Was I in the right?

[Mooks]

Im curios about this. I recieve frequent warnings for the most absurd things. Heres something I received a few days ago from Mithrandir....


Dear holybandit,

You have been warned for one of your posts, which violated The Guild Rules. The reason you have been warned is because:

Minor
(Warning Type = Minor)

For this violation, you have been given : 1 point(s).
The point(s) will remain in your account for 31 days.
After that, they will be removed automatically.

The post for which you are warned can be seen here:

=======================================

Quote:
Originally Posted by Del Arroyo
So perhaps he took the rifle of an assistant gunner of a crew-served weapon?

It would be interesting to have more details about the circumstances and how the soldiers around him reacted. Based on what was translated by Roy, I could see how the cameraman's actions might not have been so good. For instance, if he had grabbed someone's weapon without asking that alone could have been cause for consternation. If he had then proceeded to pick a target and begin firing at it without the direction or control of the supervisor in the area, I could see some squad leader getting enormously pissed off, possibly with good cause.

At any rate, important details of the situation are unclear from what we've seen so far, it would be interesting to have more information.


You need a supervisor/commander to shoot at masked people are who shooting at you?

"You there, cameraman, how DARE you shoot them insurgents, they were MY targets you prick!"
=======================================

The admin/moderator who warned you, entered this comment:

=======================================
Language.
=======================================

Your total Warning Level at the moment is: 1 point(s).

If you reach the maximum of 3, you will be demoted, for 2 days.

To see details about all the warnings you have received, until now, please click here.

Please reply back if you have a dispute. END QUOTE

This Is what I replied

Do you know what a prick is? Its a small needle or thorn that can get into your toe. When it does get in your toe its very annoying, when your calling someone a prick it means he/she is annoying.

The language moderation on this forum is ridiculous. Do you expect 7 year olds to be frequenting this forum?

His reply....


Quote:
Do you know what a prick is?

.

yes.


Quote:
The language moderation on this forum is ridiculous. Do you expect 7 year olds to be frequenting this forum?

I expect members to not break the rules they agreed to when signing up.

-Mithrandir.

I was in a bad mood at the time. I replied this...

Are you kidding me? Are you really that dumb? If someone wants to take everything as sexual innuendo then you better be sending out alot more warning messages. The urban dictionary is slang I wasnt reffering to slang now was I?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Prick
(A real dictionary)


He seriosly reffered to the urban dictionary. Thats incredibly stupid (am I allowed to say stupid?). He didnt reply to my message.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

"Do you know what a prick is? Its a small needle or thorn that can get into your toe. When it does get in your toe its very annoying, when your calling someone a prick it means he/she is annoying."

I have never heard this before.

There was a similar discussion a while back where someone was warned for saying "mf" which they claimed was "my friend".

[Andres]

There was a similar discussion a while back where someone was warned for saying "mf" which they claimed was "my friend".

Just out of curiosity Sasaki,

What does the abbreviation 'wtf' in your custom user title stands for?

Ah, this is the kind of question any lawyer would be proud of

[Oaty]

What does the abbreviation '***' in your custom user title stands for?

Too funny considering some moderators don't allow that term to be used.

Edited in the stars so I don't get a warning.

Anyways that's what causes problems, moderators need to follow the strictest rules, then when one moderator punishes one then another moderator breaks that rule, causing a problem.

That way the moderators are within the rules instead of above them

[Andres]

Edited in the stars so I don't get a warning.

It does mean "wait 'til friday", doesn't it?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

hmm I've never warned anyone for wtf. mf got warned because he was referring to another patron.

[doc_bean]

Too funny considering some moderators don't allow that term to be used.

Edited in the stars so I don't get a warning.

Anyways that's what causes problems, moderators need to follow the strictest rules, then when one moderator punishes one then another moderator breaks that rule, causing a problem.

That way the moderators are within the rules instead of above them

I use wtf a lot, I don't think is offensive and I've never gotten a warning for it


PS I recently got my second warning since I've been on the Org, cheers to Mith !

[The Wizard]

I was also warned once for swearing. This was an instance when I (I swear profusely in average human interaction) used the words "jack s**t" (ho boy, hello next warning ) in a commentary on RTW's tactical gameplay ("that doesn't mean <insert curse>").

Now, considering that the Arena (where this was posted) has a sticky explicitly stating that you should not swear, plus the rule that you cannot go wild at CA on this forum (that that one applies here is debatable, but... meh), I suppose you could justify the warning.

But then... I wasn't cursing at anybody -- directly. In my opinion swearing should only become punishable when it's part of derogatory comment on a person (or entity, in the case of CA [and CA alone]).

Therefore, a swear word not directed at any particular person (an Orgah in most cases) should not be a warnable offense (making the comment "what a s****y movie, God d*mn!" in a random Frontroom thread legit). This forum isn't here to teach subjective morals (is it? ).

But, meh... gosh darned rules!

[Andres]

Considering the context in which you used the word "prick" it could have been interpreted in its less appropriate meaning (now, isn't this a fine example of self-censoring ).

The post you made, can be seen as offensive, but, since you react quite furious, it's quite obvious this wasn't your intention.

Imho, it's a misunderstanding. The kind of misunderstanding that occurs when people communicate through an internet-forum. The kind of misunderstanding that can escalate to enormous proportions, while in "real life" it wouldn't happen at all.

My prescpription:
Give each other a nice virtual hug , drink a virtual beer and forget the incident.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

i think the word prick is fine.
but just deal with it.

[Kralizec]

I got a warning once for using a 4 letter synonim for excrement, no points though. No big deal, I got over it

Your case seems a lot similar, and a point seems over the top. It's not as if you get your childhood ruined by looking at that word (compared to say, one of DevDave's posts) and most English speaking kids hear it all the time...

[Mooks]

Iv never heard prick as being a penis. The UrbanDictionary seems moronic to me.

If its a misunderstanding then w/e.

[GoreBag]

I don't think it is. Mithrandir's like that.

[Blodrast]

To be honest, Mithrandir, I think you're perhaps being a bit too strict with the warnings for language, in general.
I got one for saying the equivalent of crap, as well - although shite has been used in several threads, plentifully, during the previous days. So shite is okay, but if I cut the "e" it's not okay anymore. They seem equally offensive (or not) to me.
Plus, I really don't feel this is a bad term, people say "oh, ****" all the time (**** = shite without the "e").


Not a huge deal, by all means, but I think we can be a little bit more relaxed about the language without losing too much of the PG13 spirit.
And sure, I agreed to the rules when I signed up, but most of the language issues are pretty subjective ones, and they are not covered explicitly in the rules, so it's really a matter of opinion. A patron could consider they are not breaking the rules, while another one (mod or not) could think differently.

Anyway, peace and all that, cheers.

[Blodrast]

Btw, when I said "a bit too strict" I was referring also to the fact that the other Backroom mods seem significantly more lax about this (language issues).
Mods are human, etc, etc, of course, nobody's screaming murder here, but, if you're really gonna crack down on language, then a bit of consistency would be nice

[Papewaio]

Blodrast here is your mission impossible if you choose to accept it:

Go to the Backroom
Check out the stickied threads
Find one about bad language.
And then post the quote of it in this thread.

This message will self distruct.

[TosaInu]

and they are not covered explicitly in the rules, so it's really a matter of opinion.

True and for some reasons too. I understand that there's a large variation in using language and meaning, it even differs where you are (do you say the same things to your grandma as you do in the boys lockerroom?)

What would happen if there was a list here with words you were not allowed to use? Think about that for a few seconds please?

-Obviously we would forget to list swearwords, I know a couple of Dutch ones, but none in Swahili. 'Look! It's not in the list, so I use those words in my post, {I know they are meant to hurt}, but they are not forbidden'
-We would constantly have to update the list and of course it would constantly be dodged: 'no luck is not allowed, I wrote 1uck'.
-Unwieldy long list of thou art not allowed to. Aren't forbidden fruits the most yummiest? And isn't it very annoying that they are there, even ones you never heard off, words that would be perfect to make your point or just sound so cool, but are not allowed to be used?
-Would it be logical to try to clean the forums and not expose youngsters, faint hearted- or well manered people to foul language and at the same time have lists with those same bad words?
Keep them hidden in one place? => 'I did not see the list, it can't be found anywhere'.

[Papewaio]

Iv never heard prick as being a penis. The UrbanDictionary seems moronic to me.

If its a misunderstanding then w/e.

a) You are implying that someone is a moron for using the urban dictionary. Tsk tsk

b) You are certainly not proving your case when your very own link in your first post http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Prick states the following:

7. Slang (vulgar). a. penis.
b. an obnoxious or contemptible person.

Beaten by your own brilliance methinks.

Oh and in this situation I suggest you check that link at number 25:
Idiom 25. kick against the pricks, to resist incontestable facts or authority; protest uselessly: In appealing the case again, you will just be kicking against the pricks.

And we do have under tens who sign up... mainly for advice on how to beat their dads at totalwar... and they have gone on to do so.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

a) You are implying that someone is a moron for using the urban dictionary. Tsk tsk

b) You are certainly not proving your case when your very own link in your first post http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Prick states the following:

7. Slang (vulgar). a. penis.
b. an obnoxious or contemptible person.

Beaten by your own brilliance methinks.

Oh and in this situation I suggest you check that link at number 25:
Idiom 25. kick against the pricks, to resist incontestable facts or authority; protest uselessly: In appealing the case again, you will just be kicking against the pricks.

And we do have under tens who sign up... mainly for advice on how to beat their dads at totalwar... and they have gone on to do so.

wow... know i know more meanings of prick....
then i side with ol' camel man!

[King Henry V]

I must say though, the rule against substituting stars for bad launguage is a bit silly. We may as well also ban euphimisms, such as fudge, sugar, humbug etc., because WE ALL KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN! However, if that is the case, the offended person was hardly leading a sheltered life before.
It rather reminds me of Eric Idle's song I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio.

I Bet You They Won't Play This Song On The Radio

I bet they won't play this song on the radio
I bet you they won't play this new -bleep- song
It's not that it's -buzz- or -beep beep- controversial
Just that the -ding-ing words are awfully strong

You can't say -honk- on the radio
Or -shot- or -twang- or -bleh-,
You can't even say I'd like to -creak- you one day
Unless you're a doctor with a very large -boing-

So I bet you they won't play this song on the radio
I bet you they daren't -scratch-ing well programme it
I bet you their -ch-ching-ing old Programme Directors
Will think it's a load of horse -raspberry-

Music and lyrics by: Eric Idle

Of course, using obscenities when speaking directly or indirectly with another member is never acceptable.

[MSB]

From what I have seen around the forums, Mithrandir is a very strict mod.

[Mithrandir]

Strict, yes. Unfair ? I don't think so.

If the word can be misunderstood,
pick another which leaves no room for doubt.

When deciding on a post I check the patrons previously received warnings, you already received plenty for language, so you should've learned to be more cautious.