# Announcement—in re: Overly Graphic Titles & Posts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 19, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067 "2001-07-19T16:51:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/21 "2001-07-20T00:06:54Z")
I understand the reason behind it, As well as the cause, but the application of the rule seems to be a grey area. For instance, a title containing the words “zipper, balls and ass” or “red tide” is considered as too vulgar and offensive, yet a thread title containing the words “dumbass, and Asian sex” is acceptable? And how far does it go? Just about anything can be misinterpreted and viewed as offensive. “… Is hard”, “lunch box”, “I like my women”, “short”, “black”, “willy”, etc, can all be viewed as something sexual, demeaning or racist by someone, somewhere.
Perhaps it’s because I still consider myself new around here, so I wonder why there is so much concern over peoples feelings in one board, and none whatsoever in another where vulgarity is actually “recommended” (for lack of a better word) yet doesn’t have an age restriction. Perhaps it is because I simply can’t imagine a thread title that would offend me and can’t understand people being offended by a thread title in what they know is such a diverse message board area. Yes, there are words and phrases that I don’t like, and perhaps even feel sickened by. However, I don’t find them offensive, unless they are directed towards me personally. Yes, I understand that some people can be. But when people are asked to simply use their best judgement, people will continue to offend and be offended. It’s the nature of people. If I say “I’m drunk”, and an Aussie, er… I mean, a person who currently has, as his manner of speaking, the qualites normally associated with those who reside in Australia, says “I’m pissed”, is he wrong to post it here? And I know… I just know, that I’ll get flamed hard because of my misinterpretation, and what I just wrote being misinterpreted, but again, it’s the nature of people.
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### Author:  [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/22 "2001-07-20T00:09:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BlackKnight \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \*
> > \*\*Maybe we oughta have a TMI forum so people can talk about testicles and hairy asses and herpes and constipation and slimy things and things that ooze and other stuff without fear of crossing anyone. \*\*
>
> The problem with that idea being that then nobody would ever bother to visit the other forums. 😃
>
> Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with titles like “So I was shaving my cunt”. I don’t mind words when they aren’t being used to insult or defame someone. _shrug_ Just my two cents. \*\*
Alright BlackKnight! I with you. It’s just like George Carlin said: “there are no bad words, just bad intentions”
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### Author:  [@Peregrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peregrine)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/24 "2001-07-20T04:55:17Z")
**bigguy,** you are just not looking hard enough:
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Scylla \*(in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78389) thread)
> \*\*I crap bigger than Fenris. \*\*
This board has _everything_.
Regarding the OP, I notice that **UncleBeer** just asked us to exercise more restraint – he didn’t say how much restraint. We still have the freedom we have come to expect, together with a responsibility to show we deserve it.
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### Author:  [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/25 "2001-07-20T04:57:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bigguy \*
> \*\*Complete agreement with the moderator…seems the level continues to get lower and lower, disgusting to some of us. Of course you are all entitled to YOUR opinion, but those of us who find you bottom dwellers are not entitled to ours. \*\*
You obviously ARE entilted to your opinion, as it seems to me you just aired it. You had a full month and a half since you’ve been registered to post your views in IMHO or the Pit before now. Or were some of the more sick and pathetic SDMB members physically restraining you from doing so?
To the mods - I’m not trying to stir the pot, but for right now I think this is BS. I can understand not wanting cybersex on the boards or graphic depictions of sexual acts or violence, but what is the mods definition of graphic?
(And please, no one cut & paste the Merriam-Webster definition for me. I want to know what’s graphic to the mods, not a textbook definition.)
I’m holding off on complaining about it in the Pit until I get more input on this. I’m seriously wondering what will and won’t be allowed. Do we have any concrete guidelines or is it a judgment call by the mods?
What about the myriad of threads about shaving one’s pubic hairs, or Satan’s thread that made [Threadspotting](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=15773)!
I think it’s only fair we know where the lines are before we get jumped for crossing them.
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### Author:  [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/26 "2001-07-20T05:02:21Z")
_originally posted by bigguy_
> [@](#):
>
> Sick group you are to a great extent. Pathetic. Just surprising to not find a discussion re the size of your turds.
Speaking of which, just got back from the men’s room and BOY! you ought to have seen the size of those beauties! I flushed and flushed, but they wouldn’t go down until I reached in and squished them up with my fingers. Now I gotta go and have lunch. Meatloaf sandwiches again!
Welcome to the Boards, bigguy. Enjoy!
Brownboss
[sub]well he asked for it![/sub]
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### Author:  [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/27 "2001-07-20T05:04:01Z")
that is the worst thing I have ever written on these boards. I might retire for a while. sorry everybody.
redface
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### Author:  [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/28 "2001-07-20T05:11:31Z")
Redboss, I think my turd was much larger than yours
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### Author:  [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/29 "2001-07-20T08:08:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by **Peregrine** \*
> Regarding the OP, I notice that **UncleBeer** just asked us to exercise more restraint – he didn’t say how much restraint. We still have the freedom we have come to expect, together with a responsibility to show we deserve it.
Hear, hear. Can we get this straight?
Of course these rules are subjective. Of course there’s a grey area (btw, may I refer you to the [ATMB thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78297&pagenumber=1) (go about halfway down page 1, after all the ‘hoo-ha’ treatment, for the conversation on vulgarity) that may have some bearing on this discussion). Our moderators are only human, so any rules they apply will be applied subjectively. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s not forget that UncleBeer didn’t threaten to start changing titles and deleting threads left and right. He didn’t say the mods were gonna start cracking down on posters who repeatedly post risque material. He just asked us to exercise some common sense and restraint. Is that too much for us to handle?
He’s just asking us to _acknowledge_ that there might be others out there, reading and/or posting, that might be offended by some of this stuff. Of course, I know, someone will always be offended by something. That is not the point. The point is that we are being asked to notice that the lewd-o-meter on the board may have escalated of late, and to keep that in mind when posting. _Not that big a deal_.
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### Author:  [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/30 "2001-07-20T11:10:43Z")
Restraint is good, this is after all a board open to all. There are children that read the board that may not post here, especially the funnier threads. When you post a title just keep in mind what you would want your kid to read.
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### Author:  [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/31 "2001-07-20T13:02:34Z")
My apologies on my recent soup thread. I noticed that the title had been changed, and now I know why.
It won’t happen again.
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### Author:  [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/32 "2001-07-20T15:33:01Z")
I certainly understand why **SolarPhallusMan** ’s thread title was changed. I really don’t understand why **Tequila Mockingbird** ’s thread title was changed, when **Odieman** ’s thread from a few weeks ago morphed into [Bare Naked Tits w. Erect Nipples, Legs, Abortion, Penis Beer, Guns, and Coldy Bashing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=75668). Neither thread was about what one might think from the title.
Also, **UncleBeer** ’s OP mentions not just thread titles, but post content. Would my [BZZZZZZZZ… Efficacy of Vibrators](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=38339) from last year now be considered too lewd for this forum?
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### Author:  [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/33 "2001-07-20T15:45:28Z")
I guess I read it as referring to thread titles only, not to content.
People seem to be good about putting _spoilers_ or _TMI_ in a thread title if it’s a subject of that nature.
I don’t understand all the uproar. It’s just about being polite to those who have different (not better, just different) standards than others.
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### Author:  [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/34 "2001-07-20T15:49:31Z")
It seems to me that this is simply a reminder to common sense.
Some threads are going to have sexual content, rough language, and what have you, and they will be good threads.
But, it seems there’s an awful lot of threads where it’s just gratuitous, and doesn’t benefit the content. It’s not funny, it’s not informative, it doesn’t make one think.
It’s just tittilation without purpose.
If this were the cybersex message board. It would belong here. It’s not.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/35 "2001-07-20T15:58:11Z")
Freedom of the Press is limited to those who own a press.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/36 "2001-07-20T16:11:47Z")
Since when could we get graphics into titles, anyway? Shit, we can’t even do quotes without resorting to trickery! I tried doing a lousy SMILIE once and it barfed. I can see why you want us to keep graphics out of posts, with the way they eat bandwidth. But I wouldn’t mind it if they were supplied by **Tequila Mockingbird** —there are advantages to this T1 line.
BTW, it can get a little too gross around here, but I’m a bit of a prig. I thought I was a bigger one but then **Bigguy** signed up. 😉 But I agree with **Scylla** , which is unusual on its own. 😉
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### Author:  [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/37 "2001-07-20T16:38:51Z")
Porcupine,
Vibra… Vibr… Vib… Vuhhhhhhh.
Excuse me, I have to find a paper bag to breathe into.
🙂
In my opinion, that post of yours would be perfectly acceptable with only a few minor changes. I hope you don’t mind, but as an example, I have reposted it here with some insignificant changes in italics:
Something that been keeping me up nights… _not to imply in any way that insomnia is a bad thing, as I’m aware that it is a condition afflicting many people and my heart goes out to them_😉
A number of months ago I decided I needed some _devices used to create further enjoyment of physical sensations_ so I purchased a couple of things from _a web based company that sells such items, the url of which I cannot share due to the fact that it could be viewed as offensive to some_, including a _personal massaging and muscle relaxation device_. I have never had a problem having a _point of maximum intensity of sensory pleasure in the area of my anatomy that is designed for reproduction_ (and another and another) _not to say that individuals who are not able to reach that stage repeatedly are any less human as this is something that afflicts several people and my heart goes out to them_, but I figured I would \ expand my repertoire.
Based on reputation, I expected new heights of ecstasy from my friendly _personal massaging and muscle relaxation device_, but that’s not what happens. Pleasant sensations, certainly. But nothing even close to getting me to the edge, much less over it. And yes, I’m pretty sure I’m doing it right ;).
Is this unusual? Am I some kind of _person who is wrongly considered as abnormal in the general sense of the word, as applied to society as a whole, the type of people that my heart goes out to because of the senseless and cruel treatment that they bravely endure_?
And I do prefer _the interaction with other individuals, but am not afforded the opportunity at this time, not to imply in any way that my situation is any better or worse than the alternatives that other people currently have_
BTW, I was quite pleased with the _object that is used to simulate a portion of the male reproductive anatomy._
My apolgies to the mods in advance if this post is breaking any rules, as my intent was not to cause any further dissent.
No, that wasn’t a sarcastic remark.
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### Author:  [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/38 "2001-07-20T18:03:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bigguy \*
> **…Sick group you are to a great extent. Pathetic…**
Hey, **bigguy**!
…good to see you back, buddy! Thought we saw the last of you after your “You (Dopers) are such a bunch of sick perverted losers…” thread was closed. Your quote:
> [@](#):
>
> **do you think you might ever get a REAL life instead of living on this freak show of a site? You have my pity. Get a life.**
…led me to believe you were pretty disgusted with the lot of us and would never come back. Now we discover you continue to hang out here, lurking. Good for you! See? You’re just as dark and twisted and sick as the rest of us, only you’re too _cowardly_ to post more frequently. Admit it: this board _fascinates_ you.
Stand up and say it: **"Hi. I’m bigguy and I’m a pervert."**
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### Author:  [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/39 "2001-07-20T18:06:08Z")
“Tittilate”
[Sounds of muffled laughter]
I agree with the Mod, et. al. Nobody’s asking you to refrain from using ANY vulgarity or discussing ANY blue topic. It does seem reasonable, however, to simply recognize where you are and the context of the postings.
I am not a big curser, and not a big Pit Poster. (Based on my count, not a big anywhere poster) But anyway, I have used a few bad words in non-Pit forums. They were, however isolated and in context.
All Mr. Beer is asking is that people who don’t want to hear a jarbaby-esque stream of words that would make a longshoreman blush not be required to. If I see a title that refers to shaving one’s nether regions, if I want to get graphic descriptions, I will open it. If I don’t, I won’t open it.
If you are in a crowded bus, you wouldn’t (I hope) use the same language that you would on the bus that says on the front “Next stop, Potty-mouth-opolis.”
Just like most of you don’t want to be forced to listen to someone’s witnessing, some people don’t want to be forced to hear your dirty words. Just say what it’s about. If they want to go further, they can.
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### Author:  [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/40 "2001-07-20T18:22:22Z")
ooops.
Sorry, **UncleBeer** …I know this isn’t the place for personal attacks, especially when they have nothing to do with your OP.
…because actually, I agree, particularly in regard to thread _titles_.
…it’s just that hypocrites like **bigguy** , who, in both of his posts, has been didactic and judgemental in his sweeping generalizations of SDMB’rs of how deviant we all are, then continues to check out this site to fuel his need for so-called perversions. Like Edwin Meese, only _he_ is mature and sensible and strong-willed enough to handle such depravity and the rest of us aren’t.
My apologizes to you and everyone here for my untimely rant.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-in-re-overly-graphic-titles-posts/73067/41 "2001-07-20T18:31:41Z")
[hijack]
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Abe Babe \*
> **a jarbaby-esque stream of words that would make a longshoreman blush**
Ah, part of the girl’s charm. You’d think that, living about twenty miles apart, I’d manage to have met her by now.
[/hijack]
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