Appropriate language on Road.cc

@shay cycles.  In case you are still interested in others' opinions, here's mine:

I too have noticed a big uptick in the number of expletives used in comments throughout the site in the last few weeks.

Very recently, general accepted protocol seemed to be at least to somewhat edit/star out/censor expletives to be less explicit, if not to avoid them in general.  In the last few days, it feels like the comments sections are suddenly littered shamelessly with brazen (and often unnecessary) expletives.

Personally, I don't like it and don't think it's necessary, but I reckon there's little that can be done about it.  I am not an advocate of removing posts because of expletives (although I'm sure it is technically possible to have an automatic system that asks users not to post expletives if that were desired).

I don't know what happened that suddently made it socially normal to use expletives throughout forum comments, but now that flood gate has been opened, I doubt it can be shut.  It's a bit disappointing that it's got to the point where language that some find offensive is putting them off the forum/site, but perhaps that's just the nature of life today (how old do I sound?!!   "In the olden days...").  That being said, for almost all my in-person interactions with others whether at work, socially or with strangers in shops/taxi/bus/train/tube/phone customer services/etc., this volume of expletives would not be deemed appropriate. 

All that said, while I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of the road.cc forum/site over the last few years, it is entirely within my own power to stop visiting when the quality of language / debate falls to a standard where I no longer enjoy it.  No-one is forced to read the site!

Bring back Willo.  Actually think he was legit in that he really did believe his views. You can just not reply to him if you can't be arsed with his tedious nonsense... 

Theres now no one like him to challenge the status quo in stuff like responsibility. I think was his thing, forget now actually..

yeah I'm not falling for that one... Google is your friend...

You get people who're snide as fuck and always have the daggers out without swearing, but you get commenters who swear a lot and are good-natured.

And everyone in-between. 

I do remember a cleanup of a politics forum that was getting rough, like properly rough. Full of big thinkers, some proper heavyweights, but they were getting brutally nasty. Road.cc's tit-for-tats are child's play compared to a lot of places your kids will zero in on eventually. In the end they didn't sanitise language but they did crack down hard on members v member name-calling, badgering and thread chasing (ie. following a member from thread to thread). Ended up banned for calling a US gun-nut moderator a gun-nut after he posted a defense of semi-autos after a mass-shooting on the same day. But they have guys writing essays on thinly-veiled right-wing facism, because they're polite about it. 

Huge amount of volunteer moderation around the clock was required though and still is.

I've been called a cunt here a number of times for going against the popular view, and you will too. And so will your kids. Just tell them not to do it back. I swear here, won't find me swearing at another member though.

Think it through a bit more before asking for censorship imo.

@bikebot - and discretion is the key - hence I'm not in favour of a blanket ban. I think the comments and forum are pretty sensibly moderated as they are.

Quote:

Why should anyone's right not to be offended by swearing trump anyone else's right to swear?

Probably the most oft repeated argument on the Internet this year, along with free speech. The answer is the pub landlord. Most web communites are public houses, but they have house rules, obey or be barred at the landlord's discretion.

Yes. It's not a matter of a naughty word list, but one of active moderation.  I've had to address this professionally in my past, and in larger and less pleasant online communities.

Don't focus on censoring words, the intent of **** is still clear even when you can't read it. Most admins are naturally reluctant to moderate, or if they're anything like me just find user issues a very annoying distraction during the working day. But abusive environments do escalate very quickly.

Unfortunately, the entire Internet is having problems with below the line commentary as a format.

I've never liked the word ******, I find it extremely offensive to Emperor Penguins.

We need to come up with a banned word list.  To start with, the words to be banned are ****, ****, ****, ******, ****** and ******************.

Pretty much ok with it except the immediate escalation to "C***" for anyone whose views disgaree with the posters.

Would prefer to see a more inventive use of language. A bit of variety makes the day more interesting.

Completely subjective. To many people, swearing is just part of everyday life. I'd probably find a sanitised forum/comments section as offensive as some others seem to find swearing.

I've got kids, and whenever they ask me to explain a new swear word that they've heard to them I do and also explain that some people won't like it. But it is just a word.

Playing devil's avocado:
1. I remain to be convinced about the 'number of swears/lack of quality' correlation.
2. Why should anyone's right not to be offended by swearing trump anyone else's right to swear?

(that said, I'm sure there are Ts&Cs about offensive language.)

I think the language deteriorates in parallel with the quality of the post.

Unfortunately it seems that the people who post offensive and rude comments are often those who post pointless rubbish. They don't care whether their comment is appropriate or even relevant, they're too busy machine-gunning anyone who dares to disagree.

Have not read the Leeds thread. Certainly not going to bother now.

In my experience, forum swearing usually burns itself out anyway. If anyone is using the 'c' word though, I think 'cockwomble' is funnier than the other one. Nothing beats a good cockwomble.