'Baby talk' in chat

[Omni]

So yeah, it's gotten to the point where the chat looks like Gaia online half of the time. That's why I put the word filters in. Really at the time it was just an interim measure but increasingly I'm feeling like keeping them in (with some less extreme replacements ).

I want the chat box, as I've said before, to be a welcoming place where nobody feels uncomfortable. It's a middle ground. That's why, on one side, I ban gross jokes, rape jokes, trans jokes etc. A lot of people would say that's being overly sensitive. Those people are welcome to tell bad taste jokes over Skype or whatever. Hell, in my free time I tell incredibly bad taste jokes! But not in the chat box.

I know that a lot of people look at the chat box, see all the baby talk and cringe. I know I do and other members have said they also get out of the chat when it's "cuddle time". Here and there isn't bad, it's just really uncomfortable when the chatbox is completely filled with it and I know it turns new members off.

If you guys disagree strongly or want to voice alternate measures of changing this, here is the place to do so. Just thought I'd make a place rather than simply explaining in chat again <_<

Before we blow this out of proportion: I've banned two words: 'h-uggle' and 'g-lomp', and I've added a line to the OOC rules asking people to avoid excessive baby-talk in the chatbox.

Still welcoming all opinions. I just wanted to reiterate what this discussion is about.

[Guu]

It's just, Rape jokes, trans jokes, those are mocking peoples suffering and that's why they are wrong. And gross out humor has the issue of making people sick and the perverse humor makes this site unfriendly to younger audiences. These I understand.

But banning terms relating to affection... I know we do it a lot but, this seems more born out of intolerance than anything.

[Caira Ayryn]

When I first found out I thought I was being hacked, which freaked me out majorly. Then I felt a little violated because there was no warning. Other than that im okay with it now.

[Red]

I take great joy in the alterations. Solid job, Greg.

[The Grey Man]

I think the one for "nuzzle" is my favorite.

Edit: nope nope nope, that's not gonna work. Horses do that as a verb, as well as other things. If these are gonna affect the forums, they need to be fixed on the grounds of being able to choose words in non-"uncomfortable" writing contexts.

[Guu]

I'm sorry if I'm objecting a lot to this a lot. It's just this was how I showed people I care about affection, I just didn't think people hated it that much. It was kind of a blow.


(The irony you've replaced them with gross out humor and violence, though)

[Omni]

It's just, Rape jokes, trans jokes, those are mocking peoples suffering and that's why they are wrong. And gross out humor has the issue of making people sick and the perverse humor makes this site unfriendly to younger audiences. These I understand.

But banning terms relating to affection... I know we do it a lot but, this seems more born out of intolerance than anything.

You could say the same about any kind of intolerance, it's just the opposite end of the scale. If a couple is eating their faces in a public place, and you tell them to get a room, is that intolerance/censorship? I guess in a way? But the chatbox needs some regulation. If someone wants to rant about something potentially divisive and controversial I will often tell them the chatbox isn't the place.

In the context of those jokes, often times they are just jokes and not intended to offend anyone. But they might. That's censorship, straight up, and I've been told so by people who think I'm the next coming of Hitler. Sure, they're right, it's censorship. Buuut it has reasons.

[Okor]

I find this incredibly amusing, and I no longer have to flee the cbox with a horde of anime characters hugging my heels. I approve whole-heartedly!

[Omni]

(The irony you've replaced them with gross out humor and violence, though)

So yeah, it's gotten to the point where the chat looks like Gaia online half of the time. That's why I put the word filters in. Really at the time it was just an interim measure but increasingly I'm feeling like keeping them in (with some less extreme replacements ).

I already changed one of them. Violence though? >_>

[Darth Vader]

I find this incredibly amusing, and I no longer have to flee the cbox with a horde of anime characters hugging my heels. I approve whole-heartedly!

Pretty much.

I feel like a lot of people did go a bit far with the whole "chat cuddle hug friendship" role-play, to the point where it was literally all that was being done and seen, so I'm glad to see these changes have been put into effect.

[The Grey Man]

Reiterating: Omni, I implore you to please fix n-uzzle and s-nuggle, they're both real words with a good handful of potential uses in RPs--and no, I'm not even counting the obvious 'character-interaction' applications.

Behold, just one example:
'the bunker was cramped, and its vent was tiny, so Grey had to really s-nuggle up to it to get a half-decent view'

h-uggle and gl0mp lack this utility, though, so I can't really say anything to defend them.

Edit: thank you for fixing them lol

[Guu]

I'm sorry for the reaction it's just I didn't know any of this was happening. Aside from a few jokes from Tartaros and Okor, I had no indication that people had such a problem with it. I literally had no idea up until the executive order came out along with throngs of supporters for the notion.

I'm sorry, it's just the revelation kind hurt a lot and now I'm questioning what other of my actions people have a problem with and aren't telling me.

Again, I'm sorry, I won't bother you guys about it anymore.

[Red]

I can't speak for everyone, but I dont necessarily have a huge problem with it. I do find it annoying sometimes though, and I think that's why Greg is trying to get a grip on it. If some of us members find it slightly irritating then chances are prospective might as well, thus keeping them from possibly joining.

[Mami Tomoe]

I'm fine with it, but if other people aren't, that's cool too - We all have boundaries when it comes to what we find comfortable and what we don't. If the chatbox was real-life interaction, I'd probably take a completely different stance on things, but as it is, it's just text on a screen, so I can handle it. Ultimately, if it's making people run from the chatbox when it happens, I say go ahead and don't allow it, because I like everybody on the site, so I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to talk with anyone. (I would respond to the 'baby talk' with more because I figured it was accepting and semi-respectful to do so, not to mention I was under the implication we weren't being 100% serious, but the general consensus seems to be that's not the case.)

But if we're complaining about word choice... I've had bad experiences with the kinds of people who say 'cringe' and 'cringeworthy' (Namely the 'fuck off and go kill yourself' kinds of experiences). Why not just say it looks silly or distasteful, or that it's not the way we want to represent the site? Then again, this is a personal complaint.

I'm sorry for the reaction it's just I didn't know any of this was happening. Aside from a few jokes from Tartaros and Okor, I had no indication that people had such a problem with it. I literally had no idea up until the executive order came out along with throngs of supporters for the notion.

I'm sorry, it's just the revelation kind hurt a lot and now I'm questioning what other of my actions people have a problem with and aren't telling me.

Again, I'm sorry, I won't bother you guys about it anymore.

I'm also gonna say that I saw this and thought something similar, minus the 'Aside from a few jokes from Tartaros and Okor' part. We're nothing without communication - If you're annoyed by something, nobody's going to know unless you say something about it, especially when it comes to the Internet since people can't pick up on social cues or gestures or the like. Though I admit I'm often guilty of the very thing I'm complaining about right now. *Sigh*

That is all. So, in other words, making this sort of stuff against the rules or whatever's fine, but 'cringe' and 'cringeworthy' are gross words. Gross, gross, gross. Ech. Also, if-something-is-annoying-then-say-something-about-it. Like feedback on someone's writing but for the chatbox. In fact, we should have one of those.

[The Dreamer]

Restricting the overuse of these words in the Chatbox is one thing, and while i dont necessarily see the need for it as I see the chatbox to as a place to have fun and run wild with conversation, we are restricting the word(s) use on the forums itself as well? What purpose does that really have?

Most would not be used in the scope of a roleplay post, and outside of here and there posts that might include them in the ooc discussions, anything spammy use of them would be just that, spam.

And if a group wanted to have a serious discussion about the topic without others interrupting them with cutesy things, then why would they not move it to a dedicated topic where the tone of the conversation could be set and only those who would like to consent to the tone and conversation would be restricted by it. Essentially why restrict a public chat space to a select set of 'tones' when it's essentially public and for the use of all and all conversation types.

(This is all in reference to the cutesy cuddle hug language. I totally agree with the restriction of jokes about rape, trangenders, etc.)

Also, i the vein of the chat box being a place for all to converse, should it not be looked at similar to how you would speak with other in real life? If you wished to have a conversation with everyone about whatever the group wishes to speak about, then you would stay in the central group (The chatbox) but if you an a few other wished to have a separate conversation about another topic and not every part in the large group was interested, you would not have that conversation in the same place while all other parties continued talking, you would move to another spot where you and yours could talk about your chosen topic, with interruption by those not interested in your topic.

[Omni]

Restricting the overuse of these words in the Chatbox is one thing, and while i dont necessarily see the need for it as I see the chatbox to as a place to have fun and run wild with conversation, we are restricting the word(s) use on the forums itself as well? What purpose does that really have?

Because I'm not a programmer, PHPBB coded it not me hh:

[Cyburn]

Does this mean that I can't say nice things to my sis?

[The Dreamer]

Restricting the overuse of these words in the Chatbox is one thing, and while i dont necessarily see the need for it as I see the chatbox to as a place to have fun and run wild with conversation, we are restricting the word(s) use on the forums itself as well? What purpose does that really have?

Because I'm not a programmer, PHPBB coded it not me hh:

While i understand that, I dont really see it as much of an excuse to have such a widespread change to the site to restrict something that is a smaller part of the site, and that not all parties agree with.

[The Dreamer]

Basically, what is so hard about removing oneself from the chat box when a conversation, regardless of it's topic or the words used to portray it, is not something you want to be a part of. Would it not be easier for everyone to do this, rather than cause Omni more headaches by having to regulate and maintain another thing on the site just because some people don't like how other express themselves? (Statement of fact, not pointing of fingers)

[Guu]

No matter anyone's opinion on this ruling, please be kind a courteous, especially to Omni. He is only trying to help.