"rape"

[Ketsuban]

It sometimes feels like I can barely turn around on these forums without coming across another example of someone using the word "rape" to mean something other than violent sexual assault. I've taken to sending a brief and polite PM highlighting it, pointing out why it's wrong and asking the user to change it, and the response has generally been positive - I've had only one no-response whereas three people apologised and amended their post. What's worrying is the fact I'm the only one who seems to notice this or act on it in any way.

The main thing I want to know is that the moderation team at Smogon has my back on this one - I don't want to keep trying to help (or indeed participating in the community in any way) when I've not got the support of the people in charge if need be, and the derisive responses to people asking that the word "Fat" be removed from the quoted-post template give me reason to doubt whether or not I do.

So, to brass tacks: does the moderation team on Smogon agree that it is not acceptable to use rape as an analogy for a Pokémon's success in a given role (e.g. "Excadrill is broken, set up sand and it just rapes everything")?

 

[Umbreon Dan]

this is a complicated issue. we, as a whole, understand that even seeing the word posted on a webforum can cause painful flashbacks for anyone who has been victimized. however, to many individuals on this forum, rape is something that only affects people somewhere far away who barely exist; they fail to realize that smogon has had several prominent members who themselves were rape victims. instilling sensitivity into privileged teenagers is very difficult to do over the internet, but then, inflicting emotional trauma on visitors was never in the mission statement either.

smogon has never actively censored anything (that wasn't illegal) -- but it does expect a certain level of maturity from its users.

i'd like to mention that vbulletin does support word filtering (though ideally 'rape' shouldn't be filtered in the social forum, where it might be relevant)

 

[Alchemator]

I agree with the general sentiment here, as -- I think -- do many people, but I'd be vehemently against invoking censorship. Aside from the more-flimsy arguments of free speech, I believe it would actually encourage the more immature side of Smogon, rather than hinder it.

This does seem more of an issue for the world in general than simply Smogon: I think the best we can do is throw it in the rules, but I wonder as to how long it would be actively enforced.

 

[Ketsuban]

Firstly, thank you. I'm pleased the overall response to my question is yes - I didn't like the possibility that it might be no.

I'm definitely not asking anybody to edit other peoples' posts - that really would be censorship. I'd just like some help doing what I've already been doing in politely asking people not to use the word in the flippant manner I described. Mentioning it in the rules or a notice or something would help simply by virtue of bringing it to public attention.

 

[Great Sage]

We do, as Umbreon Dan said, expect a certain level of maturity from our users. However, we will not attempt to legislate everything that might be offensive to someone, because that causes many more problems than it solves. We neither endorse nor oppose your personal endeavors.

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