OT- Private Messages

[Mike D.]

I recently noticed that so called PMs are "edited for content". That being said, be careful what you type in a "Private Message" because someone is watching. In the future, I will be using email as a method of contacting fellow levergunners.

[DBW]

It's not that anyone is reading PM's... it's likely that those words that are dubbed offensive are also automatically edited the same as on the forum posts.

[J Miller]

Yeah, we gotta an electronic censor on the forum. It don't trust us even in the privacy of the Private Message section.

If I find the little troll I'm gonna zap him with my Phaser.

Joe

[pharmseller]

Yeah, we gotta an electronic censor on the forum. It don't trust us even in the privacy of the Private Message section.

If I find the little troll I'm gonna zap him with my Phaser.

Joe

Set on stun?


P

[Old Ironsights]

I don't believe the software has the capability to censor only certain sections. It's all or nothing.

So, regardless of where you are within this software package you cant say (censored, censored, censored or censored, among other censored words... even when they are legitimate, such as the three lettered word for "cry with deep emotion" that begins with S and ends with B because the sum beaching machine can't determine context... )

[Hobie]

The automatic word censor works on PMs as well as posts. You can turn off the word censor in your preferences. I assure you, I have neither the time nor the desire to poke around PMs. Criminy...

[Sixgun]

I assure you, I have the time or the desire to poke around PMs.

OK Hobie, which is it you have.......the "time" or the "desire"? -----------Sixgun

[AmBraCol]

Unfortunately, some folks don't self police. So we've gotta run the word censor. This is a family oriented place and some folks either don't care or their family has far lower standards than the one that set up the forum in the first place. As mentioned above, the censor works at all levels. No one is prying in your PM's. It's part of the software that runs the whole shebang. Sure wish it were not so - but such is the nature of dealing with folks who don't understand the meaning of "polite discourse" as in "we discuss just about anything - politely". Anyway, sir, no one is poking around in private messages. We've got lives to lead. And what I'm referring to is NOT the content of your PM's (there's no way I could know what's in one unless addressed to me personally) it's a reference to how folks have attempted to turn this place into the same type of place as so many other forums on the net. There's plenty of places one can discuss guns and use crude and profane language. This, however, is not one of them. And since we have to run the censor on the forum it overflows into the PM section as well by default.

[pokey]

I assure you, I have the time or the desire to poke around PMs.

OK Hobie, which is it you have.......the "time" or the "desire"? -----------Sixgun

ha? fruedian slip?

[Mike D.]

OMG! The "offensive" word in question was CR*P. It's sad that a simple definitive can offend someone. Oh well, all the more reason to use email.

[Bear 45/70]

Talk about PC.

[Blaine]

Luckly, I'm a perfect gentleman......

[Hobie]

I assure you, I have the time or the desire to poke around PMs.

OK Hobie, which is it you have.......the "time" or the "desire"? -----------Sixgun

I fixed it.

[mikld]

First off, let me say this is my all time favorite forum, and I mean no offence to anyone here. Take this as an observation only.

I find it funny that a group that believes as strongly in freedoms granted us by the Founding Fathers as the majority on this forum, uses censorship to temper the speech used in posts. Then it is justified by "can't self police", "moderatore don't read PMs", "...it's all or nothing with the electronic censor" and so on. Would Mr. Jefferson allow his writing to be censored for "nasty" words? So all you freedom loving souls (can I say souls?), Big Brother invades even the Pro-Gun, Pro-Freedon Forums!

Rant off, and let the flames begin...

[Ysabel Kid]

Luckly, I'm a perfect gentleman......

So where'd you stash the real BlaineG then?

[AmBraCol]

First off, let me say this is my all time favorite forum, and I mean no offence to anyone here. Take this as an observation only.

I find it funny that a group that believes as strongly in freedoms granted us by the Founding Fathers as the majority on this forum, uses censorship to temper the speech used in posts. Then it is justified by "can't self police", "moderatore don't read PMs", "...it's all or nothing with the electronic censor" and so on. Would Mr. Jefferson allow his writing to be censored for "nasty" words? So all you freedom loving souls (can I say souls?), Big Brother invades even the Pro-Gun, Pro-Freedon Forums!

Rant off, and let the flames begin...

Flames? No need for flames. The internet is a wide open space where you can find places that meet your needs/desires. You can find plenty of places where every kind of profanity is not only permitted but is the norm. To find a place where polite speech is not only encouraged but required is not as easy. No one obligates anyone to come here or to communicate with anyone here on any level. We all come and hang out because we enjoy the camaraderie and the atmosphere. The requirement to use polite speech is part of the attraction. We try to maintain a place where ANYONE in the family can feel at home. From the maiden great aunt down to the five year old with a Daisy Red Ryder. From the very beginning it's been called "Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com Forum" - which indicates that the standards in place are the standards set by a certain person.

Here's an example. I have a very strict policy in my own home. No fighting or arguing. If someone doesn't like that, no problem. They are free to leave - under their own power or mine, their choice. The funny thing is - folks feel at home in our place. Many, many people have said, "I feel at peace here." Even folks who visit for the first time, folks we've never met before, have mentioned this to us. Why? Because we set a standard and we stand behind that standard. To this day I've only had to eject one person from my home. And they are not welcome back until they decide to hold to my standard. They can fuss, fight, scream, argue and curse all they want. Just not in my home. Funny thing is, that person I ejected is a family member. And each time I say "We'll give that person another chance." that person has repaid me by disrespecting my standards. No telling WHEN I'll feel like saying, "OK, let's give 'em another chance." But it's up to that person to either meet my standards or stay away. Again, I'm not infringing on that person's right to freedom of expression at all. They can express themselves anyway they want. But so can I. Their right does not trump my right to run my place to suit myself.

And that translates to the mode of conduct that is used here on this forum. It is NOT a "public forum" in the sense that the public sets the standards. A lot of the guys have ponied up the cash to help pay for the costs of running the place - but the forum is the private property of an individual and thus it is run by that individual's standards. We are all welcome to either abide by the standards or find a place more to our liking. Me? I like it here. You'd have a hard time finding a curse word I've never heard. And you'd never find one that would impress me. I've heard it all before and find that it adds nothing to polite discourse. If I felt this place was too restrictive of my right to express myself I'd have no trouble finding a dozen sites that would meet a far lower standard.

Most of the folks here are happy with the way it's run. And that's what makes this a great place to hang one's @. We can discuss 'most anything here - politely. That pretty much sums it up. The code of conduct starts at the door. In either direction. All we ask is that folks abide by the house rules. We are all, after all, virtual guests in Paco's virtual living room. When we start acting by our own rules then we are forgetting that we're guests. And that's not polite. Shucks, Hobie's reigned me in too when I forgot to be polite. Thanks Hobie. I noticed and I thank you.

[Hobie]

Paul,

We all go over the edge some time or another. I've done it, too! And please note that your ministry extends to Staunton, VA!

But enough of the mutual admiration society (even if it is deserved).

I've been around the world, in the military, and I can cuss in 4 different languages (even in sign language). But being able to do a thing doesn't mean I should do it. I absolutely don't use that language around my wife, mother, daughters or other family women and I don't do so around children either. Heck, I don't cuss around women who are cussing in front of me. That is wrong in my book. I know that you wouldn't want me to walk up to your wife or daughter and use foul language. There are WOMEN and CHILDREN on this forum. They are due OUR respect.

[AmBraCol]

And there are MINISTERS on the forum too!!

It cracks me up when someone says "Watch your language, the preacher's here!" If they don't mind using language like that in front of God Almighty - who am I to warrant more respect? Unless, of course, we're on MY turf in MY home. And then it's my rules - like it or not. But here it's Paco's rules and the main one is polite language - even when we disagree with someone.

The main problem is, it sometimes takes a LOT more effort to get one's point across politely than it would to simply resort to foul language and ad hominem attacks.

[Bear 45/70]

Luckly, I'm a perfect gentleman......

So where'd you stash the real BlaineG then?

He's wrapped up in a pod that this new Blaine keeps locked out in the shed by his carport.

[Goat]

One of the reasons that this is my absolute favorite website is the fact that I do NOT have to worry about what I see here. I appreciate the fact that this is a family oriented site and foul or abusive language or personal attacks are not tolerated. I am a former full time pastor and presently serve as an assistant pastor where we attend. But, I work in the real world where I have and continue to hear it all. I do not have to tolerate it in my own home and will not allow it to go on in front of my two small children. I for one am MOST grateful that this site is "polite." If some one wants to use the kind of language that the moderators and owners consider offensive then they have the right to go somewhere else. Thank you for having standards and sticking to them!!!
Goat

[41 Redhawk]

First off, let me say this is my all time favorite forum, and I mean no offence to anyone here. Take this as an observation only.

I find it funny that a group that believes as strongly in freedoms granted us by the Founding Fathers as the majority on this forum, uses censorship to temper the speech used in posts. Then it is justified by "can't self police", "moderatore don't read PMs", "...it's all or nothing with the electronic censor" and so on. Would Mr. Jefferson allow his writing to be censored for "nasty" words? So all you freedom loving souls (can I say souls?), Big Brother invades even the Pro-Gun, Pro-Freedon Forums!

Rant off, and let the flames begin...

Flames? No need for flames. The internet is a wide open space where you can find places that meet your needs/desires. You can find plenty of places where every kind of profanity is not only permitted but is the norm. To find a place where polite speech is not only encouraged but required is not as easy. No one obligates anyone to come here or to communicate with anyone here on any level. We all come and hang out because we enjoy the camaraderie and the atmosphere. The requirement to use polite speech is part of the attraction. We try to maintain a place where ANYONE in the family can feel at home. From the maiden great aunt down to the five year old with a Daisy Red Ryder. From the very beginning it's been called "Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com Forum" - which indicates that the standards in place are the standards set by a certain person.

Here's an example. I have a very strict policy in my own home. No fighting or arguing. If someone doesn't like that, no problem. They are free to leave - under their own power or mine, their choice. The funny thing is - folks feel at home in our place. Many, many people have said, "I feel at peace here." Even folks who visit for the first time, folks we've never met before, have mentioned this to us. Why? Because we set a standard and we stand behind that standard. To this day I've only had to eject one person from my home. And they are not welcome back until they decide to hold to my standard. They can fuss, fight, scream, argue and curse all they want. Just not in my home. Funny thing is, that person I ejected is a family member. And each time I say "We'll give that person another chance." that person has repaid me by disrespecting my standards. No telling WHEN I'll feel like saying, "OK, let's give 'em another chance." But it's up to that person to either meet my standards or stay away. Again, I'm not infringing on that person's right to freedom of expression at all. They can express themselves anyway they want. But so can I. Their right does not trump my right to run my place to suit myself.

And that translates to the mode of conduct that is used here on this forum. It is NOT a "public forum" in the sense that the public sets the standards. A lot of the guys have ponied up the cash to help pay for the costs of running the place - but the forum is the private property of an individual and thus it is run by that individual's standards. We are all welcome to either abide by the standards or find a place more to our liking. Me? I like it here. You'd have a hard time finding a curse word I've never heard. And you'd never find one that would impress me. I've heard it all before and find that it adds nothing to polite discourse. If I felt this place was too restrictive of my right to express myself I'd have no trouble finding a dozen sites that would meet a far lower standard.

Most of the folks here are happy with the way it's run. And that's what makes this a great place to hang one's @. We can discuss 'most anything here - politely. That pretty much sums it up. The code of conduct starts at the door. In either direction. All we ask is that folks abide by the house rules. We are all, after all, virtual guests in Paco's virtual living room. When we start acting by our own rules then we are forgetting that we're guests. And that's not polite. Shucks, Hobie's reigned me in too when I forgot to be polite. Thanks Hobie. I noticed and I thank you.

Excellent post! Thanks!

[Blaine]

The bad words have taken care of theirself. PC, polite, etc is sometimes in the eye of the beerholder and is selectivly perceived, and enforced That is, of course, IMO.