Since when is buffy an insulting term???

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Syzygys, Feb 17, 2010.

  1. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,252
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,671
    You talk too much and I am not sure what your question refers to.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Anyway, in the Assguard case it is actually lengthening the name not shortening it and pretty obviously meant as an insult. Every example is different, but I think the intention most of the time IS pretty clear.

    I have to completely agree with Fraggy* (meant kindly) that how does ALL members know the individual member's preference? It is simply ridiculous to expect. Just like to expect hard to spell or very long names to be spelled out completely when referenced or addressed. Not gonna happen....

    * Froggy would have been slightly insulting
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. stateofmind seeker of lies Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,362
    ...but you can't give someone a wet willy or a swirly on the internet... Everyone get their kid gloves on!
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,671
    Exactly. There was a reason I posted this under Linguistics and not About the members... This is a simple language issue...

    I also agree that it is whimpy and crybaby behaviour to complain about such a small thing and to demand moderator's action.

    After all BR calls pjdude as pj which is insulting because it refers to him as a pijama....
     
  8. sifreak21 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,671
    and in all honesty if you warned one person about shortening the name you should go back thru the forums and every single person who made that offense should get the warning i know im guilty of it i call dywyddyr dyw and many others too just tell the people to changer there name.. or sack up one of the 2 imo
     
  9. sifreak21 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,671
    its just a very slippery sloap in all reality
     
  10. WillNever Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,595
    That's idiotic. People call me "Will" on this forum all the time. James R does that a lot; should he ban himself for disrespecting my username..? Jesus H. Christ.

    Baron Max is called "baron," "max," or "bm." madanthonywayne is called "madanthony" and "MAW." Norsefire gets called "Norse." Fragglerocker gets called "Fraggle," shorty_37 gets called "shorty," Nietzschefan gets called "nietzsche," cluelesshusband gets called "clueless."

    ...and the list goes on and on, and I haven't seen those people state anywhere that their names may be shortened. The moderators themselves do this routinely. Well, if it's wrong in one situation, then it's wrong in ALL situations. Making exceptions for people who act like babies (buffalo roam) is sheer hypocrisy. Either stick to your principles or don't.
     
  11. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    72,825
    I'm pretty sure he's called me Spam too.

    Yup, right here



    As well as:
    http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?p=1708678&highlight=spam#post1708678
    http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?p=1708668&highlight=spam#post1708668

    http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?p=1706969&highlight=spam#post1706969

    http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?p=1706149&highlight=spam#post1706149

    And thats just a few of them from the first page on the search results

    On a side note, I notice that the graphic image warning [or absence thereof] also appears to work in the same direction.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2010
  12. stateofmind seeker of lies Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,362
    It may be childish to make fun of someone's name but only wusses tattle. The wusses get theirs when they're walking home from the bus one day.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  13. WillNever Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,595
    Hahahahaha. What a sorry hypocrite, and what pathetic modding.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  14. sifreak21 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,671
    lol i think buffalo opend up a can of worms on himself
     
  15. joepistole Deacon Blues Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    22,910
    Agreed, I think it is indicative of someone with a very thin skin - someone who is very insecure in their own skin.
     
  16. Trippy ALEA IACTA EST Staff Member

    Messages:
    10,890
    Maybe it's just a simple case of machismo.

    According to thinkbabynames.com

    The origin of Buffy as a name is as a pet form of Elizabeth.

    I can kinda see how a guy who has elsewhere on the forum, displayed plenty of machismo for example here, especially this reference:

    Essentially, he's wanting to compare dick sizes, but frankly i'm not that kind of guy. I almost addressed him as Buffy in a post the other day, but I decided against precisely because I forsaw that given the level of machismo BR has displayed in my previous encounters with him, that he was likely to take offense at being tagged with an effeminate nickname.

    Personally I think a more constructive way of handling the situation would have been this rather than running to the mods.
     
  17. Randwolf Ignorance killed the cat Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,201
    I agree with those who have said that this whole topic is childish and much ado about nothing.

    However, since shortening of names seems to offend some people, under some circumstances and offense can be deliberate in some cases, I suppose something must be done.

    I would suggest some form of "opt-out" policy, which may be akin to what is already in place, I'm not sure. Basically, the idea would be that it is OK to shorten people's names in a friendly manner unless someone complains. In this case they would be "opting out".

    Although this method would work, it would also seem to require a lot of work on the part of the Mods (oops - Moderators). I do think it would be the best way to serve the Forum as a whole. The problem with this method is it would be on an individual basis and therefore require a lot of record keeping.

    Essentially, if a Mod receives this type of complaint they would have to:
    • Review the post in question to look for obvious intent, such as Buffalo's "SpAM" for SAM. This is where interpretation would come in - If a reasonable person knew, or should have known that the name would be insulting, they shouldn't have done it - ergo, it is an actionable offense. Although the "knew or should have known" concept is somewhat common in legal settings, it comes with its share of problems and abuse.
    • Next, they would have to check somehow to see if this particular poster had previously been notified of the member's desire to not be referred to in that particular manner. This would allow the staff to determine what level of action to take next, e.g. notification, warning, ban, etc.

    Under this method, I would suggest the following cycle:
    • 1st time: If no "obvious" intent to insult was found, the members should be notified that this particular name was found to be offensive. This should be done on the public forum rather than by PM so that at least some other members may become aware that the name in question is considered a no-no.
    • 2nd time: Official Warning.
    • 3rd time: 1 day ban, followed by the normal ban cycle. (i.e. 3 days, 7 days, etc.)

    Some readily apparent problems:
    • The cost / benefit ratio seems rather high, but I don't really know how difficult it would be to implement.
    • People are going to find ways to insult, regardless of how the rules are written. For example, what if Buffalo next calls SAM SpAMmer instead of SpAM? Is that the same offense or something different? In this particular example the answer is rather obvious, but I think it conveys the meaning...
    • The whole "interpretation" thing mentioned above - always room for perceived abuse, favoritism, etc. there.

    What other options are available? One that comes to mind would be a blanket rule stating that all members' names must be spelled out in full, all the time. This seems rather childish, takes more effort across the board for all members and would seem to lend an unnecessary air of formality to the forum, but maybe that's what people want.

    Another possibility would be an "opt-in" system, requiring that a poster be in possession of a PM or link to a post where that particular member has explicitly authorized the use of a particular contraction or nick-name. I think this one would be a nightmare for numerous reasons though.

    Edit: Lastly, we could just tell people to "suck it up", as someone else mentioned, but apparently the "adults" here can't handle it. This would actually be my personal preference, except in the case of obvious insults or "stalking".



    Anyway, maybe a poll would be in order? To me it would seem that a moderator or even an Admin should conduct said poll if there is one. They know best how feasible different options would be and therefore how best to frame the poll's options.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2010
  18. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    72,825
    Just an FYI

    I've never complained about people mischaracterising my name. I consider it "a tell" and prefer that people say it out loud. I just find it ironic that someone who himself mischaracterises peoples user ids compalins about something as ineffectual as Buffy. Seriously people need to grow up and grow a pair

    And mods need to stop pandering to such nonsense.
     
  19. Pinwheel Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,424
    How about Buff?

    People may call me the following:

    Pinhead.
    Pinny.
    Puny.
    Pin-the-donkey.
    SpinWheel.
    Dimwheel.

    Thats all I can think for now.
     
  20. joepistole Deacon Blues Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    22,910
    Personally, I agree SAM.
     
  21. Randwolf Ignorance killed the cat Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,201
    I agree as well, SAM. I just used your example because to me it seemed a blatantly obvious attempt by Buffalo to insult you, and I'm glad it didn't work.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    The OP asked for realistic input, so I tried to provide some rather than just saying that Buffalo is a stupid p*ssy or something along those lines...
     
  22. kira Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,579
    People may call me ki or ra.. or kiki... or rara...

    /just popped in, I have a bad day, my wallet is stolen in the office, I had to block my bank card and make new student ID etc :bawl:
     
  23. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,671
    Maybe so but when you get a warning from the Mod mentioning that next time you will be banned, then it is getting REAL.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     

Share This Page