Forum Rule Reminder: Swearing
Aug 27, 2024 11:13:36 GMT -5
Slightdapple, 🍄🎶✨Brambleheart✨🎶🍄, and 5 more like this
Post by Sand on Aug 27, 2024 11:13:36 GMT -5
I'd like to touch base on swearing as we've noticed that there's more of it recently than in the past. As everyone should know by now, we do not allow an excess amount of swearing due to ProBoards' Terms of Service (section 18). Everything must fall under the PG-13 rule that PB has and we must abide by this rule. If you want to go a step further, you can read their Community Guidelines.
Here's what we allow when it comes to swearing within PB's Terms of Service:
Here's what PB says about swearing in their TOS:
Or if you'd like a shorter answer from Scott, a ProBoards Support admin:
Here's what we allow when it comes to swearing within PB's Terms of Service:
- Language
- Swearing generally permitted*.
- * shit, damn, ass, hell, et cetera allowed. f-"bombs" not. Not to be used directly at people.
Here's what PB says about swearing in their TOS:
18. OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT
You represent and warrant that you shall not use the Website or Services to upload, post, transmit, display, perform or distribute any content, information or materials that: (a) are libelous, defamatory, abusive, or threatening, excessively violent, harassing, obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or ****ographic; (b') constitute child ****ography; (c) solicit personal information from or exploit in a sexual or violent manner anyone under the age of 18; (d) incite, encourage or threaten physical harm against another; (e) promote or glorify racial intolerance, use hate and/or racist terms, or signify hate towards any person or group of people; (f) glamorize the use of hard core illegal substances and drugs; (g) violate any provision of this Agreement or any other ProBoards agreement or policy, including without limitation ProBoards' Community Guidelines; or (h) is generally offensive or in bad taste, as determined by ProBoards (collectively, "Objectionable Content"). PROBOARDS DISCLAIMS ANY PERCEIVED, IMPLIED OR ACTUAL DUTY TO MONITOR THE CONTENTS OF THE WEBSITE AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREON. Without limiting any of its other remedies, ProBoards reserves the right to terminate Your use of the Website and Services or Your uploading, posting, transmission, display, performance or distribution of Objectionable Content. ProBoards, in its sole discretion, may delete any Objectionable Content from its servers. ProBoards intends to cooperate fully with any law enforcement officials or agencies in the investigation of any violation of this Agreement or of any applicable laws.
You represent and warrant that you shall not use the Website or Services to upload, post, transmit, display, perform or distribute any content, information or materials that: (a) are libelous, defamatory, abusive, or threatening, excessively violent, harassing, obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or ****ographic; (b') constitute child ****ography; (c) solicit personal information from or exploit in a sexual or violent manner anyone under the age of 18; (d) incite, encourage or threaten physical harm against another; (e) promote or glorify racial intolerance, use hate and/or racist terms, or signify hate towards any person or group of people; (f) glamorize the use of hard core illegal substances and drugs; (g) violate any provision of this Agreement or any other ProBoards agreement or policy, including without limitation ProBoards' Community Guidelines; or (h) is generally offensive or in bad taste, as determined by ProBoards (collectively, "Objectionable Content"). PROBOARDS DISCLAIMS ANY PERCEIVED, IMPLIED OR ACTUAL DUTY TO MONITOR THE CONTENTS OF THE WEBSITE AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREON. Without limiting any of its other remedies, ProBoards reserves the right to terminate Your use of the Website and Services or Your uploading, posting, transmission, display, performance or distribution of Objectionable Content. ProBoards, in its sole discretion, may delete any Objectionable Content from its servers. ProBoards intends to cooperate fully with any law enforcement officials or agencies in the investigation of any violation of this Agreement or of any applicable laws.
Or if you'd like a shorter answer from Scott, a ProBoards Support admin:
The short answer:
The use of 'swearing' is subjective based on the forum and it's community - with the exception being the intended use.
The long answer:
One man's ceiling is another man's floor. Or in other words, what may be offensive to some is not to others. For example let's take a look at two different forums. One is a spiritual based forum and the other a rap/hip-hop forum.
On the spiritual forum it would be expected that the use of foul language would be inherently offensive to most members - due to the nature of the forum and its community. The occasional swear word used for emphasis may be tolerated if it's the exception and not the norm.
On the rap/hip-hop forum discussions mirror popular lyrics and culture and so post conversations that contain swearing would be the norm and not the exception. The foul language is part of the members' vernacular and so members would not be offended. Thus it's acceptable.
And of course there are the forums that lie in between and as in the case of the examples above, what is tolerated is dictated by the members. However, to clarify, the forum Admin does have the final say on how they want their forum to run and what they feel is acceptable as long as it's within the Terms of Service.
The absolute prohibited use of foul language is when it's defamatory, abusive, or threatening, excessively violent, harassing, obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or ****ographic. If it falls under the "Objectionable Content" portion of our Terms of Service, then no.
The use of 'swearing' is subjective based on the forum and it's community - with the exception being the intended use.
The long answer:
One man's ceiling is another man's floor. Or in other words, what may be offensive to some is not to others. For example let's take a look at two different forums. One is a spiritual based forum and the other a rap/hip-hop forum.
On the spiritual forum it would be expected that the use of foul language would be inherently offensive to most members - due to the nature of the forum and its community. The occasional swear word used for emphasis may be tolerated if it's the exception and not the norm.
On the rap/hip-hop forum discussions mirror popular lyrics and culture and so post conversations that contain swearing would be the norm and not the exception. The foul language is part of the members' vernacular and so members would not be offended. Thus it's acceptable.
And of course there are the forums that lie in between and as in the case of the examples above, what is tolerated is dictated by the members. However, to clarify, the forum Admin does have the final say on how they want their forum to run and what they feel is acceptable as long as it's within the Terms of Service.
The absolute prohibited use of foul language is when it's defamatory, abusive, or threatening, excessively violent, harassing, obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or ****ographic. If it falls under the "Objectionable Content" portion of our Terms of Service, then no.
