About the swearing thing (& behaviour in general)

[lala]

A moderator intimated recently that the community isn't being allowed to advertise itself on other sites, possibly due to the language and the spew of inflammatory postings.

I think that it's time for a tough line to be taken, because, basically, we're too immature and feckless a bunch to put our own house in order. I 'umbly request that management henceforth take a tough line on language - that includes 'anagram' swearing (cnut and fcuk and the like), and 'hobby-horse' threads, where the same stuff is being put up, day after day by someone indulging their weird little obssessions.

By tough line I mean simply deleting posts or threads that are deemed in breach - no re-posting or editing (why waste your time on wastrels who can't abide by the rules), simply kick 'em to the kerb. Ditto with the hobby horse brigade - if there are continual threads being started on one topic, when they could easily all fit on one, simply delete them. No explanation, just blast them into the Pit of Despair.

Obviously, this will rile a lot of people, but so what? The long term survival of the community depends on some sort of standard being maintained. If you issue a clear fatwa, with an explanation as to why this is important, they can't really complain. Given it will cut accross the left/right brigade (the lefties tending to be the swearers and the righties being the hobby horsers) everyone will be cross and there won't be much scope for favouritism.

I'd really hate to see this place go under slowly because it is starved of new members. A few weeks of hardline policing should get the message across. I think most of the regs will support it, because we're all sad no-lifers who'd hate to see this place die.

Incidentally, if you're still operating the silly auto-censor thing, I suggest now is the time to get rid of it. It suggests that anything that can get through the censor is 'okay' and permitted, and just encourages cnutish behaviour (see what I did there?).

[sushimo]

As soon as I see Foxy about I think I will see what (if anything) can be done about this. I agree with you btw, but not in such extreems as losing members. Something does need to be done though.

[cathy]

Hi Lala ... thank you for your post.

You will see I've posted the board Guidelines to remind people we do still have rules that should be taken into consideration when posting.

However, I do tend to agree with Sushi .. we cannot go overboard with warnings and deletions. All we can do is appeal to our members' better nature but also remind them how we got into trouble with MSN for ignoring the rules.

Hope this helps.

[lala]

Is the auto-censor on or off? I seem to be able to swear like a sailor without getting starred or substituted, which will probably upset the Usual Suspects and make them wail and shreik about management bias.

If it is off, I'll moderate my language, otherwise I assume I'm allowed to get away with what ever I can get away with.

[sushimo]

I honestly don't know how that's set in here lala, only Foxy has the ability to sort that. However, I do know from my own site that whatever the settings, they are across the board and will be the same for all.

[takemebacktolondon]

so much for free speech lala.
I cant even log into news general without being logged off each time automatically .
So you get your wish . Well done !
Censorship by deletion .

[whiterum]

Wow ,not seen this thread before, hehehe