The "R-Word"

[RIPskaterdude]

I just feel that RealGM shouldn't control what people say, but HOW they say it. Just because one person has a r-word family member, then that word is outlawed? What if my family is against cuss words completely? Should I report it to RealGM everytime someone says damn or ass? If that offends me, then shouldn't that be in consideration as well?

The point is, just censoring out certain words like the r-word seems like a copout to me. In reality, RealGM should be focusing on why and how they are using it and go from there.

[Howard Mass]

I did look at that and determine it was primarily being used in a way to describe bad trades or an action a person did.

[RIPskaterdude]

If RealGM is going to censor it, might as well keep up with the **** like everything else, IMO. That's my 2 cents.

[-Kees-]

I really don't understand this, and would like Howard, or another mod to answer this question.

If I am using the r-word (meaning mentally handicapped, not violent sexual abuse) in a non-attacking way, why should it be banned? It is a legal word, and that seems like a complete discrimination just because some people get offended by it. Where does it stop? I mean, honestly? Not trying to troll here, if you ban that word ONLY because it was complained about, then to be fair, it has to be that way for all describing, legal words, correct? And I'm not talking about personal attacks, that should not be allowed. But if I complain to a mod that I have a stupid friend and that word offends me just by seeing someone say it, why isn't that banned?

I'm just looking for some consistency here. If you ban one word just because people are using it (outside of personal attacks of course), why don't you ban other words for the same meaning?

And honestly, I use a lot of these words in my everyday speech. And honestly, I don't post these words often if ever. But this seems a bit selective just from someone who came in and looked at this board, to see some legal words banned on the entire board just because a select group of people get offended by them.

[RIPskaterdude]

Thank you, Kees. It's good to see someone else who is also building the same argument to this as me. Again, words like the r-word and rap*e (sorry to by pass the censor but how else should I describe that word?) shouldn't be banned here just because of their meaning, but how they are used against other posters. I do argee that using either one inappropriately should not be allowed, but I also believe that it should not mean that we should censor out the words completely. Where do we draw the line?

Like I said above, if an everyday cuss word like ass or bitch offends me everytime I see it, should I report it to the forum's mod even if it's not used in a personal attack? I guess only Howard and higher mods would know this, but how often did posters report someone else for using the two r-words in non-personal attack manner?

[blkout]

I would like to voice opposition to this idea.

Naturally, if the word is used in an inappropriate manner, that's one thing; "(Please Use More Appropriate Word)" does, however, have a rather specific and valid meaning. Limiting our language because some people are profane and inappropriate does not make sense. Moderating intentionally offensive behavior, harrassment and discrimination are more specific, goal-oriented roles.

I second this.

[Howard Mass]

The reason I filtered out "(Please Use More Appropriate Word)" and "Rape" is because they were mostly being used to describe something that was not and were offensive to users.

I am just trying to cut out those terms because were hardly used to discuss a subject related to them and the only time I saw "Rape" discussed was about the Kobe Bryant allegations years ago or about how someone got taken in a trade.

Now, I have NO plans to filter out "Stupid" or anything like that. I am simply trying to bring up the level of discussion on the forums and agreed that those terms were offensive.

Again, there is not going to be a censor fest and it's possible the filter will be lifted on those terms after a period of time.

[kyphi]

it's time to increase your vocabulary to words acceptable for RealGM standards. It's not difficult

[YogiStewart]

Thank you, Kees. It's good to see someone else who is also building the same argument to this as me. Again, words like the r-word and rap*e (sorry to by pass the censor but how else should I describe that word?) shouldn't be banned here just because of their meaning, but how they are used against other posters. I do argee that using either one inappropriately should not be allowed, but I also believe that it should not mean that we should censor out the words completely. Where do we draw the line?

Like I said above, if an everyday cuss word like ass or bitch offends me everytime I see it, should I report it to the forum's mod even if it's not used in a personal attack? I guess only Howard and higher mods would know this, but how often did posters report someone else for using the two r-words in non-personal attack manner?

if you said that you're going to make a poster your bitch or told someone they're a bitch, then that is warning worthy. you're insulting a poster.

if you're discussing homosexuality its fine. if you're using homosexuality as an insult, its warning worthy.

see where this is going? basically, don't use a disability or a religion or sexual orientation as a personal insult

in the end, let the mods moderate. if you're offended, then flag a post.

[RIPskaterdude]

But that was my point the entire time, Yogi. Don't censor the words just because they could be used in an inappropriate manner, instead have the mods take attack against the people who use them in a personal attack. That is why I was arguing to keep both r-words the entire time.

[Dry_Fish]

can we all hug?

[-Kees-]

But that was my point the entire time, Yogi. Don't censor the words just because they could be used in an inappropriate manner, instead have the mods take attack against the people who use them in a personal attack. That is why I was arguing to keep both r-words the entire time.

+1, exactly what I was trying to say. Let the mods mod, and if a word isn't being used right, let the mods warn them or whatever. Don't block words just because they can be inappropriate, warn/block users who use them in attacks on other posters.

[YogiStewart]

But that was my point the entire time, Yogi. Don't censor the words just because they could be used in an inappropriate manner, instead have the mods take attack against the people who use them in a personal attack. That is why I was arguing to keep both r-words the entire time.

+1, exactly what I was trying to say. Let the mods mod, and if a word isn't being used right, let the mods warn them or whatever. Don't block words just because they can be inappropriate, warn/block users who use them in attacks on other posters.

not that i disagree with you guys.
my argument's strictly about using disabilities as an insult.
i'm not a fan of blocking words on RGM. but it also becomes tedious to be the word police and to moderate choice of words.