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[Scott5114]

This is turning into an instruction manual for how to quote from the Alanland thread.  Which I've avoided posting on here.  Kind of amusing that it's taken this long to come up.

Daylight Saving Time can make things get off by an hour, so you should always preview the timestamp before posting.

Trying to get this thread locked?

Actually, I figured my first post there would be halfway to a thread lock.  For the last several years, I've generally quoted from locked threads without much fanfare announcing what I was doing, under the assumption the mods wouldn't really appreciate everyone knowing how to do that–or else locking a thread would only be so effective.

Seems the cat's out of the bag with this thread, though.

My view on it is that quoting from locked threads is OK as long as you're not quoting something that contributed to the thread getting locked or seeking to continue a discussion that got a thread locked. If you're, e.g. quoting a post from early in the thread, before it got contentious, it shouldn't pose a problem.

[hbelkins]

My view on it is that quoting from locked threads is OK as long as you're not quoting something that contributed to the thread getting locked or seeking to continue a discussion that got a thread locked. If you're, e.g. quoting a post from early in the thread, before it got contentious, it shouldn't pose a problem.

Don't those problematic posts usually get deleted?

[kphoger]

Don't those problematic posts usually get deleted?

A lot of problematic threads just get locked without having the posts deleted.  See Alanland.

[tolbs17]

Don't those problematic posts usually get deleted?

A lot of problematic threads just get locked without having the posts deleted.  See Alanland.

Question - Is there a link of where you can see all the deleted threads? I'm pretty sure they are all funny 

[kphoger]

Question - Is there a link of where you can see all the deleted threads? I'm pretty sure they are all funny 

I didn't know entire threads had been deleted.

Of course, I don't obsess over this stuff like some people.

[tolbs17]

Question - Is there a link of where you can see all the deleted threads? I'm pretty sure they are all funny 

I didn't know entire threads had been deleted.

Of course, I don't obsess over this stuff like some people.

It's fun to see the archives.

[Scott5114]

Don't those problematic posts usually get deleted?

A lot of problematic threads just get locked without having the posts deleted.  See Alanland.

Question - Is there a link of where you can see all the deleted threads? I'm pretty sure they are all funny 

Only if you're a moderator. When we delete something (actually, moving it to a non-publicly-viewable forum so that posts can be restored if necessary) it's because we don't want it to be seen. Generally, it's because leaving it publicly visible would invite disruption (e.g. posts pruned from a thread that are bringing the thread in a direction that's against the forum rules) or because someone posted something that either got them warned or would get them warned if the discussion continued off of it. A lot of it is politics or mean-spirited arguing, some of it is racist or sexist.

So tl:dr; no, they're not funny. If it's funny, we usually leave it up.

[tolbs17]

Don't those problematic posts usually get deleted?

A lot of problematic threads just get locked without having the posts deleted.  See Alanland.

Question - Is there a link of where you can see all the deleted threads? I'm pretty sure they are all funny 

Only if you're a moderator. When we delete something (actually, moving it to a non-publicly-viewable forum so that posts can be restored if necessary) it's generally because leaving it publicly visible would invite disruption (e.g. posts pruned from a thread that are bringing the thread in a direction that's against the forum rules) or because someone posted something that either got them warned or would get them warned if the discussion continued off of it. A lot of it is mean-spirited arguing or racist or sexist. So tl:dr; no, they're not funny. If it's funny, we usually leave it up.

Like I did see about a thread about SSOWorld wanting to do something and another one about racism in the "General Highway Talk" board. Those have got deleted.

[kphoger]

Only if you're a moderator. When we delete something (actually, moving it to a non-publicly-viewable forum so that posts can be restored if necessary) it's because we don't want it to be seen. Generally, it's because leaving it publicly visible would invite disruption (e.g. posts pruned from a thread that are bringing the thread in a direction that's against the forum rules) or because someone posted something that either got them warned or would get them warned if the discussion continued off of it. A lot of it is politics or mean-spirited arguing, some of it is racist or sexist.

Huh...  I see now that the forum guidelines get "updated" every so often.  Didn't realize that.

« Last Edit: 09 July 2021, 20:16:03 by Scott5114 »

[Scott5114]

Only if you're a moderator. When we delete something (actually, moving it to a non-publicly-viewable forum so that posts can be restored if necessary) it's because we don't want it to be seen. Generally, it's because leaving it publicly visible would invite disruption (e.g. posts pruned from a thread that are bringing the thread in a direction that's against the forum rules) or because someone posted something that either got them warned or would get them warned if the discussion continued off of it. A lot of it is politics or mean-spirited arguing, some of it is racist or sexist.

Huh...  I see now that the forum guidelines get "updated" every so often.  Didn't realize that.

Yep, the moderators periodically have discussions about adjustments to the rules, and if there's consensus for a change, someone will edit that post to update it. This usually happens no more often than once or twice a year. We usually publicize new rules if we feel like they would be a surprise or they're a notable shift in how we run the forum. Most changes are just closing loopholes, adjusting wording to more accurately reflect how we enforce the rule, codifying things we already were enforcing (and that everyone would already expect to be enforced), or dropping rules that nobody has been enforcing and which didn't become a problem.

[Roadgeekteen]

Only if you're a moderator. When we delete something (actually, moving it to a non-publicly-viewable forum so that posts can be restored if necessary) it's because we don't want it to be seen. Generally, it's because leaving it publicly visible would invite disruption (e.g. posts pruned from a thread that are bringing the thread in a direction that's against the forum rules) or because someone posted something that either got them warned or would get them warned if the discussion continued off of it. A lot of it is politics or mean-spirited arguing, some of it is racist or sexist.

Huh...  I see now that the forum guidelines get "updated" every so often.  Didn't realize that.

Yep, the moderators periodically have discussions about adjustments to the rules, and if there's consensus for a change, someone will edit that post to update it. This usually happens no more often than once or twice a year. We usually publicize new rules if we feel like they would be a surprise or they're a notable shift in how we run the forum. Most changes are just closing loopholes, adjusting wording to more accurately reflect how we enforce the rule, codifying things we already were enforcing (and that everyone would already expect to be enforced), or dropping rules that nobody has been enforcing and which didn't become a problem.

If you don't mind telling: what former rules on the forum have been dropped? I'm quite curious.

[Scott5114]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

[tolbs17]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

[Scott5114]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

[tolbs17]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

Maybe if it's excessive?

[Scott5114]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

Maybe if it's excessive?

Then someone will try to argue what constitutes "excessive". Given that we don't really care whether anyone swears or not, it's best to just admit we don't give a shit and delete the rule.

[1]

There used to be a rule that you had to be 13 to join, and I believe someone even got banned for it. That rule was gone by the time I joined in 2013.

[tolbs17]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

Maybe if it's excessive?

Then someone will try to argue what constitutes "excessive". Given that we don't really care whether anyone swears or not, it's best to just admit we don't give a shit and delete the rule.

That's why I made that angry rant thread.

[kphoger]

Oh yeah, I guess we actually do care about excessive profanity after all...

[Roadgeekteen]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

Good fucking shit Scott, that rule was fucking stupid and I'm glad you fucking got rid of it.

[tolbs17]

There were a lot back at the beginning since the current mod team preferred a very different forum experience than the very first iteration of the forum provided. I don't even remember what all of the rules back then were. Most recently we dropped a rule against swearing that was in there despite nobody ever getting in trouble for swearing, and which none of the mods ever followed themselves.

Pointless cursing?

That's the one. How am I supposed to decide whether someone cursing is pointless or not?

Good fucking shit Scott, that rule was fucking stupid and I'm glad you fucking got rid of it.

If you are on City-Data, you cannot fucking swear on that forum cause that forum is too fucking strict!

[kphoger]

butt

heheheheh

i can say dirty words too

[hbelkins]

I think the phrase was "gratuitous use of profanity," and sure enough, it's no longer in the rules.

Back in my younger days, I had as foul of a mouth as anybody, but with age comes (or should come) wisdom, maturity, and discernment. To me, any use of profanity is gratuitous. Meaning it's unnecessary. If you're not literate enough to converse without cursing, well, I don't know what to say to you. There is absolutely no point that cannot be made without resorting to profanity. I'm not necessarily offended by it. I just don't think it's warranted.

I can accuse someone of being an illegitimate child who engages in sexual intercourse with their maternal parental unit and I can invite them to consume feces and assume room temperature, or call them a diety-cursed moron, without ever uttering a single curse word.

[Scott5114]

I think the phrase was "gratuitous use of profanity," and sure enough, it's no longer in the rules.

Back in my younger days, I had as foul of a mouth as anybody, but with age comes (or should come) wisdom, maturity, and discernment. To me, any use of profanity is gratuitous. Meaning it's unnecessary. If you're not literate enough to converse without cursing, well, I don't know what to say to you. There is absolutely no point that cannot be made without resorting to profanity. I'm not necessarily offended by it. I just don't think it's warranted.

I can accuse someone of being an illegitimate child who engages in sexual intercourse with their maternal parental unit and I can invite them to consume feces and assume room temperature, or call them a diety-cursed moron, without ever uttering a single curse word.

See, I've had the opposite experience. When I was younger, my parents strictly forbid profanity and I'd get spanked if I said so much as "damn". Then I grew up and realized they're just words, and, just like any other word, carry an unspoken connotation that sometimes makes it where choosing a swear word can communicate one's point with more precision than any other word. "That's very disgusting", "that's extremely disgusting", and "that's fucking disgusting" all communicate three very different levels of disgust by the speaker (and to me, at least, I read the first two as the speaker being less disgusted themselves and speaking in a more detached manner than the third). As someone who prides myself on my abilities with the written word, choosing to eliminate fucking from my vocabulary makes about as much sense as a painter eliminating orange from their palette would.

[hbelkins]

I think the phrase was "gratuitous use of profanity," and sure enough, it's no longer in the rules.

Back in my younger days, I had as foul of a mouth as anybody, but with age comes (or should come) wisdom, maturity, and discernment. To me, any use of profanity is gratuitous. Meaning it's unnecessary. If you're not literate enough to converse without cursing, well, I don't know what to say to you. There is absolutely no point that cannot be made without resorting to profanity. I'm not necessarily offended by it. I just don't think it's warranted.

I can accuse someone of being an illegitimate child who engages in sexual intercourse with their maternal parental unit and I can invite them to consume feces and assume room temperature, or call them a diety-cursed moron, without ever uttering a single curse word.

See, I've had the opposite experience. When I was younger, my parents strictly forbid profanity and I'd get spanked if I said so much as "damn". Then I grew up and realized they're just words, and, just like any other word, carry an unspoken connotation that sometimes makes it where choosing a swear word can communicate one's point with more precision than any other word. "That's very disgusting", "that's extremely disgusting", and "that's fucking disgusting" all communicate three very different levels of disgust by the speaker (and to me, at least, I read the first two as the speaker being less disgusted themselves and speaking in a more detached manner than the third). As someone who prides myself on my abilities with the written word, choosing to eliminate fucking from my vocabulary makes about as much sense as a painter eliminating orange from their palette would.

Part of my revelation came when I used to play a lot of basketball. I used a lot of profanity, dropped a lot of f-bombs, when I missed a shot, failed to grab a rebound, the other team scored, and basically at every opportunity when things didn't go well for me or the team on which I was playing. One day, a friend took me aside and noted that one of the people with whom we were playing was a minister. I didn't know that. I'm sure he was extremely offended and not at all happy to hear a constant flow of foul language rolling off my tongue like when Ralphie was beating up Scott Farkus. I don't remember if I apologized to him or not, but I made a mental note to behave myself better. Both my grandmothers would have been appalled at my use of such language, and my parents would have as well. It was also pointless for me to use such language.

It was a slow journey to cleaning up my language. One of the biographies I read about Johnny Cash when I was young made mention of the same process. My thought process now is that I don't want to use language that I wouldn't want my parents, grandparents, preachers or other very religious people, or others to hear me say.

I continue to be amazed at how casually people drop the f-bomb. I was in a meeting a few years ago where the presenter just used the word for no apparent reason. As I've said, I'm not offended by hearing the word, but I know that many people are. This guy didn't know his audience or who might not react well to just hearing that vulgarity used out of the blue. Turns out I wasn't alone. Several other people in the meeting later expressed agreement when I noted my opinion on the incident.

I know that my moral/political/societal beliefs are offensive to a lot of people (many of the forum members for sure, and most of the moderators should the truth be told). That doesn't bother me. I enjoy liberal outrage.  But even if my principles cause offense, I don't want my behavior to do so. So you will never hear me turn and say to someone else in a store checkout line, "I sure wish that cashier would hurry the fudge (only I didn't say fudge) up. What in the fudge is taking them so long?" It's disrespectful to anyone who might be in earshot who doesn't want to hear that language.