Crunkologist

I'd like to propose that in addition to disallowing bad words like ****, **** and ****, that we disallow hurting others' feelings. If we're going to have a sanitary community, then there's no reason to stop at four letter words (or longer words like *****). We ought to go the next step and stop nasty talk that hurts people's feelings. After all, people come here to talk bikes... not get their feelings hurt!

Embued with the Christmas Sprit,
Crunksalot

mirona

To be honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. It's actually kinda amusing watching how creative people can get when they are trying to insult someone indirectly.

Then again, the name-calling is just childish. There have been a few incedents of that lately in the P&R forum. One specific example comes to mind and that's when another member was referred to as "gun boy". His sexual preference was questioned and his whole lifestyle was put down by an insulting member.

Like I said, it's amusing for me, but I'm just a third-party observer. I can't speak for those whom the comments are directed towards.

Rowan

Doesn't hurt me to insult people. Why should it hurt them?

DnvrFox

This whole internet/forum thing is simply electrons flying through wires and electromagnetic waves flying through space.

Very few of us actually know anyone else (I have met JohnE in CA, but that is about it).

We are simply keyboards and typing fingers!

So, why take any of it seriously? (And I admit I have been guilty of so doing)

It is just a pastime, treat it as such!

pitboss

Ah yes....sarcasm is the filling in the Twinkie of life.

norton

There seems to be a fine ever-changing line between what's considered to be creative insult humor ("Your Mother's so ugly...") & decidedly non-funny insulting insults ("You blankety-blank-blank ******!!!") What hurts one person's feelings brings about hearty laughter in another.

Personally, I try to emulate Garrison Keillor or Will Rogers in a deliberate effort NOT to hurt people's feelings. But this is a fascinating, diverse, large, world-wide (at least the English speaking part) forum. It contains all kinds. A beautiful thing.


It seems to me the present policies are working as well ass can be expected. If you see something you consider truly offensive, get after the offender directly, or, as a last resort, report it to the moderaters.
They seem to have the same standards as the C-Span moderaters, who very occasionly cut something really vile off the air.


By the way, Crunksalot, I really appreciated your historical data in the thread "What's up with the insurgents?" What if the major media routinely made such historical references in their daily stories? Naw...that would probably be Un-American.

roadfix

I'm tolerant. People need to insult me from time to time to get their point across my thick skull.

soda

Crunkologist: your post offended me. I'd like you to edit it please.
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Moral of the story is that you can't define "nasty talk". What I think is okay is most certainly different than what you think is okay. Best to let members police themselves and not get management involved with the gray areas. Plus, this is a very active board and to have the moderators read every post that is made is just not possible. Don't misunderstand me though. I understand the gist of your post and agree that blatant insults are no fun. But I have to admit that I love creative insulting. The blatant outright insults are so easy to come up with and most 10 year olds can do just as good but it's when the other person really has no idea they're being insulted that amuses me. Bottom line is that you need thick skin to post on a board.

Crunkologist

If we can't define nasty talk... then why isn't the filter against words like ****, ****, mother****er and ***** optional? After all... people just resort to f uck, sh1t, motherf*cker, and b1tch. Know what I mean?

soda

Yes, I agree that certain words are easy to define but I was talking more about the insults. I think that is where it gets a bit gray.

Prosody

Speak for yourself! I happen to type with my toes.

Rowan

And exactly who is going to determine whether statement is an insult? I don't mean brainless name-calling using obscenities. I mean the really good takedowns that after all make the boring subject of cyclings so entertaining at a place such as Bike Forums. The takedowns that are close to the truth...

I mean, to us Australians, Americans are so easy to pick on because you take yourselves so seriously. Like the New Yorkers. And like DnvrFox, especially when he was setting up that useless over-50s fourm.

You don't know whether we are winding you up... or not. And that's a LOT of a fun from over here. Hell, the hate email that Hitchy has received and the bleating to the mods about *his* posts would fill a couple of screens here.

Without those useful insults and takedowns, how are we going to protect BF from those annoying little subscribers who join up then ask some inane questions or worse, troll?

No, sorry, cutting out the insults and statements that make people feel bad about themselves is not an option.

Rowan

Of course, there also has been a sleight of hand here. I notice that the MOVED: prefix has now disappeared from threads that have been moved. This one, the 3/5 one to Politics, The Aussie Thread (whcih has been moved so often, no-one would care anyway)... hmmm.

Transparent or not? You decide.

jazzy_cyclist

I try not to take cyberspace too personally. But I think you do make a point: it's one thing when 53-11 makes a boast (does anyone deny that he is "asking for it"), but another when newer folks get on to discuss their bike and people tell them their "wheels are junk", etc. It's just kind of tactless is all.

DnvrFox

DnvrFox

Darn! And I like you and that wonderful Aussie thread so much!

boyze

Seems like American culture has swung to a point where everyone is offended at something. A few recents threads had lots of the overly sensitive in a tizzy when in fact when the alarmists posts were ignored, although amusing, there was some good discussion going on. What happened to good old debate and harmless put downs in the name of making a point A little thick skin and an open mind makes for a good conversation

MsVicki

Fixer, you are such a.....a........a........nope, I just can't do it.


I guess my skin is pretty thin. If I am insulted, I just remove myself from the offensive situation. I don't mind debate, but I don't like harsh words and name-calling. That's one of the reasons I stay away from some of the forums here. If I posted my honest opinion on something, and someone posted a reply calling me a stupid ***** and telling me to get my head out of the clouds and come back to reality, I would probably just leave Bikeforums and search for other forums to read each day. So there you have it..... if you ever wanna get rid of MsVicki on Bikeforums, call me a ***** or a ****er or a ***** or a *****, and I will go away.

norton

MsVicki!! You have to stay, if only for your avatar!!

Rowan

norton

MsVicki A Southern humorous Grade School Teacher 'Fess up! Your real name is Bailey White, isn't it? I my grade school teachers...the Miss Paine sisters, Mrs Ahrens, Miss Parks, stern 3rd grade teacher-principal....If you finished your schoolwork up quick & neat you could go to the library & read ANY book you wanted! How about that!!


Now, MsVicki , You know us Bad Boys need your Guiding Light & Helping Hand real bad, so your not going away, are you?

WorldWind

Why should the burning in our legs be any greater than the burning in our souls?
Can the frozen gale of another rider ever cut as deep as nature’s winter knife?
Is not our pact to hold our line and not waver as a group but drop our fellows at every chance?

Rowan

Ummm... maybe a sense of humour should be included in there, too. If you can laugh at yourself, you should be entitled to laugh at others.

Prosody

I type just like this, though my toes are much more agile.

For what it's worth, Bikeforums is much more civil than any other cyber forum, bulletin board, or listserv I've ever frequented. Some people, when posting on cyber forums, are similar to vehicular pinheads (I resemble that remark) who shout at cyclists they pass--too cowardly to stand face to face with someone and say the same things.

531Aussie

I actually feel very strongly about people insulting or abusing complete strangers, because we can never know the full impact our words can have on those we know nothing about. How can we assume we know the emotional state of everyone on the forum? We mustn't generalise from our own experiences: just because we might know what does and does not offends us, our family, our friends and all our collegues, doesn't mean we know what does and doesn't offend everyone in the western world.

Unfortunately, I have some experience with a couple of relatives suffering mental health problems, and there are times when the slightest thing can 'set them off' for a prolonged stay in the "resting hostipal".

Anyway, whatever.........I was gunna write half a page, but I hope I've made my point.