Acronym junction, what's your function?

[Arjos]

I say that people are free to use whatever word they feel to use...
A word is just a word, and we give weight to it...
If someone has only swears to say, I think that it's bad for him, but he's entitled to have free speech...

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

I would agree with keeping swear words and these acronyms off limits. Its nice to know that I can come to the .org and not have to read garbage all the time. Think of the .org as a fine dining establishment and other forums as the world's pubs and sports bars.

[Beskar]

I would agree with keeping swear words and these acronyms off limits. Its nice to know that I can come to the .org and not have to read garbage all the time. Think of the .org as a fine dining establishment and other forums as the world's pubs and sports bars.

I agree actually, the refreshing thing about the Org is the lack of swearing, along with the whole uniform style with the avatars. Removing those characteristics just makes the Org 'another forum'. The use of language greatly affects peoples opinions of the poster, and if all the posters experience a 'drop in standard', other users will also drop in their standard. You may get a few more members, especially those from a more immature crowd, you but you begin to lose what it is great with the Org.

Some one types: "wtf louis u milfy french frog eater", you instantly begin to characterise that poster as some one who has failed the educational system.

On the otherhand, when some one types: "I dare say, Louis VI the Fat, it appears you overexerted yourself on the mastication of fresh water amphibians." you would naturally have a higher opinion of the poster.

Rather extreme example, but the assumed quality of posting on the forum elicits similar responses. Imagine going to a upper class restaurant for a fine dining experience, you dress in a fine suit, you remember your manners, and you have an enjoyable cultured experience, this is the Org. Then there are other forums where you come across, which are akin to a ran-down pub with leaky smelling toilet, Bert at the bar is drunk, looks like he hasn't showered for 5 weeks and he scratches his nuts, it is definitely not the same experience.

[Brennus]

I have no issue with people using WTF as the only time I have seen it being employed is to express moments of disbelief as to what is occurring in a game. As a user of the EB forum I can honestly say I have never seen MILF being employed and can't imagine a scenario in the EB forum where it could be employed.

[A Nerd]

Coarse language degenerates conversation in my opinion. The subject matter seems to suffer if curse words are used for adjectives and the like. I like the rigid swearing policy, avatar use, etc. that is employed here. It would be kind of funny if people were turned away from the .org because they couldn't swear in thier posts and get rep for semi naked avatar pictures and the like. But back on the topic of bad language, I vote no. Let us continue the trend of behaving like little gentlemen and little gentlewomen when interacting with one another. I for one won't complain.

[Drunk Clown]

I have no issue with people using WTF as the only time I have seen it being employed is to express moments of disbelief as to what is occurring in a game. As a user of the EB forum I can honestly say I have never seen MILF being employed and can't imagine a scenario in the EB forum where it could be employed.

This is exactly what I wanted to say. I've never heard/read MILF on this forum, and I think it's is totally out of place to use.

WTF on the other hand, I don't mind. What's wrong with it? It's a so much used expression that it has become normal. F--- is just a word; in WTF it isn't even related to sexual intercourse. I really don't get what's the hassle about the word f--- in that particular context. If you say c--- (this is an exeption thread, amirite?) for instance I get it, cos it's always pointed toward a person. But WTF is just as Brennus said, an expression of amazement or disbelief.

I don't think the will work. Everybody knows what you want to say, so why not just say so? Is it more harmful to have it written than interpret it like that?

The problem of the women and young children who would get exposed to this use of language is out of question. First of all children till the age of 12 (I think) wouldn't come here (then you won't be playing total war as it is probably too difficult). Unless you guys who are older, and have children let them read with you at this forum (highly unlikely). And children older than 9-10 already know the word f---.

Why would women be offended by the term MILF? It's not like they are going to cry when they read it. If a woman would call someone a d---; I won't feel disrespected cos I have a d---. It's not like they're weak and take everything personal.

My opinion is that this forum could loosen up a bit.

[Lord of Lent]

I cannot agree more, Beskar. Warman recently posted a thread about elitism. There's no elitism here, but the Org. is most elite of all TW forums or any other forums that deal with the stuff we discuss here.
That's because of discussions that actually make sense, but also because people here use clean and civilised speech instead of WTF or MILF.

We do not want to lose our high standards, do we?

So, NO to all of them. Keep it clean, keep it nice.

[Maeran]

I suppose you could see MILF in an AAR. But the mind boggles.

If you don't allow the F word, then you shouldn't allow a hidden version of it. If there is room for bending that rule because of context, then it isn't a proper rule.

You might show leniency in applying the rule, but "no use of swear words except when not directed at any one individual, but rather at the poster's own inability to find an alternative phrase" really muddies the water for when you have to apply that rule.

Oh, and if you use the daisy smiley, then not everyone knows what you meant to say. In particular, small children don't know. So it does work better than simply saying it.

[frogbeastegg]

On the matter of children and the org, there's two points:

How many here have younger children? How many of those people want their child to come visit when they're on the computer? Lots, I bet. Children show up frequently and often where you don't want them to; it's a defining feature. Most children begin to read at 5 years old.

Our youngest member was lisabeanie. She was 10 years old when she signed up an account to ask for help beating her Dad at TW. Naturally Dad was a member here too. She was quite active here for a time. There have been others a little older; it's rare but does happen.

Why would women be offended by the term MILF?

Better to ask, why wouldn't we?

It reduces a person into an object intended for another's gratification. The f-word has nothing but negative tones in a sexual context, especially when applied to women as it ties into that whole 'easy/slut/whore' thing and the whole 'I don't need to bother about them so long as I get my rocks off' thing.

Not comparable at all with calling someone a dick; that term is so mild it's practically a joke. There is no direct male comparison; culturally and historically men just do not have the same overtones applied to them in a sexual context. The double standard is alive and well.

I won't cry. I will think that whoever used it is a contemptible, crude idiot. Just as I think anyone who wants a f*** should go find themselves a blow up doll (or vibrator, if female) because that's the best they deserve for aiming so low. Huh, at least aim high enough to want sex. At least that has some ambition and mutuality to it, even if it's still a long away from making love. All the different labels exist for a reason; they all have different connotations.

[Louis VI the Fat]

a ran-down pub with leaky smelling toilet, Bert at the bar is drunk, looks like he hasn't showered for 5 weeks and he scratches his nuts

That's so funny when I went to visit him this was EXACTLY what Andres was like

[pevergreen]

If someone has only swears to say, I think that it's bad for him, but he's entitled to have free speech...

The org is not America, we are not entitled to free speech.

[Arjos]

The org is not America, we are not entitled to free speech.

I believe that it's written somewhere in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights XD
But hey, if people are offended by this let the moderators deal with it, I didn't expect the org to have such issues...
In EB I've never seen such a language, and if it appear I will certanly just ignore it...

[Ludens]

I believe that it's written somewhere in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights XD

Freedom of speech means the government isn't allowed to silence you. However, you do not have the right to a publisher, or an audience. If you want to use the .Org's bandwidth and servers to express your opinion, you need the .Org's consent. You cannot oblige us to publish your material on the internet, because we too are free to publish what we wish. This has nothing to do with whether the .Org's servers are in the USA or not.

(For the record: I am not a lawyer, but I am pretty sure this is how it works in America and the rest of the Western world.)

[Beskar]

I didn't expect such an even divide in opinion, just going by the poll. And to gauge by comments, the majority of Orgahs would rather retain strict language policies.

Okay. I feel very silly editing and warning for WTF and MILF and so forth, but if that's the will of the Orgahs, so be it.

Why not use the Word Filter function on the forum? It would be simpler than you constantly having to edit.

Seriously, if you really have a problem with reading "wtf" or "milf", grow up. In fact, you should get off the internet, because if you are that sensitive, it is impossible for you to use the internet and not be offended, and imposing your ridiculous sensitivities on this forum won't change that.

Calm down Internet Tough Guy, because Hobo's don't shower and shave, should the President not present himself professionally to the public?

Because people have some standards and don't eat from a dogs food bowl, it doesn't mean they shouldn't get told to get off the internet.

[The Celtic Viking]

Calm down Internet Tough Guy, because Hobo's don't shower and shave, should the President not present himself professionally to the public?

Because people have some standards and don't eat from a dogs food bowl, it doesn't mean they shouldn't get told to get off the internet.

So you should be allowed to insult me, but I should not be allowed to say wtf because it "might offend someone"? How does that logic work?

Look, I'll say it again: if they use the internet, and they are offended by seeing a letter that they understand means a specific word they dislike, they will be offended whether this forum censors these words or not. It's unavoidable. Your analogies are laughable: both of them only answers why some would prefer not to swear themselves, which is fine, though I personally disagree with them. Neither of them even gets anywhere close to addressing the real issue here: that they are trying to impose this rule onto others. They also presuppose that swearing is something bad like not showering or eating from a dogs food bowl, which I flat out disagree with.

[Lemur]

others[/I]. They also presuppose that swearing is something bad like not showering or eating from a dogs food bowl, which I flat out disagree with.

Two thoughts:

(1) The Org is its own entity, and is free to impose whatever rules it likes, just as you are free to visit or not. As someone noted earlier, "Free speech" applies to the government's relationship to individuals, not to private associations.

(2) The issue at hand is not whether "swearing is something bad like not showering or eating from a dogs food bowl," but rather what sort of environment we, as a community, want to have. I would phrase the question more like this: Do we want to relax the language standards a bit, and if so, what will we gain and/or lose?