New Rule: Replace the Word "Lynch" in Games

[zoraster]

Rule on Replacing the Word "Lynch"

The List Moderators and Administration would like to announce a change in specific language used for mafia games. This is a change that should have taken place long ago but, due to inertia and a sense of tradition, we did not. Better late than never.

Game moderators will no longer be allowed to use the term "lynch"

due to a harshly racial history of the word in the US. We are also working to remove the noose from the logo and other site aesthetics as well as update the wiki.

For official site and moderator communications, use a verb or noun other than "lynch". We propose "

eliminate

" to be the new general use term, but if you have another term you would prefer using that is also acceptable. While it will not be a punishable offense for players to use the old term, moderators must use "eliminate" (or any suitable new term) in rules posts / vote counts / et cetera, and are encouraged to make players aware of the change when applicable.

How This Affects You

For currently running games

: you can run your game out with the flavor you are currently using.

For mods

: you must use a verb or noun other than "lynch" for your rules and for moderator communications. If it is in your current ruleset, change it.

For players

: we encourage players to use alternate words such as eliminate as well, but we will not be policing the use. Game moderators are welcome to set up their own rules on the subject.

For everyone: As with the Discussion of Replacements rule, we intend to be very lenient about this for the near-term, given that it's been site vernacular for 18 years. You will never be banned from mafia specifically for using this term. As a moderator, if you repeatedly refuse to change it after being told to by a Listmod, there will be consequences. Our intention is to disassociate this term from mafia. We hope that by changing the official stance of the site on the term we can help to change this norm. As it stands, we do not want the administration or moderators to endorse this term.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Zor & The List Mod team

EDIT: As of 7/14/2021 this also includes players (see here)

[zoraster]

Well, the suggested "eliminate" doesn't have a reference to a type of death action.

[zoraster]

why eliminate instead of "died"

Zoraster has died. He was a Vanilla Townie.

done

Perfectly fine too. The reason for eliminate is simply to differentiate it from the typical vigilante/mafia kill.

[zoraster]

I'm not sure that the mods other than maybe Penguin with newbies have made any rules regarding Lylo, Mylo, L-X, etc. that are abbreviations for lynch yet, but specifically L-X is easily replaceable with E-X if you want to be consistent right now.

[zoraster]

Censoring flavor from speech doesn't erase past horrors.

Banning words, especially that are not meant as insults, just makes people want to use it more.

If you tell your kid not to date before high school, that's the forbidden fruit that they will be obsessed about the whole time.

I think it's a clumsy administration move, personally. Equality won't be won by limiting vocabulary and enforcing thought crimes.

Noted.

[zoraster]

I understand if people don't want to moderate games with the new rules. We all decide on what is the best use of our time, and if the word "lynch" is integral to your enjoyment running it as a mod, then you are welcome to find other sites that use the word.

I appreciate the feedback from all parties, but that's really the short and long of it.

[zoraster]

I understand if people don't want to moderate games with the new rules. We all decide on what is the best use of our time, and if the word "lynch" is integral to your enjoyment running it as a mod, then you are welcome to find other sites that use the word.

I appreciate the feedback from all parties, but that's really the short and long of it.

Is it unreasonable to suggest, as a site, we decide collectively, to remove a word? Rather than just admins deciding it? There are many people here, if you did a poll you'd see the wide site consensus. Similarly, will we be removing all potentially offensive content?

Unreasonable to suggest it? No. Going to happen? Also no.

[zoraster]

Thanks for the feedback so far, everyone. If you have anything further to add on the policy change, please don't hesitate to PM me with your thoughts.