I wrote this post a while ago. I think it is still relevant today:
Just a couple things:
This rule is about discrimintory words - swear words like "fuck or shit" are not subject to it - to answer Chris' question/point - They will be frowned upon if they're over used but that's probably by most people here and the mods and admins will presumably not do anything about it (at least I wont)
I was the person who originally came up with this idea and this is why:
I don't know about everyone else, but I try and read every topic and discriminatory language has never been permitted on modified so I've been going around editing people's posts so they say "
Please don't use discriminatory language" to replace the word - or something similar - you may have noticed this! Most of the times when the kind of words we're talking about are used, it seems like ignorance and not actual hate for homosexual people. However this does not change really change how offensive it is - it just shows that the people using it don't care about other people's feelings - or at least that's my explanation. Not only that, but despite my warnings, people don't seem to be not using the words any less. It had become clear that the previous policy was not working at all.
So the aim of this new policy is to a. stop people using the words at all and b. make them realise that those words aren't cool to be used on this forum in a negative context.
If it doesn't work and we end up with more people suspended than posting on the forum - we'll be forced to try something else - but it was silly to keep warning people when they didn't seem to care or listen - it felt like useless work that achieved nothing.
You are all entitled to your own opinions and if you believe that it is ok to use homosexual words in a negative context then feel free to go to another forum and do that - we can't and don't want to try and stop you from using any kind of language in your non modified life - however we can stop you from using that kind of language on this board.
The recent modified survey showed that a lot of people were concerned about the possible treatment of homosexuals on this board and I'll post some of the comments (anonymously) at the bottom of this post.
It should be noted that your sexuality doesn't mean you think alike or are offended by the same stuff. I have a number of homosexual friends. Some of them would be very offended if I used this kind of language. Some would act like they are offended but it's hard to know because they're crazy and some of them would not be that offended by it all. - It's stupid to say "I know one homosexual person and this is what he thinks - therefore all homosexuals think like that" - That statement is a huge generalisation and completely false. It's quite clear that all heterosexual people don't think the same - some (usually guys) think the more partners you have at any one time the better - others think that it's best to only have one partner. etc. etc.
Ultimately we want to make this forum a forum where everybody feels welcome (except for people that make others feel unwelcome) - we encourage everybody to post on this forum just so long as they are welcoming towards other members and not offensive. You don’t have to like everybody and if you have particular views such as “I think homosexuals are evil sinners like it says in the bible” you are welcome to express those views in the relevant sub forum. However you do have to respect everybody and even if you do think they are the spawn of Satan, you still can’t make discriminatory and offensive remarks towards them based on things like; race, gender, sexuality, physical or mental disabilities, weight, or anything else like that that I’ve missed!
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I’ve bolded the important part. Now the mods and admins don’t have a problem with much of that – it’s an agreement built into pretty much all php forums – but if have a problem with this policy you should have read that and not agreed to with the statement! You are under no obligation to post on this forum.
I’m sorry for such a long post!
Quotes are in answer to the question “Do you feel that your sexuality is respected?”
I'm straight, but I still get offended by gay-bashers because I have relatives that are.
NO!
I think so but a homosexual would think otherwise I guess.
I think all the “gay” crap going around is unnecessary, but overall yeah, things are ok.
Well, my sexually as a straight male is respected, but there have been a few comments made that I feel would disrespect my sexuality if I were gay.
No
I'm heterosexual, so yes. There are some homophobes that I find disrespectful. But I think other users and the mods have done a good effort to show them how outdated there mentality is.
Yes, but I don't feel that others' is sometimes.
Mine, yes, but there has (sic) been some homophobic posts that really make me quite upset.
Well I haven't been called a “faggot” yet so sure (FYI I'm not gay )
Yeah. I'm hetero. I'm not discriminated against.
I'm straight, so I guess the answer is yes.
Absolutely, though if I were gay, I wouldn’t appreciate some posters using some slang terms, but I’m glad to see moderators (and posters) speaking out against this kinda trash talk.
I've seen quite a lot of homophobia, but I am not personally offended.
While it’s not a majority – it was clearly a big issue that came from the survey and it would be pointless to conduct such surveys if we did not respond to the information we received.
) or...sam...well, y'know, stuff like that.
