Profanity -- Abbreviated and pseudo-profanity out of control

[Charles L. Cotton]

The Moderators are having to edit an increasing number of posts with abbreviated or pseudo-profanity. I believe it's largely from new members who probably didn't read the rules.

I have to post this warning every few weeks, but it seems to be having less effect as time goes on. If this trend continues, we'll be forced to adopt a new policy of suspending the registration of people who violate this rule, either through lack of knowledge (because they didn't read the rules) or refusal to follow the rules.

We need your help folks. Our Moderators put a lot of time into this forum and this is the biggest single problem.

Thanks,
Chas.

[MoJo]

Charles, have you considered posting the rules at the top of each page? Stopping Power does this, there is little argument about not knowing the rules or, where to find them there.

[WildBill]

Charles - I am surprised at your patience. I consider all members duly warned - if they don't read and obey the rules, that shouldn't be your problem. If I were in charge I would not edit these posts - the delete key is much quicker and more decisive. If their entire post disappeared, maybe they would spend some extra time choosing more appropriate words.

[Jeff B.]

Charles - I am surprised at your patience. I consider all members duly warned - if they don't read and obey the rules, that shouldn't be your problem... If their entire post disappeared, maybe they would spend some extra time choosing more appropriate words.

Amen! There is no need for profane, derogatory or insulting language, period. Not just on this fine site, but in life in general. If more folks took a line like Charles has, possibly we'd have a more civil society.

Jeff B.

(Although I try to live by the above rule, I am still working on it. All I can say is, I'm making progress!)

[Skiprr]

Charles:

I don't know how much good it would do, but one option might be to customize the FAQs (linked automatically at the top of each page) to include some TXCHLForum-specific items that display at the top of the standard phpBB info. It does nothing to improve attention or compliance but it would at least provide a common spot on every page where folks could click if they want to read the information.

I could take a go at doing this for you this weekend, if you want.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I think I'm going to post the Profanity Rule as a global announcement. That too may not help, but at least it will be at the top of every sub-forum. I'm also going to amend the registration agreement to include the forum rules, or I may replace it completely.

Just to put the problem in perspective, my rough estimate is that 80% to 90% of the Moderators' workload is dealing with abbreviated/pseudo profanity. (All other issues such as commercial posts, post in wrong sub-forum, over-sized signature line photos, etc. take very little time.) Profanity rule violations require editing the post, sending a PM to the member explaining what was done, then making a post in the Moderator Forum so the other Moderators will be able to identify repeat offenders. The only reason we do all of this is to avoid having to delete a post entirely, which would obviously be much easier. We've threatened to do this a few times and we have on rare occasions with habitual offenders, but we've never adopted it as a regular operating procedure.

Unfortunately, our restraint has been rewarded with more work. Except for the very few repeat offenders, I believe these rule violations are not intentional, but we can't force people to read the rules. Hopefully, putting it on every page will help. If it doesn't, we will have to start deleting posts and just hitting the "warning" button on the Moderator Control Panel. Repeat offenders will have their registrations suspended for a period of time.

Chas.

[KC5AV]

Since Moderators have the ability to edit posts, just leave a message in the post that has been edited:

Enjoy your vacation. See you in 3 days.

Then, ban them for 3 days (first offense). It's been hashed and rehashed enough that everyone should get the message. If they don't read the stickies, they can only blame themselves. Just my opinion.

[chewy555]

Charles, I want to say Thank You for all that you and the other moderators do for this forum. I dont know how you all have lasted this long with this problem. I know that the rules that you set up for the forum are one of the biggest reasons that I joined the forum. I have been on other gun forums, but I dont use them anymore.
Again, Thank You to Charles and the rest of the moderators.

[longhorn_92]

Charles - I am surprised at your patience. I consider all members duly warned - if they don't read and obey the rules, that shouldn't be your problem... If their entire post disappeared, maybe they would spend some extra time choosing more appropriate words.

Amen! There is no need for profane, derogatory or insulting language, period. Not just on this fine site, but in life in general. If more folks took a line like Charles has, possibly we'd have a more civil society.

Jeff B.

(Although I try to live by the above rule, I am still working on it. All I can say is, I'm making progress!)

I second that Amen!

Our society today has deemed it acceptable to use profane language in just about anything. You see it on daily television, everyday language - it is getting out of control!

[rm9792]

Try working with 19 grizzled old union workers all day, I am immersed in profanity all day long. It tends to seep in and you dont even notice you are using it.

[Liberty]

Try working with 19 grizzled old union workers all day, I am immersed in profanity all day long. It tends to seep in and you dont even notice you are using it.

Most veterans learned and used colorful language also. What may be offensive to one person is poetry to another, but there isn't any excuse for not respecting the host when one visits. If one visits Charles' home or his website, a guest should always remember that s/he is a guest and should make every effort to respect any of his host's rules.

Because of this, even though I prefer to refer to my favorite beast of burden with a three letter word. Out of respect for the host I will use the longer and more difficult to spell, but less offensive "donkey". No one is offended and It's really only another three letters afterall.

[jimlongley]

Try working with 19 grizzled old union workers all day, I am immersed in profanity all day long. It tends to seep in and you dont even notice you are using it.

Most veterans learned and used colorful language also. What may be offensive to one person is poetry to another, but there isn't any excuse for not respecting the host when one visits. If one visits Charles' home or his website, a guest should always remember that s/he is a guest and should make every effort to respect any of his host's rules.

Because of this, even though I prefer to refer to my favorite beast of burden with a three letter word. Out of respect for the host I will use the longer and more difficult to spell, but less offensive "donkey". No one is offended and It's really only another three letters afterall.

You could always opt for Onager or hinney.

A bunch of years ago, also working in a primarily foul mouthed environment, I was dispatched to a radio station to repair one of their special assembly phones, and as I struggled to fix it one of the springs jumped out and bounced merrily across the floor, and I addressed it in the manner that I would have in the shop - ON THE AIR!!!

Just glad the FCC wasn't listening just then.

[KBCraig]

Try working with 19 grizzled old union workers all day, I am immersed in profanity all day long.

Most veterans learned and used colorful language also.

I'm an Army veteran, and I've worked in a prison for 16 years. Top that!

[Keith B]

I'm an Army veteran, and I've worked in a prison for 16 years. Top that!

I don't want to and you can't make me!!

[DoubleJ]

I worked with a surgeon that oft could make an entire sentence consisting entirely of the F-word.
it, my friends, was a thing of beauty.