Why does RPN censor the N-word?

[Doc]

Just as the title says. Why? I mean... I can say any other 'curse.' I suppose I'm just gonna be told it's to avoid racism. But it's still odd censorship in a place made for writers. Any type of censorship is annoying to me. But in some cases I can understand. Like the whole no sex play thing. I get that. Law and stuff. But this I don't get. I was just hoping someone could enlighten me on the exact reasons why we censor this 'bad word.' Or any. I heard the other F word was also censored as well. It confuses me as to why in a place of expression such as this one, 'bad words' are censored. 


I know it's censored because I've tried it, and was told I was ignorant. lol Nice. I would go on a rant about how someones use of bad words is no measure of their intelligence, but that's for another thread. Thanks. 


(And to anyone who's gonna jump in and say, I'm white so I shouldn't be saying that word anyway. I'm black and Hispanic. Not that it should matter, since I think anyone should be able to use whatever words they want, but I'm sure someone will try to come at me with that argument. It's happened before.)


DOC IS NOT MAD, OR LOOKING FOR A FIGHT!!! HE IS JUST ASKING A QUESTION!!!

 

[eclipsa]

It's because it's a racial slur. A majority of slurs are censored.

 

[AshuraaHunter]

Well, it is a racial slur. They don't want you offending other people behind the screen that might be of a different race, even though you are black. It might even apply to roleplays, but I see less harm using it there. The Boondocks never censored the word since most of the characters were black and using it in a different context.

 

[Bacon is fluffy]

Well I would avoid using slurs to not have the talk with an easily triggered person,but if it's part of an in character dialogue and you think your character will be more believable because of it, then use a less known slur. I can think of 2 or 3 words that are less used but all have the same sort or connotation. Although again, I wouldn't do it unless I was roleplaying with people who could take it.


There's a time and place for everything. So instead of getting mad about it or trying to preempt what people say, why don't you tackle it calmly. I've been in your shoes and was annoyed for different reasons on this site before. Getting all frustrated didn't help me and I'm sure as hell it won't help you. Not here and not in life with your friends, family and your peers.

 

[Dusky]

It's not the only word we censor. Our distinction between curse words and the words we censor is that the words we censor are slurs - words that are used in a derogatory way to insult and dehumanize minority groups. We do understand that many groups use these words among each other in an affectionate and friendly way, and I for one fully support the idea of reclaiming language that has been used to oppress you. However, RPN is not the place for that. We're here to roleplay, and while the censor can get in the way of, for example, a colorful dialogue from an ethnic character or general truth in fiction, we gain much more than we lose by ensuring that all users on RPN feel safe and accepted.

 

[Doc]

So instead of getting mad about it or trying to preempt what people say, why don't you tackle it calmly. I've been in your shoes and was annoyed for different reasons on this site before. Getting all frustrated didn't help me and I'm sure as hell it won't help you. Not here and not in life with your friends, family and your peers.

I'm not mad though... Do I seem mad? I'm really just curious. lol

 

[Dusky]

Also, fuck is not censored. c; You can fuckin' curse the shit to next Tuesday, long as you aren't pulling slurs out your ass.

 

[JujuBee]

I literally just had this question not too long ago. They don't believe it should be used on here and I can tell you now that they have no intentions of changing that. It's just something we have to deal with.
​

 

[kibou]

I think he meant the other f word, but we dont actually censor that.


I checked a few days ago 

 

[Doc]

@Anomaly I meant the other one. I'm uncultured.got. Or at least I was told it was censored. Never checked myself. 

 

[Dusky]

Regardless...

It's not the only word we censor. Our distinction between curse words and the words we censor is that the words we censor are slurs - words that are used in a derogatory way to insult and dehumanize minority groups. We do understand that many groups use these words among each other in an affectionate and friendly way, and I for one fully support the idea of reclaiming language that has been used to oppress you. However, RPN is not the place for that. We're here to roleplay, and while the censor can get in the way of, for example, a colorful dialogue from an ethnic character or general truth in fiction, we gain much more than we lose by ensuring that all users on RPN feel safe and accepted.

 

[Doc]

I should probably add that I'm not upset, to the first post. People are getting the wrong idea. lol  I was just asking for a reason, not a fight. xD

 

[King Ad Rock]

Here's something I wondered. Is the entire concept of it's use banned? Like let's say you censored yourself in a RP with a character who used the positive colloquial version of it but you always typed ******. From context clues you would be able to guess the word, but nobody has to read the word and feel offended. Is that crossing the line? I only do medieval fantasy RP's anyways so I'd never attempt this, but this has always crossed my mind with the censorship of the word.


Because I have no problem with the site not wanting us to type that word for others to read but banning its concept I feel is too much. It's like saying you can't have an atheist character because it offends religious people.

Edit: Probably not the best comparison when I think about it, but you get the idea.

 

[Bacon is fluffy]

I'm not mad though... Do I seem mad? I'm really just curious. lol

Generally preempting people before they have a chance to respond, carries a connotation of you bringing baggage into the topic. As long as you understand, then everything is cool.

 

[Dusky]

Here's something I wondered. Is the entire concept of it's use banned? Like let's say you censored yourself in a RP with a character who used the positive colloquial version of it but you always typed ******. From context clues you would be able to guess the word, but nobody has to read the word and feel offended. Is that crossing the line? I only do medieval fantasy RP's anyways so I'd never attempt this, but this has always crossed my mind with the censorship of the word.


Because I have no problem with the site not wanting us to type that word for others to read but banning its concept I feel is too much. It's like saying you can't have an atheist character because it offends religious people.

Edit: Probably not the best comparison when I think about it, but you get the idea.

So this is fine, but things like using a couple of the letters to make it clear what you are saying is considered filter evasion and breaks site rules. As long as it's straight up asterisks or @#%%%@ gibberish, it's fine.

 

[King Ad Rock]

So this is fine, but things like using a couple of the letters to make it clear what you are saying is considered filter evasion and breaks site rules. As long as it's straight up asterisks or @#%%%@ gibberish, it's fine.

Oh wow, that's actually cool. I'm all for that.

 

 

[Doc]

Generally preempting people before they have a chance to respond, carries a connotation of you bringing baggage into the topic. As long as you understand, then everything is cool.

Ah. Well I just wanted to get that out of the way. I've been on the internet long enough and talked to enough people, with the N-word being a word I use in my vocabulary occasionally, that hit me with "You're not black, so you can't use that word." That situation has a whole bunch wrong with it, but for this it's just that I didn't want to have someone try to use that argument here, when I'm just trying to hear an answer and some opinions. 

 

[Lady Warlock]

things like using a couple of the letters to make it clear what you are saying is considered filter evasion and breaks site rules.

Just because I don't remember seeing anything about filters or racial slurs anywhere in the site rules, would you mind pointing out where in the rules one would find this section? I've looked and I see nothing. I'm not sure if I'm missing something or if it isn't explicitly mentioned in the rules. 

 

[The Dark Wizard]

Just because I don't remember seeing anything about filters or racial slurs anywhere in the site rules, would you mind pointing out where in the rules one would find this section? I've looked and I see nothing. I'm not sure if I'm missing something or if it isn't explicitly mentioned in the rules. 

The rules were a collection of several threads made into one and they delinked on the update. 


Just take our word for it, we aren't making this stuff up. We will be updating the formatting and even tweaking some of the rules in the foreseeable future when the other admins and I have time to meet up again.

 

[Lady Warlock]

The rules were a collection of several threads made into one and they delinked on the update. 


Just take our word for it, we aren't making this stuff up. We will be updating the formatting and even tweaking some of the rules in the foreseeable future when the other admins and I have time to meet up again.

Ok. 


I just don't think it's fair for people - especially new people who didn't see all the links - to be held liable to rule they cannot see, especially considering not everyone sees these question threads about these particular things.  

 

[The Dark Wizard]

Ok. 


I just don't think it's fair for people - especially new people who didn't see all the links - to be held liable to rule they cannot see. 

Sure it is. When you make your account on the site, you are still agreeing to the most basic of terms of service that every site has.

 

[Lady Warlock]

Sure it is. When you make your account on the site, you are still agreeing to the most basic of terms of service that every site has.

I'm on other sites where I can use two of the words I know to be censored on this site so I don't think this topic in particular would be a basic term of service to know not to use these terms. I don't know all the words that are censored, but they're certainly not censored on every site on the internet. 

 

[The Dark Wizard]

I'm on other sites where I can use two of the words I know to be censored on this site so I don't think this topic in particular would be a basic term of service to know not to use these terms. I don't know all the words that are censored, but they're certainly not censored on every site on the internet. 

Our terms of service where ever they are located include a link to all the rules. I doubt any terms of service includes a ban on words.

 

[Lady Warlock]

Our terms of service where ever they are located include a link to all the rules. I doubt any terms of service includes a ban on words.

Currently, the site rules say nothing about not being allowed to use ** on racial slurs and posting them. Neither have I ever seen that in any term of service I've ever read for other sites (I can't find the ones for this site to double check at the moment, though). So how, without reading these exact threads, is a new member supposed to know they can't do that?  

 

[Pine]

Currently, the site rules say nothing about not being allowed to use ** on racial slurs and posting them. Neither have I ever seen that in any term of service I've ever read for other sites (I can't find the ones for this site to double check at the moment, though). So how, without reading these exact threads, is a new member supposed to know they can't do that?  

The fact that the site has a filter for those specific words should be indication enough that they are unwanted on the forums. Regardless, that's what courtesy warnings are designed to do: bring attention to the rule in question, explain it in case the user didn't know/missed it, etc. with no real consequences attached. The rules are written so that they can account for many different situations. If the site were to attempt to list out every single gray area-esque scenario, the rules page would get very long very fast.