Language announcement

[mysticwicks]

Not to treat everyone like children but we need to really watch the use of explicit language in our posts. There are younger members and their parents may not appreciate them being exposed to this language. Sure they can find it anywhere but this place should be an exception. I am not saying not to express your opinions pationately, just avoid the use of certain really vulgar words, particularly those beginning with F or GD. Those can be offensive to many members. Perhaps if you feel you need to use the language then spell all or part of it with $^#&#&. That should get the point across well enough.

If you have posted something that may be considered offensive you may have been asked to edit it. Please do not feel you are being singled out. Thank you all for your cooperation and for making Mysticwicks what it is today!

[EasternPriest]

Yes, please remeber the user agreement you ok'd when you registered:

Registration to this forum is free! We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below

By clicking the Agree button, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

[Armitage]

Apologies if I'm one of em. I know I can get a little potty-mouthed sometimes and not notice. ^_^;

[Sephiroth]

Originally posted by Armitage
Apologies if I'm one of em. I know I can get a little potty-mouthed sometimes and not notice. ^_^;


yes me sorry to because i dont catch my self doing it. wen i do it

[Wyrdsister]

Great point to bring up. All hail the MysticWicks staff!! :)

Wyrdsister

[Illuminatus]

Long Live Censorship!

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Long Live Censorship!

It's not censorship. It's common courtesy, and you did freely agree to the rules when you became a member. Noone coerced you to do it.

[Tigerwallah]

Censorship is when an idea is suppressed. You can get across the same idea without using offensive language. I agree with Eastern Priest. This is not censorship.

[Illuminatus]

Sure it is. Someone steps out of line, they get banned. It's no different than erasing a post, which I'm sure has also happened.

One of my views is free, uninhibited, and unregulated speech. So, I am voicing that here and now, in a civil and appropriate manner. I may not like your guidelines, but I'll abide.

Actually, this brings up a new issue - Aren't there a lot of topics that are being avoided because of the minors present? I mean, some discussions I have had with people (in real life, not the forum) have been really heavy, touching on some really mature topics - satanic witchcraft, sacrafices, sex magic...

Why not change the disclaimer, informing minors that there might be some inappropriate content here, and anyone under 18 shouldn't be here (they'll come in anyway, everyone lies about their online age). Thus opening up these new and interesting discussions. If nothing else, it will serve to educate on the truth (or mistruth) spread by rumors and myths I've heard.

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Sure it is. Someone steps out of line, they get banned

In a free association of individuals, there are rules of conduct. Everyone, yourself included, freely agrees to them as part of participation in the forum.

If you want a website without rules, you are free, as is anyone else, to start your own. That is what the guarantee of freedom speech is all about.

[Sephiroth]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Sure it is. Someone steps out of line, they get banned.

hey i steped out of line about 3 times now and i wasnt bad i was warned but not band

[mol]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Sure it is. Someone steps out of line, they get banned. It's no different than erasing a post, which I'm sure has also happened.

One of my views is free, uninhibited, and unregulated speech. So, I am voicing that here and now, in a civil and appropriate manner. I may not like your guidelines, but I'll abide.

Actually, this brings up a new issue - Aren't there a lot of topics that are being avoided because of the minors present? I mean, some discussions I have had with people (in real life, not the forum) have been really heavy, touching on some really mature topics - satanic witchcraft, sacrafices, sex magic...

Why not change the disclaimer, informing minors that there might be some inappropriate content here, and anyone under 18 shouldn't be here (they'll come in anyway, everyone lies about their online age). Thus opening up these new and interesting discussions. If nothing else, it will serve to educate on the truth (or mistruth) spread by rumors and myths I've heard.

Your opinion is noted.

We have discussed the topics you listed. We did it without using inappropriate language as well. (Well, most of the time.) Im not closing this board off to younger Pagans. I dont want to make people have to lie about their age.

And if RULES are abided by..no one gets banned. Period.

Oh, and I believe in free, unregulated speech as well. I also believe in courtesy (look it up sometime) and thats why the rules are in place, plain and simple. And they are not changing.

[Myst]

One thing I cannot take is someone going "oh poor me, I'm being oppressed!!" just because they are asked not to use certain language.

It is not impossible to communicate concepts without cuss words, and doing so demonstrates respect to those who are not comfortable with those words. You agreed when you joined to show that respect, and that is that.

If you considered it censorship you shouldn't have registered.

I completely agree that these rules that have been agreed to should be followed - whether through the fact that it's common courtesy or the fact that they were agreed to.

[Yvonne Belisle]

The only people I have seen banned from this site and there have been very few of them used the site to attack other members. They did this via the boards and pms and they were repeatedly warned by Mol and the moderators that they needed to reevaluate what they were doing. Mol did everything he could to keep them here rather than ban them even if his choice to give them more chances was unpopular. As a moderator I can say that we have been asked not to delete or edit anothers post if it is very offensive we are to move them to staff where a group disision is made. The request that you edit yourself is not cencership If one has so little intellect that they can not find another way to say things or to even simply use F^&% or F*** then they are a pretty pittiful individual. It is a matter of mutual respect have enough respect for others that you disagree in a mature manner rather than a childish one.

[ladyrowan]

Why do people see a request not to use bad language as censorship?

I would have thought that it was just plain good manners!

BB

[Yvonne Belisle]

As members we are asked to do so few things. We are asked to curb our language so that parents are not upset by finding their children reading it. We are asked not to discriminate against others be it race religion sex or sexual preference. And we are asked not to use the board to send spam or harrass another member. I do not see how any of these things in any way shape or form consist of cencership. This is a big community and disagreeing is encouraged when it's kept civil and still we have times that are a problem thankfully we try. I for one do not think that we are being asked too much after all my son's preschool class had more rules and fewer people.

[bluecat]

I personally don't see why a person would have to resort to using foul language to get their point across. It seems to be a rather lazy way to send a message and certainly attracts attention to the speaker or the writer. That attention overshadows the message that may exist and people remember the poor use of language instead of what was said.

Swearing is not a sign of adulthood nor maturity and it is not really an acceptable form of communication. For that matter it is not really a form of communication at all, beyond communicating the author's need for attention.

Just my opinion.

Blue

[Tigerwallah]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
As members we are asked to do so few things. We are asked to curb our language so that parents are not upset by finding their children reading it. We are asked not to discriminate against others be it race religion sex or sexual preference. And we are asked not to use the board to send spam or harrass another member. I do not see how any of these things in any way shape or form consist of cencership. This is a big community and disagreeing is encouraged when it's kept civil and still we have times that are a problem thankfully we try. I for one do not think that we are being asked too much after all my son's preschool class had more rules and fewer people.

Well put Yvonne.

Look, I for one, am a huge supporter of the First Amendment to the Constitution, as well as being very militant about my rights. I feel, however, that I am free to express my opinions in this community, however unpopular they may be, if I am curtious while doing so. This includes following the rules of the community and also using common sense and curtiosy for my fellow members. PERIOD. If you want to use foul language do it where it is more appropriate or do not spell out the entire word.

[Armitage]

I agree it is courtesy as well...I have no problem with foul language, use it myself, but only when circumstances are appropriate. And i don't rely on it as a crutch for a small vocabulary, which seems the only reason someone would *have* to use foul language here.

[Tanna]

while i completely agree with you all, let's not beat it to death with a stick, shall we? when you start heading towards a dollar's worth, two cents it can get to be quite painful;)