What is insulting?

[SucceededKiller]

Hey,

This thread has come about as a result of my post here: viewtopic.php?f=121&t=6803&p=52177#p52177

Currently, what is viewed as insulting or offensive is at the admins discretion which means it changes based on who the admin currently is. If it's me you'll get away with pretty much anything, unless it's excessive or the language is particularly bad, whereas other admins might not have such a relaxed view of the rule.

Now, this thread is not here just so you can call out people who you don't like etc so unless the person who says these things is you please don't provide names unless the other person is either:

1. Here to discuss these things and has raised the issue previously.
2. Has said that it's ok for you to use them as an example.

Below is an extract from my post in the admin forum regarding how I interpret the rules if you are interested in reading it:

Discussions about subjects that can be seen as controversial as long as they don't swerve from discussion to attacks. I've had discussions about stuff from wars to Sharia law without a problem but if stuff does get out of hand most people will move on when asked.

Names that can be seen as controversial but, in themselves, don't harm anyone. For me this is where I'd place things like "PEGIDA". In itself it does not harm anyone; it is a way for people to state their beliefs towards certain things. If the person using it started to insult people for believing in Islam, however, then they would be breaking the rule against insulting.

The problem we have is deciding what is "offensive". A lot of the time I don't believe that people say the things they say with any malicious intent, but just out of frustration, which is why I think we should only intervene if it is excessive and not just the occasional word. Personally, I believe insults can be defined as one of 2 types

Frustration insulting - A player gets killed and expresses that frustration through the chat. This doesn't bother me much as almost everyone who plays this game is likely old enough to understand it is through frustration, and I doubt the player who says it means it like a proper insult aimed at offending someone. 

Excessive/targeted insulting - Insults targeted at a person solely because they are who they are. When insults are being thrown between players for no reason, other than the dislike between the 2, this is the time when I tend to get involved. Most of the time they listen to just a simple "Lets stop that please" in normal chat but sometimes it requires escalating to admin powers. This sort of insulting tends to be the only time I intervene as it's the only insulting that is not game-related. This is usually the sort of chat that involves insults along the lines of "your mum" "homo" etc which are obviously not aimed at the character in the game but the person behind it. Usually it is best to wait for the other player's replies though to see if they seem offended or whether it is just a joke between them.

So if you guys want to post things you've seen on the server which you believe were warned for and shouldn't have been, or not warned for and should have been, post them here and hopefully we can generate some discussion on this. Just don't post people's names unless it fits the criteria above as this isn't a way for you to insult people with no fear of being punished.

Regards,
SucceededKiller.

 

[WEREWOLF42]

I always do my utmost to be civil. Likewise, I try to pay it no mind when someone is trying to be offensive.
I'm usually too busy laughing at the comedy of it all.
I think the only time I can think I've hurled a few choice words is when some moron on my own team decides to either destroying all the vehicles or leaving in them as the sole occupant, stranding teammates at faraway/remote spawn points.