Actually the title isn't entirely true because I've technically been the sheriff for a number of months already, since I received the blessing directly from the royal Christine herself! But I'm going to start acting like one a bit more. I've done this before so I've got the experience. I already expect half of you will disagree with me every time I do something and that's okay. Just know in advance that I'm going to decide things and do what I think is right for purposes that answer to my own inclinations and that I'll make no effort beyond which my own curiosity compels me to to listen to contrary opinions.
That said, no more "nigger" references on 4um. Does it offend me? No, but I'm not black so maybe it wouldn't. Does it offend others? Of course. Should it? In my opinion, probably not as much as it does. American culture has certainly demonized the term to a fanatical level, even more so than "shit" and "fuck" to the point where they usually bleep it not with a single asterisk, but four! Would it be better for both blacks and whites if the term wasn't treated with such strong negative reverence? I think so, yes. Is it my job, or the purpose of 4um, to correct American culture on this point? No, it isn't.
Here's the deal: As I'm in charge, I'm semi-responsible for content here. I'm also considering xferring 4um to my own server. As such, its content has the potential to reflect upon me personally. In fact, once it did. I am a software development freelancer and I was showing 4um to a potential client who wanted some web work. At one point, after 30-45 mins of positive discussion, shortly after I referred him to 4um, he suddenly cut off the phone conversation with no explanation and never called me back. My #1 guess is he saw something racial here and was offended and wrongly decided that what he saw was endorsed by me, even though I was only trying to show the technical capabilities of the site. So... someone writing something racial here really did hurt my livelihood. It hurt me personally, in the wallet.
On top of that, such references will discourage most new people from signing up here as most people are decent people, for the most part. And having more people sign up is a good thing, generally. And I won't expect everyone to have a perfect outlook on life to sign up. I don't want someone *overly* offended by the "nigger" word to be dissuaded from joining. The term won't attract new people, it will only push most people away, so I don't want it here. Period, end of story.
I'll make up new rules, and change them, sometimes quite unfairly and without rhyme or reason as we play the game, and I'll do so completely without apology. Thanks and enjoy your day.
