Racism Policy

[Dameon Angell]

What do you think about it so far? Should, in fact, a name like "cracker" be illegal? What other name(s) do you think is too offensive and should be banned? Other name(s) you want allowed? Think people are getting too overboard about this racism thing in an online game?

Just discuss.


note: this has no affilliation with any bans so this is not supposed to be closed.

[gerry]

wadi should come any minute now, to close this thread down.

[GoldenPlums]

I'd be surprised if more than 0.2% of the tw population would be offended by the player name cracker. It seems ridiculous to ban this.

[Dameon Angell]

if he does, i'm not talking about any banning procedures, just what staff needs to do better. he said so in the previous locked thread.

[Pandagirl!]

Maybe we should turn Trench Wars into a democracy and vote for whether or not it's acceptable for names that are borderline?

But seriously, I dunno about cracker. If he meant it that way, it's one thing, but what if he just likes to eat crackers (the kind you buy in a box )

[Hero*]

A name like 'cracker' should not be illegal, its a food. I thought names and squads could be racist? correct me if im wrong

[Troll King]

It should only be a problem if he started saying stuff that was related to racism while using that name. If he came on and his squad was listed as Saltine and asking people if they liked cream of mushroom soup then there's nothing wrong. If he starts spouting stuff about being white trash or being offensive against other races then he's creating a different context for the name. In that situation, his comments are racist, and his name is a tool to accomplish that end.

What I think should happen is that any offensive names be "bought up" by staffers so they aren't available for use. Sure, some would say that's excessive staff control over public use, but unless they use restricted staff powers to get them, it's no different than someone hoarding all the nicknames that are based on Beatles songs. They should focus on some of the more obvious ones, including variations with ''leet" speak. And if someone were to hypothetically use a borderline racial name like "Cracker" and started being actively racist then in addition to the ban the offending name would also be "bought up" as part of the punishment. If he does nothing while in that name, then that's it, nothing happens.

[DOTSY]

well i think it is childish, but hey, that's me, i am not staff, and i don't make up the rules, staff are busy persons, and somtimes they are to busy to argue with ppl. So they just warn the ppl, and just like the police they have to listen, or else the bill, in this case ban.

that is the prosuder, and that is what rules are for

[Izor]

Its an ineffective and ridiculous policy. I have many people that say they will beat my 'pale white ass', but when I reply in kind I get a warning and they get nothing. All that does is promote racism. If you're not going to equally punish racism from all people then you might as well not do it at all. Or else it ends up like the joke known as affirmative action.

[Dameon Angell]

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 2 (2 members and 0 guests)
Dameon Angell, wadi

We have incoming.

And yes, I think sometimes people get overboard and forget that this is just multiplayer astroids, a 2D spaceship game, etc*.

[wadi]

It should only be a problem if he started saying stuff that was related to racism while using that name. If he came on and his squad was listed as Saltine and asking people if they liked cream of mushroom soup then there's nothing wrong. If he starts spouting stuff about being white trash or being offensive against other races then he's creating a different context for the name. In that situation, his comments are racist, and his name is a tool to accomplish that end.

What I think should happen is that any offensive names be "bought up" by staffers so they aren't available for use. Sure, some would say that's excessive staff control over public use, but unless they use restricted staff powers to get them, it's no different than someone hoarding all the nicknames that are based on Beatles songs. They should focus on some of the more obvious ones, including variations with ''leet" speak. And if someone were to hypothetically use a borderline racial name like "Cracker" and started being actively racist then in addition to the ban the offending name would also be "bought up" as part of the punishment. If he does nothing while in that name, then that's it, nothing happens.

This is almost identical to the line of reasoning I gave to a player during an in-game discussion. "Racist" names need to be viewed in context.

[Troll King]

Hey, everyone knows it's one of my favourite buzzwords.

[Ezor]

Its an ineffective and ridiculous policy. I have many people that say they will beat my 'pale white ass', but when I reply in kind I get a warning and they get nothing. All that does is promote racism. If you're not going to equally punish racism from all people then you might as well not do it at all. Or else it ends up like the joke known as affirmative action.

That sums it up, but I'll elaborate a bit. If you're going to allow Asians (or AzNs, if you will) to spam with an "AZNS RULE AZNS RULE AZNS RULE" macro, then jump down the throat of someone who counters with "WHITE POWER WHITE POWER WHITE POWER", you are indeed sending a horrible message. Crack down on ALL racists or just leave it alone. Partial crackdowns aren't solving anything.

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

Ezor, stop before you start. Saying "azns rule" isn't even close to "white power".

[Ezor]

Actually it is. If you take the phrases at face value, they each promote one race over others. "White power" just has a more negative history than "Azns rule". If you're not going to crack down on both, you're not doing any good.