Censored Words

[Jenno]

After taking into consideration the views of a member of our member-base, the admins have been considering a possible change in our censoring. We hope that this poll will give us a bit more of an insight into the general opinion of our members for when we consider this topic again.

This is more of a guideline for us to consider, we won’t necessarily follow the option with the highest number of votes. If you have anything you think we might want to consider, please go ahead and post so that we may look it over.

Here are the options:


1. Don't change it - keep things the way they are, don't change anything at all.

2. Allow swearing only in roleplays - remove the censored words, allowing the use of swearing in roleplays but making sure there are rules in place to prevent people from swearing on the rest of the forum in order to provide a pleasant atmosphere in OOC threads.

3. Allow swearing only out of roleplays - No swearing in character but freedom of expression out of character.

4. Allow swearing across the entire forum - swear when and where you like, though avoid being offensive. Whilst it's good to say 'avoid being defensive', keep in mind that swearing can add quite a negative atmosphere. However, it is the freedom of speech, you can say things precisely how you mean them.

Those are the options you have. This poll will be open until the 1st August, so please think it through, maybe talk it over with the other members and get your vote in before the deadline.

Thank you,

~Jenno

[Dutch]

I grew up in a family of Harley riders... so swears don't bother me personally, just putting in my two cents

[Raloxmly]

I don't really care if there's swearing or not, but if it does lead to censoring, I don't really think it should be taken away from role-playing.

[Zaine]

As long as no one drops the F-Bomb, there's not much to worry about in or out of RP

[sparrow]

I can see how swearing would fit the tone of certain RPs, but I can't really think of anything that would be discussed OOC that would call for swearing. Swearing in OOC is usually a good indicator that the topic has gone out of hand.

[Karl the Unfettered]

I oppose censorship on philosophical and political grounds, believing freedom of expression is something everyone should be able to enjoy to its fullest. So, my vote goes for swearing all across the board, within reason naturally; common sense should be up to the individual, not some watchdog-ish body.

[C_Munkie *Wishing For A/C*]

Quite frankly, we have at least a few fairly young members here who are logging on from school libraries, and that should be taken into account. The issue isn't freedom of speach and censorship, the issue is keeping everything comfortable for the members and for the people who may be looking over the shoulder of the members.

[Jace]

lawl I don't see any need for censorship. Honestly I think it takes some of the spice out of RPing. I think it should be allowed across the board, though I don't see much reason for anyone to be swearing OOC

[Necro Stormborn]

in threads can add elements to the RP.... but i think, swearing in ooc can lead to flaming.... or just pure offensive behavior. at least in RP it's the characters saying them. Period. the end.

[Dire Wolf]

Swearing IC can, as others have said, add much spice to the role play. I'm not exactly a big fan of the innocent SW swear words, and only use them for comical relief. I mean... how funny would it be to hear an angry 8 foot tall Mandalorian running towards you yelling "Bantha Poodoo?" Would you take him seriously? Pfft... no. Well, yes... but only because he's eight feet tall.

Anyways.

Swearing OOC can lead to flaming, like Necro said, and can be fairly uncomfortable with a younger audience and the parents who tend to look over their shoulder. It is also very unprofessional, and tends to lead me to believe that a middle schooler wrote the response.

Also: I'd like to say that there isn't an insult in the vast annals of swear word history that could even come close to insulting me. I've heard them all. Mom was a farm girl from Wisconsin, Dad was a Marine. *nodnod* You should see me drunk.

[Kella]

xD I'm sure there are great stories, Dire.


Personally, swearing doesn't really bother me. They're just words, after all. And they do add a certain frank reality to RP. However, swearing ooc, other than in good humor, is just unprofessional, pointless, and fun to make fun off. Well maybe the last part only applies if you're me, but yeah.

So basically, what they said. ^ xD

[Keilara]

<.<
>.>
I'm with Dire and Necro. No need to have full forum swearing. Like Necro said, OOC it can lead to flaming as a swear word can so easily sour the tone of a reply in a discussion. It may be a good idea to simply have the f-word as the only censored word just so people don't take this as an ability to fling that around like it's christmas candy.

[Sait]

As long as it isn't being used for a personal attack on someone, I really see no point in invoking censorship. As long as people aren't throwing around vicious words that have no point in regular speech, everything else would make sense as fair game. I mean, swear words are meant to enhance speech as adjectives. Now, I can certainly understand higher limits on things in the regular forum as there are many other words you can use to enhance the meaning of a word, but there are times when it can define the attitude intended much better. Inside roleplay is self-explanatory.

All-in-all, I voted for across the board, but I don't personally mind if only the light words are used OOC at all.

[Apillis]

To clarify, I don't mind swearing in the least, my dad was a Marine, all 4 of my siblings were at one time Marines (I'm the only one of my parents 5 children who never joined), my mother was a French immigrant, and my mother's entire side of the family are nothing but a bunch of French euro trash Parisians... So trust me, swearing doesn't bother me, in fact, in RL, I tend to cuss a lot - especially when irritated.

That said, though, the SW purist in me disagrees with swearing ICly, largely because you read any one of the books, play any of the games, watch any of the movies - how often have you heard a swear word being used? 23--... well... approaching 24 years of following SW since I was 5 years old, I can't think of an instance outside of seeing/hearing the word "hell" (which I don't consider a swear word at all regardless of context) and the word "ass" which is exceedingly mild if you consider it a swear word at all, which that one I also chalk up as not being a swear word. So, purely on a purist SW fangirl level I disagree with swear words ICly primarily to hold up as much of the SW-motif as much as possible... Though just for saying that I'm right now counting down just when various people start nerdraging on me for taking that stance, such as some overzealous flamer goes after me with some pseudo-intellectual political point of view of "rawr any censorship is bad!" or the classic thoughtless flamebaiting "lawlz carebear" antagonism.

OOCly, I don't agree with it simply for the same reasons already stated, it often leads to flamewars, hell, they happen without any swear words, but with them it often just amplifies the situation; and often leads to contests of one jerk trying to be more offensive than the other jerk.

In short: Don't change nothin'.

[sparrow]

I do agree with Apillis when it comes to IC-swearing. Swearing in SW is generally very mild when present, and SW does have it's own small collection of swears. Then again, I suppose if a character just nearly got impaled by a piece of flying shrapnel, then maybe they deserve to throw out a few expletives, and "kriffing" and "schutta" probably aren't gonna cut it.

[Latus]

Swearing is, for the most part, unacceptable in established circles. However, it can be used as a great descriptor IC when ALL CAPS just will not cut it. My two bits.

I agree with Wolf and half the posts on here. Keep the swearing in character. Problems that would arise from swearing IC (fighting, confrontations) ought to be dealt with in character anyway.

[Katar the Madclaw]

OMG really? Most likely, we all have slightly different views of what swearing
is, but in general:

Swearing is immature, unnecessary, and unimaginative.

Wanna spice up a post? Then work on conveying the danger or whatever
more clearly. You can just outright say it, be artistic with it, or sometimes
even use humor to do so. I know it's easier to just have your character
say "Bleepity-bleep! Bleep bleep bleepity!" but no one is impressed, least
of all me. If you don't care for the explicatives that have been made up
for SW, then pick some from something else! Farscape had several good
ones that could be used in seriousness or for humor. If "bantha poodoo"
doesn't work for you, then use schutta, stang, or kriffing. Plus, there are
many different ways to write this kind of stuff without actually having to
slop obscenities around everywhere. And if you're used to it fine, but as
has already been brought out, there are younger people that log into this
site. Kids are cursing and getting into trouble earlier and earlier, let's not
help them along with that by providing another negative influence.

So, in short, there are a few words that I think should be censored.
Thankfully, I haven't noticed a problem with regard to foul language
being used around here. Also, if anyone would like, I could provide a
list of all the different types of words I mentioned.


My Vote: Don't change a thing.

[Mara]

I think things should stay the way they are. This is a PG-13 forum, and as such, we should be aware that we can have members as young as 13.
Plus, I'm pretty sure that super vulgar and obscene language would be a violation of the Proboards TOS.


Obscene language should be almost nonexistant, even in RPs. I don't think you need to spell out swear words to get your character's point across. It's just as easy to type out "and Bob swore profusely after John hit him" instead of actually putting something in there that is a swear word.

[Mr.Bøbert]

I think it'd be best if there were some swear words allowed in RP, but only ones that have thus far been seen canonically in the SW universe. I've never seen the Fbomb in anything SW, but there are a few real-world swear words used in SW. And let us not forget, of course, the SW swear words. Kriff, Kark, etc.

[Karl the Unfettered]

Have y'all seen some of the PG-13 movies they've made in the past six or so years?

Yes, a few of our members may be 13 or possibly younger, but just as many (if not many more) are adults, grown-up and mature enough to deal with a few vulgarities. Plus, many of our characters are grown-up and adult, and the watered-down list of Star Wars "swear" words is frankly ridiculous. It's more realistic for a drunken, vulgar pirate to sling around coarse, offensive language (even the dreaded F-bomb, oh my!) than to sling around childish euphamisms.

And if you're really so worried about korrupting the kiddies, put a disclaimer in the thread title! That solves everything; they're fairly warned that what's inside might be a little risque, if they choose to go on it's their problem, not ours.

Now, I'm not saying go overboard; that's where common sense comes in. Nowhere would I suggest that everyone should start cussing it up willy-nilly, that's just silly. I'm saying it should be an option for those of us who want some hearty spice in their vocabulary, or their character's vocabulary. Besides, the level of censoring we already have is too much anyway; I've seen perfectly legit and kid-friendly words get mangled cuz they happened to have "bad" language within the lettering, and that's not cool.