Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

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Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Reddy » Sat Jun 03, 2017 7:55 am

As everyone who frequents the forum is no doubt aware, there's a controversy on if and how offensive and hate speech should be regulated in Particracy. The current official position is that players are free to express any opinions however repugnant so long as they are not directed at a particular person, do not incite violence or discrimination against any person or group of persons or is not intended to troll any members of the community. A considerable number of players have expressed great dissatisfaction with this position and would like to see a more pro-active approach to what many view to be racist, sexist, homophobic etc speech.

Moderation welcomes everyone to express their opinions and suggestions on how this very difficult issue should be handled. At the end of this consultation, Moderation hopes to establish a position supported by a general consensus of players which takes into account the concerns of the no doubt very diverse views on this topic.

I ask that everyone be civil and disagree without being disagreeable.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby General.M » Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:02 am

We all know the controversy that this has caused. I think that the current rules are fine. However, I do think that we could add another rule against the insultation of groups in the sense of: "... are stupid". I am afraid that when we get a rule that will prohibit racist views we will get people trying to find the boundaries of the rule. I think this will cause even more controversy. For example, what will moderation do when somebody says: "... have a lower IQ". If this is a fact, you can't force them to reverse this statement.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Maxington » Sat Jun 03, 2017 8:56 am

I have been mainly laconic on issues such as this because i have always ignored these sentiments (especially the racist sentiments). I live in a country where you could say that politics is beset by racial marginalization. As i told someone once, in my country both governing and opposition parties are socialist and uphold the same agenda. They have no shown that it is a battle to see who can do socialism better than the other, from both party's history and their foundation, it is clear that is a battle between ethnicity (race). In my country you cannot call yourself a true citizen if you have not been racial profiled by persons of the growing ethnic group. Racism in my country has grown so deep that it has become hardwired into the minds of children and is now seen in schools. However, it is more dominant in the elderly ages for they were around the times of the 1970 Revolution (the Black Power Movement in my country) and the Hosay massacre (if you google the Hosay Massacre would should already know what country i am from).

Pertaining to the internet i have dealt with racism and other discriminatory sentiment similarly to how i deal with it in the outside world, ignore it. I found that personally, it was better for me to ignore the sentiments rather than respond (I'm a history student, I can lecture people on race and their origins for hours upon end) and add fuel to the fire. I think that we have progressed so far socially and politically for people to still hold racial sentiments against each other, yet the people who hurl the racial comments are those who frequently question as to why this world we live in so backwards. I think that a person cannot "champion" the causes of ethnic equality if they have not experienced racism in one form or another. With respect to racism, all i am saying is this: Why are persons still trying to peddle the racial card, shouting and mumbling about how superior their race is and how inferior others are, when they have no knowledge or understanding of their race's origin. I can peddle on and teach people a funny thing i learnt about racism and a specific ethnic group, but i wouldn't.

**That is my two cents, Thank you.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Axxell » Sat Jun 03, 2017 10:58 am

Personally, I believe that fighting and repressing certain ideologies and concepts is a sacrosanct ethical duty for everyone. These are simply ignoble concepts, fundamentally wrong and which generate no more than suffering. Every time you allow each of these people to open their mouth to vomit their idiocies we assist to a defeat for the whole of humanity, turnishing on the memory of so many, too many, who have suffered and are dead.
What kind of community do you want to build here? Particracy is a game of political simulation and we talk about politics, morality, religion, ethics, etc. Within the game obviously it is legitimate to simulate every political position and every ideology, but it must remain a simulation.
When talking in OOC, when discussing non-related topics forums, I think that this site should also be committed to countering certain ideological positions and concepts, and hate speech, racism and discrimination being the top of the list! Concepts now universally condemned and that the vast majority of modern societies are committed to opposing and repressing anyway, a rejection of these ideas that is part of world collective culture, ideas that, apart from those few who believe in, only generate dismay, condemn unanimous, horror and suffering.
Do you want to allow anyone to express any unhealthy idea that comes into his heads? Then do not complain if you find the forum filled with outrageous players messages and above all do not go to block the topics if someone complains.
Just to avoid problems in the game and on the forum, fighting in the game, protest messages, etc... it should be in force some ethical regulation.
People are not only wounded by insults and attacks directed directly against their person but also by the expression of such a concepts and ideas.
Not to mention that the internet is a powerful means to spread concepts and ideas! To succeed in defeat all this, it is the commitment of everyone, from the larger social networks to more the intimate communities. So, I ask you, what kind of community do you want to grow here? And who directs this place what it wants to do to help fight something that is in fact an idea universally recognized as wrong, as a crime and that we are trying to eradicate by all means?
Is it so terrible to fight and engage in defending the dignity of people? Freedom of expression, as I have said before, is not the same to say anything that comes into the mind because freedom of expression, to be really a form of freedom, and not violence and imposition, has to have its limits, it cannot hurt and to undermine the sensitivity and above all the dignity of the other people.
Personally my position is very strict on this subject. You can take your decisions but I warn you that in the face of the spread of such an ideological mud I will continue to fill you the protest forum regardless how many topics you will block.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Maxington » Sat Jun 03, 2017 11:34 am

A concept might be "universally" condemned (and i used inverted commas intentionally) condemned, but does not stop a person from having his/her personal view. Child marriage could be internationally condemned, but does that stop people from having their person views? Rape can be internationally condemned, but does that curb a person from still trying to do it? Homosexuality can be "universally" accepted, but does that stop someone from having their person views against the idea? The reason why persons are allowed to have these personal views is because of this thing the ancient greeks created called, "Democracy". By which a person's views would and should be respected might it be the most bigoted and hypocritical view to be ever uttered out of the mouth of a person. If it is one thing you cannot do, that is try to sway a democratic view. For example, a person cannot tell me that the first people were Caucasian. I am stiff opponent against that view (and i respect that person's view) because i know i have the knowledge and evidence to reinforce my point. I find it funny when people stand up and say: "Your opinion is one which is frowned upon in this society and as such you should be condemned." I don't see the problem in having a view which is different to what the mainstream is thinking. Since when has someone's ability to think the way they want to become a condemned practice. I believe that persons should be allowed to have their political views, however, they should be respectful of others and their alternate views. I believe that if you have a view that is different to the mainstream that is good, because the view that you have is a testament to how you have interpreted the situation/scenario, but purely out of respect for others, these views should be kept to yourself. A person could believe that this earth is for only his/her race and his/her race alone. Although i may not support it, i would favour a person who kept these views to himself/herself out of respect for others. The reason why persons hurl these insults and bigoted comments across the floor is because there is no respect for persons anymore. In my country if you don't tell your neighbor "Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening, Good night" it is considered highly disrespectful and could result in some lashed from your parents. You may not like the neighbor, but it is still considered disrespectful if you don't do it. It doesn't matter how old you are, it is still considered disrespectful. I think that person's who would rather express these views like the hypocrites, standing on the corners of the streets and trying to influence an alternate form of thinking rather than keeping them to him/herself, lack respect for others. I would rather see a rule which prohibits a strike based report scheme for race comments, hate speech, etc where persons after obtaining a certain amount of strikes (2-3) would be removed from the community.

**I may sound hypocritical, but that is all apart of the discussion. People, bring back respect within the community please? Please?
Last edited by Maxington on Sat Jun 03, 2017 11:45 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Choice Party » Sat Jun 03, 2017 11:36 am

I say keep current rules as they are. We shouldn't be censoring controversial opinions, it may hinder RP and the problem with censorship is that so very often speech is overregulated.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Pragma » Sat Jun 03, 2017 11:54 am

It depends whether they're knowingly attacking a minority another player is in, really.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Pepe the frog » Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:38 pm

"Hate Speech" should not be regulated under any circumstances. Who determines what is and what isn't hate speech? What you consider hateful might not be what I consider hateful, it's subjective. If someone says something you don't like or something that offends you, either ignore it, or if you think you can prove them wrong, engage in a debate. The only time a player should be expelled from the game is if he or she makes death threats against another player. I cannot understand why people are so worried about hate speech, it's just words, it can't sprout fists and punch you, you don't get a terminal illness if you get offended, so what's the problem? If you feel unsafe over an opinion expressed by another player that you disagree with, then you have a severe sensitivity problem. Sheltering sensitive individuals from controversial opinions is only going to make them worse. There are many opinions and ideologies I disagree with, but I'm certainly not going to attempt to get them censored. I strongly disagree with communism, and I think it's an extremely cruel, immoral, and deeply flawed ideology, but if someone wants to express pro communist views, I will let them do that freely, after all, I can debunk their arguments very easily. The problem we have is that people are quick to call out a "racist" and get him censored if he is white, but if the racist is black, either nobody gives a crap, or they make excuses for him. Both a black racist and a white racist should have the right to express their views, but what we have is one being allowed to do it, and the other being labeled a facist nazi and getting his opinions censored. If you express a negative opinion about any so called minority group, you get people attempting to get you banned and blacklisted, but if you express a negative opinion about any majority group like whites or males or both, then nobody gives a shit and you have all the freedom in the world to say what you want. We should allow all opinions to be expressed, even shitty ones like communism, socialism, and feminism. If you don't like an opinion, then debate, simple as that! It's not anyone's job to cater to overly sensitive snowflakes.
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Allah » Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:59 pm

I think that it is okay to make any laws that are homophobic or racist/sexist or against a religion as long as they don't
Be racist or homophobic to an actual player
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Re: Consultation on Offensive and Hate Speech Regulation

Postby Friedrich » Sat Jun 03, 2017 1:13 pm

As far as I'm concerned, the current rules are quite sufficient.

Whatever kind ruling there will be, it is an illusion to believe that every conflict can be prevented nor include all sort of hate speech that might occur. Controversies will always exist and it is in the mod's hands to decide how to act in the spirit of the current gamerules.
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