Censor, or don't censor?

Lately, there's been a small argument about censoring of the N word because it offends some black people. The admins say we need to censor, some users say there's no point and I just want a trial basis. So really, I'm going to let you users decide the correct course of action.

There are alot of offensive words that aren't censored, I don't see why this one is so special.

I don't see any black people here complaining about the use of the word.

We're all smart people here.

Huh, it's tied now....

Anyway, I vote for censoring it, but I don't think anyone here would say it.

There's no black people on the internet, remember guys? Look on ED.

Censor it - people who need to use that word for "shock humor" need to reevaluate their idea of what's funny.

Timmy wrote:

Censor it - people who need to use that word for "shock humor" need to reevaluate their idea of what's funny.

After a conversation, I have decided to change my vote.

We need to allow users to choose to be mature on this site, not force it upon them. So I vote for no censorship.

It's really not a big issue either way.

I don't think the censorship is necessary. I'm not a fan of censorship and I don't think the word will offend anyone. If it is being used to put someone down or be spammy, obviously the post would be deleted and the person banned.

As far as I see it, we're pretty relaxed here at the moment on such a level that we don't really need censors. I think everyone here is capable of using the forums properly, so I personally don't see a need for it right now. If someone comes on and tries to sneak around this tiny level of responsibility with some poorly attempted shock humour or whatever, I think they can be dealt with appropriately. Having forum-wide censors gets people arguing more in my experience, and for a forum of this size... I don't think that's worth it.

If a user were to come on and contact the mods/admins about being genuinely offended about something someone here has said, then maybe it should be considered. If someone feels uncomfortable here, then I'm sure things could be done, of course.

For now though, I think we might be getting picky with words and put briefly, that might not be so great.

I am an American citizen and it is my right to Free Speech. Any sort of censorship denies me that right and I will not tolerate that right being infringed on. A word is merely a word. It does not hold any power unless you give it power. This censorship is stupid, obscene, and completely arbitrary. No one is being offended by the words "Nigger", "Kike", "Gook" or any other word of that sort. If anything, I, AngryBanana, and maybe another person should be offended and we're not. This is completely useless to censor racial slurs.

Cencorship is very American, actually.

But yeah, I'm against it rah rah rah.

TheSilverGuitar wrote:

Cencorship is very American, actually.

I know this. It is very wrong. Very, very wrong. I hate the people who pervert my constitution for their own benefit...

And I hate racists who think they should have a right to use derogatory terms for no reasonable reason. ;)

Censorship causes blindness.

Dobio wrote:

And I hate racists who think they should have a right to use derogatory terms for no reasonable reason. ;)

Of course, and people using it in a racist manner will be banned. It's just when people use it to quote someone else or in a comical fashion (besides shock effect obviously and perhaps besides parody too), they should be allowed.

Lost_Chances wrote:

Dobio wrote:

And I hate racists who think they should have a right to use derogatory terms for no reasonable reason. ;)

Of course, and people using it in a racist manner will be banned. It's just when people use it to quote someone else or in a comical fashion (besides shock effect obviously and perhaps besides parody too), they should be allowed.

Really, typing n*gger or whatever instead of the actual word isn't really going to compromise the integrity of 'comic' humour.

I think it's pretty stupid that you have a use a racial slur in order to be funny, but maybe that's just my weird liberal ways.

Dobio wrote:

And I hate racists who think they should have a right to use derogatory terms for no reasonable reason. ;)

Voltaire once said something.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

As much as I hate racists, hate groups and whatnot, they have a right to free speech too. It saddens me that they have such unfounded prejudice and hatred towards other people, but they should have every right to say what they believe. Personal opinion should never influence what laws are made. Free speech is my right granted to me by the founding fathers and I will stand up for that right, even at the cost of being hated, humiliated, and made to look like an idiot.

Any form is censorship denies me of this right. This ban on racist words is wrong. I won't stand for it.

Meh, free speech, free smeech.

I don't agree on using the constitution as a way to enable ignorance. You can believe whatever the fuck you want, but I'm not going to start preaching free speech. Some idiots just shouldn't be allowed to say whatever they want.

Who cares, it's the internet.

Dobio wrote:

Meh, free speech, free smeech.

I don't agree on using the constitution as a way to enable ignorance. You can believe whatever the fuck you want, but I'm not going to start preaching free speech. Some idiots just shouldn't be allowed to say whatever they want.

Have you ever heard of the schoolyard rhyme "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" Words are simply words. They can't hurt you. They're nothing. Absolutely nothing unless you give them power. Let's say I start saying a random word. Let's call it "Imafukkenreturd". Now, I can go around saying this and none of you will even understand. You will all be confused. This word has absolutely no power, just like any word. It's completely pointless to censor words. It's stupid. Words are without power. It is only you the person who can give them any power.

RobotTaco wrote:

Dobio wrote:

Meh, free speech, free smeech.

I don't agree on using the constitution as a way to enable ignorance. You can believe whatever the fuck you want, but I'm not going to start preaching free speech. Some idiots just shouldn't be allowed to say whatever they want.

Have you ever heard of the schoolyard rhyme "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" Words are simply words. They can't hurt you. They're nothing. Absolutely nothing unless you give them power. Let's say I start saying a random word. Let's call it "Imafukkenreturd". Now, I can go around saying this and none of you will even understand. You will all be confused. This word has absolutely no power, just like any word. It's completely pointless to censor words. It's stupid. Words are without power. It is only you the person who can give them any power.

This is pretty much my opinion. There was a time when people used the term black person to designate black people, and it wasn't racist since it was just another way of designating the people according to the color of their skin. It's when you censor it that you give it power, because only then people associate it with a bad meaning. I'll ban anyone using it in racism, but it won't be because of the word, it'll be because of the meaning.

I reckon we should censor, no use angering anyone over a stupid term.

You may say that 'words are words' and they can't hurt you. But that doesn't mean it can't anger someone. It only takes one person to complain, then there is a debate, not to mention, when are we ever going to say the N word anyway on this forum?

Not being able to say racial slurs is only going to piss off people who use racial slurs in derogatory ways. It's not going to piss off people who make jokes.

That's my opinion on the subject.

The free speech argument and words are powerless is complete bullshit. Go run around shouting the N word in downtown Harlem and see how that argument goes over, champ.