Prejudice on Shmupsforum

[Moniker]

It seems that lately an abnormal amount of prejudice, predominantly antisemitism and racism, has been creeping into shmupsforum's off-topic threads. Anomalous as they may be, instances of such prejudice have become frequent enough to make me generally uncomfortable and concerned for the quality of overall discussion. So I'd like to make a plea to you few offenders (and you know who you are) that you keep such views to yourself, or express them elsewhere. Obviously, I can only speak for myself, but your comments are unwelcome in a setting I've always found to be refreshingly open-minded. This isn't a matter of political correctness - it isn't difficult to distinguish between edgy humor and plain bigotry.

Thanks, and stay classy, shmupsforum.

[trap15]

As somebody who likes to say silly "racist" things (blame niggers, etc., etc., etc.), I can't help but whole-heartedly agree. There's a difference between making silly jokes and being offensive.

Also, unwarranted attacks are something I've been seeing out of one particular member (name shall not be mentioned!), and I'd like it if you could please stop, as it's adding absolutely nothing to conversations. Hopefully you know who you are...

[drauch]

Yeah, I'm getting tired of seeing "fag" shoved onto words on an almost daily basis. Makes me feel like I'm reading Gamefaqs forums.

[HenAi]

Acquire thick skin. Problem solved.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

^ This

[trap15]

It's really not offensive to me (seriously, I doubt I could be offended), my issue with "hurr durr FAG" and "AH A JEW!" and "sand penis" is that they don't add any value. They lower the quality of the conversation and are just downright annoying.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

EDIT: Generalizations

[O. Van Bruce]

can you not get me on the same level of the antisemite user, please?

[HenAi]

It's really not offensive to me (seriously, I doubt I could be offended), my issue with "hurr durr FAG" and "AH A JEW!" and "sand penis" is that they don't add any value. They lower the quality of the conversation and are just downright annoying.

Yo dude, if throwing in a few words that add no value lowers the quality of the overall post, then either the post was shit to begin with or you do have an issue with the words themselves.
Like me beginning this post with two extraneous words.

[drauch]

Acquire thick skin. Problem solved.

Or learn how to write on a forum without acting like you're twelve. May be more efficient for everyone, I dunno.

[moh]

Or learn how to write on a forum without acting like you're twelve.

thank you, drauch. it seems like a lot of people need to read this

[trap15]

It's really not offensive to me (seriously, I doubt I could be offended), my issue with "hurr durr FAG" and "AH A JEW!" and "sand penis" is that they don't add any value. They lower the quality of the conversation and are just downright annoying.

Yo dude, if throwing in a few words that add no value lowers the quality of the overall post, then either the post was shit to begin with or you do have an issue with the words themselves.
Like me beginning this post with two extraneous words.

Yes, typically the posts that include these sorts of terms were shit without them anyways
But really, do you want to be associated with a forum that has the word fag and "you must be a jew!" and other such similar things plastered everywhere?
This isn't 4chan, there is a standard of quality (however low that may be, it's still quite high compared to the majority of other internet cesspools), and I'd expect others to at least attempt to stay within the lowest rung of that standard.

[HenAi]

It's really not offensive to me (seriously, I doubt I could be offended), my issue with "hurr durr FAG" and "AH A JEW!" and "sand penis" is that they don't add any value. They lower the quality of the conversation and are just downright annoying.

Yo dude, if throwing in a few words that add no value lowers the quality of the overall post, then either the post was shit to begin with or you do have an issue with the words themselves.
Like me beginning this post with two extraneous words.

Yes, typically the posts that include these sorts of terms were shit without them anyways
But really, do you want to be associated with a forum that has the word fag and "you must be a jew!" and other such similar things plastered everywhere?
This isn't 4chan, there is a standard of quality (however low that may be, it's still quite high compared to the majority of other internet cesspools), and I'd expect others to at least attempt to stay within the lowest rung of that standard.

I have no problems being associated with that, no. If I was worried about impressions, I'd probably start with using a different avatar or... maybe not posting on a forum dedicated to some obscure niche game type that to other people might very well seem like a "oh god what kinda maniac would play this?!" kind of thing.
Now, the thing is banning the use of certain words does nothing (or not much) towards raising the quality of the content.
As a matter of fact, the main reason I first posted in this thread here was the impression that whole sand penis thing left me with. Now I'm not gonna read through all of that again, but iirc the whole thing went downhill after people were all offended by two words in a much larger post that (again iirc) was otherwise certainly of at least some decent quality, whether you agreed with the sentiment expressed or not. So which of the two is the actual problem then. The word or the reaction.

[trap15]

I'm not saying a full-scale ban is in order. I'm politely requesting that people attempt to not post like they're 14 and just discovered 4chan.

[HenAi]

I'm not saying a full-scale ban is in order. I'm politely requesting that people attempt to not post like they're 14 and just discovered 4chan.

Yeah, that is definitely reasonable.

[CMoon]

Beyond the whole 'just looking stupid' argument, honestly I don't come on here to offend anyone. I don't come here to argue politics/religion/etc., and even then, I'd rather have a friendly discussion than want to piss anyone off. I know a lot of this stuff is just colloquialisms, and personally love a few phrases like 'why did you fag up the thread?', but am really hesitant to use those because it sets the tone of the forum and probably makes me sound 30 years younger than I am.

Where a lot of us get upset with the 4chan'isms is that this isn't an anonymous board. Most of us have been having these occasional dialogues with each other spread across years, and the stupid terms/language don't really fit into that unless we've come to understand it already for its comedic value.

[O. Van Bruce]

People tend to talk about their shit, you know, in a personal way... some may be more visceral, others sarcastic or cynical. But it seems there are people here, who aren't mods or admins may I add, that thinks everyone should express thenselves to their liking. They justify it by appealing to some forum quality. But what happens when I dislike you sarcastic ways, trap? should I point at you?

No, I simply accept it. Because I'll pay more attention to the content than to the form.

[R79]

Keyboard communication + minimal interaction with diverse groups in real life = the noxious bile you see from so many gamers online.

Becomes more tragi-comic and unforgivable the older you know they are.

[Moniker]

People tend to talk about their shit, you know, in a personal way... some may be more visceral, others sarcastic or cynical. But it seems there are people here, who aren't mods or admins may I add, that thinks everyone should express thenselves to their liking. They justify it by appealing to some forum quality. But what happens when I dislike you sarcastic ways, trap? should I point at you?

No, I simply accept it. Because I'll pay more attention to the content than to the form.

Form affects content. You personally revised a couple posts where this was the case. And you revised them because you didn't intend offense, and didn't want to give the impression that you did. A voice isn't important without ears to hear it. Community matters. Good on you, for that.

For the record, my complaint wasn't directed at you. That's just decorum, and it tends to work itself out. There's been some real troubling ignorance posted lately that I thought deserved special attention.

[EmperorIng]

I blame Cave and Touhou; they really bring in an immature crowd.

Other posters beware: HenAi is going maximum edge on this place.

[GaijinPunch]

Wow... such jackassery abound on page 1.

Most of the harshest posts don't have any derogatory terms in them. I have the thickest skin there is. I'm not offended by anything. The problem is that if you post something that makes you look like a fuck tard it's a feeding frenzy of people piling on to take cheap shots. While I whole heartedly agree that it's their right and that the poster probably deserved it, it kind of fucks with the flow of the thread (in most cases).

Just my observation... I'm only merely the most enlightened poster here. Still doesn't give me the right to dictate... only teach to those willing to listen.

[O. Van Bruce]

what is knowing/analizing other users?

I've been on this forum an posted on it long enough to identify posting patterns and if what people post is meant in an offensive way or not.

Just think about how Gus talked on shmups chat... once you know him you'll know he's not doing it to offend: that's just the way he is.

[EmperorIng]

what is knowing/analizing other users?

I thought decorum was less about 'knowing/analyzing other users' and more about trying not 'to make yourself look like an ass' to the best of your ability.

[RNGmaster]

The key is not to behave in ways that make gamers look like misogynist, prejudiced douches who overreact about everything and nitpick the hell out of games they get, rather than being glad with what they have (which is quite a bit by sane peoples' standards).

[O. Van Bruce]

what is knowing/analizing other users?

I thought decorum was less about 'knowing/analyzing other users' and more about trying not 'to make yourself look like an ass' to the best of your ability.

Making fun of yourself is sometimes more interesting than just being "correct". Specially when are people funny enough to not being able to identify it.

[KAI]

I blame Cave and Touhou; they really bring in an immature crowd.

Videogames in general bring an immature crowd, Japanese games in particular (I'm such a xenophobe).

[R79]

I'm not offended by anything.

It doesn't bug you that some guy you might drive hundreds of miles to meet, and play some ultra obscure games with, basically shares the same mindset as some Chilean despot from the '70s?

You can read forums like these for ten years plus, with the scores, and FAQs, and the pretty photos, all hunky dory, but in a few minutes in some OT speak-your-brains thread, you get to see the real values of people you share the same niche hobby with.

[GaijinPunch]

It doesn't bug you that some guy you might drive hundreds of miles to meet, and play some ultra obscure games with, basically shares the same mindset as some Chilean despot from the '70s?

Why would it? I'm not driving across the world to talk about philosophy or religion. We're hypothetically meeting to play games.

You can read forums like these for ten years plus, with the scores, and FAQs, and the pretty photos, all hunky dory, but in a few minutes in some OT speak-your-brains thread, you get to see the real values of people you share the same niche hobby with.

As it's been stated before, this is about the only games forum on the internet that can actually engage in some semi-non-PC topics and keep it mature. It's becoming harder and harder, but for the most part, it goes over pretty well. Try that at Neo Geo, Assembler Games, or Digital Press. Arcade Otaku is probably a bit more like-minded but I'm not over there as much.

For the record, I have nutbag friends across the spectrum. Family too. There's beauty in ignoring.

[cj iwakura]

I blame Cave and Touhou; they really bring in an immature crowd.

Other posters beware: HenAi is going maximum edge on this place.

Totally disagree. I frequent doujinstyle, and I don't see 4chanisms thrown around there like I do here.

If you ask me, homophobic and racist slurs should be straight-up banned material.


No matter how cool or funny you think you are, if someone's offended, it's not appropriate.

[GaijinPunch]

No matter how cool or funny you think you are, if someone's offended, it's not appropriate.

That is taking it way too far. It's one thing to make a jab. It's another when you make statements that are borderline indoctrinating. Shit, I make fun of Americans more than anyone here. It's all in good fun. Offensive? To some maybe, but hardly ban material.