VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
Hello Users and Admins, and thank you for reviewing my complaint. I am an active ROBLOX user that has bought Builders Club on multiple occasions. I would like you to try to hear me out and spread the message if you support us. I've already had to preview and revise this message countless time due to the extreme scrutiny of the filter which I am about to discuss.
I'm going to go right ahead and be explicit about the issue. In short, I am a LaVeyan Satanist and I frequently have to deal with various forms of censorship when I use names or phrases that relate to my religion. These things include but are not limited to the words/phrases following: Lucifer, Devil, Demon, and other satanic references that I'm not able to add due to it being blocked. I want to first make it clear that I don't use these words/phrases with the intention to harass users of other religion with shock value, nor do I use these words with any intention to create discomfort or disturbance among my peers. I do however use these words to communicate with like minded individuals. I see ROBLOX as a platform which user-created communities are an essential building block to the game itself and can be for most other game franchises. I don't think this level of censorship is preventing anything evil or non-user-friendly, to the degree that it prevents ROBLOX users from creating new communities and ideas; something that is the core of ROBLOX's appeal.
Next, I would like to discuss the hypocrisy instilled within ROBLOX's filter. I have noticed that christian terms and phrases have been exempt from censorship. These terms include but are not limited to: Jesus, Christ, God, Jehovah, and Yahweh. If the goal of the filter was to remove religious messages from your game, then I could see the reasoning behind that, and my argument wouldn't hold up. But that certainly doesn't seem to be the case; for if it were, the filter wouldn't block just one religion, but rather all of them. I don't see how favoring one religion (which conveniently is dominant in western culture) is a good idea for your filter. I say, remove all of them, or permit all of them. Nobodies religion is greater than another and they should have the right to express and communicate that which is important to them.
Now, I would like to address some potential concerns with the model I have presented. Of course there will be those who will abuse the freedom of expression if able. I don't think you should be as concerned about the word itself, but rather punishing those who use religion to make their peers uncomfortable, offended, or disturbed with these terms/phrases. If someone is set on using a word in a context of vulgarity, and or hate, then they will surely find loopholes to do this, as you've surely already discovered. This supports my argument that these Intolerant filters simply hurts those who wish to create communities and share that which is important to them. You may hold the position that Satanism is a religion that hates Christianity and is associated with immoral, disturbing practices. I can promise you that is a false position to hold. Satanism teaches that the opinions of others are to be respected and that we aren't to force our opinions onto others unless asked. The institution completely respects the Christian Church. If you research, you will undoubtedly conclude that Satanism does not advocate the harm of others or the sacrifice of anything. We are normal people who face regular ridicule from people who don't bother to learn about us in the real world. That is why it is a goal of others and mine to meet other similar minds and give them a place to fit in, and to not feel like a misfit or loser. I hope that ROBLOX can be a platform which allows us to do just that.
Lastly, I would like to ask that if you are religious, that you do your best to not let your bias influence how you view us. Also, I forgot to add that I am not requesting that these terms be permitted to users that have Privacy Mode enabled. Thank you for considering our needs, and striving to make ROBLOX a better place. I trust that you will handle this with your best judgement.
Best Regards,
-Lucien |
|
|
tl;dr version please
Road to 1 post by 2018! |
|
|
jjblox26Join Date: 2012-09-29
Post Count: 4941 |
do we really want parents complaing about how their child joined a cult? |
|
|
I can see why you are mad; your religion is being discriminated and censored. But Satanism is usually seen as worshipping the devil. You may not exactly do that, but that is the ########### There are kids age 8 or younger on this game, and if they happen to see your page, it could be spread out to parents who don't know the exact definition. Roblox could get complaints, and that's not good. So even though you mean 0 harm, it could be taken the wrong way. As for being bias towards Christians, think about it. You are Patty, a mom of one 7 year old, and one 2 year old. One day you see your child looking at Satanic groups. Remember you are a Christian mom. How would you feel? |
|
|
|
"I am an active ROBLOX user that has bought Builders Club on multiple occasions"
using his builders club to get this idea to pass. |
|
|
I believe the reason those are censored is because ROBLOX doesn't want Parents complaining about People talking about Satanism near their Children. I do hope you understand the Parent's concerns |
|
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
Satanism's presence on ROBLOX is not what you think it is. All ritual is done as a psychotherapy and is done in real life, privately. If their parents are concerned with what kind of people their child is associating with on ROBLOX, then it is their responsibility to parent the child and monitor his usage. Like I said, these censorships are only removed to those of the age of 13 and older, and should be capable of making their own conscious decisions with who he/she will associate with online. If a child breaks their parent's rules in order to join a group that is blacklisted by the parent, then that is an attitude issue within the child and is the responsibility of the parents to correct, not the Admins. |
|
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
I certainly see why a religious parent would be upset. I also see why a strongly biased republican-conservative parent would be upset if their child was viewing democrat-liberal content. It is an opposing view, and naturally the parents want their children to uphold the views and values of the home. Also, whether or not the parent feels "shocked" is not the responsibility of the Satanist or the ROBLOX Admins. I understand that they have preconceptions. However, users shouldn't have to sacrifice a community that they fit into to just to comfort someone's ignorance. Another thing is, if a child is viewing our content, he/she would have to of been out searching for it. Like I stated before, we aren't out preaching, trying to convert others. We know we would create a disturbance and inevitably be ridiculed. Therefore, if a child finds our community, he/she had the intention of doing so beforehand, and is a behavioral problem that should be addressed beforehand. |
|
|
inb4ban
This subforum is for very uneducated people. |
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
If a parent has a rule against viewing our type of content, and then the child intentionally breaks that rule, (which I doubt will happen considering the natural fear instilled in children) then the child deserves the punishment that his parents laid out for him. That, again, is a problem for the parent and the child and isn't our job for us to enforce their personal house rules. We have rules to protect the safety and integrity of users online, not to push a religions/parents agenda. |
|
jjblox26Join Date: 2012-09-29
Post Count: 4941 |
>That, again, is a problem for the parent and the child and isn't our job for us to enforce their personal house rules. We have rules to protect the safety and integrity of users online, not to push a religions/parents agenda.
here is how stupid you sound
CEO: CHUCK-E-CHEESE IS FUN FOR KIDS!
person: then why is their a game with guns and gore in the arcade?
CEO: WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORCE YOUR HOUSE RULES ON OUR PLAY PLACE!
roblox said their 8-18 age friendly. and yes, if their is a cult on roblox. then parents are going to complain. its common sense....
|
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
Why don't we handle christian and catholic cults with the same scrutiny? |
|
jjblox26Join Date: 2012-09-29
Post Count: 4941 |
>Why don't we handle christian and catholic cults with the same scrutiny?
huge difference.
yes their are some dangerous Catholics out their
but the difference is, that god doesn't allow the cults to do what their doing, Satan does however.
why do you think they teach about god in bible school and not about worshiping the devil?
BECAUSE GOD HAS GOOD TEACHINGS THANK CAN TEACH A CHILD TO BEHAVE
|
|
|
Support.
It is sincerely biased. I myself am Christian, however that doesn't mean that I hate, disagree with, or dislike other religions.
Everyone saying "parents don't want their kids joining a cult" should review the definition of a cult: "a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object." - This is every religion, is it not? Why would certain religions/beliefs be blocked and not others? |
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
If you only had learned beforehand what you were arguing. I promise you with full confidence that you haven't done a lick of external research for Satanism. Satanism's moral principals actually more so align with the Rules of ROBLOX than the Bible does. We advocate not sharing your opinion unless asked, treating others you'd like to be treated as long as your courtesy is returned, respecting others belongings, and many more great teachings. Satanism does not promote any conduct that would go against roblox's rules. We have rules that forbid harming animals, harming children, bothering others in public, and many other things of the sort. The bible explicitly states to kill those who work on the Sabbath, evangelize to others whether they like it or not (against rules), kill ######### Blood sacrifice. Do I think these Christian claims ########## roblox? No. Do I view the Bible as malevolent to our society? No. Should it be removed from ROBLOX? Again, no. But you can NOT say that our philosophy advocates misconduct on ROBLOX. We are free to have content concerning philosophy on ROBLOX, as long as it isn't forced on others. |
|
VoxtelJoin Date: 2012-07-15
Post Count: 16 |
Thank you, Vescatur, your heart doesn't go unnoticed. To think that a Christian is even more tolerable than the non-religious flaming our thread, is truly a pleasant surprise. |
|
FrivoIousJoin Date: 2011-06-19
Post Count: 4800 |
Just add an option for censorship. If ur under certain age u cant see bad stuff, if ur over it it's fair game. Stop the discrimination. Also why are there only male and female characters? I identify as a turtle and i demand answers ok. Are you assuming our genders? |
|
Mario3883Join Date: 2011-12-07
Post Count: 116 |
Regarding your issue, but why would you speak about religion on roblox in the first place? |
|
|
I support many of the evidences that Voxtel has kindly put out. I'm a Christian and I can use words of my religion like "Christ, Jesus, God and Yahweh" freely without fear of them being blocked. I would like to ask the same for my friend Voxtel, as he has no reason to be denied this request. "No religion is greater than the other," and people have a right to express their beliefs. |
|
|
Completely agree.
I myself, a Christian but I've actually looked up LaVeyan Satanism and its not about rituals, cults and gore. It's philosophy, nothing about Devil Worshiping. If ROBLOX is going to censor one religion they should filter all. If parents don't want their children associating with that stuff the filter for anything religious should filter out for under 13, or if parents want to sethe that option then it should be a separate option. |
|
VhaitanJoin Date: 2013-01-16
Post Count: 600 |
I suppose I agree as well, I myself am a Christian and have personally talked to Voxtel about his religion and such, nothing to do with evil satanic worshiping. But, on the other hand, I see where parents would be concerned. I met you on Group Recruiting Plaza recruiting for your satanic community, now, here's the problem with that, in satanism there are many different kinds right? Yes, of course, well, if that's the case then you have to take into account all the other versions of satanism that support very bad things and could be overall a bad influence on children. That's my opinion on the matter,
One more thing, I believe everyone should have a right to be proud and stand for their religion, satanist or not.
-Vhaitan |
|