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)

[T-Bone]

If after reading this you'd like to help in the Wiki portion of the project, I have asked for volunteers here. https://forum.mafiascum.net/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=83526

If you cannot read it, go to your usergroup settings and add Wiki Tiki Tavi to your usergroups. It is an open usergroup that anyone can join.

[DkKoba]

I suggest the word "hang" as a replacement.

[Equinox]

I suggest the word "hang" as a replacement.

This is not to step on the list moderators' toes, as I am posting as a user right now: hanging is a notorious means of lynching, so it will carry the same racially charged connotation.

[brassherald]

Does it matter how we replace it? Specifically, does it even need to reference any type of death action?

[zoraster]

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

[brassherald]

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

I missed that part, my bad.

[DkKoba]

I suggest the word "hang" as a replacement.

This is not to step on the list moderators' toes, as I am posting as a user right now: hanging is a notorious means of lynching, so it will carry the same racially charged connotation.

This is etymologically false but I won't pursue the discussion in thread, you can DM me if you'd like me to clarify.

[Nexus]

I suggest the word "hang" as a replacement.

This is not to step on the list moderators' toes, as I am posting as a user right now: hanging is a notorious means of lynching, so it will carry the same racially charged connotation.

This is etymologically false but I won't pursue the discussion in thread, you can DM me if you'd like me to clarify.

I mean, lynching is hanging from a rope. By changing it to hang, we're not actually moving away from the imagery, regardless of the etymology.

[Alisae]

why eliminate instead of "died"

Zoraster has died. He was a Vanilla Townie.

done

[N]

good work mods

[Nexus]

I think it's because Eliminate implies that the town have actively done it, whereas died could mean natural causes?

[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.

[Annadog40]

Executed could be that difference since executions are public and varied

eliminate reminds me of using the bathroom.

[Firebringer]

it aint april fools day lol

[N]

lol indeed

[HoldenGolden]

An understandable change.

Could "Guillotined" replace the previous wording be a more suitable replacement? I dont believe the word as a specific connotation with any particular groups (expect the french), and is a distinctive enough flavour to not worry about any confusion from roles.

[HoldenGolden]

To be*

I swear I know basic english

[T-Bone]

An understandable change.

Could "Guillotined" replace the previous wording be a more suitable replacement? I dont believe the word as a specific connotation with any particular groups (expect the french), and is a distinctive enough flavour to not worry about any confusion from roles.

You can use an appropriate term to replace 'eliminate' in games you moderate. We're going to use 'eliminate' as the basic term, but if you want to use an alternate flavor term that isn't lynching (or otherwise breaks site rules), that is okay. The term you chose may also be charged depending on the country one lives in, so keep that in mind.

[Alisae]

Actually MU has its bot use eliminate instead of died.
meh i guess eliminate is fine

what about L-2 or L-1. Those terms technically have a meaning that includes the word lynch. Do we have to come up with a new term for this concept as well? Again, this matters to me because as a mod, I put in my votecounts when a player is at L-2 or L-1.

Also can't you censor the word on the board?
I'm pretty sure I would be okay censoring only the word "lynch" and nothing else because its a subtle censor that I don't feel like people would try to avoid it just to type their word.

Either way, I hate this change.

[HoldenGolden]

An understandable change.

Could "Guillotined" replace the previous wording be a more suitable replacement? I dont believe the word as a specific connotation with any particular groups (expect the french), and is a distinctive enough flavour to not worry about any confusion from roles.

You can use an appropriate term to replace 'eliminate' in games you moderate. We're going to use 'eliminate' as the basic term, but if you want to use an alternate flavor term that isn't lynching (or otherwise breaks site rules), that is okay. The term you chose may also be charged depending on the country one lives in, so keep that in mind.

Ah gotcha.

That does raise a question though. Should the newbie queue enforce all games there to use the same verb, such as eliminate, to keep consistency? I would imagine seeing the same mechanic labelled differently may cause some confusion for truely new players.

[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.

[T-Bone]

E-2, E-1, E-X?

For MyLo and LyLo, I am personally going to use MeLo and EyLo, because I still like those short hand terms.

Penguin is going to amend the Newbie queue with elimination based terms, if he hasn't already done so by the time I post this.

[Albert B. Rampage]

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.

People should understand there is mafiascum culture and outside world historical culture and the context difference.

[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.