mark wilson27

Yes but everyones story could somehow make someone complain, we would have to shut all stories down.

Kris like I said before you posted Im sorry I didnt realise PM7 had asked for it too close

Terk

I wholeheartedly disagree, Kris. Almost by its very nature, fiction will offend people at some point. The fact that we write on a forum does not, I believe, mean we should have to temper potential characters we may want to write about and make them all PC. If it did then this would be a very dull forum.

There's plenty of literature, film and the like that I find offensive. When I come across it, I merely stop reading, or watching, as no one is forcing me to continue. Never, however, was I moved to write to the publisher expressing my disgust with the author. I'd like to think that most of the people who frequent this forum also have a similar level of sense. If you don't like something, don't read it. If you have a genuine complaint, bring it up with the author, don't go behind their back, childishly reporting posts. We have a mature bunch in FMS, and if someone raises a concern about the story, the author (even if it's PM) will take time to address it.

If we were to go down the road of reporting everything that anyone ever found offensive, we'd have such anodyne existence around here that the whole thing wouldn't be worthwhile. And you'd have to close down OTF completely.

Kris

the intention was never to close the thread because of a series of complaints.

Id rather have bought it to the attention of the author that it might be an issue. Whether the author decides to do anything about it is down to them, however as a moderator I would keep an eye for any further blatant or targetted inflammatory posts.

Kris

Id hope that my fairly broad reading of the various genres of fiction isn't restricted in that I find very little of mainstream fiction "offensive".

You are also not understanding my point, this is a medium for Sports Interactive and a public face for a development company. It is not a fiction or writers / publishers website.

Thus even a trivial claim of racial slurs (most of the complainees should realise it would be xenophobic and not racial) can be damaging if only to that one persons objective view of the company thereafter.

Peacemaker7

I would argue that the very nature of this forum itself actually does a hell of a lot more to promote SI/FM whatever than say, for instance OTF does. It basically brings the game to life. However, if people suddenly have to watch what they write in case it offends people then whats the point really?

This forum has had countless numbers of 'articles' that many people may find offensive. I can personally think of one particular story Raptor wrote that taken the wrong way could even have him shot, and I'm not even remotely joking. Take away the creativity of the forum and you may as well just lock it.

I think we know the limits. I don't think we've crossed them.

Terk

Id hope that my fairly broad reading of the various genres of fiction isn't restricted in that I find very little of mainstream fiction "offensive".

You are also not understanding my point, this is a medium for Sports Interactive and a public face for a development company. It is not a fiction or writers / publishers website.

Thus even a trivial claim of racial slurs (most of the complainees should realise it would be xenophobic and not racial) can be damaging if only to that one persons objective view of the company thereafter. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Come on, Kris. Nowhere do I say all fiction is offensive. I thought my meaning was pretty clear in that in fiction in general, there will always be something that offends someone somewhere.

And I think we've come to a fundamental difference of opinion in that, I do not believe, and never will do, that someone who takes offense at a post on these forums will think badly of SI/Sega because of that. If you were honestly worried that what people thought of SI/Sega was influenced by these forums, you'd have shut down OTF many years ago.

mark wilson27

All I want to say to PM7, is dont stop writing just because a few miserable people complained about a story, that way you have let them win.
As you've said you havent crossed any limits and Im sure everyone else in this forum will not want to see you closing all your stories. Also the bookies wont like it as who would they back as favourtie in the FM awards

Peacemaker7

Thanks Mark.

Erm, I am the bookies for the FM awards

Kris

I agree that you shouldnt stop writing PM7 but please understand that I have to bring to your attention any greviances expressed by fellow users.

If you wish me to delete the debate in your original thread and reopen it here whilst leaving this thread open for the debate then Id be ok with that.

BenArsenal

What a pity a nice story has been ruined by something like this.

As a reader I have to say that I didn't actualy find a lot of things offensive about the story. But maybe that's just me.

I agree with Terk in a sense that fiction can sometimes come across as offensive. In fact, anything can be seen as offensive if people see it the wrong way. A banana can be seen as offensive if you think it is. My story can be seen as offensive as there are allusions to sex, and so on. It's all in the state of mind.

If this is going to be the standard of policing around here, I'm afraid this place would be very empty. We're going to end up like America at this rate, always afraid of being sued and coming up with ridiculous go-arounds.

I hope people do lighten up, and realise that this forum is called FM Stories, which means everything is fictional and not real, hence taking everything with a pinch of salt.