Users who use foul language

How do you handle posts that contain foul language that isn't exactly warranted? Not in the forum of a personal attack, but simply using language such as f*** and such.

It doesn't really bother me until somebody brings it up or reports it. I'm not sure how to react in order to please the upset reader without upsetting the original poster by censoring their post. What are your thoughts?

 

We have two words censored now which are f*** and c***, we have done this so we dont get parents being unhappy about the content, the members are pretty accepting of this with only a few who were a little disgruntled at first but they got over it. After all it only guarantees their parents wont prevent them from visiting which is good.

 

What would you suggest for a forum that isn't child- or teen-oriented? One with mature adults, though some slip and use inappropriate language?

 

I don't have censors in place on my forum. If I see a big increase of the f* word I remind everyone that it may be a little too much. It doesn't stop it, but the usage goes down a lot.

 

Just ask people not to use certain words.

I mean honestly, mature adults should be pretty accepting of this request without needing to cry "CENSORSHIP" all the time.

 

I would just censor them me, it is your forum and if you prefer to keep the community as clean as possible, censor em out, anyone who has a problem with censorship measures are clearly immature and just looking for anything to moan about.

 

the f word and c word are censored on our forums, one cause the other admin is offended by the swearing, and the other cause there are a lot of younger members

 

The only word that is censored on my forum is Obama....j/k :p

Honestly, I don't have an issue the occasional four letter cuss word but I don't care for over use of such words.

 

Well, I think there is just 4 words in the swear filter as of right now...
F, B, A, C...
Never had it filter out a messgae before...the members are just mature...the few that still post.
I did note it in the rules
"We have a swear filter but currently don't use it. Please don't make us turn it on..."

 

This is why I'm in a predicament. I personally don't mind the language too much, but the members do, and report the posts. I don't like having to censor the words (manually by editing the post), but I also don't like displeasing the readers who are concerned/disappointed enough to report the post in the first place.

 

If I use a censor, my members would go out of their way to get around it and they can. I will use an example and please pardon my french, but I'd like to show how it can be avoided.
shit <- By doing that, it avoids the censor.

 

For the most part, we're a forum full of gamers who are mature enough to know that the words we type on a forum aren't going to do too much damage (if any at all). Unless it is a serious personal attack, or someone is just trying to run up the site with idiocy via foul language, I don't mind it.

Some truly inappropriate words are censored however.

 

We have no filter.

In my experience, given the context and use...I'll edit if I feel its really unnecessary. When ppl report or call out that they have an issue about it in public, I'll have some extra scrutiny. I look more at its usage. Nothing more.

My moderation only has one level.....void of derogatory usage and/or senseless spam.

If someone is using curse words in a snippy, snarkey manner, then its pretty much useless. Meaning credibility of the speaker is just gone.

It's still not an easy task.

 

I simply censor the words, so it comes up as f*** and my members are happy with that. There isn't over kill on the use of bad words any way, and I dont think any one has had a problem with it, and if they have, I don't know about it. I make myself open for members to approach me with anything they may have a issue with.

 

That's how I do it on my forums.

 

Thanks for sharing your policies. I'm still at a loss as to how I should handle my particular situation, though. :shrug:

 

We have a Zero swearing policy on all our forums..( area's viewed by the public)

Our forums are also heavily used by the public as they are trade advice forums and keeping a clean forum attracts members to post and not be intimidated by foul lanuage and also as we take sponsors onboard it needs to be clean as to appeal to new sponsors..

We have hidden area's out of the public gaze and these are more relaxed for the regular members...

 

Exactly why I moderate language on my forums. IMO, this is important for any forum, business or not, but especially those who take on sponsors/advertisers.

 

Simple - remove the words, its not hard.

F*** and c*** have no place on a forum, they are completely unnecessary. You can make any point without resorting to crudeness.

Oh and yes, I have reported several.

 

In passionate, emotional discussion where someone is clearly in distressed or upsetand used in the right context I allow it since my site is for mature audiences and intelligent discussion anyway.

However if swearing is used willy nilly for no reason I see this as a lack of intelligence and a poor vocab ......

I would give the member an infraction kindly asking them to read through the rules and tone it down though not without fair warning in advance one warning is enough for everyone but make it official firm but fair is the key and there's never any reason to be rude

Rick