Swearing in the forums - Please read

[Dos_Box]

OK Guys, it's time for our tri-yearly laying down of the law about swearing on EduGeek.

The mods (and more than a few members) have brought it to my attention that a few of you think that swearing is acceptable on the forums in Edugeek and over the past few days we have edited out quite a few profanities in posts over various forums.

In short, it is not. We do not tolerate swearing on the site for many reasons but primarily because we have to ensure that EduGeek is safe to view in classrooms and does not get caught up in filtering blocklists due to profanity.

 

For all of our newer members we should tell you that several years back we spent quite a bit of time in contact with more than a few of the major filtering providers ensuring we were not blocked for any members. Please do not spoil this situation.

Also note that EduGeek is viewed not just by you, at the sharp end of IT support, but by very, very senior people in most of the major hardware and software companies throughout the world who pay attention to what you have to say very closely indeed.

If you come across as someone who cannot make a point without swearing then you begin to lose the argument.

There are a lot better and cleverer ways to voice your frustrations without resorting to bad language.

Remember, what you say here reflects not only on you as individuals, but as a profession too.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Dos_Box
spelling ;)

[abillybob]

I feel bad and guilty now!

[X-13]

If you come across as someone who cannot make a point without swearing then you begin to lose the argument.

There are a lot better and cleverer ways to voice your frustrations without resorting to bad language.

 

Mr Stephen Fry disagrees.

[nicholab]

Totally agree there is no need for swearing it make you look an uneducated red top reader.

[X-13]

Totally agree there is no need for swearing it make you look an uneducated red top reader.

 

Swearing is bad, but it's OK to insult people for no reason?

 

Excuse me while I roll my eyes super hard.

[Dos_Box]

Swearing is bad, but it's OK to insult people for no reason?

 

Excuse me while I roll my eyes super hard.

 

I don't think that was meant as an insult. Or are you reffering to some people's behavior on EduGeek?

[X-13]

I don't think that was meant as an insult. Or are you reffering to some people's behavior on EduGeek?

 

Little from column A, little from column B.

[abillybob]

I don't think that was meant as an insult. Or are you reffering to some people's behavior on EduGeek?

I've swore in posts so is he trying to say I'm uneducated It depends on the persons personality and doesn't represent how intelligent you are just because you decided to use a swear word! If the forum doesn't want me to then I won't it's not a problem to me it's just a way people use to express their frustration. I took it as an insult and quite frankly I'd rather someone swear and get angry then make snide nasty comments like nicholab has!

[synaesthesia]

I swear like a sailor, however common sense applies. I try to treat Edugeek in the same way I would treat the children & staff (with children present) at school. I.E. stereotypical sailor to cartoon sailor. No swearing and a can or two of spinach.

[Dos_Box]

I've swore in posts so is he trying to say I'm uneducated It depends on the persons personality and doesn't represent how intelligent you are just because you decided to use a swear word! If the forum doesn't want me to then I won't it's not a problem to me it's just a way people use to express their frustration. I took it as an insult and quite frankly I'd rather someone swear and get angry then make snide nasty comments like nicholab has!

 

I set out the reasons why we do not allow swearing on the forums here on EduGeek in my first post. This has been our policy since day one nine years ago.

It is not unreasonable and it is very rare that I step in and lay down the law in a 'my house, my rules' kind of way but today is one of those (thankfully) rare days.

Swearing does have a place, but it's not here. If you cannot express your frustration without the use of profanity then take a minute to consider if what you had to say to begin with was really worth saying.

[Disease]

Personally I do not see how swearing is a problem, have a toggle on the site for a profanity filter, those then with sensitive ears can then protect them without censoring those who do not care. And I am sure that the Big Wigs who take "a very close interest in what we say" will still do so regardless of swear words. This is the IT professional's lifeline after all, not the Big Business selling platform, unless things have changed

[Little-Miss]

i do think you guys look for a fight sometimes....

[X-13]

Personally I do not see how swearing is a problem, have a toggle on the site for a profanity filter, those then with sensitive ears can then protect them without censoring those who do not care. And I am sure that the Big Wigs who take "a very close interest in what we say" will still do so regardless of swear words. This is the IT professional's lifeline after all, not the Big Business selling platform, unless things have changed

 

There's also the issue of sensitive filters though.

 

Ours blocks EVERYTHING with the word "proxy". Thankfully it hasn't hit EduGeek, but if it did it would be a problem.

[localzuk]

There's no need for profanity on here. I so rarely swear, it is really quite jarring to see it on here sometimes. I cringe when people swear at work too.

[abillybob]

I set out the reasons why we do not allow swearing on the forums here on EduGeek in my first post. This has been our policy since day one nine years ago.

It is not unreasonable and it is very rare that I step in and lay down the law in a 'my house, my rules' kind of way but today is one of those (thankfully) rare days.

Swearing does have a place, but it's not here. If you cannot express your frustration without the use of profanity then take a minute to consider if what you had to say to begin with was really worth saying.

 

Please don't misunderstand. I am not saying it's unreasonable for you to post this thread and it's completely reasonable for you to ask people don't swear on what is primarily an educational website. I am completely on your side and agree with you.

 

What did annoy me and insult me is nicholab's silly comment imo which states

it make you look an uneducated red top reader

IMO I have never really understood the grounds of swearing on this forum and if it has been in the rules since day one it wasn't easy to find, at least this sticky helps explain a little better.

[clareq]

Pick your arguments. if you swear infrequently then, when you do, people take notice. I've probably sworn twice in the office, and both times action was taken to resolve the issue. And this is someone who worked in an East End Pub.

[elsiegee40]

I don't think this thread is supposed to turn into an argument. We have forum rukes and God has spoken. Please don't get into another argument; that's what leads to the language issues usually!

 

PS is a pretty useful substitute when you are frustrated

[LeMarchand]

Most of the forums I frequent have a "no swearing" rule; I really don't see why people are making a fuss about having to stick to it here. Even if there weren't good reasons for it, if the owner (who's providing a free information/sanity resource) makes a rule then it's his right to expect it enforced.

[hardtailstar]

To be honest I like the fact this forum has a no swearing rule, I have been on Forums and the swearing got so bad some the threads/forum got deleted.

 

Yes I swear among friends but in my professional life I do not as there is no need for it.

[Disease]

I don't swear on here, I am just opposed to censorship

[pcstru]

I don't think this thread is supposed to turn into an argument. We have forum rukes and God has spoken. Please don't get into another argument; that's what leads to the language issues usually!

 

PS is a pretty useful substitute when you are frustrated

 

As in, God has spoken, now please do shut the up.

[edutech4schools]

You lot do make me smile

[APMerry]

I swear a lot, it doesn't mean I'm uneducated it just means I have a wide vocabulary. I don't swear on Edugeek though.

[abillybob]

I was shocked that when walking around my school the head asked me what was wrong with the old ink jet printer and I said it was "K*******d" she looked at me and said YOU CANT SAY THAT IN A SCHOOL and all the children looked at me only later to my horror did I find it wasn't an 'appropriate word' my family have always said that thought nothing of it so I think sometimes no matter what you say someone, somewhere will be offended and think you used an offensive word where as in the persons mind they may not think they have done anything wrong.

 

Normally if I say a swear word on a forum it's in the form of $£%!&£% characters are we not allowed to do this either?

Edited June 5, 2014 by elsiegee40
and you can't say it here either

[elsiegee40]

As in, God has spoken, now please do shut the up.

 

Because this just about sums it up, I am quoting this, editing the post before this one!

 

@abillybob using %&€£¥# in place of a swear word is allowed and so is the emoticon. Quoting someone else using a borderline word isn't

Edited June 5, 2014 by elsiegee40