Reminder: When someone makes inflammatory posts and threads...

[Mike Hoffman]

From the [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct"]Code of Conduct[/a]:

"If you find someone is violating one of these rules, report them and let the moderators do their job. Responding to a troll or someone who may have flamed you and others will only get you in trouble. Report, ignore and move on."

This is not new information and it is something you all agreed to when you joined the forums. If you never actually read the [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct"]Code of Conduct[/a] (of course most people don't), please take a few moments to do so. "The Escapist forums are different than most forums on the internet" and our policies may seem move severe than expected at times if you are more accustomed to other online communities. Read the [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct"]Code of Conduct[/a] to make sure you know how to avoid receiving sanctions.

Edit: There will be someone who thinks this thread is a good place to complain about moderator actions. Once again, from the [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/codeofconduct"]Code of Conduct[/a]:

"Publicly airing your grievances or mocking and disrespecting either the moderators in their official capacity or the rules will only get you further warnings."

 

[tippy2k2]

The only problem with that is sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is Trolling or if they have a legitimate (although possibly very dumb) question. Hell, that's WHY it's in the rules that you can't use the T word. I am going off the assumption based on timing that you are referring to these threads:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.856158-if-you-could-make-humanity-into-one-race
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.856166-what-if-there-was-a-cure-for-homosexuality
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.856162-if-you-were-a-black-person-living-in-Jim-crow-era-america

Thread #1 and Thread #2 COULD actually be someone's opinion (and not even a ghost's "white power!" opinion). Maybe they're just really young and don't realize all of the good that other cultures bring. Maybe they're sheltered and they've never really thought what they were thinking through. Maybe they're just kind of soft in the head and are not smart enough to realize why that's not a very nice thing to say.

Yeah, they used "Cure" but we've seen some poor choice of words out of everyone at some point...

Obviously once thread #3 came out it was pretty clear what was going on. Overall I agree with you because we see too often people complaining about getting warnings when they "were just defending themselves" or "they did what the other poster did!" (like they're the only ones who realize that they're getting trolled but they HAVE to get the last word in or it looks like a Troll "beat" them).

I just wanted to throw my two cents in because listening to myself talk makes me happy

 

[IceForce]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.856166-what-if-there-was-a-cure-for-homosexuality


Yeah, they used "Cure" but we've seen some poor choice of words out of everyone at some point...

Out of sheer interest, I did a forum search for "cure homosexuality", to see if that topic has come up here before. And sure enough, it has:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.339589-Poll-Thought-experiment-What-if-homosexuality-COULD-be-cured-medically

So I don't think the word "cure" is the problem here, as it's been used on this forum before without incident. (I agree it's still the incorrect word to use, but the thread I've linked here shows that it alone won't draw moderator ire.)

 

[Johnny Impact]

I don't just strive to obey the Code of Conduct. I actually enjoy it. Kicking the screamers out leaves room for rational, courteous discourse. Maybe I'm just a bad person but I enjoy watching the folks who come here from /b/ get stomped like the flaming porch-turds that they are. Gives me a warm fuzzy.

(like they're the only ones who realize that they're getting trolled but they HAVE to get the last word in or it looks like a Troll "beat" them).

Trolls just eat anything you throw at them and use it to grow bigger and uglier. They also have the ability to make anyone who argues with them look like them. The only way to win is to starve them. Sadly this is difficult as they are very good at pushing the big shiny red piss-people-off button, the one that stops rational thought.

"Publicly airing your grievances or mocking and disrespecting either the moderators in their official capacity or the rules will only get you further warnings."

Would you tease a cop? Would you continue to tease a cop who had just drawn his taser? Same idea.

Sometimes I browse pretty deep into old forum topics and notice 40% of the posters have since been banned. I freely admit to being an asshole, I've got opinions and I don't varnish 'em for anyone, but gee whiz, I've still got a clean record. Is it really that hard for others to control themselves or do they just not care?

Also, this is off topic, but why do I keep getting "We have noticed suspicious activity related to your internet address" instead of captchas? It's not multiple tabs, I've done that for years. Could it be using both Firefox and Chrome simultaneously? Because that's new.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Hell, that's WHY it's in the rules that you can't use the T word.

Wait did they finally start enforcing the word "tran-"

I honestly have no idea what this word is suppose to be.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Also, this is off topic, but why do I keep getting "We have noticed suspicious activity related to your internet address" instead of captchas? It's not multiple tabs, I've done that for years. Could it be using both Firefox and Chrome simultaneously? Because that's new.

I get the same thing and I only use Chrome. So it isn't that... probably something up with the captcha code or server.... hell I don't know.

OT: Its not hard to follow the rules and exercise restraint, I don't understand why people are so insistent on pushing the limits of things uncivil.

 

[IceForce]

Hell, that's WHY it's in the rules that you can't use the T word.

Wait did they finally start enforcing the word "tran-"

I honestly have no idea what this word is suppose to be.

If I was to have a guess, I'd say the word tippy2k2 is referring to is "troll", and the word MarsAtlas is referring to is "tranny". ("Tranny" being an offensive transsexual/transgender slur.)

 

[Twinrehz]

I read the Code of Conduct when I joined! *proud*

 

[Barbas]

(Snip).

(Snip).

Somebody mentioned being asked several times to type in their email address instead of typing out a Captcha. You'll probably want to take a screenshot the next time it happens and drop it in the Tech Team chat, because that sounds like some nasty shenanigans.

 

[omega 616]

A lot of people don't know that words like "tranny" are offensive.

To be honest, I don't see how it is. Don't get me wrong, if the common consensus is that it's offensive, then it is offensive but to me it's like "paki" for a person from Pakistan, which is also an offensive term ... but to me it's like me being offended if somebody called me a Brit.

I live in Britain, so I am British, Brit is short for British, so it's ok to call me a Brit. "oh, you're from Pakistan? So you're a paki?" "how dare you call me that!" is the same as "oh, you're a transsexual, so you're a tranny?".

Like I said, if people are offended by those two terms, I wont use them ... same as I wouldn't use racial ones. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[L. Declis]

A lot of people don't know that words like "tranny" are offensive.

To be honest, I don't see how it is. Don't get me wrong, if the common consensus is that it's offensive, then it is offensive but to me it's like "paki" for a person from Pakistan, which is also an offensive term ... but to me it's like me being offended if somebody called me a Brit.

I live in Britain, so I am British, Brit is short for British, so it's ok to call me a Brit. "oh, you're from Pakistan? So you're a paki?" "how dare you call me that!" is the same as "oh, you're a transsexual, so you're a tranny?".

Like I said, if people are offended by those two terms, I wont use them ... same as I wouldn't use racial ones. Just doesn't make sense to me.

It's all about context, as ever.

If I walk up to an Indian and call them a Paki, I say, with spit flying from my teeth and a slightly deranged look in my eyes, then it's offensive. May have something to do with the whole 'Islamophobia' thing in the UK.
However, I have called my Paki friends who I have spoken to and we have a good dynamic going a Paki and he'll respond by calling me a imperial twat.

Another way of looking at it is the 'nigga' situation. If you're black, you may use it. If you're part of the race that once turned them into slaves, or are using it as an insult, then it's very offensive, harkening back to certain recent and well publicised times of slavery.

A final way is this; My fiance can make Chinese jokes, and she can make British jokes at me. I can in return make British jokes at her as well as Chinese jokes. However, all too often "*****" or "race traitor" is thrown in her direction and "foreign scum [translated]" as well as "foreign slut" or "ghost" is thrown at me.
While we can make these jokes in a comfortable setting, the only time in about ten years I have punched someone is when they shouted "*****" at her.

It's all about context.

 

[Mikeyfell]

I read the Code of Conduct when I joined! *proud*

Did you read this part of the CoC?

Low Content Posts
This could be anything from simply answering a question, posting LOL, "agreed," "this," +1, or even a joking quip. These forums are used for discussion and low content posts halt discussion. In order to participate in conversation one should present an explanation of the reasoning that informs your opinion. "I like pie" isn't an argument. The fact that you like pie is well and good, but why do you like that pie? This explanation offers others an opportunity to respond to your opinion and avoids forum spam.

In my opinion this kind of breaks the whole forum, because it means that no one can respond with positivity or levity to any thread.

Everyone (Who follows the rules) and responds to a post would have to believe that you're wrong or that you missed something.

I mean you broke the rules. That's a joking quip.

This low content rule means that the better arguments or well articulated thoughts would inherently get the least amount of responses. So there's hardly any benefit to leaving a comment at all.

I've sent the community manager a couple messages about changing this particular rule to promote a healthier forum.
You might want to consider leaving him a PM too, because this rule could seriously effect you.

Constructive criticism is welcomed; negativity for its own sake is not.

This is also in the CoC... just in case anyone is wondering.

 

[Mikeyfell]

"Publicly airing your grievances or mocking and disrespecting either the moderators in their official capacity or the rules will only get you further warnings."

Also form the CoC

Constructive criticism is welcomed; negativity for its own sake is not.

Is it just me or do those two sentences kind of contradict each other?
So are we allowed to leave constructive criticism in the comments or aren't we?

 

[IceForce]

I mean you broke the rules.

Technically, your post breaks the rules too, since you're "publicly airing your grievances (about) the rules (which) will only get you further warnings".

I agree with you on the low content thing, though.

As for the "constructive criticism" thing, from experience it's probably best not to post any negative feedback at all. I try my best to hold my tongue, now.

 

[Twinrehz]

I read the Code of Conduct when I joined! *proud*

Did you read this part of the CoC?

Low Content Posts
This could be anything from simply answering a question, posting LOL, "agreed," "this," +1, or even a joking quip. These forums are used for discussion and low content posts halt discussion. In order to participate in conversation one should present an explanation of the reasoning that informs your opinion. "I like pie" isn't an argument. The fact that you like pie is well and good, but why do you like that pie? This explanation offers others an opportunity to respond to your opinion and avoids forum spam.

In my opinion this kind of breaks the whole forum, because it means that no one can respond with positivity or levity to any thread.

Everyone (Who follows the rules) and responds to a post would have to believe that you're wrong or that you missed something.

I mean you broke the rules. That's a joking quip.

This low content rule means that the better arguments or well articulated thoughts would inherently get the least amount of responses. So there's hardly any benefit to leaving a comment at all.

I've sent the community manager a couple messages about changing this particular rule to promote a healthier forum.
You might want to consider leaving him a PM too, because this rule could seriously effect you.

Constructive criticism is welcomed; negativity for its own sake is not.

This is also in the CoC... just in case anyone is wondering.

That rule has actually prevented me from posting many a meaningless post, where all I can say is I agree with OP or a different post. I actually kind of agree with it too, making a thread about something you feel is important, and only getting the response "I agree with you" or something like that is quite the downer. People should think about what they post (although the post you quoted me in was indeed unnecessary), simply because a forum is a place for discussion. You can say "I agree with you, because ", adding a few points of your own, or the opposite, filling out how you disagree with someone. Posting for the sake of posting seems a bit redundant, my first post in this thread pretty much proves that.

As a note, I must admit I don't remember all of the CoC, but most forums have the same CoC, the gist of it is "don't be an ass, and if you don't really have anything to say, don't say anything". Also porn and illegal stuff is usually strictly prohibited, although I've never been clear on the definition of porn. Some mods trigger on skimpy outfits, others don't care unless you're posting actual hardcore. As a general rule of thumb, I avoid anything that may or may not be questionable, depending on who you're talking to. But lets not get carried away with off topic.

 

[Mikeyfell]

"I agree with you, because ",

the problem with that is it implies the post your responding too either didn't give reasons or at least didn't give reasons you agree with.

If you agree with someone wholeheartedly you're just supposed to ignore them.

If you know the majority of the responses you're allowed to get are going to be negative what's the incentive in posting?

As a note, I must admit I don't remember all of the CoC, but most forums have the same CoC, the gist of it is "don't be an ass, and if you don't really have anything to say, don't say anything". Also porn and illegal stuff is usually strictly prohibited, although I've never been clear on the definition of porn. Some mods trigger on skimpy outfits, others don't care unless you're posting actual hardcore. As a general rule of thumb, I avoid anything that may or may not be questionable, depending on who you're talking to. But lets not get carried away with off topic.

The whole site would be better off it the rules were cut down to "don't be an asshole" and "don't spam"
Prohibiting people from saying funny or nice things with the Low Content rule just bad.

Tue rules are set up so every chain of posts becomes an argument. and if the argument goes well and one of you changes their mend you just leave the last post hanging, because saying "I agree with you" is against the rules.

people in these threads can't talk to each other like humans they talk to each other like we're all in a debate club.
The more effort you put into your communication the more likely you are to break a rule. that doesn't make sense!

The only people allowed to comment are the ones willing to argue their point.
but it they're too stubborn they either get frustrated and say something mean or they look like trolls just talking around in circles or being really condescending.
This is the community the rules have bred.


I mean have you ever gotten a really really long reply that you didn't feel like reading?
One that made you think "if he left a reply that long there's no way I'll change his mind so why bother?"
Well that's the only form of communication the rules promote!