What happened to Halo?

[urbanyoung]

It seems Halo has quite a few servers that are run by people who think everything should be "appropriate" for 6 year old Mormons. I really don't understand the issue nor the logic behind it.

I'm talking about banning people from servers for names that could possibly offend someone somewhere for some reason. This extends to pretty tame language too. I've got some logs of what I'm talking about.

[19:57:22] BFMracing.net Aussie [203.14.173.229:2301]
[19:57:22] Running map 'gephyrophobia' using gametype 'TeamRaceReg'
[19:57:22] Welcome Genocide
[19:57:57] Welcome bfm_Crimson
[19:58:07] BFM_Slim: Genocide pls change your name mate
[19:58:28] betrayer: HELL YERRRRRRRRRR
[19:58:33] bfm_Crimson: Genocide, please leave and change your name
[19:58:37] BFM_Tails: Betrayer please watch your language here
[19:58:38] BFM_Slim: wow super lag
[19:58:39] Genocide: why?
[19:58:49] BFMracing.net Aussie [203.14.173.229:2301]
[19:58:49] Running map 'bloodgulch' using gametype 'TeamRaceReg'
[19:58:49] Welcome Genocide
[19:58:49] Welcome Cl!ck
[19:58:49] Welcome betrayer
[19:58:49] Welcome §§}LeÇræ
[19:58:50] Welcome Soren
[19:58:54] bfm_Crimson: betrayer, please don't use that language
[19:59:01] bfm_Crimson: We don't allow those references
[19:59:08] §§}LeÇræ was killed by BFM_Tails
[19:59:09] Genocide was killed by betrayer
[19:59:14] Genocide: like seriously/
[19:59:29] You killed betrayer
[19:59:31] BFM_Tails: wed like you to have a different name please
[19:59:33] betrayer: why man
[19:59:37] BFM_Slim: its really not appropiate for our servers pls mate
[19:59:45] Genocide: you have to be taking the piss, you cant ignore the 1940s dude
[19:59:47] Welcome LiZ@Rd~k!Ng
[19:59:52] You killed betrayer
[19:59:54] betrayer: oi
[19:59:58] Soren: lol
[20:00:04] Game Over. You left the server.

[20:00:15] BFMracing.net Aussie [203.14.173.229:2301]
[20:00:15] Running map 'bloodgulch' using gametype 'TeamRaceReg'
[20:00:16] Welcome Genocide
[20:00:23] Genocide: :/
[20:00:24] betrayer: lol
[20:00:35] Genocide: i dont understand why everyone who plays halo are pussies
[20:00:37] §§}LeÇræ: genocide change your name unless u want to get banned
[20:00:40] BFM_Slim: pls change it mate
[20:00:41] Genocide: i mean seriously
[20:00:46] Genocide: idc if i get banned i wont be coming back
[20:00:48] §§}LeÇræ was killed by BFM_Tails
[20:00:48] Game Over. You left the server.

Then there's the "offensive language"

[19:17:51] Genocide: shit
[19:17:52] §§}Joe: angle in is equal to the angle out my arswe
[19:17:56] §§}LeÇræ: language
[19:17:57] Genocide: didnt know you were there, thought it was other guy
[19:18:05] Genocide was killed by §§}Sphynx
[19:18:05] Genocide: maybe thats why the ss esrvers are usually empty?
[19:18:06] §§}Joe: soz i didnt think it counted
[19:18:20] §§}Sphynx: soz 4 tha tk
[19:18:20] §§}LeÇræ: geno, if ur going to insult us, leave
[19:18:31] Genocide: not an insult an explanation
[19:18:36] Genocide: if you get offended then wow

I guess my question boils down to this. Why? The fact of the matter is that 6 year old Mormons don't play Halo. The young people that do play Halo are often the most vulgar, so why protect them from themselves? I honestly don't get it and want to debate it.

[§§}Dudeman]

Well i'm not going to lie, that BFM racing server is pretty gay. I've been there and got kicked (because i didn't get into a vehicle within the first 20-30 seconds i was there). And i really can't side with you on the language in the SS because i do understand where our superiors are coming from. You can download skype and talk on there, or on xfire, or teamspeak etc. But people who come to our servers don't want a bunch of people cussing on there. And believe me, i do cuss alot. But i refrain from typing cuss words on the servers. And if i have to do it, i think everyone else should abide. Plus we have 12-14 year olds that come on. We can't be setting a bad example for them Geno. The only rule i don't really have a problem with persay, is the only rule i don't get is the "not talk about drinking rule".

[urbanyoung]

Dec 14, 2010 23:31:55 GMT -8 §§}Dudeman said:

Well i'm not going to lie, that BFM racing server is pretty gay. I've been there and got kicked (because i didn't get into a vehicle within the first 20-30 seconds i was there). And i really can't side with you on the language in the SS because i do understand where our superiors are coming from. You can download skype and talk on there, or on xfire, or teamspeak etc. But people who come to our servers don't want a bunch of people cussing on there. And believe me, i do cuss alot. But i refrain from typing cuss words on the servers. And if i have to do it, i think everyone else should abide. Plus we have 12-14 year olds that come on. We can't be setting a bad example for them Geno. The only rule i don't really have a problem with persay, is the only rule i don't get is the "not talk about drinking rule".

The drinking rule confuses me too, let's add that to the debate.

I understand that they don't want a server where everyone disrespects each other, and of course if people are really going at it and getting angry something should be done. That keeps the environment clean.
What I'm getting at are the non-directional words, shit, arse, even . I don't see what's wrong with these, to me the logic behind the rule is that they could offend some people. Having a rule to protect the minority disadvantages the majority, and that makes so sense. The truth of the matter is that most people who play Halo don't mind swearing, you said it yourself, you cuss a lot.
Jumping on people who use these, not directed at anyone, makes people leave; it's frustrating and makes you feel like a child being told to finish your vegetables.
You stamp your authority on people and tell them to deal with it, that's not very friendly and quite likely stops people from returning.

[§§}Dudeman]

True i do cuss, i wouldn't say more than the average guy my age.....But then again i'm one of the older ones in the clan. I would say the median age for the average person in this clan would probably be 15-16 years old. So yes most of them should be (not really should, but have been) exposed to cussing at the schools they attend. But if they go to private school or are brought up in a VERY Christian enviornment or are......well i don't know if i can go there. Because i don't want to offend anyone. But different cultures are brought up in different ways. My parents think it is disrespectful to cuss so i won't cuss around them, my friends don't care. It all depends on what type of enviornment your at, at that moment.

Also you said that words like "____,____, even warning bar." These words i don't really see a problem with. But then again, i bought a blink 182 cd when i was in 5th grade lol. I'm sure most people weren't exposed to those types of words till elem school.

Where would the ends meet? If someone says the eff word i would say that is a big No No.
But if someone says hits (with the s moved to the front) in a threatening way, wouldn't that be just as bad. If we just say as rules no cussing, it eliminates the need in having to deal with these issues when they would arise.

edit: I'm not really disagreeing with you, i'm trying to show our superiors point of view. It's really hard to keep my cool when people are talking crap. This guy was talking crap like 3 days ago and i about tore him a new one, and was told to stop. which is understandable. Just look at it this way, guys solve things by fighting. Girls solve things by talking crap

[§§}Joe]

Well I can see both sides of it here as well,my first server someone was trolling the umm*bad word here* of somebody i was thinking dang is everybody on halo like that,combined with my horrible ping since i had to go to the library (i was kicked repeatedly for a bad ping) the people being overall jerks and the kicking for a bad ping almost made me quit multiplayer for good.But as much as i don't like the rule i think it is for the best.

[§§}Qùìçkè®]

Lol... I'm pretty sure this was through many people's minds for a long time...

Just think of it as our recruiting system. We want good people in the clan, right? So if we had a horrible bladder mouth server, theres rarely going to be any people that could join our clan with the regulations that we have.

But.. that's probably not what you guys are talking about? A server with medium language? If so, then I think that might be fine, though there is a high chance of people thinking its okay to do what ever and say what ever, no in the min. range.

EnniWeyes, I think its for the best.

P.S. I'm seeing both side, though I think a clean server is the best option for this clan. (And you owe me cookies...)

[§§}Church]

I thought I had already made it clear to my staff to lighten up on the language, letting minor things like *hit and things of that relative nature slide unless it was really becoming a problem. I personally prefer to play in servers that dont have lots of cussing in them, even though I cuss in my offline life. I just don't find it necessary to play in those servers, its rude and offensive when im just trying to have a good game. THAT is why I work to keep our servers clean, free of things like the f-bomb, racist language, etc.

[§§}GodFatha]

I myself can see both sides but like quicker mentioned if we let some language slide people tend to slide down hill quickly and the occasional cussing turns into them attacking other players with cuss words or perverse terminology, racist comments et cetera et cetera. By warning people right away this eliminates them saying well you didn't have a problem when i was cussing earlier it just ends the problem then and there if we bend the rule to much noone would ever pay heed to any of them. I have gone to other servers where this rule is not in effect and i honestly dont see how its entertaining for anyone. people who get that upset and have to cuss and spout vulgar words towards people because they get killed in a game need to just take a step back and realize its a game nothing more. Self control is something that is a good virtue to have. Also someone who has to resort to swearing like a sailor in halo when they die first thing in my mind is wow pathetic immature person this game wont be fun anymore! And lastly despite the game rating halo has branched out to a very young age group who are more susceptible to taking words they see or hear in game and using them in everyday life. well thats my two cents on the topic cheerio mates!

[§§}Otori]

"Having a rule to protect the minority disadvantages the majority, and that makes so sense."

Obviously you don't live in the USA because this sort of thing has been going on in this country for the past 20 years so it is only natural for behavior of this type to spill over into the cyber world.

My political views aside we all can agree that some profanity can be tolerated and some is just not acceptable in our society today. It all boils down to the situation and who has control of it. I personally let a lot of things slide when playing as long as they are not repeated-- cursing, team shooting, spawn killing-- you have to let the people play the game. If it becomes troublesome then it has to be reigned in.

The people that have been entrusted to enforce the rules have been given guide lines to follow, with some hard and fast rules, but mostly guide lines. If all of the guide lines were interpreted to the strictest degree then there would be no game. We would all be standing still looking at the scenery. If I were to enforce some of the rules that have gotten me banned from the SS servers in the past then just about everyone of the staff that I have played would be on the ban list right now.

I can understand urbanyoungs point and it has some credence but I don't think this is the only reason that the SS servers are empty but that's a topic for another thread.

[BooM!]

Whoever hosts the server makes the rules. If the administrator states no cussing is allowed, then there is no cussing allowed. Simple as that. No need to complain about 'why' this is so, since the end result is the same.

If one does not like that, then one need not play in that server.

One can also create their own server, and allow all the cussing they desire. Personally though, I don't recommend it. Cussing may be a form of expression, but it also leads quickly to disrespecting others. From there, things go down hill.