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Young Writers Society


The YWS Censorship Policy



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Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:10 pm
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Big Brother says...



YWS' Censorship Policy


The Literary Section

As YWS is a literary website, we are strongly against censorship within literary topics. Thus, we only ask members that they rate their work properly (E, 12, 16, and 18) so one may avoid certain topics should they so choose.

However, we ask that members avoid posting expletives in the titles and summaries of their literary works. If a title or summary does contain an expletive, the first letter may remain, but all other letters should be replaced with the asterisk (*) character.

This only applies to literary titles and summaries because these are visible throughout the entire site. The literary work itself need not be censored at all.

While YWS is against censorship generally, YWS is not the right audience to be sharing literary pornography when so many users are minors. Literary works that are only sex scenes unattached to a larger narrative (scenes within larger work withstanding) are therefore not allowed. The work must be a literary one, singular sex scenes will be taken down.

In the Forums

There is seldom need for profanity outside of literary works, and we thus ask members not to use profanity in the forums. We do so for three reasons: (1) most people find them offensive, (2) the use of profanity in a casual context contributes to a hostile atmosphere and (3) this is a site whose target demographic includes young children, some of whom are 13 and under.

In profiles and blogs

YWS does not practice strict moderation of profiles and blogs, allowing members to post content that may include profanities in these areas. Nonetheless, profanities directed toward another user are not allowed in any context.

In clubs

Each club has its own moderating team, set up by the creator of the club. Any rules regarding subject matter are set by the club's mod team.

The entire site

Throughout the entire site, any images depicting nudity will be removed without notice, regardless of their artistic merit. Additionally, any topics or discussions encouraging self-harm will be closed without notice.

Questions

Any questions about the above should be directed to Big Brother.

Updated 11/26/2021
  





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Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:22 pm
Caesar says...



I agree with le K on this one.
vulgus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur


  





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Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:27 am
noninjaes says...



How does this fare in terms of using warnings and spoilers in normal posts?
E.g.
Warning - Expletives.
Spoiler! :
Blah blah blah expletive blah blah blah.
Noni Naps Through Nano
NaPoWriMo 2016
Stories Not Otherwise My Own

AnnieJaePayne
The Three Ninjateers
Being awesome since Jan 2012.
  





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Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:28 pm
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Rydia says...



Please don't use it even in spoilers. There's always a way around swearing - you can even make up creative swears and turn it into a game. I've seen everything from 'Oh light' to By Merlin, that's a tricky one!

We'll accept dungheap, sheep bladder, dragon balls.

If you can show me a sentence where swearing is absolutely necessary and could not have been replaced with anything else, then I'll tip my hat to you, but there really isn't a need.

Think of this as a kiddies club - would you call out a swear word while you're showing the kids how to play a game of musical statues?

What you do on blogs, walls and clubs is up to you, but let's keep it clean in the forums.
Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.
  





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Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:09 am
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Griffinkeeper says...



If conventional swearing is a blaster, then an elegantly crafted insult is a lightsaber.

For instance, if I had a desire to insult Rydia in a conventional manner, it would probably be a more colorful variation of "Shut up." Rydia would be completely unaffected because it is so cliche and devoid of originality. In fact, she could easily counter with a well crafted insult in response, such as;

"You should check the lost and found portion of the site, someone may have returned your creativity."

Which is why I wouldn't even bother with shut up, if I had the desire to say something like that to Rydia. Instead, it would be more along the lines of this:

"Does thou hear
the raucous snores
caused by the horrid bores
of your lectures given clear?"

See? Much better.

Love you Rydia!
Moderator Emeritus (frozen in carbonite.)
  





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Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:25 am
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DiskElemental says...



Rydia wrote:If you can show me a sentence where swearing is absolutely necessary and could not have been replaced with anything else, then I'll tip my hat to you, but there really isn't a need.


"Alright, then, I'll go to hell." - Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:01 am
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LadySpark says...



technically, saying that isn't cursing. You're referring to the place. Hell. However, saying "What the He*l" is cursing. There's a difference. You're not talking about the actual place in this instance. And why would you be saying you'll go to hell or tell someone to go to hell in the forums anyway? That is not appropriate in more ways than one.
hush, my sweet
these tornadoes are for you


-Richard Siken


Formerly SparkToFlame
  





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Wed Jun 10, 2015 1:44 am
fuzzjohnson says...



I am curious about more offensive cuss words. Is there a guideline for which words are considered appropiate for a certain age group?
John Irvin
  





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Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:18 am
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Lumi says...



@fuzzjohnson

First off, remember that cursing is only allowed in literary works. With that in mind, a moderator applies a rating of 16+ for instances of the word brought to us by the letter S, and 18+ for the nuclear F-bomb.

If you're posting a work and the thought crosses your mind: "Is this offensive?" then it would be wise to err on the side of caution and rate higher as opposed to lower.

Outside of literary works, however, swearing is never justified and will be censored. This includes usernames, avatars, and signatures.

The latter two on that list usually catch users by surprise as it's easy to slip up when customizing your user interface.
I am a forest fire and an ocean, and I will burn you just as much
as I will drown everything you have inside.
-Shinji Moon


I am the property of Rydia, please return me to her ship.
  








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