Profanity Rule: How much is excessive? What's Okay?

1. 76

   DJ Funktualposted 16 years ago

   I would like a clarification on the profanity rules.  If I wanted to post a video that had limited explicit language is this okay?   It certainly would be the video time I ever used a song with a curse, does that matter?  Am I penalized based on a hubber flagging it?  I just need a clarification. 
   
   Follow-up question.  Say I posted a Hip-Hop video that has no cursing but uses the n-word casually.  Is this a no-no too?   
   
   Final Question: What are the ramifications?  Do I just get a note from hubpages telling me to take it down or do they just shut me down altogether after a first offense?

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2. 68

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

   http://hubpages.com/faq/#adult_topics
   
   "If you are unsure if your content is allowed, please contact us for a clarification before publishing your hub."
   
   http://hubpages.com/email/help/

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   1. 76

      DJ Funktualposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks again to stacie.  I thought this one was a cut and dry subject but no.
      
      THE RULES or so..
      
      1st and foremost...if you WARN the reader ahead of time that what they are about to be viewing has explicit material then they can't bitch about what they CHOOSE TO SEE.
      
      If a song or a piece of art has a isolated use of one of George Carlin's 7 dirty words, even fuck...it's okay as long as it isn't hateful.  The four letter word that begins with a c is a no brainer.  Untouchable. Don't do it.
      
      Best Example of what's okay: Creep by Radiohead when he says 'I'm so fu@kin' special' under his breath.
      
      EXAMPLE of what is too far.  Killing in the Name by Rage Against The Machine is just too extreme.  If you don't know it they repeat the phrase "F U I won't do what you tell me." like a dozen times. 
      
      MIDDLE GROUND>>  There is alot of it between these 2 examples.  Use your head and if you think it might be a problem, do exactly what Stacie told me to do....
      
      EMAIL hubpages... but when you do so, be nice.  They take the time to deal with each individual question from us usually very quickly.  No one is out to get you.  You shouldn't look at the moderator as an authority figure but rather as a guide.  If you were on safari, you would ask b4 eating or touching anything that might hurt you right?  Be safe.
      
      RACIAL EXAMPLE: I also asked to hubpages to clarify the issue of hip-hop's casual use of the n-word.  It is a very dangerous grey area is the best way to describe their response.  I have been pretty disappointed at the lack of response to anything hip-hop related though by any authority figure anywhere.  Preconception is a bitch is all I'm saying.  Trying to get people raised on Rock to even try it is like trying to convince someone at Foxnews to care about Global Warming.  Ears wide shut. 
      
      I hope this helps anyone else who was walking the fine line.
      Peace,
      Jamie

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3. 73

   Maddie Ruudposted 16 years ago

   Just to clarify, the examples above are DJ's, not HubPages'.  It's hard to make an official ruling on this topic, but here's what I can say on the subject:
   
   --Use good judgement.  A spare cussword here and there isn't going to bring down the law on your head, but inserting an expletive into every other sentence is obviously gratuitous.  Regarding YouTube videos, which is what DJ originally contacted me about, don't use anything that's been flagged for the over 18 audience only.  That seems pretty self-evident.
   
   --Err on the side of caution.  Chances are, your point can be made just as well without the excessive use of profanity.  Where videos are concerned, you may want to add a disclaimer (as DJ mentioned above), warning the viewer that the video contains language that may be offensive to some.
   
   --Be prepared.  Even taking the steps above does not guarantee you won't get complaints.  If you're receiving a lot of negative feedback (especially from other members of the community), you may want to think about scaling back the hub in question and being more judicious in future.  If we at HubPages receive complaints, we may ask you to revise the hub.  As with any moderation, please don't take this personally, and understand that the community's reaction can't always be gauged accurately beforehand, but better dealt with afterwards.

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