Topic

Asshole

Got your attention? It got mine. That was the name of a piggie I saw running around. Devs, you might want to put in a profanity filter on the animal names.

The actual profanity doesn't bother me, the crassness of it does. I mean, if you're going to use "bad" words in animal names, at least make it in french or something interesting. Connard! Merdre!

Paula

Posted 19 months ago by FrankenPaula Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Heathermomo brings up a good point... what's 'profane' isn't even consistent among so-called speakers of the same language. In the US, a "fanny pack" is just a tacky thing that tourists wear.  Say the same phrase around an Aussie and you're likely to get quite a different reaction.
    Posted 19 months ago by Lelu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • stopped reading after about 3 posts into this one. It's a word... who gives a shit (see i used another word right there). Honestly if you can't handle the word asshole specifically seeing a pig named asshole. How do you get past the "happy endings" quest? Regardless people bitch and moan about the dumbest shit. Grow the hell up and don't let a word dictate your life.
    Posted 19 months ago by Kev Kliner Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LOL, Lelu--I'm totally not surprised that "fanny pack" is a naughty phrase in at least one country... it sounds like it should be naughty...
    Posted 19 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Kev Kliner - since you stopped reading, you probably missed the distinction made between rude and crass. Crass is boring. Rude can be very entertaining.
    Posted 19 months ago by Spong Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sweet Pea's idea is the best. One thing that I've found a bit annoying about the game right now is the lack of OPTIONS. A profanity filter could easily be one of them. All that's needed is a thread where we list all profane words, in all languages. Then, I can choose if I want them censored or not.
    PS: An option to disable all of those messages on the left side of the game, or at least to make it so there is a limit of 3 at a time, would be nice. Also an option to hide the chat area completely.
    Posted 19 months ago by Johnny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Everyone has an opinion and are entitled to that opinion.
    Telling someone to 'grow up' because their opinion differs from you is crass to me.

    I know I have used more than my fair share of offensive words. I could probably go toe-to-toe with anyone in here. But I am respectful of other people's feelings so I try not to do it where I might offend someone. I think that's what's missing - respect.
    Posted 19 months ago by Ruby Specklebottom Subscriber! | Permalink
  • </personal filter>I hate the word "should." That means somebody is wishing for someone else's behavior. A critical fact, you cannot change someone else's  behavior, only your own.  As I told my 4 year old, if you want to say shit, go ahead. It is only a word. You can disagree with me, but I don't give a rat's ass. (see I did it again) I, for one, am not interested in a Rated-G fakeass experience. If this is a game for grown ups, we don't need to worry about dickheads who use language simply to shock the fuck out of people. Grownups don't do that. And to hell with any filters. My two cents. <personal filter>
    Posted 19 months ago by Mac Rapalicious Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To ensure the game remains open to everyone at all age levels a language filter should be put in place. It's the responsible thing to do.
    Posted 19 months ago by Freeman Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like Johnny's idea of making it an option in your account settings. That way if you want one, you can have it, and if you don't you don't.
    Posted 19 months ago by FrankenPaula Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My idea would be to leave the game as it is and let the players sort it out. If supposedly this game is not intended for children, then then is no reason to put profanity filters in. Let the offenders and offendee's  figure it out themselves.
    Posted 19 months ago by Zev Bellringer Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 mac rapalicious and zev bellringer. Honestly, it's as simple as this: it's an adult game. Most adults can handle a little profanity. And the adults that can't (not saying there's anything wrong with that) will be able to work it out. Yes, there will be assholes who are only trying to get a reaction - but is that worth putting censorship in? Most of the people who play this game are mature enough not to need a machine to protect them from a curse word. This is not a child's game. Parents may let their children play it, but it is *not* intended to be for children. Period.
    Posted 19 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My solution is to rename such animals.

    Pecker, for the record was renamed to Parsley by me.
    Yes, the herb and spice names are my doing.
    Also, I'm REALLY not ok with a filter being put in.
    Posted 19 months ago by Murri Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Aw - meeting Pecker gave me my second proper giggle of the game.
    Posted 19 months ago by Spong Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Then get a third or fourth giggle out of naming pigs Pecker on several streets, and more giggles about of seeing if they're Rosemary and Thyme by the end of the test.

    I'm not about to quit renaming the crass, tacky and pointless ones because someone thought it was funny. And it won't surprise me if someone comes along renaming any animal with an herb or spice name to something rude just to try and piss me off.
    Despite that, I will not ever advocate a filter.

    A maturity test to breed, use a computer, drive or interact with society without supervision would be ok though.
    But no language filter here.
    Posted 19 months ago by Murri Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Words are just words. They only become "bad" words if you allow them to be. Would you be less offended if the animal had been named rectum? I guess it takes a lot to ruffle my hypothetical feathers. If you come across an animal whose name offends you and I'm in game, IM me, and I'll come rename it for you. I'll even hogtie it and take it home for you if you feel really sorry for it. Then again, maybe he likes being an asshole. Having been around pigs a great deal when I was living on a farm during the summers growing up, many of them fit that name quite well. 
    Posted 19 months ago by Essie Kitten Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I do agree that censorship is unfavorable, but not all words are just words. When things begin to become pejorative (e.g. "the n-word," homophobic slurs, anti-Semitic insults, etc.), they get really sticky. A "mild" filter for simply pejorative words may be appropriate. However, people could/should still be free to utilize profanity, if that just happens to be their style.
    Posted 19 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The devs' silence on this subject is interesting.  Are we to take it that this is supposed to be a self-regulating aspect to the world, I wonder? Or is it just such a sticky issue that they're not prepared to make any comment in either direction yet? 

    It's a classic internet content debate, this one, and I therefore find it hard to believe that Tiny Speck has not made any provision for dealing with the issues raised here. I also think it might be helpful to know what form their approach is likely to take when the game goes live 24/7...
    Posted 19 months ago by mintimperial Subscriber! | Permalink
  • But freeman, the thing is...it ISN'T open to people of all ages, it's for around 15+ (there'll be a more definite age when it goes live). Since they did not claim it was appriopiate for all ages, they have no obligation to put in a language filter.
    Posted 19 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I feel the need to point out _again_ that for many of us it's not that we're offended by the words, it's that we feel they're crass, vulgar. It's like walking down the street and seeing a piece of trash. I'm not offended by the trash, but I still don't want to see it on my street. Except, in real life I have the skill to pick it up and throw it away, but in Glitch I have to learn a whole skill tree to change the name. I don't see the harm in having a profanity switch that players can turn on or off in their preferences, as Johnny suggested. It doesn't affect anybody's game play if I choose to turn it on.
    Posted 19 months ago by FrankenPaula Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am really not too keen on censorship because it can become a HUGE waste of time when we should be concentrating on more important subjects.

     BUT there are certain words that HAVE to be censored because there is just no way they belong in a Glitch animal's name.  I found a piggie during last test that the word " F*U*C*K" was part of his/her name.  There is no way that word should be included in it's name.  I cannot fathom someone actually justifying that the word should be included in a name and therefore not be censored. 

    AND yes I have [especially right before my divorce became final] used that word.  I cannot believe that someone can type the F word without realizing they have typed it and therefore remove it.

    I'm sure that there are people that will argue that at one point in time the "F" word was not a "bad" word BUT it is now offensive to most people.  There must be some way to keep this word from "popping" up.

    Just my 2 currants.

    Q
    Posted 19 months ago by Qizara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I just wonder if the devs are still looking for the pig that had that crude name because when I saw it I changed the name.
    Posted 19 months ago by ~Senorita Snerkles~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • In one game I played, the potty-mouth filter was in place.   Like the example above, "grass" became "gr***".  It got so difficult to communicate that I was forced at one point to use an alphabet code with the first letter of each word to spell out the concept I was trying to convey.

    Shortly after that, I quit playing that game.  When you "protect" everyone from having to see even a hint of profanity, you make communication too difficult for most adults.
    Posted 19 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am blown away by the wit and insight of this group of BETA testers.  There are some fine and devious minds in this group. I have a feeling Glitch is going to be the game of the millenium. Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a bumpy ride   !!!  what a great group of Master BETA's.......
    Posted 19 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm against any type of filter, but I am for some ability for the community to somehow "vote" on the appropriateness of a name.  The votes could issue some sort of reward / penalty going to the original glitch who named the "asset" in question, e.g., 100 community thumbs-up votes for a clever / witty name rewards the namer with 20 additional favor points with a particular Giant, even if they have reached the 1000 favor points per day limit.  A "penalized" player could perhaps be the opposite, losing 20 favor points with a Giant or all Giants.

    Such rewards / penalties are not drastically game advantageous or detrimental, but would be an incentive for players to realize their actions have consequences, be they good or bad.
    Posted 19 months ago by Yeoman Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Let us keep this game as uncomplicated as possible. Rules are so anal.
    Posted 19 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've read thru most of the posts and have to throw my vote towards no filters on names; while I might think some of the names aren't appropriate as others have said I can always change them. As Cupcake has stated (& others) this game isn't meant for young kids and I would like to see it stay that way. Different people have different tolerances for language, what is profanity to one might be normal language to another, so I vote to leave things as they are. I've seen some strange names running around but unless a player does something to actually offend me personally I'm inclined to let people call themselves (and the animals) whatever they wish.
    Posted 19 months ago by Gizmospooky Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Actually, I say we allow naming in our own homes, instead of naming in the outside world. A more plausible idea.
    Posted 19 months ago by Serenadier Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh no, no filters, please.  Not even optional ones.  

    They aren't going to be able to account for all possible variations of what some might find offensive and someone will always be trying to game them. Is f*ck or a$$hole really that much better to read than fuck or asshole?  How much staff time is going to wasted trotting down that endless path of what is offensive and what isn't? What penalties are going to have to be concocted by staff regarding offensive language and what backlash will result from the community around efforts to police it?  

    I've seen all the drama that can produce in an online community, and it isn't worth it.  At all.  If anything, it just breeds people willing to push the limits of the filters and of staff/player patience.

    Just rename the critters, it's easiest and wastes zero staff time.

    Now when spam shows up as critter names... (hi Simon!)
    Posted 19 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Naming animals actually has a practical reason: on a street with six butterflies, you can keep track of which ones you've massaged and milked and which you haven't by noticing their names.  When all of the butterflies have the same name, or no name, it becomes more frustrating.

    I can see both sides of this argument, but I keep coming back to the fact that this game is not meant for children, and that no matter how sterilized the environment, someone will still feel uncomfortable.  (Some of you will remember the thread in which someone begged us not to nibble pigs because it's too violent.)  Filters end up annoying a lot of people.  Perhaps it would be better to include a notice in the sign-up process which states that the game is not meant for children, that it contains sexual innuendo and other adult humor, and that the contents of the chat and other aspects of the game may be crass, rude, or completely unfit for humans.  It wouldn't stop children from creating accounts, but it would provide fair warning.
    Posted 19 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I completely agree that there should be a warning - just so that when someone complains I could tell them, what, didn't you read the warning when you signed up?
    Posted 19 months ago by Fussycat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think the distinction between "rude" and "crass" is a false one, since it all depends where you're standing. The game is full of innuendo and adult references. It has been explicitly stated that it is not intended for children. A lot of gameplay is based on openness and communication.

    There is hate speech that no doubt would be classified as illegal under US or Canadian law. I imagine it would be in the game's best interests to comply with the law in those cases. 

    But otherwise, the less time we waste trying to press the devs into installing workarounds to protect our delicate sensibilities the better. If you want to rid the world of Assholes, then do it — you have the ability to do so. End of story.
    Posted 19 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • this is a game of the future
    the things you are talking about are of the past.. .censorship, morality... are we not beyond that in the New Age ?
    Posted 19 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am going to cast my vote in with the no censorship lot.  I feel that it would make the game less appealing to have more restrictions upon players, especially when you may change the animal names should you want to do so.  Perhaps eventually making an option for a profanity filter that can be turned on or off for players in the future would solve the issue at hand? There are other games that I have played that do this, and it seem to make both sides happy.
    Posted 19 months ago by Tau Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I should also add, though, that seeing certain words makes the game less appealing, as well. As a gay man, seeing the word "faggot" plastered all over the game would turn me off to it. Though, without censorship, I suppose I could also leave animals all around the game with names like "Gayistheway!" Lol.
    Posted 19 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah... another vote against censorship here.    But I totally get the distinction between crass/crude and clever/witty.   But then, those distinctions depend on my own sensibilities, don't they?

    I wonder if the name changer were identified... so you knew who named the Piggie "Asshole"...  might that change things a bit?

    There is one player with a user name that I find crass/crude/unnecessary...  I haven't run into him/her very often, but I'm tempted to block because seeing the name just makes me go, "ugh... really?  Did you have too..."   Just kinda spoils the spirit of the game for me.
    Posted 19 months ago by Pirate Apples Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't know,but maybe I am of an ideal world,or maybe I am so far removed from this world we have today,I must surely be from another planet. But foul language,potty mouth,profanity,cuss words,etc are all very negative,and whether the person intends to be confrontational or not,it does come across like that.Sure one does become numb to profanity's punch if you hear/see it all the time,and if it is the only language you know,but to others it does still make a person sound cheap,dull,nasty,even inferior in some way,gutter talk for gutter people...now I am not going to claim I have never used a well placed 'f!', saying 'fffffffffffffff' does indeed have a very therapeutic effect,by simulating the letting off of steam/pressure,but still, in every day language it just sounds cheap,not to mention it looses it's effectiveness.
    I do understand that language evolves with the people that use it,and that different words,mean different things,to different people,and that every generation pushes the limit of 'acceptable' vocabulary a wee bit further than the generation before,but that doesn't necessarily improve language,and how we (re)act to it.Language to me,is communication,but again I question what it is we are actually saying/sharing when we use foul language,are we 'hip',in tune with how the world 'really' is,are we 'cool','trendy',or are we someone who wants to be confrontational,or someone who doesn't care,or maybe even doesn't know any better?? Not saying a person is all these things,but that is how he/she looks/comes across to many.
    So they're just words...then why would I be hit on the head/censored if I referred to one of my childhood toys as a Gollywog? It's just a word (in this case the name of a child's doll). Why were some of my childhood books banned and burned? They're just a collection of words,telling a story.Because some words evolve and change meaning, to become hurtful,and then they're not 'just words',they are what someone feels and thinks. Some words convey a positive meaning,others negative,even hurtful,what we feel/think/say has the power to lift others,or crush them.
    None of what I just said is aimed at any specific person(s) here,this is just some of what I think when I see/hear 'power words/potty-talk'.
    Ultimately censorship should not be something imposed on someone by anyone other than oneself.The ability to do that is something we have to learn to value, and then learn to do.
    Posted 19 months ago by ~Scilly~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I guess I'm just not easily offended, but I have to go in the non-censorship lot.  One of the things I really enjoy about this game is the double entendre, and total impertinence of the developers.  I laugh every time I play!!!  Something new pops up and just cracks me up!  I don't want to lose that, and if they started censoring... I'm afraid they would find them censoring themselves.  That would take out a lot of the fun for me. 
    Just for the record, I would change piggy names myself, and am happy to change rude ones, but I don't want to lose the tongue-in-cheek humor of Glitch.  It makes me happy.
    Posted 19 months ago by kat65 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I CAN NOT CONTROL THE WORLD.

    I CAN NOT CONTROL YOU!

    I can only control myself, my reactions to the world and to whatever you say or do to me.

    I was walking my dog this morning and a disturbed man was standing on the street corner yelling at the passing people. As I walked by he yelled at me, "Cu*t licking bit*h!"

    Did I stop and have a rational conversation with this man arguing that his game play did not meet my expectations? Did I look around for the developers to tell this man to stop using profanity in my presence? No, I ignored him. That's what grown ups do.

    I'm not saying that the griefers are mentally ill but I think the best approach is to ignore them and their unacceptable behaviour. They are acting out and taking satisfaction in their action. If there had to be a feature that met the needs of all parties, is it possible to make it so everyone is happy? Griefers and glitchers alike?

    My attempt at a solution:

    1. Allow people to name things whatever they want (character names, pigs, trees, dirt, whatever there is to name) as allowed by the game. Remember this is the game of imagination.

    2. For inappropriate character names, the block feature makes those characaters disappear a la Facebook. You don't see them, they don't see you.

    3. Allow people to indicate that an item’s name is somehow offensive (thumbs up, thumbs down, report, whatever method appeals to glitch sensibilities and design rules). After X number of negative feedback are recorded, an item's name is classified as potentially offensive. (Note: not offensive, just potentially offensive - no judgment here).

    4. Allow people to indicate that they want to have potentially offensive data filtered.

    5. Allow people to indicate that they don't need potentially offensive data filtered.

    6. Mask the content for those that care (e.g. they only see a piggy named c*** ******* *****)

    7. Leave the content unmasked for those that don't care.

    8. And once you have earned the ability to name items (i.e. grown up in the glitch world), then you can choose. Do I continue to lead a masked content life? Or do I go out bravely into the world and rename the things I don't like?

    The best thing? The griefers who name themselves c**t lIc**r still get the thrill of seeing their ‘bad’ name every time they log on, the delicate of heart don't see have to see that name and the rest still get to suffer the bad language and puns all in the name of free speech.

    And hopefully there will be those of us who will want to take action and will name all the offensively names piggies, chicks and butterflies meaningful and socially relevant names like, "Spinach Dip Nirvana" or “Canucks Rule”.

    Porro ago oleracea farrago per mayonaise!
    Posted 19 months ago by Original Zoo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wouldn't it just be easier to rename the piggy?
    Posted 19 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Zoo, as a psychotherapist who works heavily with the homeless, I can tell you there's a good possibility that the person you interacted with may have schizophrenia and may or may not be a harm to you or himself.

    That is completely different than what we're talking about here.
    Posted 19 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like Incarnadine's idea... especially having it behind the "Info" wall so it's not intrusive or clutter-inducing as well as the fact that it would require you to make a bit of an extra effort.
    Posted 19 months ago by Petunia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Unless this game is 18+ then the language should be that you are happy to use around your whole family - your mother, your grandmother, your baby daughter who is learning to speak.

    So drop the 'asshole,' and the 'wanks,' please.
    Posted 19 months ago by LeeGee Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LeeGee - this game is for adults. The devs have said so repeatedly.

    But, for the record, I would and do use the words asshole and wanks around my whole family. Why? Because I am an adult who uses adult language. As has been said repeatedly, what is acceptable to some people is not acceptable to others, and there are no universal standards.
    Posted 19 months ago by karibean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I believe in freedom of speech and language choices as much as the next person, but I also contend people have the right to avoid being subjected to a barrage of language they consider offensive. There has to be some sort of standard to 'quiet enjoyment', and empowering the end user to take control of their environment is never the wrong course of action.

    An optional content filter could easily be compiled, starting with a commonly accepted base dictionary (there are some great commercial ones out there, linked to quarterly updates), which can then be added to via an end-user preference. The individual account would carry non-standard additions or user identified exceptions. The combination should yield a massive amount of success, especially if the user interface is the snazzy quality we've come to expect from Tiny Speck.

    The best content filter user interfaces I've seen have been a simple grey box as opposed to some sort of character representation. Making that box click-able to 'reveal' the content (if you want to see what has been blocked) and some sort of highlight-click option to add the blocking exception should yield a highly intuitive solution.

    Providing the end-user with the option to shield themselves from what is becoming an increasingly hostile community seems to make sense and should be a priority if the community is expected to thrive. The constant bickering and offensive overtones have made my recent distance from the community fairly easy to handle, but I still have hope.

    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" --- Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    Posted 19 months ago by Travinara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I find it funny how the person in question has a problem with asshole, but the quest "Rub 11 out," seems to have gone by unnoticed.

    It's not like a minor has never heard asshole on TV or from a friend or a parent etc

    And, your suggestion that it should be written in French doesn't make it less "crass."  What about all the French-Canadians that would then be offended?  In other words, let's not offend English-only speakers by offending bilingual people. Besides, if you're going to write a swear word in French, spell it right.  It's merde not merdre.  Just wanted to point out your fallacy.
    Posted 19 months ago by frenchphenom Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think my suggestion was pretty much ignored... but anyway.

    Naming will be put into moderation and approval by a governing body? And maybe the introduction of a moderating board, like in many games. That'll ease the burden off the devs. 

    Also, I really think naming should be unmoderated only for animals in our own homes. Then we can name our animals any name we like, and it won't offend the whole world.

    Just note this, even if you're 10, 20, 30 or 40, there are some things that you will be offended by. And I'm quite sure we all have those moments where we feel so offended but we can't do anything about it. I'm suggesting this for the best of everybody (:
    Posted 19 months ago by Serenadier Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Nice quote, Travinara! +1 =)
    Posted 19 months ago by ~Scilly~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To answer your suggestions Serenadier... dis-allowing naming of things in the wider world negates the effect of a skill, and deprives the players of the influence they have over the world - part of the main attraction to Glitch. A player-led governing body invariably turns into a popularity contest, and I'd hate to see that sort of conflict stemming from something as basic as what places are called. Beyond that, the developers will be introducing a voting basis as a subscriber advantage, so such a committee would negate one of the few paid-for benefits. Should they feel the need, street names could easily be voted on in that venue.

    The developers do a wonderful job keeping us entertained with the names, and often take suggestions or jumping off points from things they find here in the Forums. I don't believe the way naming is currently handled is broken, and my guess is the overwhelming majority of players feel the same.
    Posted 19 months ago by Travinara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • True that. But as the player base increases, we're bound to have lots of trolls... while it is simply impossible to totally annihilate trolling, I see that at least we can do something about it. Who knows what will happen when the game is publicly released.

    Nevertheless, your arguments are pretty strong. I have to agree. Have you tried debates? 
    Posted 19 months ago by Serenadier Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Some would argue the Glitch Forums *are* my debates :D
    Believe me when I say, I understand the effects of a wider community and the negative that often comes with it - and the sense of urgency to head it off. I'd like to think that now the initial bumps and bruises of the transition to beta are through, we'll all settle back into a collaborative way to improve the world.... but I'm sanguine at best.
    Posted 19 months ago by Travinara Subscriber! | Permalink