NationStates Jolt Archive

I see that the title of Der Furer Dyszel's thread on wanting to try a p***s for a day was changed.

Isn't that just a bit extreme? I mean, in today's society, the word isn't even considered inappropriate for "polite" society. Several of my own children have taught their little boys to call their male member by that name, for crying out loud!

I'm not trying to criticise or second guess you, but I would like to know the reasoning behind this. It just seems a bit over the top to me. :(

I see that the title of Der Furer Dyszel's thread on wanting to try a p***s for a day was changed.

Isn't that just a bit extreme? I mean, in today's society, the word isn't even considered inappropriate for "polite" society. Several of my own children have taught their little boys to call their male member by that name, for crying out loud!

I'm not trying to criticise or second guess you, but I would like to know the reasoning behind this. It just seems a bit over the top to me. :(

This ought to be in Moderation if it's an actual complaint about moderator action.

You know it is an excellent point actually. Are we really so puritanical that we can't say PENIS. What else can't I say? Small intestine?

You know it is an excellent point actually. Are we really so puritanical that we can't say PENIS. What else can't I say? Small intestine?I know, especially all the different words for various sections of our bodies. We have only one word for "liver". Why do we need 800 for "frontal gynecomastial swelling"? ;)

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

I know, especially all the different words for various sections of our bodies. We have only one word for "liver". Why do we need 800 for "frontal gynecomastial swelling"? ;)

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

We tend to have more words for that which is visible. Schnoz, nose, honker, etc.

This ought to be in Moderation if it's an actual complaint about moderator action.
It's not. I'm just curious as to what their reasoning was.

We tend to have more words for that which is visible. Schnoz, nose, honker, etc.Certain parts of the body are not all too visible.

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

It's not. I'm just curious as to what their reasoning was.Curiousity as to what our reasoning is still belongs in "Moderation". :p Hence, iMove http://assets.jolt.co.uk/forums/images/icons/icon2.gif "Moderation".

I am not the Moderator who handled this case. I will need to speak with the Moderator who did.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation

Curiousity as to what our reasoning is still belongs in "Moderation". :p Hence, iMove http://assets.jolt.co.uk/forums/images/icons/icon2.gif "Moderation".

I am not the Moderator who handled this case. I will need to speak with the Moderator who did.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
Thanks, Gog. You're a trooper! :)

Isn't that just a bit extreme? I mean, in today's society, the word isn't even considered inappropriate for "polite" society. Several of my own children have taught their little boys to call their male member by that name, for crying out loud!




I told my sons they can use the word pecker,weiner or whatever.They're still young. I dont see them ever needing to discuss a penis in polite conversation.
I hate kids that think its now a topic of discussion simply because they use the correct term. If they have some penis issue to discuss with me, I dont want to hear that word. the only other adult they would ever need to discuss it with is a doctor and I would be there anyway.

iSplit (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=421431).

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
NationStates Game Moderator

...

Thanks, Gog. You're a trooper! :)First, I should think not; I'd be cruxified in boot camp.

Second, that's a new variation on my name. :p

--The Jovial States of Cogitation
NationStates Self-Proclaimed Court Jester

I told my sons they can use the word pecker,weiner or whatever.They're still young. I dont see them ever needing to discuss a penis in polite conversation.
I hate kids that think its now a topic of discussion simply because they use the correct term. If they have some penis issue to discuss with me, I dont want to hear that word. the only other adult they would ever need to discuss it with is a doctor and I would be there anyway.

Why wouldn't the human anatomy be a topic of discussion? Are you that ashamed of your crotch?

I told my sons they can use the word pecker,weiner or whatever.They're still young. I dont see them ever needing to discuss a penis in polite conversation.
I hate kids that think its now a topic of discussion simply because they use the correct term. If they have some penis issue to discuss with me, I dont want to hear that word. the only other adult they would ever need to discuss it with is a doctor and I would be there anyway.
We are not advertising whole sail discussion in polite company here
I personally would rather my kid use the correct term WHEN the discussion time comes then use made up words like that just to avoid using correct terminology

I think we should encourage children to talk about their penis in a polite way, instead if the joking, attempting to be shocking way that they end up talking about it.

I can't find the word. :(

I can't find the word. :(
What do you mean?

Penis is not an offensive word. It is the medical term for the male reproductive organ. I don't see how it can be judged offensive. It is the correct term for indentifying that part on the male human body. I can think of a lot worse terms that could have been substituted for that word.

I changed it simply because it would appear on the 'most recent' threads and parents and teachers tend to be quite fussy about these things. So no swear words or anything in titles, please.

So what do we call a penis if we're not allowed to use the medical term, which, in fact, is penis?

"Swear word." Puritanism makes me sick.

Nobody is censoring "penis" except in thread titles, which carry across to the main site and reflect on Max Barry. You want total freedom of speech, host your own site.

Nobody is censoring "penis" except in thread titles, which carry across to the main site and reflect on Max Barry. You want total freedom of speech, host your own site.

I understand your point and I might do the same in your situation, but I think it's unfortunate that you have to worry that someone might be offended by the word penis. I think it says something sad about the society we all share.

I understand your point and I might do the same in your situation, but I think it's unfortunate that you have to worry that someone might be offended by the word penis.

It really has nothing to do with being offended. Would you really want your 8, 9 or 10 year old son or daughter learning what a penis is by playing NationStates through their school doing an assignment on her through the education form of play?

Nobody is censoring "penis" except in thread titles, which carry across to the main site and reflect on Max Barry. You want total freedom of speech, host your own site.

I am aware that what Max Says goes (even though there are European laws that need to be considered, as jolt is in the UK), that does not mean I have to agree with it.

Penis is not a swear word. Saying that it is is like claiming that "arm" is a swear word. I guess I just don't like having to conform to an increasingly American standard of social puritanism where sexual organs are something to be ashamed of to such a degree that even the medical terms for them are something to be embarrased about and from which "children" need to be "protected" (which children by the way - American ones or European ones or Australian ones - not all of us have cultures where we are ashamed of teaching our children proper words or to be embarrased about their natural anatomy).

"Won't somebody please think of the children!?" - Karen Lovejoy got it so right.

It really has nothing to do with being offended. Would you really want your 8, 9 or 10 year old son or daughter learning what a penis is by playing NationStates through their school doing an assignment on her through the education form of play?

If one's child doesn't know what a penis is by the age of 8-10, one should seriously either question their language development or one's own failure at parenting.

I changed it simply because it would appear on the 'most recent' threads and parents and teachers tend to be quite fussy about these things. So no swear words or anything in titles, please.

Although I can see your point, I must admit that such concerns are trivial. If anyone gets offended by "swear words" (which is fucking bollocks, if you ask me), then the term penis must rank below:
willie
knob
dick
babies' arm holding an apple
todger
bald-headed man
hooligan
trouser snake
sausage
wanker
fuck-stick et cetera.

Where do words become offensieve? Where do we draw the line? Am I banned for saying "fuck-stick"? This is actually a matter that needs some definite regulation.

I am aware that what Max Says goes (even though there are European laws that need to be considered, as jolt is in the UK), that does not mean I have to agree with it.

Penis is not a swear word. Saying that it is is like claiming that "arm" is a swear word. I guess I just don't like having to conform to an increasingly American standard of social puritanism where sexual organs are something to be ashamed of to such a degree that even the medical terms for them are something to be embarrased about and from which "children" need to be "protected" (which children by the way - American ones or European ones or Australian ones - not all of us have cultures where we are ashamed of teaching our children proper words or to be embarrased about their natural anatomy).

"Won't somebody please think of the children!?" - Karen Lovejoy got it so right.
As much as I agree with you, Fass, you have to take in consideration, that there are people who think that even medical terms of sexual organs can be offensive. These people could see such a thread and object to this site. I don't believe Max likes people calling his website perverted. The moderators have to take all of the players into consideration when making their decisions.

My goodness, making a mountain out of molehill, people!

Use your common sense. We simply don't want swear words or words that might give parents and school administrators fits in the TITLES of threads, because those may appear in the Forum titles on our splash page. Use them inside the threads when and where appropriate, and in a non-flaming, non-trolling manner.

And you're right. Max's site has Max's rules. We'd like you to stay here as long as you respect them. You're also free to explore the rest of Jolts' forums -- and forums all across the internet -- to express yourself more fully if and when you feel it necessary.

My goodness, making a mountain out of molehill, people!

Use your common sense. We simply don't want swear words or words that might give parents and school administrators fits in the TITLES of threads, because those may appear in the Forum titles on our splash page. Use them inside the threads when and where appropriate, and in a non-flaming, non-trolling manner.

Ah, but you see, school administrators or parents here don't have fits about things like these (especially not about the word "penis"!). So whose children are "we" protecting? Which schools' inane policies are the rest of us being forced to respect?

And you're right. Max's site has Max's rules. We'd like you to stay here as long as you respect them. You're also free to explore the rest of Jolts' forums -- and forums all across the internet -- to express yourself more fully if and when you feel it necessary.

Of course, and that is quite the point - banning words like "penis" in headlines here, apart from its inherent ridiculousness, is pointless in "protecting" children - especially as they can access posts and see a lot worse things in them.

Ah, but you see, school administrators or parents here don't have fits about things like these (especially not about the word "penis"!). So whose children are "we" protecting? Which schools' inane policies are the rest of us being forced to respect?

I agree. In my school, teachers saying "shit" is not as uncommon as you would think, and the majority don't mind the occasional profane utterance from pupils. (As long as you don't call them a "fucking stupid baldy bastard)

Ah, but you see, school administrators or parents here don't have fits about things like these (especially not about the word "penis"!).

You don't know what type of complaints about things are filed in NationStates by parents or administrators, so, speculating isn't really helping your cause to highlight censorship.

You don't know what type of complaints about things are filed in NationStates by parents or administrators, so, speculating isn't really helping your cause to highlight censorship.

I don't know what complaints they get, but that is irrelevant. I don't know what sort of things people get offended at in certain places in the world - it is thus very hard for me to avoid offending them. That is why I ask whose children and sensitivities we are supposed to be forced to respect. Is "bum" (as in buttocks/ass) allowed, but not "penis"? Buttocks, or ass, too? How about "urethra"?

Before I read this thread, I had no idea that "penis" was either offensive or some sort of "swear word" - it isn't in my cultural context, where the urogenital organs are not stricken with some sort of stigma.

How am I supposed to know what sort of anatomical words are "offensive" or not? How on Earth am I supposed to know what school officials/puritanical busybodies in some other country (suspectedly in the US) have fits about? Why force me to have to keep track of that?

The mods here often like to trot out the tired old "you have no right not to be offended" here when I report posts where people argue for the genocide of gay people, but then turn around to censor "penis"! It is clear that what is "offensive" and causes "fits" is quite different where I live from where the mods seem to live. Either that, or they have some really weird priorities when it comes to what should be censored.

You don't know what type of complaints about things are filed in NationStates by parents or administrators, so, speculating isn't really helping your cause to highlight censorship.

No, but common sense suggests that only say 1% of people would be offended by the word penis.

I will say it again. We need to sit down and decide what is and is not acceptable language. Then put it in the etiquette section of the FAQ.

I will say it again. We need to sit down and decide what is and is not acceptable language. Then put it in the etiquette section of the FAQ.
How many of George Carlin's 2,443 Dirty Words (http://www.georgecarlin.com/dirty/2443.html) do we need to reference? Should we make a list? What about combinatons? Do we have to analyze 2443! possible choices?

Fass, The Noble Men, your objection is noted and denied. If you want a topic on morality in language, open one in General. This one is closed.

Ah, but you see, school administrators or parents here don't have fits about things like these (especially not about the word "penis"!).
I actually did receive a complaint from a school just a few days ago about, uh, "controversial" words appearing in "Latest Threads." (Namely, "Are you an asshole?") They're using NationStates in their classes, and it's not good if the kids go home and tell their parents what the teacher showed them that day. That would lead to no more NationStates in schools pretty quick.

Ideally I'd like our code to auto-censor all potentially offensive thread titles before showing them in "Latest Threads", and am consulting with teachers to see if this works for them, or if we need to block the whole list or what.