I’m about to start a thread asking people to post their best foreign-language curses, but I want to make sure this is not illegal and I can’t get excommunicated from the SDMB for it. Could anyone help me out?
Go for it. I’d suggest for any English translations which involve curse words, you ask people to censor them, or the mods might come and f*** you up. If you really want to err on the side of caution, you can go ahead an email one of the forum mods and tell them about your proposed thread and ask for permission to post it.
Thanks a lot! I really wanted to do this thread, and now I can!
No, DON’T do it. We do have SOME standards, you know.
Lynn
For the Straight Dope
Or don’t.
oops.
My fault entirely. If it really is too messy, I apoligize and accept deletion of the post.
I dunno, Lynn. I think if posters adhere to the OP’s rules, the thread could be ok. Might bear watching though.
The answer is no. We are trying to run a really quality board here. And I, for one, do NOT have the time to babysit one thread so that someone can get giggles about dirty words in other languages. I don’t allow “best curses” in English, why would I allow it in other languages?
And please do not attempt to state policy decisions, as you did in your first post in this thread. Leave the moderating to the moderators.
Lynn
For the Straight Dope
Hi Lynn, I’m glad you’re feeling better. Please be kind to karamon, I think he mistook Q.E.D.'s reply as an official policy answer. Feel free to eat Q.E.D. alive, though. 
But I did have a question. I searched and found two previous “best curses” threads, which I’ll link here:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=163022
…which started in IMHO (where it probably should have stayed), got moved to the Pit, where it was locked with typical Bodoni flair. 
Now, if I may beg your pardon, how is it different from this one:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115825
…which started in the Pit over a year ago, and is still open.
Obviously, I can see that thread #2 was more creative and avoided using “vulgar” terms, whereas #1 was everyone attempting to out-pottymouth the other…what I don’t understand is, why should that make a difference? 
Yeah, ditto.
Nitpick. “She”, not “he”.
And, yes, I’m really sorry about the misunderstanding. Not that it makes a diference, but the original purpouse of the thread was not be vulgar or naughty or anything, I was just so taken with the content of this Pit post.
Anyhow, I guess I’m getting more of a feel for what kind of stuff is frowned upon here. Thanks, Q.E.D. for trying to help.
That wasn’t my intention. Nowhere did I state that my opinion was official policy. I agree that I could have made it more clear that that post was only my opinion.
<< Please be kind to karamon, I think he mistook Q.E.D.'s reply as an official policy answer. >>
And that’s the problem, Q.E.D., when you (or anyone) offers an opinion that should be referred to a Moderator. A statement that sounds definitive is taken as such, when it oughtn’t.
Please, stick to referring people to FAQ or restating published policy. That can be helpful. Treading into the quicksand of other areas can lead to…well… confrontation with Lynn.
I have to admit that I don’t really understand this decision (not that I have to). In the pit, people are regularly complimented on the complexity and vulgarity of their cursing in English.
I don’t really see how (and again, I don’t have to) posting a list of similarly colorful Spanish curses is somehow a level of depravity that would bring down the overall quality of the board.
First, I don’t allow threads that are only “Post your best curse!” in the Pit. Second, my Spanish is very rusty, and I cannot moderate what I cannot understand. Even if the poster provides a translation, I need to be able to understand the original language. I admit that I don’t read every thread in the Pit, so some might slip by me. Third, you DO NOT want to get into a…confrontation…with me. I am NOT in a good mood these days.
This is an excellent move on the part of all of us who aren’t – and I speak as a moderator on another board who knows full well what joy it is when a flamefight ensues because somebody attempts to play “Junior Mod.” against another poster, and you have to wade in with your bulletproof armor on and calm down both sides.
One thing that I’ve found is that, while it’s always nice to be able to refer someone to Arnold’s FAQ or a relatively official ruling by a Mod. or Admin. about how we do something, anyone who’s been around for more than a few weeks is aware of certain customs, standards, and guidelines that haven’t been officially promulgated (or at least not in a place where they’re readily accessible) but have, like Topsy, “just growed.”
I believe it’s quite appropriate, and appreciated by the actual staff, when those of us who know what these standards are from experience, will state in a gentle, non-confrontational manner, that our impression is that, e.g., “3. Hi Opal” is being discouraged, or that questions requesting not opinion or debate but factual answers should be placed in GQ, and that you can report your own OP to a Mod. to request that it be moved – and that they prefer that over a second post making that request, because it brings it to their attention faster.
This does not constitute playing “Junior Mod.” but merely lending a helping hand to both the (presumable) newbie and the Mod. who can, if necessary, come along later and confirm or modify the statement.
It’s important in such a post to include, “I think that…” or “My impression is…” or similar phrasing, so that you don’t sound like you’re claiming authority you don’t have. And anyone doing it needs to remember what it was like when he/she first joined the boards, and not use any sort of ridicule or confrontationalism in making such a suggestion.
Real Mods.? Have I stated this accurately? Am I correct in believing that posts of that sort are helpful rather than a problem?
I believe there have been precedents where non-english language threads were closed by moderators for reasons Lynn outlines.
Further, it is my understanding that a thread in GQ asking for a specific translation, or a question asking to identify a given language (or maybe even a thread asking for the appropriate phrase to greet someone in a foreign language) will be dealt with differently from a thread in the Pit that asks everyone to contribute with their favourite foreign language curses.
Disclaimer: These are my personal views on the subject and are in no way associated with official board policy. For official policy decisions please refer to a moderator.
It wasn’t my intention to be confrontational, I just didn’t (and don’t) understand why the content in that thread was any worse than dozens of other things that get said near daily.
However, the moderating an unknown foreign language issue is a very good point and I should have considered it. Especially since that is the reason I don’t allow foreign language posts on one of the boards I moderate.
Nice thought, Poly, but the Moderators generally disagree with you, for three reasons:
(1) There are plenty of people who have been around a long time who still don’t really “get” the rules, although they think they do.
(2) We would prefer not to have to make distinctions between someone who is “playing ‘Junior Mod’” and someone who is “lending a helping hand.” The line can be a fine one, and we don’t really want to have to justify slapping X on the wrist for usurpation while not scolding Y for just being helpful.
(3) Assume that Moderator response is fairly slow, say 24 hours. We think it is far more confusing for a new member to be told something by a “helping hand” and then have a Moderator reverse it a day later; rather than just to have to wait a day until a Moderator can respond to a question.
If an experienced member sees something that is covered by a FAQ or Sticky Thread or whatever, it’s OK (and appreciated) to point to that FAQ or Sticky Thread or whatever. But let’s leave it at that. Any other situation where you think a Moderator will or should respond, please just hit REPORT THIS POST TO A MODERATOR. We appreciate your intention to be helpful, but the practical consequences are awkward and confusing.
You bring up several good points, Dex.
How about this - in all seriousness. Have you considered making a Rule such that only Staff can respond to a post here in ATMB? Since most questions are “how do I do this?” (which can be answered in the FAQ) or “is it acceptable to do this?” (which should only be answered by Staff), then maybe you should “close” (via Rules, not via software) the Forum for all except the original posters of the question?
I mean, there are many technical questions about the workings of the Board posed here (often answered incorrectly by people), and there are questions about the Reader, financial status, etc. (also often answered incorrectly or only partially correctly by people). But all of those could, over time, be added to the FAQ as well. And since complaints belong only in the Pit…there’s not a whole lot left.
What I am suggesting is that one possible scenario might be to only allow Staff to answer questions, so there’s no confusion ever again on what is the “Straight Dope” on the “Straight Dope”?
PS - weren’t you going to send me something this week to look at? 
Thanks for the clarification, Dex, and I’ll avoid doing what you proscribe in the future. And I appreciate your seeing it in the spirit it was offered.