“I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that.”
Justice Potter Stewart
Silence Penalty: The Community Standard
Misdirections wrote Time Out For Trolls, discussing the Silence Penalty.
Alternative Chat wrote as well with The Sound of Silence.
Both of these writers bring insight into the topic, go read their stuff. Having done so, it will help shape your understanding of this new system; soon to be in place.
Now, Alternative Chat used a term “real cockwombles”, of which I have no idea what it means. This writer lives in a Land Far Away and so has different language.
Which brings me to my point and that is: it is the community that sets the standard.
The quote at the top of this page is from a ruling on pornography in 1964 and the decision on if something is obscene. The Justice said (now famous for it), “I know it when I see it.”
It will be up to the community to keep their realms clean. What is offensive in St. Petersburg, Russia might be very different than in London, England. I’ve never been called a cockwomble (yet!) but in London, this might be hilarious and not a bother.
If the community works at it, it will be kept clean. We will have to trust Blizzard to “know it when they see it” for all of the reports by us.
It will be regional, by realms. Some realms might get a “reputation” for loose play and require much gossip and a visit; much like Goldshire in Moonguard if they survive this Silence Penalty. It will be timely; daytime will be much stricter than night time but the Nighters will get more bans, I betcha by golly.
However, I think that we are all delighted. Absolutely delighted.
cockwomble ‎(plural cockwombles)
1.(Britain, slang, derogatory) A foolish or obnoxious person.  [quotations ▼]
See, that wasn’t offensive at all!
Coffee Cakes and Crits 
Speaking from St:Petersburg, Russia and as a guy who traveled a LOT and visited many, many countries in Europe and Asia – the common politeness rules are all the same around the world.
Yet some people in Russian forums feel uneasy for they could be reported for just curse words. Not the ones meant to insult another person, but smth. like “F**k, we’ve almost killed the boss!”.
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Right. No one can police chat lines; it simply won’t happen. A little paranoia early on might be kind of nice but ultimately (I think) that we will learn that it comes down to intention.
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