Censorship of words on the 3dGameMan.com forum

[3dGameMan]

Censorship of words on the 3dGameMan.com forum is something I've been thinking about as the v3 upgrade progresses. We might allow all (or most) swear/profane words and if/when they are spotted the person will be restricted or banned if used in an inappropriate way.

Why would we do this?
Well it's because certain words that can be used in a swear/profane way can also be perfectly fine. Maybe someday the forum software will be smart enough to distinguish. The other option is to monitor and read EVERY post made; however, that would require an enormous amount of time. We believe the best solution is to allow all (or most) swear/profane words and if/when they are spotted the person will be restricted or banned if used in an inappropriate way.

[Bobenis]

Well sheeeit, I agree Rod! LOL. That was ok, wasn't it? Testing 1, 2, 3...mic check.

Most swears are in the dictionary and we are all adults here, we hear them everyday, we see them on TV and movies. When they are used to slander or demean someone, then that however is a different facet. Is it not? To use them as an expression can be good though. Nothing says it better that whne you are shocked and say Holy Schiznit! You know?

What the hell am I talking about here? LOL...Later.

[thephenom]

I think most of the adults here are well-behaved..... and with everyone's help of watching the post(s), I think they would make things a lot easier on the mods.

[dom_6(sic)6]

Rod, you're psychic aren't you, earlier today I was thinking about censorship of 3GM!!! I think that the users should use the "report post" for inappropriate use of "naughty" words. I know chogonda is great for reporting posts with inappropriate material is displayed here.

Some ways, as you said are fine, like if someone was going on holiday to banco.ck. Also, we can't link to the elitebas.tards website because of the automatic censorship. In one forum I was in, saturday came up as sadaisyay!!! :rofl2. A brief notice for people registering or in forum rules could say about non sensorship of something.

[jinu123nyc]

i think its fine the way it is...
ppl shouldnt swear at all and even when its censored...others will kno wat he is tryin to say

:thumb

[Bobenis]

Censorship goes against rights I believe. We have the freedom of expression, do we not? If it is used to belittle someone, then I can understand but otherwise, don't pull a Tipper Gore please!

[Artcwolf]

I think censoring the big one's are a good thing.

As for Jes*us and id!ot being censored, I think that's a little much.

p.s.--there's another thought on this topic. If you open those floodgates, my guess is you'll be getting more pm's and e-mails about abuse. Keeping the big one's censored may, actually, help you out to some degree.

[getit29]

I voted for No but it doesn't really matter to me either way even with
the censorship in place a person can still figure out what the other person
is trying to say. I'm like dom_6(sic)6 said somethings are blocked that is
not really bad like going on vacation to Ban****(banco.ck) or something
like on the Austin Powers movie like talking about his character Fat*******
(Fatbas.tard) oh well like I said it doesn't really matter all that much to me ;)

[And|]

I think it should continue as it is at the moment. If I cant type ****, then I cant. I think that is apropriate.

I dont type it really because I want to swear, mearly because I want to stress something. I would have a hard time getting used, to NOT swearing though.

[Raedwulf]

I'm saying yes, censor profanity...

Most of us should be able to get our point across without using it and if a specific word needs to be said we're all knowledgeable enough to get past the filter

You now what I mean... I'm c**ksure of myself to put some brains in gear and spell a certain word that might be questionable... but not assault gentler sense

It helps to divert the potential flame war that could develop if we go off all half-c**ked

... And the forum ISN'T exclusively adult... no where in this forum has it been claimed to be "Adult only"...

So yeah censoring is OK, if you have the brains to find a way around the censoring you don't need to be a a great 'mule'

[wazman]

My thoughts:

As others have said, I think we should lift the swear filter on words like Je5us and id!ot. There are plenty of people named Je5us, and it would be insulting to come here, sign up, and learn that you can't even display your own name.

People who abuse those two words should get the same treatment they always would.

However, I can live without the other words showing up. I say, if you can't say it on network TV, you don't need to say it here. Just because you can say it doesn't mean you should say it.

Edit: for an example of censorship being taken too far, look in bejohnson's "First Week of July" thread. Look for the name of John Han**** - this is the name of one of the founders of our country, not a sexually explicit term for anything. That's what I consider unnecessary censorship.

[Silent_Death911]

It should stay. You see, we are all adults here (um...me and JCYC5 are 14.....but thats besides the point :KICKASS). But, there is always that one person who likes to spoil it for the rest of us. Good examples of that are the Babes Threads, PM'ing and other things of the like that you restricted us to becuase people abused it.

Things like Jesus and ***** are a bit too far. See, ever I can get around that. You'll never really stop censorship. But, for those who aren't familiar with vBCode, censorship stops them. For those who are, we don't abuse this power. We only use it on the words that MUST be seen to prove a point.

You should leave things like fu(k and sh!t out. Those can easily be abused. Things like 'bullsh!t' can be substuted with the ! to prove that point. Hell, damn, Jesus and ***** are perfectly fine to be used. Just as long as people don't use the Lord's name in vain or excessively use ***** to put someone out of their pride. No one is an *****. I don't believe in that. If something someone says is wrong, correct it. Don't be a dick about it.

As someone else said before, we hear these things EVERYDAY. It's only some people nature to continue that. All we have to do is tell them that this is a forum for all ages and if the person is respectable, he/she will stop. If not, well, they'll have to deal with you, Rod, sooner or later.

It's your forum. Do this at your own discretion. But, if you do lift it, just be sure to use fu(k and sh!t in the censorship. It just isn't something normal people would use excessively in a forum like this. We are civilized people, are we not?

PS: Hehe.....vBCode doesn't work in this new forum to cancel out the censorship. :rofl2

[And|]

If it wasnt emplied, that is what I mean, Silent_Death911

Just dont know wich to vote for since I dont really understand Rodney way of using the words... :o

[tanman_sg]

Id!ot, maybe that is a little much.

Harsher words should still be censored though.

And je5us? Maybe you could censor it if it was in the combination je5us-chr!st, that would be more like it.

[And|]

Id!ot, maybe that is a little much.

Harsher words should still be censored though.

And je5us? Maybe you could censor it if it was in the combination je5us-chr!st, that would be more like it.

Makes more sense like that, I would have to agree on that :)

[Bobenis]

No offense to those who are of these faiths but Jes-us Chri-st is blasphemous to only those who are Christian/Catholic. Why is it that Catholocism and Christianity are taken as foremost? Is this not an open forum for all races and religions or is it a religious forum based upon Christianity? So Jes-us Chri-st is a swear to us all? Better ban "hell" as well with that mentality as it is also considered blasphemous. Where does it end?

Please don't take me the wrong way, I am respectful of all religious beliefs and I am not against either nor do I have a problem with them but you better ban Allah, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, etc if that is the case. You know what I am saying?

[Artcwolf]

No offense to those who are of these faiths but Jes-us Chri-st is blasphemous to only those who are Christian/Catholic. Why is it that Catholocism and Christianity are taken as foremost? Is this not an open forum for all races and religions or is it a religious forum based upon Christianity? So Jes-us Chri-st is a swear to us all? Better ban "hell" as well with that mentality as it is also considered blasphemous. Where does it end?

Please don't take me the wrong way, I am respectful of all religious beliefs and I am not against either nor do I have a problem with them but you better ban Allah, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, etc if that is the case. You know what I am saying?


Ummm...what are you talking about?

First, I'm unaware of any other religious figure being censored. If the name of ***** Christ is to be censored then so should every other religion. Get a life.

Second, Rodney started this thread asking about the censorship issue. Let's not turn it into a religious debate. You've stated your view, there is nothing more productive to add.

[Bobenis]

Um...is this not talking about censorship? The censorship of je-sus..right? Tell me why Jes-us is censored then Artcwolf? If you take it as a debate, fine but it was not meant as such. I was only elaborating on the previous 4 posts which spoke of it. :happywave

[egarrard]

(um...me and JCYC5 are 14.....but thats besides the point :KICKASS). No, my friend, that IS the point. Granted, different people have different maturity levels, and you and Jeff have demonstrated that you are above the norm. But you aren't ALL of the teenagers who visit these forums.

I listen to my nephew and his friends talking together and the level of crudity in their speech is appalling. They think is is "cool", but cool isn't what gets you ahead in this world. They are probably all very nice kids, but you couldn't tell it by their speech. They just sound like un-educated boobs.

There is also the problem of people who's native tongue isn't English. They will get the wrong impression of what is proper if most of what they read in here is gutter slang and obscenity. English is confusing enough without that added to the mix.

Maybe a better way to look at it is not as censorship, but as clarification and a tool to help maintain civilty in these forums. I'm not a fan of censorship, but I can see where it has it's place, so long as it's the profanity that's censored, not the ideas trying to be expressed so poorly by it.

(Jesuz (sic) should be removed from the database, though.)

edit: a spellchecker might be a better thing to worry about... :)

[Bobenis]

No, my friend, that IS the point. Granted, different people have different maturity levels, and you and Jeff have demonstrated that you are above the norm. But you aren't ALL of the teenagers who visit these forums.

I listen to my nephew and his friends talking together and the level of crudity in their speech is appalling. They think is is "cool", but cool isn't what gets you ahead in this world. They are probably all very nice kids, but you couldn't tell it by their speech. They just sound like un-educated boobs.

There is also the problem of people who's native tongue isn't English. They will get the wrong impression of what is proper if most of what they read in here is gutter slang and obscenity. English is confusing enough without that added to the mix.

Maybe a better way to look at it is not as censorship, but as clarification and a tool to help maintain civilty in these forums. I'm not a fan of censorship, but I can see where it has it's place, so long as it's the profanity that's censored, not the ideas trying to be expressed so poorly by it.

(Jesuz (sic) should be removed from the database, though.)

edit: a spellchecker might be a better thing to worry about... :)

My god Ed...for once I agree with ya man! LOL. Especially the Jesuz thang. This is one for the history books! :thumb :lmao

[bejohnson]

I sent Rodney the attached today because of the way the censorship module operates.
Rodney,


I posted a copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and in the Name of
John Han**** the letters C-O-C-K were censored. If the censorship module is
so simple minded that it cannot distinguish between the word c o c k and any
word having that particular grouping in it, the module should be turned off
and individual messages evaluated on their own merits. If part of my name
was censored I would take it as an affront to me personally. Also there are
many Hispanics named ***** which is also censored because someone might use
it as an oath but the word "God" is not. As a Christian I am offended by
the slap at the second most important being in my religion while no
censorship of any of the other religious personages occurs. The censorship
of the word "*****" is discrimination as far as I am concerned.


Please either revise the module so it can intelligently censor the content
or that being impossible turn it off and let the feedback from the members
allow action for inappropriate behavior.


Ed Johnson (bejohnson)

There are many words and proper names that one cannot use because of the simplistic method the filter uses. If the filter were more intelligent such as only censoring words when they stand-alone but not when certain letter combinations occur it would be better. One word that I like to use is wi****l (w i s t f u l) there is nothing wrong with that word but the censorship software will not let the combination of s t f u through.

Any swear word can be typed by including spaces so the censorship of certain letter combinations only serves to stifle the speech of people. If some one is going to swear they will swear. It's better to report the bad behavior that to censor words needlessly and maybe offend someone whose name cannot be typed just because of certain letter combinations.

[shapelift]

Would it not be possible for censorship to be turned on or off depending on a member's age? Or perhaps having an adult discussions forum accessible to those of an appropriate age?

[t00lb0x]

Its great that your letting us vote/decide on issues that have an effect on the forum.

As for censorship, no matter how much I believe in freedom of all speech and all words should be used, I like it censored. It allows me to argue and increase my vocabularity. It also helps me with my arguments. Instead of saying

Joe is a ****face.

I have to learn to articulate myself better than using such low level vocabularity. I would have to rethink the wording while still keeping the argument the same. I would have to say something like

Joe, an unintelligent man, ruined my life.


But words like J*sus and !diot shouldn't be censored. I cannot see anything with saying
J*sus he owned me in BF42.

I also find nothing wrong with
Charles Martel was not an !diot because he was one of the first rulers to ally himself with the church to help establish the Frankish empire.

Of course its about how you use the words. All words used as an insult are offensive no matter what they are.

[tanman_sg]

Um...is this not talking about censorship? The censorship of je-sus..right? Tell me why Jes-us is censored then Artcwolf? If you take it as a debate, fine but it was not meant as such. I was only elaborating on the previous 4 posts which spoke of it. :happywave

I use this as a swear word more often than when referring to religion.

[Maro]

I am not botherered by the swearing - I am getting pretty bored of the repetive Iraq threads. I think we have covered that topic enough times. We know where wer all stand so it's not like we are going to change our minds.

look at the threads there now- it just revolves around "I'm right, your wrong" ad infinitum.

I'm over it

:surrender :surrender

[dom_6(sic)6]

I thought about an age restriction i.e. if you are under 15 or whatever !diot isn't shown. But I odn't think that vbulletin can operate stuff like that. I sometimes use words and I know that *** will come up to stress something as someoe said, but I can just press shift 8 :p.

[wazman]

I am not botherered by the swearing - I am getting pretty bored of the repetive Iraq threads. I think we have covered that topic enough times. We know where wer all stand so it's not like we are going to change our minds.

look at the threads there now- it just revolves around "I'm right, your wrong" ad infinitum.

I'm over it

:surrender :surrender

But that's not going to stop until the individuals who post those threads finally realize we don't care. ALL of them.

Also, if we are discussing censorship, let's look at the "Favorite Songs and Lyrics" thread once again, shall we? Where a member was admonished for posting a favorite song. Because another member didn't like it.

That kind of censorship I think is a much bigger problem.

[bejohnson]

But that's not going to stop until the individuals who post those threads finally realize we don't care. ALL of them.

Also, if we are discussing censorship, let's look at the "Favorite Songs and Lyrics" thread once again, shall we? Where a member was admonished for posting a favorite song. Because another member didn't like it.

That kind of censorship I think is a much bigger problem.

You still don't get it do you Waz. It wasn't about the lyrics. It was about the comment leading into the lyrics and the timing. Without the comment I could have given a rat's ass about the lyrics because I happen to agree with them for the most part.

[wazman]

Well I knew that would happen.

[egarrard]

Well I knew that would happen.??? I thought you were talking about what Sherry had to post in the thread.

[wazman]

I know what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about how somebody got jumped all over because of his choice of song.

I read the thread, I know what went on. I probably know a little better than most do.

And when I said I knew that would happen, I meant that I knew bejohson would immediately jump right in with something about it not a minute after I posted. And lo and behold, he did.

But I'm not going to lever personal attacks, I'm not going to get banned, and I'm not going to discuss this any further, as nobody listens to what I'm saying anyway.

[bejohnson]

I know what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about how somebody got jumped all over because of his choice of song.

I read the thread, I know what went on. I probably know a little better than most do.

And when I said I knew that would happen, I meant that I knew bejohson would immediately jump right in with something about it not a minute after I posted. And lo and behold, he did.

But I'm not going to lever personal attacks, I'm not going to get banned, and I'm not going to discuss this any further, as nobody listens to what I'm saying anyway.
If you bring up a dead subject and that subject involves me it will be responded to. I am through ignoring the innuendo and turning the other cheek. If the post involves me or something I said I will defend my positions and actions.

[egarrard]

I probably know a little better than most do.??? How so?

[Bobenis]

DROP IT!!!!!!! :mad:

[Artcwolf]

Um...is this not talking about censorship? The censorship of je-sus..right? Tell me why Jes-us is censored then Artcwolf? If you take it as a debate, fine but it was not meant as such. I was only elaborating on the previous 4 posts which spoke of it. :happywave

The way you worded your response indicated that you agreed with the censoring of the name of Christ.

This is why I asked what you were talking about. Some of your responses are a little on the confusing side.

[Artcwolf]

DROP IT!!!!!!! :mad:

I agree.

This thread was for Rodney to ask about censorship (sounds like another echo coming on... :rolleyes: ) not for old threads to be dug up.

If you two (Ed and Waz) have issues with that thread, take it up with Rodney in private. Please do not drag a dead horse of another topic into this thread and start beating it.

[wazman]

I've said my peace and I'm fine with it. If anyone has issues with what I've said in regards to whether or not to censor certain words on the forum (assuming anyone's even bothered to read it, which doesn't happen much these days), they can PM me.

[Tivon]

I don't really care if words are censored. There should be a option for the end user to disable and enable censorship. So if you are like a kid and your parents want censorship then that is cool with me. I like to read all the bad words because this is how we really speak. Then again, there are some people that curse all over the place and this would look bad.

Okay.. I hope I've not lost anyone reading my foggy reply to this topic. I say keep the cesorship of words, but remove 20% of the words you have in the filter list. Names like J.e.s.u.s should not be in the filter if you get what I'm talking about Rod. :thumb

[pattyporkloin]

I say censor all four letter words. Just let the three and five letter words be displayed. :luxhello
And I see another person is about to be decapitated. Anyone immature enough to crack a joke about it?

[pattyporkloin]

I am not botherered by the swearing - I am getting pretty bored of the repetive Iraq threads. I think we have covered that topic enough times. We know where wer all stand so it's not like we are going to change our minds.

look at the threads there now- it just revolves around "I'm right, your wrong" ad infinitum.

I'm over it

:surrender :surrender
Your sig doesnt fit your style

[ChKFlores]

Hmmm....

I've stated this before in another thread...J*e*s*u*s* is a name sacred to all Christians. Yet, His name has nothing to do to how the forums are operated, maintained, or moderated. We as responsible persons should know the regulations of this or any other forum. I do wander away from topic at times, but I believe censorship does not always help in controlling the emotions and desires of every individual that participates in the forum or any other. When one person doesn't like another member's post, there's usually a response with a curse or laced with profanity.

Well, my point is censor the profanity and the curses, but not everything else.

[Maro]

Your sig doesnt fit your style


what exactly is my style?

I always thought I had none..........

[3dGameMan]

I've since added a few bad words and also removed a few. BTW: As so many people wanted the word Jesus, it's now uncensored. Please be aware though that if it’s used as a swear word your account will be restricted/banned.

[jinu123nyc]

I've since added a few bad words and also removed a few. BTW: As so many people wanted the word Jesus, it's now uncensored. Please be aware though that if it’s used as a swear word your account will be restricted/banned.

hey rod,
maybe u can post a thread on the words that u cannot say? i havent been censored for anythin except jesus before...buh i'd like to kno wat other words we cant say

[mdsbrain]

I say either way. Either we let loose are fingers to type the words we might use more often or we find other words to express how we feel.

[bejohnson]

hey rod,
maybe u can post a thread on the words that u cannot say? i havent been censored for anythin except jesus before...buh i'd like to kno wat other words we cant say

How could he do that because the words are censored? If he tried to post them all you would see is ***** ***** ***** ***** *****. :rofl2

[mdsbrain]

hey rod,
maybe u can post a thread on the words that u cannot say? i havent been censored for anythin except jesus before...buh i'd like to kno wat other words we cant say

Yes post what words might be considered bad but are allowed.

[sloth64thave]

What about supercalifrajulisticaspyaladocious?

[pattyporkloin]

What about supercalifrajulisticaspyaladocious?
That's a good one. But what does it mean?

[sloth64thave]

I think it comes from Mary Poppins or however you spell it.

[mach250]

No reason to swear on a forum so I say keep the censorship.