h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Although buggery was also a popular form of contraception.

Well, popular with one half of practitioners certainly.

I use 'Stupid barsteward' although usually it has a word beginning with f and ending in king in the middle.

But my son and I (yes I am a bad influence on children) like to be creative so we have all sort of 'mild' things we manage to make very rude.

It's all about context. If it's clear it's being used in its most proper usage as a descriptor of someone's birth, or if it's being used as a slang term between friends, then that's no big deal. If it's an insult, then it's not OK.

The only time it may not be a clear cut decision is if it's not clear if it's being used as an insult or not. If it's not clear the Moderation Volunteers may err on the side of caution not because of the word itself but because of the intent of the word.

We're all grown ups, not need to get to worried about it unless people think it's a word that can be used in every other sentence.

Vip

Please mentally append a smiley face to the end of that.

I do think it is amusing how people have different standards on these things. I don't even consider it to be a profanity, it owuldn't bother me in the slightest to hear a child saying it.

I said back along on a related, but different, thread that I didn't want hootoo to become an adult site, and that I would rather not have a free for all on swearing.

On the other hand god forbid hootoo becomes a "fluffy" site, where what is considered unacceptable will be determined by the most easily offended, Daily Mail reader from the 1950s.

Hootoo isn't, and never has, been fluffy. If it is that boring. It will be poorer for it.

FB

I think you have to look at the message, not the words...

I can think of plenty of nasty threatening bullying things that one could say without a banned word at all.

I'm not sure how saying "we'll remove it if it's obviously being used as a malicious insult" is in any way indicating that the site may become "fluffy".

I've often heard it used as a malicious insult, and would actually be bothered by hearing a child say it (and I'm virtually unshockable and have been known to use language that would make a sailor blush).

Just because you don't consider it as a profanity does not mean others feel the same, and the site would be just as poor if we allowed a sweary free-for-all as it would if we banned swearing completely.

Oooh...I sense a hobby horse coming on.

This is the Internet! A place where people should be free to post and express themselves in whatever terms necessary. And if other people don't like it, we provide a nice unsubscribe link at the bottom of each page.

My personal preference is that, as long as they are not used excessively or gratuitously, all words relating to sexual and excremental functions are fair game. I am much more offended by any words expressing intolerance of race or sexuality, and frankly I'm guessing that applies to about 99% of the populace around here.

So, why, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND QUIM, ARE WE DISCUSSING IT YET AGAIN?







Ahem. Sorry about that.

B

"I can think of plenty of nasty threatening bullying things that one could say without a banned word at all."

Emphatically this.

I think the important word here is context, not bastard.

At the Beeb, moderation had to be devoid of context. I couldn't call FB a mad bastard in a jocular manner, because you do not swear on the BBC.

Now we're (as a community) self-moderated, I'd hope to see much more context-led moderation. Swear if you can't think of a better word to use, but don't come up with a callous personal attack on another researcher, regardless of the words you use.

Makes sense to me.

TRiG.

Yup. You know, it's one of those things that I think we're all pretty much in violent agreement about.

"The only time it may not be a clear cut decision is if it's not clear if it's being used as an insult or not. If it's not clear the Moderation Volunteers may err on the side of caution not because of the word itself but because of the intent of the word. "

"I couldn't call FB a mad bastard in a jocular manner, because you do not swear on the BBC."

And I am fine with these kind of determinations being made. But my worry is the degree of subjectivity and stuff that comes with this.

Look there are people I know who I could call them a dozy "Jeremy Hunt" and mean it almost affectionately (though it would be a insult). At the same time I could call someone an idiot and really it is a far more serious thing.

Seems the way the thread is developing shows we are looking at judging these things the right way.

Mind you, a hootoo will no insults *at all* fills me with dread

FB

Also "asterixed out" potential swear words just have to come off our profanity filter. Or let's just drop the profanity filter period. Please!

FB

We're aiming for context specific moderation. But it's interesting how it works out.

It requires far more *thought*. For instance a word might be ok in context of a post, but not ok in a user name, which appears everywhere without context.

And then people will see a lack of consistency..

I called the last doorstep-campaigning politician a "Jeremy Hunt", but then it was his name.

MAster B, the internet should reflect real life. Where generally people try to keep their language apropriate to the people they are speaking with.

I'm afraid I disagree, Vip. It is *not* about context. The word 'idiot' is not auto-censored. The illegitimate word is. Either can be insulting. Only one is seemingly considered always to be insulting.

In the Real World, the illegitimate word, I contend, is almost never offensive.

So why not deal with it under normal Mod procedures the same way you'd deal with 'idiot'? Why put it on a list? Idiot's not on a list.

On the filter, neither saying a "Jeremy Hunt" or a collection on c's, n't, t's and an asterix are actually profanities but one is blocked and one isn't.

Seriously if we are going to have a blocking filter it should only block actual swear words and not things that suggest swearing. That was always my beef with it in ther Beeb days and there is no need for it now.

FB