Topic

Username Censorship

A couple days ago staff contacted me and declared that they felt my name wasn't appropriate for Glitch and required me to change it. I wasn't in love with the name (Blue Waffle) so I complied and submitted my alternative name choice (Clappy Funt). Well, apparently that was also unacceptable because it was "sexually offensive" and my name was changed to Round Waffle for the time being.

I believed this was ridiculous and argued that it was hypocritical for a game which contains blatant sexual innuendoes in interactions with wood trees and have items like High-Class Hoe to deny me from using Clappy Funt as my username. I also asked whether i was being unfairly penalized since they're several other usernames running around that are in a similar vein and why those who find my name offensive couldn't just block me.

Their response was they had to consider how the community will see things and that while clever innuendo was a part of Glitch it had to be clever, not vulgar or rude. 

Again i complied, by giving another alternative name choice as i justed wanted to get it over with... Now here i am 5 days later without so much as a response. Every day that's passed i've felt more and more like this policy places unproportionate power into the hands of our resident puritans and pushes Glitch towards a descent into an undesirable nanny state. That i couldn't be the only one who found immature, playful names an amusing welcome addition or believe that this level of censorship is hypocritical and unnessecary in the decidedly adult world of Glitch. 

So my question to the community is: How do you feel about username censorship?

Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I think the thing that amazes me most about all of this is how politically correct TS is trying to be, considering they have a game featuring wood trees that make dick jokes. Seriously. I won't even go into the fact that they have a quest involving lotion and massaging butterflies called "Happy Endings for All!".
    Posted 12 months ago by TrentSkunk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • So I was strolling down Viscid Pud earlier today, on my way to Bonelington Hole..

    *shudder*
    Posted 12 months ago by Humbucker Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As a former comments moderator for a Very Large Internet Company known for its cesspool of a reply section, I understand the fine line that TS is walking. This is a game for adults, and sly humor or sexual innuendo IMO is perfectly acceptable and even desirable. I think the wood trees are hilarious. 

    Every instance I've seen so far where TS has limited a user or animal name seems to boil down to one of these issues:
    • vulgar or disgusting (c'mon, "blue waffle" is not innuendo, that's like naming yourself goatse)
    • racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory (again, that's not innuendo, it's actively offensive to other players)

    ....umm, yeah, those are about the only examples I've seen. The Sandusky incident did seem like an overreach to me, especially given the US-centric nature of the scandal, but if it offended other players, TS was right to at least investigate the intent of the player in choosing the name.

    The thing, the very thing, that makes Glitch so addictive to me and many other players is that it does feel like a safe(r) space, that people for the most part do try to be kind and considerate of each other, and that the devs are so attentive to these meta-issues. I would be much less likely to play as much as I do (or at all) if the devs let piggies and chickens walk around with names like "f****t" or "rape chicken." I'm GLAD they take these things seriously and I'm OK with the occasional overreach. That's not "censorship," it's ensuring that ALL players get the same chance to enjoy the game.

    There are about infinity times a million MMO games where people can go to kill, steal, threaten rape, and call eachother horrible names. I don't choose to play those games. I don't think TS wants Glitch to be one of those games. And I think that people who want to do those things might want to go find a different game.
    Posted 12 months ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LittleMan is right, this is TS' game and they have every right to run it how they please. However we are the customers, whether paying or not, and have every right to response their actions accordingly. TS have expressed a desire to run this game not like a dictatorship but more democratically, which I admire. At the moment though, it seems like they allow themselves to be disproportionately swayed by those who are either easily offended or take some pleasure in throwing around what little power they have to effect someone else's experiences.

    Overwhelmingly it seems the community is in favor of light username censorship if at all rather than this heavy-handed sort and I hope TS keeps that in mind in the future if they truly care how the community sees things.

    (I guess TS found the time to respond to my issue, I'm now Floppy Pick.)

    @TrentSkunk  exactly. dick jokes, happy endings, drugs, etc. it's nonsensical to censor names that are in a similar vein. what the hell are these people doing playing this game if don't have some tiny speck of a sense of humor? that's why i think this is more about a sad sense of power than actually feeling offended. 

    @Epilady context is important. you see "Blue Waffle" as disgusting but i see it as funny mainly because it's a fake condition. regardless, why was censorship necessary? why are names that can be said to fall into a gray area, that are neither sexually or racially hostile can't be handled by blocking 1 on 1? 
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • + 100 @ Epilady!

    According to Wiki answers the term "Blue Waffle" comes from a pornographic site that uses the picture to lure people in.  I am struggling to understand why anyone would wanting to use a name that could promote such a site.

    Names like Clappy Funt or Floppy Pick  seem like the verbal equivalent of the dirty old man in a raincoat who flashes himself to get off on the shock it causes.  Exhibitionism is illegal in most countries so I have no problem with TS trying to keep it, and porn sites, out of this lovely little game.

    I also had a name that was somewhat questionable since people often asked me if it was a refference to "Enola Gay" the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb.  As soon as I realised my name might cause my fellow players distress I added to it to ensure they would see no such reference, or distress, was intended.

    I guess I just like to avoid causing other people distress.  Others clearly feel people should have a right to upset others and it is the duty of those who are upset to suck it up and shut up.

    All I can say is.. thanks TS for trying to keep pornography and hostile, derogatory, sexual innuendo out of the game.
    Posted 12 months ago by Reni's Mum Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Im my opinion it depends how offensive, for example i once saw a user running around with the Name Osma Bin Laden, and talking about blowing up stuff in one of the chats (reported him instantly) and saw another user called Raul Moat (Serial killer) 

    It just totally depends (in my eyes) on how other users and players alike, take the name

    My 2 cents
    Marcm :D
    Posted 12 months ago by Marcm Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I can think of one popular player who posts in the forums and chats in Global and who has a username that is slang for female genitals. Should that player also change their name? How does staff decide to approach players? Is it a case-by-case basis after complaints or another process?
    Posted 12 months ago by Knitomaton Subscriber! | Permalink
  • But TS is so fast in helping us! TS is great! TS does so many things right compared to other companies! 

    I had no idea what blue waffle means and I have no intention of googling it. I very much dislike this unfair censorship and agree with all the above who are against it. I very much enjoy the originality of Glitch and the adult innuendos, but I dont like hypocrisy. High-Class Hoe, while funny, is not entirely nice, and Wank is very much a vulgar word! (and I'd like to remind TS that foreign people who study English tend to study Brittish English, which by all historical and chronological accounts is the proper English language, at least to many people!). 

    And like I mentioned in the previous thread, TS should remember they have players from all around the world. 
    Should I report Kukubee because part of his name is a slang word for penis in my language?
    (it doesnt bother me, <3 Kukubee!)
    And if I complain about a perfectly normal english word that is a vulgar word in my language, and TS doesnt force that player to change his name, wouldnt I be entitled to accuse TS of xenophobia? After all, I'd be just a lonely player from a small group of players from my country who could possibly complain about it, it wouldnt compare by far to the many American people with so many offensive possibilities in their language and media. 
    (not that I would report such a name, I have enough common sense to not to be so easily offended and to recognize an unfortunate coincidence)

    Both in this thread and in the previous case with the name of the criminal, its been about a north american media/english language situation. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I certainly don't think a name that would have to be googled to see why it might be offensive should be banned. Rick Santorum should be able to play Glitch if he wants. Every internet meme or joke would have to be banned at some point.

    Blue Waffle isn't an offensive name, the second one or names like it could be. Perhaps there needs to be a system other than a few folks at TS deciding, like a threshold of 100 complaints or something.

    And no I will not google it.
    Posted 12 months ago by snarkle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I guess I just like to avoid causing other people distress.  Others clearly feel people should have a right to upset others and it is the duty of those who are upset to suck it up and shut up

    Not really. Different people will find different things offensive. It just amazes me how quick people are to leap for the censorship option. "I don't like it, therefor it must not be allowed!" Personally, I find religion to be offensive. Should we ban any reference to it? No, I just act like an adult and don't let it irritate me.
    Posted 12 months ago by TrentSkunk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Enola Llataton obviously our sense of humor differs and people will interpret things differently. however, in no instance have i ever prompted anyone to google blue waffle or have linked to pornographic sites. i did not so much as hint towards it's slang meaning while i had the name so you can drop that attack on my morality. also, sexual innuendo is a part of the game. go pet a wood tree and massage a butterfly. are the puritans going to band together and get those changed as well?
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not into censorship, and c'mon, 'Blue Waffle'... Who knew? Well, now I do. Thanks TS.
    Posted 12 months ago by mince Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you googled it, you would find it's at least as offensive as goatse. And as Enola says above, following links to the term often sends folks to malicious sites. Certainly not something TS would want to promote. 

    For those unclear:
    "free speech" refers to the right of the press and individual Americans to criticize the government and/or express unpopular opinions. It does not refer to the ToS of a private company. And what some are calling "censorship," others would consider "assuring a pleasant gaming experience for all."  

    And for those thinking "man, they're just words. Why so sensitive?" Check out this link:
    microaggressions.com/

    Hearing a pejorative or stereotype once is annoying but easy to get over. Hearing it day after day, in different forms, every day of your life, in time becomes unbearable. It's the death of a thousand cuts. It's not too much to ask for one or two spaces in the world where we don't have to think about these microaggressions as much. It seems to me that Glitch is striving to be one of those spaces, and for that they have my unwavering support.
    Posted 12 months ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Epilady are you in the habit of googling usernames in the hopes of finding hidden meanings?

    I also find religion to be offensive! It is directly tied to millions of deaths and atrocities. I demand that all those who have religious names or anything referencing religion to be change as to no longer offend me and several others.
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Come on, now you're being disingenuous. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have a friend whos name is Phil Manring. Ahem.... They allowed that. They need to make a policy or state it blankly what they accept and not accept in my opinion. They could filter the name ever being used ( Cant they) by when the person create a profile saying that name is being use or not acceptable by Glitch need to pick another.
    Posted 12 months ago by chelseaann Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just to put this out there.
    womenshealthfoundation.org/...

    I think if you want to fight censorship, you should probably worry more about the governmental nanny state that is developing (at least in the US) and less about what people who are running a game (that you don't have to join) are doing.
    Posted 12 months ago by zoesera Subscriber! | Permalink
  • And for those thinking "man, they're just words. Why so sensitive?" Check out this link:microaggressions.com/Hearing a pejorative or stereotype once is annoying but easy to get over. Hearing it day after day, in different forms, every day of your life, in time becomes unbearable. It's the death of a thousand cuts. It's not too much to ask for one or two spaces in the world where we don't have to think about these microaggressions as much. It seems to me that Glitch is striving to be one of those spaces, and for that they have my unwavering support.

    I'm having a difficult time understanding how this applies to someone who had a name that has a disgusting meaning, but one obscure enough that I had to google to find out what it meant. Seeing someone named 'Cloppy Funt' or whatever will make you suffer the "death of a thousand cuts", but having a wood tree tell you dick jokes won't?

    Oh, if only TS would give us a method by which we could prevent ourselves from seeing anything said by people we find offensive, then we could just not see it and be happy! But wait, they're still saying it and this must be stopped. Won't someone think of the people unwilling to use provided methods to not see things they find offensive?!

    Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to file a complaint against Jesus Christ for offending me.
    Posted 12 months ago by TrentSkunk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There's always got to a line between acceptable and unacceptable in a game like this, and it's always going to be blurry. I think it's fair enough for Tiny Speck to use their judgement as to what may offend the majority, and it's not censorship as this is not a platform where speech is free  - it's a space owned by Tiny Speck where they get to say what goes. 

    I kind of hate the High Class Hoe - it's juvenile and offensive. Prostitution jokes, meh. I hated the Mike Tyson grill and implored them to change it. 

    About user names... Just pick a name that isn't some pun on swear words/name of a murderer/terrorist/deity/some other charged word and you should be fine, for crying out loud. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Mildmay Subscriber! | Permalink
  • TS is a private company making tough decisions about the atmosphere of a game that they hope will delight many different kinds of people. It's a game I really like, so I hope they'll succeed. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Vocable Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Implying that i was promoting a porno site is disingenuous. 

    @zoesera are people unable to be concerned about a game as well as real life issues? 
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I never once thought about High-Class Hoe being anything other than a really tricked-out (er... no pun intended I guess) item.  Like the Grand Ol' Grinder.  I never saw the inuendo in it until this thread.  -_-

    I also don't know what a blue waffle is or means and thankfully to the warnings in this thread I will stay away from finding out.  -_-'

    Edit - also fwiw I don't find Scroty McBall's name offensive, but I do find Clappy Funt extremely offensive.
    Posted 12 months ago by ♪♥~ Auren ~♥♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wow Zoesera, that is a very interesting link. I'm glad I found out what blue waffle means without seeing the pics.

    So 'blue waffle' indeed does not refer to anything real, and by censoring it, TS was unknowingly enforcing this ugly myth. I guess a good thing did come out of this, more of us get to know the truth know. 
    And if the player is allowed to resume the name, the next time someone is offended by it they actually get the chance to be told the truth and become another person that can fight against the myth. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I saw your blue waffle name in game or maybe it was on forums before. I didn't need to google it, as I already have seen those pics in the past (can not be unseen o_o) and all I thought was "Eww" but not "Eww I want that changed" just plain... Eww. 
    Same way when I see someone who's has Plop, poo or pee in their user name. I just think "Why would anyone want to call themselves that?" and then I carry on with life.
    I find it disturbing that TS would censor something like this. Very disturbing. 
    Seems like lately I'm finding a lot of things they're doing are not sitting right with me though. Maybe it's time I start getting myself less addicted to this place, as with the direction they're heading in, we're going to be Neopets Version II in a couple of years :/ 
    Posted 12 months ago by Ebiler Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Epilady, I strongly applaud your stance here, and am proud to stand right there with you.  I believe tiny speck had the correct response.

    For those of you who are wanting to have a game where everything goes, no censorship needed ever regardless of disgust level, I have a suggestion.  Go scrape up somewhere between $50 to $150 million dollars, start developing a game, and ten years later when you've finished with the development, production, testing and probably all of that start-up money ... you can do what you want.  Hats off to you.

    I am pleased that tiny speck continues to listen to its players when there is something offensive.  When a situation like this comes up and tiny speck knows without a doubt no matter what their response is, this forum is going to go full-on stupid about it, they will still continue to listen to the players who support their game.  That is comforting to me.  And I bet I'm not the only one who feels that way.

    If you feel the script for the trees or a player's name, or whatever else, has crossed the line from 'adult ornery' to 'offensive' report it.  If enough people feel it is offensive, I bet the devs will listen.  Just like they have before, and like they did in this case.
    Posted 12 months ago by ~Alice~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sexual innuendo is part of the game and, whilst it doesn't float my boat, I can handle it.  What I don't like is derogatory sexual innuendo although I should add I have not ever complained to TS about anyone's user name and am unlikely to ever do so.

    I steer clear of people who reveal themselves as misgynistic, puerile, anti-social, aggressive, hostile or otherwise not my sort of person.  I don't demand they change but I am sure as heck going to support TS if they do!!!

    +10000000000 Tiny Speck for at least TRYING to filter out the sort of muck that infests all the other games I have ever tried playing.

    There are so many games where you can call yourself those names and be congratulated for being clever enough to get around whatever obscenity filter the game has that it is a refreshing change to find a game where the filter is not so easy to fool.
    Posted 12 months ago by Reni's Mum Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Justalice999, I am sure that no one in this thread said or meant that they want 0 censorship. But we want a fair one, we want sensible censorship, we want common sense. 

    And Enola, we do appreciate TS trying to do their best and being supportive. I appreciate it, even though my posts may have been angry. I do like TS and what they want to accomplish, I like when I read posts about how they were quick in helping players. It makes me feel proud of being part of the game and the glitch spirit! 
    And its exactly because of how great TS are, or seemed to be, that stuff like this hurts even more, and makes me feel and think like Ebiler says above. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not in-game atm.  is there a user named goatse?
    Posted 12 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've thought about it more, and cooled down a bit, cause I tend to get too worked up when I perceive what I think is unfairness. 
    My concern still stands that TS needs to be very careful when deciding name censorship in a game available worldwide, and I still believe they decided wrong in that other case with the criminal's name. 

    However, given the OP's choice of second name, I dont believe he didnt mean any offense. Its one thing not to know what 'blue waffle' means, making a combination of innocent words. 
    But saying you know what it means and then choosing 'clappy funt' as second name? Nope, sorry buddy, in your case I do think you deserved the name change, TS had the right feeling about you. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • http://www.glitch.com/forum/general/12419/
    Posted 12 months ago by Inéo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Actually, Merope, there was at least one comment to censor all or none. You may want a fair amount of censorship, but not everyone in this thread is comfortable with that. Some may want more, others less. Some none, some all. 

    Myself? Well, apparently I'm a "Puritan" because I do find Clappy Funt offensive and may have reported it. It's strange, though, I'm almost more offended at being considered a some sort of strict moral character who can't bear the thought of a nasty word. And it's not that I find CF offensive because it could be flipped to be the c-word!!!! heaven forbid!!! I have no issue with the c-word. I'm not one out to reclaim it, but I can emphathise with their position which is why CF is offensive - the offense is taken in the way it's used and how it's not so cleverly hidden represents everything that is bad and wrong about the word and how it is used to degrade women. Is that your intent? To be misogynistic? Or perhaps it's some clever reverse statement against misogyny? Based on your choices for other usernames... I'd have to say no.

    Your intent is shock and awe of the sexually suggestive nature. Though it's a bit puerile, there's nothing inherently wrong with that. But when you're successful, it's a bit disingenuous to cry foul. You got what you wanted. Sure, it went a bit further than you intended, but that's the risk you take with a shock and awe approach to things. So I'm not sure why you felt the need to get angry at folks and call them names because you succeeded in doing what you set out to do. 

    * Blue Waffle, on the other hand, I find only touch offensive and wouldn't report it. In fact, I'd probably assume that you'd never seen the image and might warn you about the name and the message you'd be putting out to folks as I don't understand why anyone would want to be associated with the image, and would assume you wouldn't want to be. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Merope,you're absolutely right.  The majority of us do want common sense used here.  I fail to see how common sense was used in such an inherently disturbing choice of user names--not once, but twice.  So I'm still standing on the idea that this entire thread is yet another contrived bit of 'bad food' thrown up on the forum to get more attention, disguised under the pretext of a subject that has been rehashed repeatedly throughout Alpha, Beta, Launch and Unlaunch phases of Glitch. 

    For those of you who have voiced opinions here about tree replies that are offensive, other player names that are offensive, etc. I have a question.  Have you reported these offensive names, gamescripts, etc. through the appropriate channels?  I would hate to have newer players think that the forums are the way to report offenses because of this thread.
    Posted 12 months ago by ~Alice~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes, you are right guys. This was not about someone who accidentally happened upon the combination 'blue' and 'waffle'. I do believe he meant it as an offense, as I do find his second choice of name very offensive. I believe TS did the right thing forcing this name change (while I still believe they decided wrong in Ineo's case).
    Posted 12 months ago by Merope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You know I might be the only one but I'm glad TS censored your name. Thanks to you I googled what blue waffle meant and saw a picture that has scarred my eyes. Why on earth would anyone want that as their username anyway. You said it amuses you...really??? It's disturbing and gross. In the end it's TS's game and they can do what they want and choose what names are registered or not. Follow the guidelines and it won't be a problem. To me you're usernames aren't clever; they're just asking for attention.
    Posted 12 months ago by Adelie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • i figured i'd be too much of a whinypants for reporting every username that is offensive to me.

    i also think the forums are an appropriate place to have a conversation about what people consider to be acceptable and what can be thought of as community standards.

    if that's objectionable, i'm just going to start reporting 'em all instead of reading the forums.

    you all can just munchma kuchi if you don't like it.
    Posted 12 months ago by flask Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think you're missing the point a little Justalice999. Most people weren't saying that they themselves find wood tree jokes and the like offensive. I believe they were saying that if they were to find something like Blue Waffle offensive, then they would also find something like the wood tree jokes equally offensive.

    Personally I didn't know what on earth Blue Waffle meant before this thread, and by the sounds of it quite a few other people didn't either. Meaning it is likely an obscure term, which most people wouldn't know without googling it first (and note that the player said they never encouraged or told people to do so when they had the name). So since this is a term that seems perfectly harmless to those who don't know about the other meaning, I have to ask how far do you want to go with censorship? Because as others have mentioned an awful lot of things can have double meanings if you think about them hard enough.

    Personally I can't really think of many names that would offend me, but I'm pretty laid back.

    If I were offended more easily I'd say making sure people can't be named after famous criminals (recognized worldwide not just in the states, and perhaps the whole name and not just part of it), swear words and things that are discriminatory and/or racially offensive etc.

    As for not liking being called a puritan, well try to make sure you don't do the same to others. Just because some of us don't want as much censorship it doesn't mean we want none, and it also doesn't mean that we enjoy causing others harm and discomfort. I find what the wood trees say amusing, that doesn't mean I want a world full of players with vulgar names. You don't always have to be at one extreme or another. It just means some of us happen to not want our ability to choose a name so restricted that one person who finds a hidden meaning in it can instantly get it changed.

    Personally I'd like more dialogue between TS, the player who has been reported, and perhaps also the one who reported them. The reported player needs to have a good chance to explain themselves. It would be ideal if there needed to be say... 5 players complaining about a name to get a warning, 10 players complaining to get it changed (as long as people didn't just go and ask all their friends to complain too). That way you would know that a fair number are getting offended by the name.
    Posted 12 months ago by Sunburst Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To answer the OP, I feel fine about TS.
    I'm just sorry the player behind "Blue Waffle" felt compelled to waste TS' time.
    TS has many wonderful things coming, and the "Blue Waffle" player probably just stole an hour from them inventing new things.
    Nice job.
    Players like this ARE the tragedy of the commons.

    Well done, TS.
    Posted 12 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Personally I'd like more dialogue between TS, the player who has been reported, and perhaps also the one who reported them. The reported player needs to have a good chance to explain themselves. It would be ideal if there needed to be say... 5 players complaining about a name to get a warning, 10 players complaining to get it changed (as long as people didn't just go and ask all their friends to complain too). That way you would know that a fair number are getting offended by the name.

    +1

    One of the comments that was posted in the thread about my own encounter with such censorship said that even if you do find someone's name offensive, unless it is blatantly so, only serves to warn you to stay away from that person if you don't share their taste in wit or humour.  If a name needs to be googled or is reported by only a couple of people, then why not just leave the player alone?
    Posted 12 months ago by Inéo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Excuse me, where did I imply I did that not know what Blue Waffle meant? 

    My intentions with this topic were to gauge what the community felt on username censorship as that was given as the reason for said censorship. I believed it is hypocritical and unnecessary to censor names that are not outright discriminatory, sexually and/or racially hostile in an adult environment that contains "risque" elements and has methods for individuals to censor others on an one on one basis. This is the argument I presented so do not attribute any other arguments to me. 

    Am I calling all those who dislike my name choices puritans? No. A puritan in the context of Glitch would be someone who reports to TS with intention to ban and rid all manner of things that do not fit within their sense of morality or religious beliefs.  And there does seem to be a group of people like that running around.

    So please don't put words in my mouth.

    If you don't find my names amusing in the slightest that's fine by me, feel free to block me and our differing senses of humours will never ever have to rub up against each other but why must it go beyond that? 

    @Crashtestpilot I guess you don't understand devs likely have nothing to with customer service or the handling of player reports. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sunburst: Whether or not I have not called anyone any names, is beside the point. There is no reason for the OP to resort to name calling especially when he is intentionally provoking the point. I merely pointed out that someone did, in fact, state that they wanted full censorship or no censorship. I also,stated that some wanted some wanted more and some wanted less. I was attempting, and obviously failing, to make the point that there's a range of opinions on levels of censorship. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you just do a friends search with a random inappropriate word, a bunch of glitchens would be found. What's happening with those then?
    Posted 12 months ago by xeternallove Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sunburst, someone posted earlier that they *did* find the wood tree responses offensive.  I was simply trying to make sure people realized they needed to report them and to make sure newer players weren't getting the idea that posting here was the best first step.  Am I wrong?
    Posted 12 months ago by ~Alice~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • IMO, a name like munchma_kuchi is a clever play on phonemes, referring to a consensual sex act. When I come across such punny or amusing names in game, I usually chuckle and/or greet the glitch.

    A name like Cloppy Funt or Blue Waffle is an insulting suggestion that female genitalia is ugly, diseased, or disgusting. I don't find such names amusing in the least. The only reason for TS *not* to prevent such usernames, IMO, is that they make it so much easier to know exactly who to avoid in the game.

    My issue is not with "puritanical correctness" or propriety, it's with insult and offense. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • TS can censor whatever they want.
    It's their game.

    And Blue Waffle?
    Seriously?
    You knew what you were doing as soon as you created the account.
    Posted 12 months ago by Volkov Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I did not intend either Blue Waffle or Clappy Funt as insult to female genitalia and fully believe clappy funts and non-clappy funts alike are all beautiful and even more so when belonging to someone with a beautiful personality. That is attributing malice to where it makes just as much sense that no malice is intended. How do you know i'm not just wildly attracted to clappy funts or unnaturally coloured waffles?

    Munchma Kuchi could also be interpreted as a command and that could be said to be offensive. If i believed that should i have that name banned? Where does it start and end?
    Posted 12 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The reason this agrravates me is because I think I know the rules for what is acceptable and then someone gets a name banned...and the banning doesn't seem to follow the rules I THOUGHT were in place.

    It confuses me that "Blue Waffle" was deemed offensive and "Floppy Pick" is allowed.  Those seem to have equal levels of innuendo to me?  

    I'm not getting it. WTF are the rules, then?  Where's the line?  I'm not saying it's easy to define that line, but if you're going to manage a bunch of people interacting on the internet, then you freaking better have a crystal clear line for them.   Every time someone gets reprimanded or a name changed or banned, that line blurs.  

    Instead, I wish that the rules got clearer each time the staff interacted with someone.
    Posted 12 months ago by Feylin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Floppy Pick 
    You're the one who made the thread.
    So the spotlight is on you.

    Clappy Funts isn't even a word...
    I'm not trying to do anything but wonder what was going through one's mind when they made an account with the name like that.
    That's like, "lovestospwge102" and saying it's not a innuendo.

    Stop playing innocent, and admit what you did already.
    Posted 12 months ago by Volkov Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Omg my eyes...... somethings you can't un-see...

    I think his original name was a clever use of a semi-obscure reference. Too bad people can and will take offense at anything. I suggest they use their block function and move on with their lives instead of trying to push their so-called 'values' on everyone else.

    On the other hand, TS knows what kind of community it wishes to cultivates and while it may promote drugs, alcohol, and animal cruelty, it seems to draw the line at obscure sexual innuendo. (I keed, I keed...)
    Posted 12 months ago by Tint Subscriber! | Permalink
  • theres only 1 simple rule that needs to be followed.. and thats *to be mature* and not seek attention with names you know will cause drama. understand games are not just *games* they are also a business product. it isnt particularly good for media, reviews or promotions on the standard / maturity of a  game if people run around with names like bluewaffle, ducksicker goatse etc, so much easyer to pick another name that is likeable that isnt gonna clearly for drama.
    Posted 12 months ago by Hootaholic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Catching up on the forums ...

    *googles blue waffle* ok ... not looking. Yet. But I'm generally not offended by user names. It's so easy not to look. Yet.

    then: Flask says
    "wait, wait... blue waffle was banned, and yet we have a longtime player called munchma kuchi?"

    and later

    "you all can just munchma kuchi if you don't like it." 

    ---
    Wow. Somebody made an example of me. Most people just call me Munchma, or MK, or Kuch, or Munch. Seems awfully formal to use the whole thing all the time. I kind of worried a while back that the puritans would misunderstand my name and come after me with pixellated pitchforks. 

    Oooh ... I could totally use a pitchfork for my grain bushels. And flaming torches for mood lighting. And some tar to make dropped items stick to my doorstep and feathers to show my mastery of chicken squeezing. Also if we could have a street with a big bonfire and some sort of big stick in the middle some of us could jump up on it to stay warm in the winter. What were we talking about anyway? I'm going to make some potions.
    Posted 12 months ago by Aleph Zero Subscriber! | Permalink