I want my geeky kid to read in here

[Frisco]

Hello, I love this Android forum setup very much; great software at the site for forums, fine moderators, etc. One problem:

Extreme profanity, even in some user names here ("buggus diccus," etc).

We're not prudes in our family, but we do discourage our kids (13, 16 and 17) from using and immersing themselves in profanity.

If this is an "adult" site, there should be a warning on the opening page. If it is not, I request that moderators contact those using profanity in the forums, and in their user names.

 

[KlaymenDK]

The forum guidelines already do draw a hard line with use of profanity (and even rudeness), but naturally the resources for enforcement are limited.

You can do your part by reporting posts containing bad language and/or bad form. Doing that really eases the work load of the admins, allowing them more efficient use of their time.

Profanity in user names is surprising, really -- the admins should consider force-renaming those. Again, report them, and the admins will take action as they can.

That said, I don't consider your example to be "extreme" profanity, it really sounds more juvenile. (I could think of worse! )

 

[3devious]

I agree with KlaymenDK. The moderators and admins are fairly responsive. There are guidelines that we all agree to when registering for this site and that is that notice that you were requesting, Frisco. If there is something that offends your sensibilities, report it. If your objection has merit, the issue will be dealt with. If it still hasn't been resolved to your satisfaction, you may have to find another community that better suits your needs.

The site staff seems to put real effort into keeping things pretty sanitized without being oppressive but keep in mind that no one is paying for this site, the mods are not paid to keep people in line. I doubt that the site owner is making a profit from this community. Please do your part in helping this community be the kind of community you want to participate in. We are gaining a lot of knowledge for very little in return (not being a complete jerk and not clogging up the site with repeated questions or spam.)

 

[Phases]

What they said. ^

I do understand where you're coming from. In the past we've been far more strict on language. For a long time. I was against all foul language. I begrudgingly eventually caved to reality and slacked up - it's way too hard to police and well... it's just sorta the society we live in these days.

Also, please understand we get 3-4k posts every day, and that number is growing. It would be rough on our human and server resources to filter it all.

So. So long as it's not directed *at* someone or being in-your-face-crazy we tend to just let it go. If people want to pollute their posts it's on them, to an extent (We do curb the outrageously superfluous). If it IS too much, just report it. If it needs toning down or a PM to the user, the mods will do it.

With that said.. If we get enough of a member base asking to have it all cleaned up and policed, policy change *is* always possible. We're here for the community. And believe it or not (despite how we may have talked on Tea Time ) I do prefer a cleaner environment for the forums. So a slew of people asking to curb it completely would personally be welcomed. (I spent a lot of time here looking at reported posts - and do have 12 year old kids around me I have to watch out for.)

It IS explained in the rules thread that is shown to members when they sign up, as well. Basically says cursing is okay so long as you're not aiming it rudely at someone. (And if people ask you to calm down, respect that.) It's up to moderator discretion. For now I suggest you just ask your kids to look past what they see/hear.. not only here but everywhere else around them. I do understand if, until a policy change takes place, you choose to keep them out of AF.

As for foul usernames. I agree some things need to be changed. The particular one you mentioned (that's a play on a Monty Python movie btw) well, I'll think on it at some point. I gotta take care of some stuff but wanted to post a quick reply on here. Not a well thought out reply - so don't kill me if it seems all over the place or is riddled with mistakes.

http://androidforums.com/introductions/704-site-rules-guidelines.html

http://androidforums.com/site-updat...ff-changes-infraction-system-other-stuff.html

 

[Frisco]

That said, I don't consider your example to be "extreme" profanity, it really sounds more juvenile. (I could think of worse! )

I typed it wrong on purpose. It is not "bugus." The second letter is an i.

Anyway, thank you for taking the trouble to respond to my post.

 

[Caddyman]

i am glad the staff uses a certain level of discretion and gives SOME leeway in reference to this stuff.

not letting things get super crazy is one thing but over moderating is worse IMO.

Please don't turn this site into hofo, that is just NO FUN.

I am permanently, IP, forever and ever banned on hofo for sticking up for a friend who was banned. Pumbaa was a legend in the nextel world for his hardware mods, he made a thread on hofo titled something like "my new @$$ kickin case"

he got banned, flat out, with no warning, and a whole slew of us from another forum started a huge stink over it, me being the loudest, and we all got banned....i shall never return there.

 

[Frisco]

i am glad the staff uses a certain level of discretion and gives SOME leeway in reference to this stuff.

not letting things get super crazy is one thing but over moderating is worse IMO.

Please don't turn this site into hofo, that is just NO FUN.

I am permanently, IP, forever and ever banned on hofo for sticking up for a friend who was banned. Pumbaa was a legend in the nextel world for his hardware mods, he made a thread on hofo titled something like "my new @$$ kickin case"

he got banned, flat out, with no warning, and a whole slew of us from another forum started a huge stink over it, me being the loudest, and we all got banned....i shall never return there.

I wonder what "hofo" is.

Anyway, I will need to steer my kids to another Android forums, there are a couple I like, mainly the one at HTC Droid Eris Forum - HTC Droid Eris Forum - Index. I guess the system here is fine for the vast majority, but I'm beginning to get the feeling that it's just a tad too much in the direction of foul language for our household.

I'll probably migrate over there more often myself as well, but I admit that I joined here first so it's going to have to be gradual.

 

[IOWA]

I typed it wrong on purpose. It is not "bugus." The second letter is an i.

Anyway, thank you for taking the trouble to respond to my post.

Still seems more juvenile than severe to me.

 

[Frisco]

Still seems more juvenile than severe to me.

I think so, too.. it's iffy, know what I mean?

But I ran it, and some other language and user names I've seen here at this site, by the admin at another site I am interested in (and have joined, like many here I noticed) and was told that "no way would that be allowed here."

I like this place too much to just go off on the admins here, etc; I respect them and the moderators for what they've built here. However I'm just making choices similar to ones I've made about the schools we send our kids to, etc. Plus I've asked my two oldest about this and their responses are that they'd be much more comfortable not seeing that stuff at a site where they want information about cell phones.

 

[Caddyman]

Well i think all anyone can say is good luck.

Being an adult, and my kids are too young to really be online (yet) i judge forums on lots of factors seeing that i run several forums myself.

#1 factor is size and information. These go hand in hand. The more people on the site the better your chances of getting good info cause bad info can and will often be debated or corrected by another member "in the know"

#2 staff friendliness and effectiveness. If the staff is no where to be seen, and not just for moderating but just keeping the site clean, it gets on my nerves.

#3 look and style. I like a good looking site, it says volumes about it's owners, and more a personal thing, i hate dark colored forums and sites.

One of my favorite sites i visit daily is based on cell phones but it is more a flamer forum, no holds barred, flame anyone you want as bad as you want. I could go there and tell the admin to diaf and he would laugh at me. Maybe that is crazy but that is how i keep my sanity being nice on all the other sites i visit and own/run.

 

[3devious]

I like this place too much to just go off on the admins here, etc; I respect them and the moderators for what they've built here. However I'm just making choices similar to ones I've made about the schools we send our kids to, etc. Plus I've asked my two oldest about this and their responses are that they'd be much more comfortable not seeing that stuff at a site where they want information about cell phones.

I want to join in wishing you luck. Your post was very respectful and evenhanded. I hope your kids grow up with similar temperments.

Don't be a stranger because you're definitely the kind of person that makes this environment so appealing. I'm gonna stick around because my only complaint about this messageboard is the size of the initial page and loadtimes occasionally. I would probably declare war on everything if I were looking at it on a phone.

 

[IOWA]

I think so, too.. it's iffy, know what I mean?

But I ran it, and some other language and user names I've seen here at this site, by the admin at another site I am interested in (and have joined, like many here I noticed) and was told that "no way would that be allowed here."

I like this place too much to just go off on the admins here, etc; I respect them and the moderators for what they've built here. However I'm just making choices similar to ones I've made about the schools we send our kids to, etc. Plus I've asked my two oldest about this and their responses are that they'd be much more comfortable not seeing that stuff at a site where they want information about cell phones.

I'm somewhat inclined to agree with you. To me it would depend on the age of your children. 13 and up, I feel should be exposed to this stuff, albeit gradually, they need to be exposed to the uglies of the world. The word isnt what it used to be. It is ugly, profane, and just mean. They need to develop coping mechanisms for these things early on, as it is harder to adjust when your older. And would your rather let strangers show them no holds barred, or you guide them through it all walking them through it with support and care. And I'm by no means a psychologist, or a parental advisor, I am though, a realist. And I understand the parental instinct is to protect your children to the utmost, and its admiral, but sometimes they just need to fall down to learn to pick themselves up. And I hate to inform you, but even at the best schools,( I went to a 12k a year catholic hs), the information about sex, drugs, and rock n rollq(I had to say it) is still there. That being said, I do believe the mods do an excellent job in keeping up with things, and every request for information or reported post I have received a response rather quickly, and I commend them on a job well done. I have seen boards like the above mentioned flame fests, and I beleieve the people here for the most part are pretty level headed. I hope this helps, and be sure to visit us, the more the merrier. Good luckm