I’m sorry, Chris, if I’m coming across as outraged or contrarian—that’s certainly not my intention. While censorship isn’t really my go-to choice, I might be alone in that, and that’s cool. And, actually, I was assuming that the censoring was an unavoidable side effect of something undesirable—and my first instinct as a computer programmer is to find solutions to problems. But if it’s the desired goal, and a new part of the policies of the CBQ forum, then, what the [dirty word], I can sip tea on paper doilies with the best of them! :-)
Perhaps the Fabtastic 4 can post a sticky topic on the language and behavior rules for the forum. For example, the previous forum had a very entertaining thread on a New Avengers panel featuring what was colloquially termed a “c,u,n,t-punt”. If it’s only the exact word that’s the problem, then outlining the 3 offending words and the “[dirty word]” display replacement rule, along with permitted synonyms or deliberate misspellings would be helpful, simply so that newcomers (or people unfamiliar with this particular thread) would know what those rules are, before finding their text changed unexpectedly.
That’s understandable. I don’t take any offense to the issue being raised.
This isn’t a policy or a hard fast rule. The people who run this website, myself included, are of the mind that harsh language isn’t what we are about. Nor should we have readers be subject to it either. It’s simply our opinion and our ability to set this preference in the software.
CBQ is more than welcome to put a disclaimer if they want. It would be just as easy for me to put a note in the posting template.
This isn’t a policy or a hard fast rule. The people who run this website, myself included, are of the mind that harsh language isn’t what we are about. Nor should we have readers be subject to it either. It’s simply our opinion and our ability to set this preference in the software.
I suppose that therein lies the disconnect; in the podcast and on the forums, we have not typically considered those terms “harsh”, since most of us have one of the c’s, and often use it to f. The terms have little or no emotional baggage or negative connotation in our discussions. But your PopSyndicate has a much larger membership and other forums, and it appears that anyone on one of them can get into any of them, so you have the issues of a broader community to be concerned with. While I immediately bookmarked the CBQ forum, and have never been to any of the others, I can see that—as a fictional example—a child from the “Barney and Friends” forum, or a senior on the Quilting forum, might wander over into our neck of the woods—or have one of our posts come up in a text search—and be offended. And, at the most basic level, those of you running the website have an absolute right to set whatever guidelines you desire; like a game of D&D;, players are good with the DM’s rules, or they find another game, and that’s an entirely reasonable restriction.
I wonder, though, what that implies about the rest of our content. CBQ has typically run a very polite but rather raunchy discussion forum—taking its lead, I’m sure, from the founders/podcasters Steve & Eric (and Katie/Lindsay/Brett). It’s always been my belief that the content of a message is more significant than the words you use to express it (subject to the obvious limitations of denotation and the influence of connotation). How do you plan to deal with that? Because a thread posting a “vagina-punt” scan from New Avengers, and discussing how much it’s got to hurt, or discussing the bodily fluids of super-heroes, or their bathroom functions, is generally going to bug pretty much the same people who would be bugged by the use of the more succinct terms.
This isn’t a policy or a hard fast rule. The people who run this website, myself included, are of the mind that harsh language isn’t what we are about. Nor should we have readers be subject to it either. It’s simply our opinion and our ability to set this preference in the software.
Although I’m extremely appreciative of PopSyndicate helping us out by hosting our forum and not to piss on the hand that feeds me but I’m a little saddened by this. I’m not one for censorship of expression. However, PS is your world and I’m just here rocking it. I’m not going to change my voice, either here or the ‘cast (and I know no one is asking me too, that’s why I loves you). Besides, I think Charles has demonstrated earlier in the thread that there are ways around it. I’m not saying I’m all about what others may consider “harsh” language, but it is my belief that it can sometimes be the most expressive, impactful and efficient ways to express oneself.
What the smurfin can you do?
Live it, Love it, Be it...and smurfin anyone who gets in the way. But do it respectfully.
I still love the folks of PS for taking us on...even if they’re all a bunch of prudes who sit around and knit for fun. :)
And Charles, anytime you want to let fly with expletives, you gots my myspace baby...use it!
This isn’t a policy or a hard fast rule. The people who run this website, myself included, are of the mind that harsh language isn’t what we are about. Nor should we have readers be subject to it either. It’s simply our opinion and our ability to set this preference in the software.
I don’t understand what the point is though. Especially when we have threads that say S.H.I.L.F. which OBVIOUSLY stands for super hero I’d like to f u c k.
Harsh language isn’t a lifestyle, its just linguistics. If I were to redefine the word f*ck to say, a word like guck, that word wouldn’t be censored, even if it MEANT the same as the f word to me. You can’t censor a definition. Thats why if you are gonna have those rules, maybe you should delete the S.H.I.L.F. thread because of what it stands for, and because you say popsyndicate doesn’t “stand for” harsh language. Its all continuous, I think, and me saying F YOU to someone here would mean the same if I said f*ck you. So this whole thing doesn’t make any sense to me.
In my opinion, this forum, being the center of communication for the community of CBQ, should “stand for” what CBQ wants it to. Thats the whole purpose of not having one humongous forum for everything on popsyndicate, and CBQ being one thread. So people who are part of the CBQ family, can post however they want, according to CBQ. If people want to post here, chances are they’ve listened to CBQ, and CBQ doesn’t censor out words on their recordings.
I’m sorry for rambling, but I’m a firm believer in free speech, and some people podcast solely for the reason of the absence of FCC approvals. I’m bothered, thats all.
This isn’t a policy or a hard fast rule. The people who run this website, myself included, are of the mind that harsh language isn’t what we are about. Nor should we have readers be subject to it either. It’s simply our opinion and our ability to set this preference in the software.
I don’t understand what the point is though. Especially when we have threads that say S.H.I.L.F. which OBVIOUSLY stands for super hero I’d like to f u c k.
Harsh language isn’t a lifestyle, its just linguistics. If I were to redefine the word f*ck to say, a word like guck, that word wouldn’t be censored, even if it MEANT the same as the f word to me. You can’t censor a definition. Thats why if you are gonna have those rules, maybe you should delete the S.H.I.L.F. thread because of what it stands for, and because you say popsyndicate doesn’t “stand for” harsh language. Its all continuous, I think, and me saying F YOU to someone here would mean the same if I said f*ck you. So this whole thing doesn’t make any sense to me.
In my opinion, this forum, being the center of communication for the community of CBQ, should “stand for” what CBQ wants it to. Thats the whole purpose of not having one humongous forum for everything on popsyndicate, and CBQ being one thread. So people who are part of the CBQ family, can post however they want, according to CBQ. If people want to post here, chances are they’ve listened to CBQ, and CBQ doesn’t censor out words on their recordings.
I’m sorry for rambling, but I’m a firm believer in free speech, and some people podcast solely for the reason of the absence of FCC approvals. I’m bothered, thats all.
I dunno-- the people at PopSyndicate are running a business, and they were kind enough to lend us space when we were homeless. I would feel gucked over if anyone was actually talking about deleting threads or keeping people from voicing certain opinions, but that hasn’t really happened. The only thing hot, humanitarian Chris has done is to extend his hospitality and continue to be insanely decorative.
Oh no don’t get me wrong. I don’t think they should delete ANY threads! I was merely using the SHILF thread as an example of how you can censor a word but not a definition. hmm maybe they should change it to S.H.I.L.G.
And I personally love HH Chris.
But rules are rules and exceptions are what makes the english language the most flawed form of verbal communication and documentation known to man.
Take it from me. I’m a smoker, and when they passed the law that no public places could permit smoking anymore, I wasnt pissed at all, but when they announced that Casinos in Atlantic City were an exception, I was gucking livid. I’ll abide by anyone’s rules, mind you. Being in my field, seniority kills. But exceptions (regardless if I am part of one or not) are what gets my head hot.
I’m not pissed or anything, but I wanted to point out that HTBC had a really good point.
Mainly because I would be a little upset if something I said was completely changed unbeknownst to me. Regardless if the word(s) was(were) in context or not
And how do I make these frikkin popsyndicate emails from spamming my inbox????
I dunno-- the people at PopSyndicate are running a business, and they were kind enough to lend us space when we were homeless. I would feel gucked over if anyone was actually talking about deleting threads or keeping people from voicing certain opinions, but that hasn’t really happened. The only thing hot, humanitarian Chris has done is to extend his hospitality and continue to be insanely decorative.
I pretty much stopped posting when Chris asked me to stop discussing it in this thread. I don’t fault Chris in the slightest for wanting to control what he and his people perceive as “decency” in their shared community—that’s part of their jobs. And I thought, what the hell, how bad can that be? But I’ve found that the knowledge that my posts are being judged for appropriateness has simply taken the enthusiasm out of posting for me. Part of what I liked about the podcasts and the forums was, as Jon noted, the unrestrained exercise of free speech. As a member of the gay community, that’s important to me. Knowing that there are moderators enforcing anything beyond human civility makes me want to post somewhere where my comments aren’t judged and my word choices aren’t censored.
I’ll repeat: I don’t blame PopSyndicate for choosing a set of standards and enforcing them. Their site, their rules. I just wonder if, despite the best intentions of all involved, it’s really the best host for a forum like ours, when a place like ForumUp, which is large, reliable, stable, free, and has no content restrictions, might not be a better match for our particular needs.
But, I could easily be in a minority that feels that way. It wouldn’t be the first time. :-)
Oh no don’t get me wrong. I don’t think they should delete ANY threads! I was merely using the SHILF thread as an example of how you can censor a word but not a definition. hmm maybe they should change it to S.H.I.L.G.
And I personally love HH Chris.
But rules are rules and exceptions are what makes the english language the most flawed form of verbal communication and documentation known to man.
Take it from me. I’m a smoker, and when they passed the law that no public places could permit smoking anymore, I wasnt pissed at all, but when they announced that Casinos in Atlantic City were an exception, I was gucking livid. I’ll abide by anyone’s rules, mind you. Being in my field, seniority kills. But exceptions (regardless if I am part of one or not) are what gets my head hot.
I’m not pissed or anything, but I wanted to point out that HTBC had a really good point.
Mainly because I would be a little upset if something I said was completely changed unbeknownst to me. Regardless if the word(s) was(were) in context or not
And how do I make these frikkin popsyndicate emails from spamming my inbox????
I have like a billion of them
Right on.
Wait-- when you say you LOVE HHC, what do you mean exactly? Because I thought that I was your bitch.
I really had hoped that the issue of profanity could be taken to a general area where everyone would put their two cents in, because its worth talking about.
And it should be mentioned that with the exception of maybe one podcast on this site. They are all dirty. I understand that this may seem wildly subjective, I apologize for any umbrage caused, but I’m not sure what I can offer in terms of enabling people the ability to drop f-bombs in their conversation. Unfortunately, it’s like the “This film is not yet rated” scenario and that might be something to work with the mangers for those interested. Please keep in mind that this is a shared space. We don’t age check here (as of yet), we work with other companies as well and the managers and editors of the site (myself included) will enforce decency when we feel it is called for. Something I mentioned privately was that this should have been discussed before hand and that was my oversight.
Just so you know, my priority is to maintain a shared space and make this site the best it can be, like updating the design, fixing bugs as I find them, setting up new writers and columnists, and working with the managers of this site in their content requirements. I really think having CBQ is a major asset to our site. I couldn’t be happier about this.
Even though rules about content may seem uneven/inconsistent/hypocritical, I really hope you decide to stay and be a part of PopSyndicate. And I will try my hardest to make this a great site for everyone.
