What have those ∞<◊#%>^*#%&?$ done now?!
Despite being literally “a day late” to this thread, I have to ask TFD, “are you trying to get yourself banned? Or are you just xxxxxxx xxxxxx?”
Question to “mods”: Can I say what I actually think about this? Or must I “shut-up”?
The Pit is the place to address an issue with another poster. 
Thank you for that clarification. Did I step over the line with item 5) in this post from the thread ‘Why do many people seem to think that the world will end on May 21, 2011’ in the General Questions Board?
What? You are just noticing now that any time authority exists, it can be abused? Did an abuse actually happen? If not, what’s your complaint? If so, what was it?
Right, since I don’t want to deal with the endlessness of a “Pitting”, then, I’ll just let it lie… &)(&(&%^%^%(*&&^%^&(&()*&&&%^$UYO
Oh, I forgot, xxxxx xx xxxxx xxx xxx xxxxx xx xxxx!!!
To my mind, letting it lie would entail not continuing to post. YMMV.
No warning issued, but try to be a nicer person. Seriously.
samclem Moderating.
Sorry guys, can’t help myself. That’s why I’m trying define the line. Should I just hit the little ! in the triangle and report myself?
Great Debates
Was the U.S. Civil War all about slavery?
I’d rather see these on a case-by-case basis. I’m not going to be able to give much of a bright line on that. In the first example, the OP was answered in the first few post. After that, some joking is permitted. Your post #5 certainly isn’t a personal attack, and it’s not against a poster. In context, it’s fine. If it were post number 2, it wouldn’t be appropriate. And it wouldn’t be appropriate to make the thread about your post. But from what I see there, I’m not worried.
The second one is not my forum. I’ll defer to the GD moderators.
In any case, we’ve gotten away from the personal attacks or profanity rules.
Thanks, I get it. Wasn’t considering the early posting thing. I’ll avoid that.
Oh, yeah, I did it again on the submarine bomb thread. I mean I had to really in that case. I’m feeling guilty about the potential of helping idiots kill themselves.
There was no warning here, but yes, I’m okay with warning people for insults even if childish gameplaying is used to cover up the words. If the meaning is clear, it’s still an insult. Otherwise we’re in a situation where posters get to insult each other but the mods have to stay out of it because of the cunning use of xxxx or $#!%. This doesn’t come up very much. Usually if people want to insult each other they want to make sure nobody can misunderstand what they are writing. 
Jesus, don’t you know sarcasm when you read it?
Furthermore, the Pit rules cover derivatives of those words. And if it wouldn’t be allowed in the Pit, why would be allowed in the more restrictive boards?
You are too generous with the use of the word “cunning”.
I see what you are saying but I think you are at the edge of some weird zone of slippery slopes. “Disguised insults” are a common thing in the daily talk of everyone, in and out of the boards. Effin’ A, geebus, sugarplum. You know what people are thinking when they say those yet you could probably even use them in court without getting a raised eyebrow from anyone.
For that matter, even a “Yes, sir” can mask a “fuck you”. Would you warn a “yes, sir” because you know that he is the kind of person that says “yes, sir” when he means “fuck you”?
I am not, for one second disputing what he meant by “xxxx xxx”. I just think that that is the type of things that you have to just roll your eyes and let go.
I like to give people a little credit when I can.
I’m not really worried about it. We’d never warn somebody here for saying something like geebus or effin’ a. Those aren’t insults, they’re minced oaths.
No, I wouldn’t. None of these are comparable to “xxxx xxx” for “fuck you.” The Flying Dutchman hasn’t said he meant anything else; he even edited the post to get the number of xs right. Ironic use of polite language is not something we’re going to moderate because it’s not insulting. It’s a polite way of communicating something impolite. [When I was on the debate team in high school, we were told we could use the phrase “my learned opponent” in a similar manner- and you can see politicians do the same thing.] “xxxx xxx” and “FU” are just different ways of writing the same insult, “fuck you.” “Yes sir” is not, it has a meaning of its own. So it’s not a problem. One or two people have asked us to warn Shodan for his “Regards,” signature because he’s acknowledged using it ironically, but even if you know that, it still isn’t an insult.
I thought I did that.
Fair enough then. xxxxxx.
As long as nobody’s xxxxxxxx.
Sugarplum is a masked insult?
I live a sheltered life.
What is it replacing?
Well, it could be a euphemism for shithead. But I’m thinking that some people might use it sarcastically, conveying by their tone that what is normally considered a term of endearment is intended as an insult. And of course online you can’t detect a poster’s tone.