Ban Racial Slurs: AUP AMENDMENT December 2008

[Ytts]

About two months ago the staff starting discussing some of their internal policies and writing them down.

One of the things that came out of doing that was that many wanted to outright ban all racial slurs as part of their policy. As this is an effective change to the rules, it was decided that this is something the community needs to vote on, as is the practice for any change to the AUP. (You'll recall the last time the AUP changed, a group of users had created a complete draft and the community then voted on the whole thing)

1. Users of the Keep are asked to keep profanity to a minimum.

Light swearing is acceptable, both in character and out of character. Light swearing includes words "ass," "damn," "hell," "bitch," and other swear words that aren't considered harsh swearing. Harsh swearing is acceptable out of character, when it is censored or not directed toward someone present in a hostile fashion. Harsher swearing is considered to be the words "fuck," "cunt," and the like. Room names and User names MAY NOT contain harsh profanity.

Racial slurs are not tolerated in usernames or in general speech, regardless of the intent with which they are used.

Amendment in italic for your easy reading.

Feel free to discuss the issue civilly; you can actually change your vote with this new software so it's possible to persuade others that you are right.

[Ytts]

I should indicate that previously, I would regard racial slurs as harsh swearing and so they'd be banned from usernames and room names normally and subject to the quasi quango of control there is for harsh swearing.

[Eos]

I think they should be restricted for superfluous and excessive use but allowed for appropriate discussion and possibly the very occasional joke.

[Moondog]

Eh, ban the fuckin' things.

[Jurito]

First it's racial slurs then we're back to not being able to curse period... I say they don't fit into the harsh swearing category and usually aren't directed towards someone in an derrogatory way, shouldn't be "banned".

[Abel]

I think they should be restricted for superfluous and excessive use but allowed for appropriate discussion and possibly the very occasional joke.

I second this without the [very] in the occasional joke.

[Pink]

I think that banning them is a very  cowardly way to deal with the problem. Throwing a sheet over the monster in the room doesn't make it go away.

[Xachariah]

I agree with Eos and Abel on the 'restricted from excessive use but allowed in the appropriate discussion and occasional joke.' I'd guess having them in usernames would be in 'excessive use.' If not, then 'allowed in the appropriate discussion and occasional joke, but don't put it in a username or use it too much (how much is too much is the moderator's discretion)' or something.

[Atheism]

No.

It stunts creativity. And the fact is that some characters are racist, though their players are not. It puts unneeded restrictions on creativity when there is actually no abundance of a problem anyway. I'm in an OOC room half the time, and never see blatant use of racial epithets.

[Zengasm]

The fact you losers joke about racism is a pathetic way to be funny, easily. Makes me all weepy.

[Jurito]

Feel free to discuss the issue civilly; you can actually change your vote with this new software so it's possible to persuade others that you are right.

Good job at being civil there.

[Atheism]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwNSNLPIfw

I think that is quite appropriate.

[Atheism]

Also, as we were recently discussing in MH, what exactly is a "racial slur"? If someone gets angry enough, they can report to a mod that someone "used a racial epithet against them"...

The mods are going to be getting a lot of more work to do if they pass this amendment.

[Pink]

Basement, Xach and Train make excellent points that I can't really disagree with.

[Eos]

The fact you losers joke about racism is a pathetic way to be funny, easily. Makes me all weepy.

[Furr]

I think, the point with the swearing and anti-racist rules, is the point that they DO NOT HAPPEN OOC-ly. Fuck if your character is a racist asshole. It's your CHARACTER. Not you.

I say yes to this. As long as it apply to OOC talk.
The moment racism or swearing towards another user is happening, then the mods are free to deal with the problem. If it's an elf talking smack about those filthy, stinkin' dwarves.. Well, it's not out of character. It's part of the game.
But when JoeBob33 calls AxelTrix for filthy nigger in a whisper or to his digital face, then it's not okay anymore.

So.. I ramble.

[Ytts]

I say yes to this. As long as it apply to OOC talk.

The way the amendment is worded, it applies to any usage, IC, OOC, etc.

[Jurito]

If it counts IC then it REALLY is a 'fail' amendment. It restricts characters from being diverse and not the vapid "Happy all the time and loves everything" type.

[Rosery]

I think it should be for OOC but not In character, it's a freeform site which means you should be free to create any character you want. I think this was brought up at some point but if you restrict character idea's you will kill freeform.

[Joe]

I'mma say that Moondoggy is completely right on that one.

[Xachariah]

Besides, even when cursing was banned, people used censorship. It's why Scribz still goes OSHT and shit like that.

[Zengasm]

Feel free to discuss the issue civilly; you can actually change your vote with this new software so it's possible to persuade others that you are right.

Good job at being civil there.

whiner

[Inquisitor]

I think they should be restricted for superfluous and excessive use but allowed for appropriate discussion and possibly the very occasional joke.

My "amend" vote is for this.

[Soja]

Great. Let's go through every possible loophole and amend things until the AUP is an even more impenetrable wall of text.

NO.

Jesus Christ.

[Jurito]

What a massive crock of bullshit. So your character can't call someone a nigger/spic/chink/gook/drunkmickbastard, whoopdifucking-doo.

Call 'em something more interesting, then. Like "You horse-fucking son of an African Honey Badger with Syphilis."

Complaining that "banning racial slurs limits my RP options" is pretty damn weak.

Example: There is a Nazi character on TK at the moment. This rule would prevent said character from being rped as the player originally intended which is as a jew-hating, Hitler-worshipping, undead nazi. Who are YOU to say that character isn't viable?