just like to commend a new policy.

[PatboyX]

dont mean to over-step my bounds by posting this but i wanted to make it known and thought this would be the appropriate place.

i just wanted to say that im glad to see that anti-homosexual sentiments will no longer be tolerated on these boards.
thats pretty much it.

also: i think its good form to have such a message stickied so that people know the new rules!

-peace

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: PatboyX
i just wanted to say that im glad to see that anti-homosexual sentiments will no longer be tolerated on these boards.

Same here.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

While I see the need for such a policy in the OT forum, I hope that it doesn't fully extend to actual homosexual topics. (mainly P&N)

Yes - the crass comments need to be taken care of, but I don't think "anti-gay" statements should be blanketed as "hateful bigotry". We've sort of had this debate in the P&N forum and I think for the most part the crass/insensitive comments weren't used. I guess I'm just saying that I hope this isn't a "zero tolerance" type thing because I think there can be good discussion that takes place even though someone might be "anti-gay".

Again, I know(hope) this was basically aimed at the kiddies in OT who throw around the crass quips, but I just hope they didn't ruin it for everyone.

CkG

 

[compudog]

And the way the AT moderator put it in the stickied thread in OT is perfect. Hats off to the AT moderator (s) that posted the thread. Very well put!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: compudog
And the way the AT moderator put it in the stickied thread in OT is perfect. Hats off to the AT moderator (s) that posted the thread. Very well put!

Ditto, excellent job.

Sad that is was needed to begin with though.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: compudog
And the way the AT moderator put it in the stickied thread in OT is perfect. Hats off to the AT moderator (s) that posted the thread. Very well put!

Ditto, excellent job.

Sad that is was needed to begin with though.

I agree, OT was getting pretty childish with it.

CkG

 

[PatboyX]

yeah, i dont think homosexual topics are off-limits. im sure these threads are read and put in context. for someone in a political/social discussion to assert that they believe homosexual behavior is "wrong" would certainly still be allowed by this new policy. i think, cad, its just to prevent the OT type abuse that you mentioned.

 

[Triumph]

You all voiced your supporting opinions, I would like to voice my opinion that I disagree with the new policy. The term "gay" is not owned by those of a homosexual persuasion. Many words will have multiple meanings attached to them, meanings that are completely unrelated to one another. Many other words have their roots in racist and bigotted practices, but have lost that meaning through the passage of time. The term "gay" simply has come to mean stupid or lame to the majority of people. To have one fraction of the population 'own' the term is frankly, too politically correct.

We've also had this discussion before in OT. A mod decided that it was a bigotted term, and that it would not be allowed. Threads were creating complaining about this, the majority of the people disagreed with the mod, and the mod eventually rescinded his command. People were again allowed to use the term 'gay' to mean lame or stupid. So I simply cite precedence here: the case was already argued and decided earlier in OT's history.

Now I agree with wanting to tone down the somewhat immature attitude of OT recently, but I disagree with the approach. Maybe leave the sticky, but remove the ban on "gay." On the other hand, a word like f*gs, I agree is a pretty strong word, and shouldn't be used. But my argument would be that 'f*g' does not have other meanings attached to it (besides meaning a bundle of sticks, but nobody uses that), the way that gay does. Let's be realistic here.

 

[Pepsei]

I don't know, what makes one group of people so special that they deserve to be protected.

We should just ban childish people.....

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: Triumph
You all voiced your supporting opinions, I would like to voice my opinion that I disagree with the new policy. The term "gay" is not owned by those of a homosexual persuasion. Many words will have multiple meanings attached to them, meanings that are completely unrelated to one another. Many other words have their roots in racist and bigotted practices, but have lost that meaning through the passage of time. The term "gay" simply has come to mean stupid or lame to the majority of people. To have one fraction of the population 'own' the term is frankly, too politically correct.

We've also had this discussion before in OT. A mod decided that it was a bigotted term, and that it would not be allowed. Threads were creating complaining about this, the majority of the people disagreed with the mod, and the mod eventually rescinded his command. People were again allowed to use the term 'gay' to mean lame or stupid. So I simply cite precedence here: the case was already argued and decided earlier in OT's history.

Now I agree with wanting to tone down the somewhat immature attitude of OT recently, but I disagree with the approach. Maybe leave the sticky, but remove the ban on "gay." On the other hand, a word like f*gs, I agree is a pretty strong word, and shouldn't be used. But my argument would be that 'f*g' does not have other meanings attached to it (besides meaning a bundle of sticks, but nobody uses that), the way that gay does. Let's be realistic here.

well said. I dont think it is a big issue considering all the types of threads that are to ATOT.

I didnt know there was a debate on this issue before, but it doesnt surprise me that a conclusion was reached on that debate and now the "mods" are taking it back.

that's all

 

[PatboyX]

Let's be realistic here.

yes.
the word has been claimed as a negative by the vast majority of the population. when homosexuals use it to empower themselves a la the feminist flip on the word "bitch" maybe things will feel differently for this word.

i dont think there should be a habit of blanket-rules regardling language. but language is tricky. it changes so quickly and so easily and in this country we all feel a special pride about how we use it. it is a derogatory term at this point in time, plain and simple. the bent cross for how many generations represented many positive spiritual ideals but a political party came along and ruined it for everyone. so...
maybe we have to grow with the language but ATOT doesnt seem to have any regard for tact, as such.

 

[waylman]

I am also glad that anti gay remarks will not be tolerated. I am confused about one thing though. The word "gay" on this forum as I have seen it has never been aimed at homosexuals. The word has taken on an entirely new meaning in this day and age. When someone says something is "gay" they do not mean that it is homosexual. For instance, I thought tonights episode of Alias was gay....meaning ONLY that I did not like the episode. By calling an episode of Alias gay, I in no way am meaning to make a derrogatory statement towards gays. Moreover, whenever I have referred to something as "gay" on these message boards I have never intended a homesexual connotation. I don't find there to be a hatred towards gays on these boards at all....I think there is just some misunderstanding around the meaning of the word gay.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I'd rather see a ban of all snide remarks, including those referencing religion, arabs, women, men, computers, operating systems, George Bush, and other snide remarks.

 

[loup garou]

I'd also like to see them ban certain members who use homosexual innuendo to troll the forums.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: PatboyX

Let's be realistic here.

yes.
the word has been claimed as a negative by the vast majority of the population. when homosexuals use it to empower themselves a la the feminist flip on the word "bitch" maybe things will feel differently for this word.
...<snip>...

it is a derogatory term at this point in time, plain and simple.

I disagree, plain and simple. "Gay" is not a derogatory term for homosexuals. It is used everywhere. In the media, gay rights, gay marriage, gay adoption, gay this, gay that. It is plain and simple NOT a derogatory term for homosexuals. It IS a derogatory term when you take it to mean "things that suck." I've asked gay people if they're insulted by the use of the word to mean lame, and they've told me, "No."

 

[AnandTech Moderator]

Thanks to our members who support our policy announcement. We are not barring the use of the word, "gay," and it this does NOT apply to valid discussions that refer to issues involving gay people any more than we would bar legitimate discussions that refer to Africo-American, Jews, Muslims, or any other group.

We do not want to stifle honest discussion or genuine humor. The issues with labels applied to any socially identifiable group is respect and taste. In many cases, this is determined as much by the context in which any label is used, as what is said. On our forums, part of the context is that AT is a very large forum with members from all over the world. It does not take a lot of thought to say whatever is on your mind in a way that is appropriate for this environment.

The sticky thread will not be up for long. We saw a problem, and we wanted to post our statement. We hope our members get the message, and we can always bring it back if becomes necessary again.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
Thanks to our members who support our policy announcement. We are not barring the use of the word, "gay," and it this does NOT apply to valid discussions that refer to issues involving gay people any more than we would bar legitimate discussions that refer to Africo-American, Jews, Muslims, or any other group.

Understood that it is not banned in context, but banning it's usage to mean something other than homosexual is what I disagree with.

 

[cleverhandle]

Man, I've gotta get out of the OS forum more often to catch up on the news, I guess...

Thanks, though - another supporter, here.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
Thanks to our members who support our policy announcement. We are not barring the use of the word, "gay," and it this does NOT apply to valid discussions that refer to issues involving gay people any more than we would bar legitimate discussions that refer to Africo-American, Jews, Muslims, or any other group.

Understood that it is not banned in context, but banning it's usage to mean something other than homosexual is what I disagree with.

One can easily see your point Triumph, but how often do you use the word in the following context: "I just won $10,000! I'm so g@y!!!!!!" The prevelant usage of the term g@y in real discussions focuses on it's supposed definition and association with homosexuals. It's prevelant usage in OT had become 99% "You're g@y" or "That's so ghey" or "This double post is G@Y!!", hardly the intended nor the correct usage of the term. It was used in the same context as saying "You dumb ass" or "This sucks", etc etc.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCHIt was used in the same context as saying "You dumb ass" or "This sucks", etc etc.

Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. Read my above posts.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: RagingBITCHIt was used in the same context as saying "You dumb ass" or "This sucks", etc etc.

Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. Read my above posts.

oops yea I just read that. I don't understand however, the point of leaving the notice up top if the word isn't going to be banned. If the sticky says "The word gay should not be used in an offensive manner" (to which you defined earlier) people are still going to use it. If it's not going to be a bannable offense, why should they care? There would be 0 consequences to using the word.

 

[Triumph]

Casual use of terms like "gay" or "ghey" or other similar expressions, are mean-spiritied, thoughtless, hateful bigotry. The word, "gay" means happy. In commonly accepted slang, it also refers to homosexuality. Others with low self esteem issues and even lower intellectual abilities have extended their intended meaning of such terms to be generic negative and hostile adjectives assigned to any negative thing, person, or situation. Such usage has become far to common on our forums, and it stops, NOW.

My interpretation of that goes something like this: "Casual use of the term gay is for idiots only (opinion), and it stops now." (read, a bannable offense)

I have issues with that. I mentioned earlier that this policy was enacted in 2001 and later repealed, so I did a search to find those threads.

Misuse of the word "gay" will earn you a vacation from AnandTech.

Regarding our previous post about use of the word, "gay"

We have considered the input from the members. This is to let you know we are relaxing the position we posted, earlier.

The issue was discussed among the members of the community, and their opinion was overwhelming enough to convince the mods to repeal the "anti-gay" remarks.

 

[Platypus]

Seeing as I had a pretty big part in showing mods examples of it, I am really glad it's there too.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Seeing as I had a pretty big part in showing mods examples of it, I am really glad it's there too.

Hey we all are happy

 

[Wag]

Frankly, I think that there are way too many offensive posts in the Off-Topic forum.

The amount of bigotry and insensitivity saddens me.

Here's one that particularly bugs me-
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1162002