NationStates Jolt Archive

Personally I don't care either way about the term. However, some posters consider it highly insulting and others are rather clearly using it as flamebait. Certain insulting terms here are clearly defined as being flames or flamebait. Seeing as some posters are using USAian in such a manner, might it be a good idea to at least suggest that such inflamatory usage be toned down?

I was gonna come in here and defend the usage because, you, know, it's just not derogatory, but then I realised how silly it is for people to get upset about this, that I feel there is no point to make it clear to the mods.

It has been stated by a number of posters that they dislike USian, do not consider themselves USian, and consider the continued usage to be annoying and knowingly insulting.
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11185113&postcount=54
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11185116&postcount=55
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11185062&postcount=38
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11184885&postcount=13


I think my opinion on this has been pretty consistently clear, especially since those using it have made it perfectly clear that they know it is upsetting to a number of posters, and know it is perceived as insulting. There are also those who never fail to take a shot while defending their position. Examples: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11179382&postcount=22
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11185207&postcount=84
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11184883&postcount=12


However, I would prefer others of the moderation team to weigh in on this one.

I was gonna come in here and defend the usage because, you, know, it's just not deragatory, but then I realised how silly it is for people to get upset about this, that I feel there is no point to make it clear to the mods.

This is not the place to debate this. You are not a mod and I clearly asked for the opinion of the moderators. Kindly refrain.

I think my opinion on this has been pretty consistently clear, especially since those using it have made it perfectly clear that they know it is upsetting to a number of posters and continue to use it regardless. However, I would prefer others of the moderation team to weigh in on this one.

Actually, I wasn't aware any mods had made a public opinion on this (hence the thread). As you say, it's being used in an inflamatory manner, which fits the definition of flamebait AFAIK.

It's really simple folks, when the thread author is Moderation wants only Moderator opinions, and when you aren't a Moderator, don't post. It might have been vague with the thread title, but was made painfully clear in post 4. Continuing to post is spam. And furthermore, everyone who posted in here knows better. Behave already.

Now then, the phrase "USians" irritates me, mostly because it's fucking stupid, and completely ignores the method of nation name construction. It would be like calling people from France "Republicans". After all, they're the Republic of France. Hell, just look at how countries are made on nationstates: The Title of Name. "United States" is a title, not a name.

To say nothing of the horrible contortions your mouth would have to go through to pronounce "USian".

Nevertheless, this isn't about my personal opinion. This is actually a rather complicated matter of potential flamebaiting. In general, if somebody wants to show their idiocy by using "USian", that's fine by me. The Moderators aren't here to keep you from making a fool of yourself. The potential problem crops up when it's being used specifically to piss someone off. Then it could be viewed as flamebait.

Now, I don't know the mores of General when it comes to specifics like that, so I would leave that to Moderators who do. Personally, I would tend to ignore it. We don't bring down the hammer when one person uses, say, "commie" on another player, so I assume that the same standard applies here.

Of course, if people take this as carte blanche to be assholes with it, we can easily change this ad hoc rule.

The Most Glorious Hack
NationStates Game Moderator

And given that some have already cashed the carte blanche before it was even issued... well, the people involved should have a pretty good idea who they are. They probably don't, though, because they think they're right and therefore any assumption of even the slightest responsibility on their part would appear irrational. Nevertheless, they will have to take more care in the future to take the feelings of even damned dirty infidels into consideration lest we get involved.

--Scolo der Mod
Cursing the learning concerning When Prophecy Fails, and the scientific evidence that people can't think rationally when they're emotionally involved in political issues, since three years ago.