretty frustrasting when you typed snigger and it came up s******

    It was worse when I wanted to talk about Scunthorpe :grump:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote: »
    It was worse when I wanted to talk about Scunthorpe :grump:


    WHY would you want to talk about Scunthorpe? :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    crap towns?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    makes sense to me, anyone using the aforementioned words in an offensive manor's probably not someone I want to talk to on the boards anyway.
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