Use of "Nazi" and related terms in FYM

[pax]

Avoid it, please. A great many people are--quite rightly--deeply offended and troubled by the loose distribution of Nazi-related metaphors. Those of you who frequent FYM are by and large intelligent people; you can come up with something better. Unless the term is being used to refer to Adolf Hitler, one of his cohorts, or another genocidal maniac, you run the risk of angering some people, some of which have a lot of say in how this place is run.

Thank you very much. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated, and will help to make FYM a more rational, intelligent place.

 

[bonoman]

is this your own problem and has this been aproved by Joel?

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

is this your own problem and has this been aproved by Joel?

I don't even know how to reply to this.


She just wants there to be some measure of respect here, is that so much to ask?

 

[martha]

is this your own problem and has this been aproved by Joel?

You haven't been paying attention.

 

[pax]

There have been a few instances of this term being thrown around in a less-than-appropriate manner. I know that it upsets some people and I simply ask that you avoid it.

 

[bonoman]

i am not upset. I hope in the what 12 words i used i didnt sound upset. i was wondering of this was something she was doing because SHE found it offenseive or if this has gone through joel.

I just think its censorship and i'm againist all censorship.

Just me. And just a simple question.!

 

[martha]

I just think its censorship and i'm againist all censorship.

Just me. And just a simple question.!

Your use of the word "just" tries to deflect criticism. It won't. Joel and the mods can censor anybody they want. Joel owns the board, and the mods are free to exercise authority on his behalf.

Being "against censorship" is an admirable trait; so is being against the abuse of a word that has deep meaning for most people.

 

[Danospano]

So.....(here I go).....can I make references to the British, Spanish, and pretty much all of the European nations who committed a greater genocide to the Native American people? ---Yes

Would "certain" people find this offensive? --Yes

Does this prove there's ignorance in this chat room? ---Yes

Do some people deserve to be compared to Hitler or Nazis--- Hell Yes!

Now, here's a question that truly needs an answer: Are we making a mountain out of a molehill by even addressing this issue---- ???

 

[diamond]

Joel has requested before that the term "Nazi" not be used on the boards..-about a year ago.
The guy doesnt ask for a lot.

Also he's delegated an amount of authority to his moderators who have politely reiterated his earlier request.

Lets not always be so quick to challenge authority figures here , people, aye?


Peace-

DB9

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

heck, i try to not even call myself a grammar nazi...

 

[Danospano]

That brings up a good question. Can we call someone a "nazi" if it is refering to a person who's acting like a dictator? If this is banned, when indeed someone is acting like an arrogant, pompous ass-hole, why can't we call them nazis?

And please don't read too much into this next statement, because if you happen to have a fragile ego, it might insult you.

Does it strike anyone as ironic that certain rulemakers in this web community are instituting censorship of a word or idea? Something the Nazi's were infamous for doing? Does that not make you long for the days of freedom?

Sidenote: I don't approve of Nazi regime, so my remarks are not made with the intention of paying less respect to victims of their crimes. I am simply making a point.

 

[bonoman]

Mountain out of a molehill is right.

I only asked a question. Are we not aloud to do that.

Challanging authority is the right thing to do. If you dont challange authority you will end up like Iraq.

I am not againist not saying nazi. But it hasnt been a big deal in this forum.

Bringing this up is not the right thing to do. If you seen ppl using the word nazi brazenly then adress the person via email. This is something that will bring tention to the forum, the very thing you are trying to avoid.

You should be able to recongize posts that bring tention and unrest. you are a moderator and as a moderater I think you should use some judgement and close this thread and erase it!!!

 

[boywonder]

I'm kinda new to this forum, but here's my two cents on this:

Calling someone a Nazi is as bad as calling them the N word or anything else you can think of. It?s not cute. It?s not funny. And it?s certainly not clever.

If you're using the term "Nazism" to refer to the current administration, then you're making a comparison between a philosophy that favors a federally structured republic, with numerous restraints on the scope and power of government to interfere with individual rights or the free market and an ethnic-nationalist, atheistic, and socialist program of genocide and international aggression.

If you are calling a person a "Nazi" or making a comparison between that person and Hitler, then you're suggesting someone is advocating the murder of millions of people in gas chambers and a global Reich for the White Man. If the person to which the comparison is directed doesn't advocate the aforementioned principles, then you shouldn?t assume he?s a Nazi and you should know it?s pretty damn evil to call him one.

However, if you realize the vast difference, but you just think saying such things will get you more attention from the users, make you a hero to some constituency, or simply makes you sound impressive, then you deserve to be banned.

Interested to see what y'all think about that.

 

[Angela Harlem]

Thanks guys for all your thoughts. All your opinions are valid and I really hope no one thinks this is some power excercise by the moderators of this particular forum. It all comes down to the fact that this word is one of those few who manage to offend a wide range of people and due to not only its actual meaning, but it's colloquial connotations as well are something we think all of us collectively can refrain from using. You may view this a censorship, whether it is or isn't is not really germane to the decision to request it be left out of all debates bar those that deal specifically with Hitler and that period.

Bonoman you brought up a good point which I would like to address :
"Bringing this up is not the right thing to do. If you seen ppl using the word nazi brazenly then adress the person via email. This is something that will bring tention to the forum, the very thing you are trying to avoid.

You should be able to recongize posts that bring tention and unrest. you are a moderator and as a moderater I think you should use some judgement and close this thread and erase it!!!"

This method of dealing with this particular problem has been addressed in the manner you suggest. Unfortunately some people still continue to use this word, albeit not with frequecny, but enough to warrant a flat out statement for all to see that this is not an acceptable word. As moderators we endeavour to do exactly what you outline and that is close threads or leave a warning stating which behaviour is deemed as unacceptable. We all have a certain level of common sense in here, the moderators no more or less than any of you. Constantly jumping into threads with the sole intention of pointing out all flaws re: the nature of good debate only put us in a position of power that we do not wish to have, nor do we really have anyway.


Danospano:
"Does it strike anyone as ironic that certain rulemakers in this web community are instituting censorship of a word or idea? Something the Nazi's were infamous for doing? Does that not make you long for the days of freedom?"

This is a good example of what we are trying to show here. Do you think the comparison of the moderators of this forum for requesting the omission of one word to the Nazi's of Hitler's Germany is apt? Times past, the moderators here have been called Nazi's directly. That is offensive to those who are on the receiving end of such and those who are particularly sensitive to that term as an insult. I know you were using this to make your point and it is relevant so I dont mean you specifically, but for so many debates on various topics, do you really think it is a fair comparison to be making?

It is one word that we hope you can all have the common sense to replace with a less offensive term.

Or would you rather that this place became a free for all and anyone was free to use whatever language they choose regardless?

 

[daisybean]

I don't really think it's censorship to ask people not to use that word. All Pax and Angela are asking for is that people be considerate of others and think before they post. It is too easy to get angered by a thread (especially in here) and a common knee jerk reaction is to hurl insults.

 

[martha]

That brings up a good question. Can we call someone a "nazi" if it is refering to a person who's acting like a dictator? If this is banned, when indeed someone is acting like an arrogant, pompous ass-hole, why can't we call them nazis?

Shit, Dano. You just don't get it. First, it's spelled with a capital N. There is no use for the word with a lower-case n. Second, they weren't pompous, arrogant assholes. They were bent on destroying an entire race, and anyone else who didn't fit their narrow description of humans. So the way you want to use the word is inaccurate and over-reactive. Which is exactly what the mods and Joel are trying to stop. No one on a privately-owned internet fan site, on which you voluntarily post, needs to be called a dictator ar anything else like that. Find another way to express yourself. Broaden your experience and your vocabulary.

 

[diamond]

Shit, Dano. You just don't get it. First, it's spelled with a capital N. There is no use for the word with a lower-case n. Second, they weren't pompous, arrogant assholes. They were bent on destroying an entire race, and anyone else who didn't fit their narrow description of humans. So the way you want to use the word is inaccurate and over-reactive. Which is exactly what the mods and Joel are trying to stop. No one on a privately-owned internet fan site, on which you voluntarily post, needs to be called a dictator ar anything else like that. Find another way to express yourself. Broaden your experience and your vocabulary.

Ahem-
What the lady said..

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

as i've read more, i think i understand what the mods of fym are trying to get across...it would be okay to refer to someone as a nazi if there is reasonable evidence that there can be a comparison between the them, if that makes sense. but it's not okay to call someone that because, in essence, you can't think of any better insults.

in the past, it's seemed that those on the forum who've been called nazis have been called that without any real evidence as to what nazi-like things they've been doing. i hope this makes any sense.

Oh, and sorry about the lack of capitalization. Even in real life I don't capitalize, I just do for my scholastic writings.

 

[hiphop]

i am not upset. I hope in the what 12 words i used i didnt sound upset. i was wondering of this was something she was doing because SHE found it offenseive or if this has gone through joel.

I just think its censorship and i'm againist all censorship.

Just me. And just a simple question.!

That?s not censorship, and excuse me, but you must be below a certain intelligence level to think that this is censorship.

I agree with boywonder who actually put it quite well.

Remember there may be some Germans on this msg board who surely could be offended if words out of their political history are misinterpreted and used in this way. The horrible crimes committed by National Socialists are not comparable with everyday situations or persons. You might as well get sued for calling someone a Nazi, if you don?t have hard historical evidence.

 

[melon]

First off, if you are going to call someone a Nazi for being "like a dictator," why don't you call them a whole slew of other words: dictatorial, autocratic, totalitarian, imperial, Orwellian, Machiavellian, etc. I think they're sexier anyway.

Secondly, I find that there are really few places where the word, "Nazi," is actually appropriate. I recently called Pat Robertson one--only because of the fact that he has written many texts that are sympathetic to the cause, and has even denied the Holocaust's existence. However, as we all know, there are few people who are extreme as that, so, perhaps, we should attempt to expand our vocabulary on this board.

Melon

 

[nbcrusader]

First off, if you are going to call someone a Nazi for being "like a dictator," why don't you call them a whole slew of other words: dictatorial, autocratic, totalitarian, imperial, Orwellian, Machiavellian, etc. I think they're sexier anyway.

This is an overall great idea. It helps us think and expand our own vocabulary. It also helps focus our message. Throw in the term "Nazi" and people will miss your message and reply to the word choice.

 

[Lemon Meringue]

When people throw the word Nazi around, they often don't really know what it means. It is an easy way to get a rise out of someone else. I don't necessarily think the word sould be banned, but I think people should be much more careful about how they use it.

 

[pax]

Thank you, Lemon.

And now, this thread is getting closed--nothing else needs to be said about it. I'll leave it stuck for a little while, just to be sure all FYM regulars get a chance to see it.

 

[Elvis]

Thank you, Lemon.

And now, this thread is getting closed--nothing else needs to be said about it. I'll leave it stuck for a little while, just to be sure all FYM regulars get a chance to see it.

I just wanted to put my 2 cents in... although this thread has been closedfor over a month...

I did post about a year ago.. on this same topic, if you search for it.. u can find it.

I do not approve of the word 'Nazi' being used here unless in direct reference to Adolf Hitler, his army, the holocaust, etc.

In my not-so-humble opinion, being called 'Nazi' is about the worst insult one can be thrown - not to mention, a cowardly, and uneducated one (for the most part).