Issue contains the f-word, but in Afrikaans

[Laurentus Setats]

Let me first say I don't personally find anything wrong with the word, but there is always the possibility that an Afrikaans child could stumble upon this issue, and I assume there's a reason the f-word isn't allowed in English.

Perhaps the person who created the issue doesn't know what the word means him/herself, or perhaps they do and thought they wouldn't get caught by someone who also knows Afrikaans. Oops.

The issue is by this nation: http://www.nationstates.net/nation=oisinistan

The issue itself (with the offending word redacted):

The Issue

A recent video shoot of newly sworn-in cabinet ministers being broadcast on live TV was disrupted by an enthusiastic but loud vuvuzela-player busking nearby. Most viewers reported they couldn’t hear a word being spoken over the noise. This incident has raised some smiles, but also sparked a debate over busking in general.

The Debate

“NOISY PESTS!” yells inner city resident Stella de Castro, straight into your left ear from just two feet away. “While I’m trying to get my beauty sleep at 3 in the afternoon, I’m being disturbed by moronic musicians, talentless thespians and hopeless harlequins! They’re just beggars, but with added irritation and noise. Ban busking! Lock up these feckless fools!”

Accept

“Eish! Em not justa musician, mos,” protests Shigeru Le Carré, the busker in question, “Em a one-man entertainment experience, with Hlokoloza dancing for the bokkies an’ gooses, b***k naartjie juggling and even face painting for the laaities! Surely busking adds a bit a music and colour to life, nè? The government should pay buskers to be on every street. Let’s make everyone’s life happier now now!”

Accept

“I know a way we could make both sides happy,” remarks your Minister for Fine Arts, Maria Hackett, pressing play on her cassette of patriotic anthems to create the right mood. “We could introduce national performance licenses, and only allow public performance by those who have attained a certain standard. As a nice side effect, this will let us make sure that our nation’s culture is both highbrow and patriotic.”

Accept

Sorry for the format. Just thought I'd bring this to your attention.

[Laurentus Setats]

Oh, and it should be obvious, but let me say it anyway: in the actual issue, the word hasn't been redacted.

[Leppikania]

You should bring this up in Got Issues, where it can be addressed by the issue editors.

[Laurentus Setats]

Much obliged.

Is there some way I can just move it there? Or perhaps a mod could help me out?

[Alvecia]

If they notice this they make take it upon themselves, but to maybe speed up the process you can ask in this thread

[Australian rePublic]

For those of us who don't speak Aafricans, which word is it?

[Katganistan]

For those of us who don't speak Aafricans, which word is it?

I would imagine the word helpfully asterisked out?
Which you could compare to the original issue?

[Tinhampton]

AusRep and Kat: The word is "befok" (as per SPOILER ALERT).

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Hmmm:

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/59/48368.html

I'm not South African, but I was reliably informed by South African friends and online contacts that there was nothing offensive in the paragraph.

I mean befok sounds like the four letter word, but I was told it had no relation. Is that right?

I've excised the word for now to be on the safe side, but my googling seems to suggest to me that befok is its own word, and not related to copulation...

[OIsINiSTAn]

Let me first say I don't personally find anything wrong with the word, but there is always the possibility that an Afrikaans child could stumble upon this issue, and I assume there's a reason the f-word isn't allowed in English.

Perhaps the person who created the issue doesn't know what the word means him/herself, or perhaps they do and thought they wouldn't get caught by someone who also knows Afrikaans. Oops.

The issue is by this nation: http://www.nationstates.net/nation=oisinistan

The issue itself (with the offending word redacted):

The Issue

A recent video shoot of newly sworn-in cabinet ministers being broadcast on live TV was disrupted by an enthusiastic but loud vuvuzela-player busking nearby. Most viewers reported they couldn’t hear a word being spoken over the noise. This incident has raised some smiles, but also sparked a debate over busking in general.

The Debate

“NOISY PESTS!” yells inner city resident Stella de Castro, straight into your left ear from just two feet away. “While I’m trying to get my beauty sleep at 3 in the afternoon, I’m being disturbed by moronic musicians, talentless thespians and hopeless harlequins! They’re just beggars, but with added irritation and noise. Ban busking! Lock up these feckless fools!”

Accept

“Eish! Em not justa musician, mos,” protests Shigeru Le Carré, the busker in question, “Em a one-man entertainment experience, with Hlokoloza dancing for the bokkies an’ gooses, b***k naartjie juggling and even face painting for the laaities! Surely busking adds a bit a music and colour to life, nè? The government should pay buskers to be on every street. Let’s make everyone’s life happier now now!”

Accept

“I know a way we could make both sides happy,” remarks your Minister for Fine Arts, Maria Hackett, pressing play on her cassette of patriotic anthems to create the right mood. “We could introduce national performance licenses, and only allow public performance by those who have attained a certain standard. As a nice side effect, this will let us make sure that our nation’s culture is both highbrow and patriotic.”

Accept

Sorry for the format. Just thought I'd bring this to your attention.

I didn't edit in the Afrikaans. I just made an issue like this, and somebody edited in the Afrikaans.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

That's correct.

To be clear, the accent was an editorial decision. Another editor suggested it, I implemented it with the aid of wikipedia, and then I asked a non-editor moderator had a South African friend look it over to make sure it wasn't offensive in any way, because my research of South African slang indicated to me that a vast proportion of it is either racist or sexually obscene.

Said outside consultant gave it the all-clear.

Regarding "befok", I'm finding lots of sources saying it doesn't have anything to do with the word "F**K", but I think as its similar sounding and as Laurentus has kindly flagged that an Afrikaans speaker that it could be offensive, the best thing to do is change it.

For sake of revealing what the author was responsible for, and what the editing team did, here's the pre-edit version:

Don't Be A Busk-Killl

A recent video shoot of newly sworn-in cabinet ministers being broadcast on live TV on the steps of the legislature was disrupted by what your personal assistant described as an 'overly loud' busker performing nearby. Many angry residents have come out against this busker, and have come to your office demanding a solution.


[option]'It's far too loud!'' screams @ @CAPITAL@ @ resident @ @random_name()@ @. ''While I'm trying to get my beauty sleep at 3 in the afternoon, this moron is playing that pathetic excuse for a musical instrument at unbelievably loud volumes! In fact, I'm sick of seeing these annoying musical beggars on the street! Ban busking altogether!''
[effect]former buskers can often be seen in high security prisons
[stats]civil rights decreases

[option]''But I was playing my tunes at a perfectly reasonable tone, man!'' protests the busker in question, @ @random_name()@ @. ''And why should we ban busking? Surely busking adds a bit of music, a bit of colour to our lives. In fact, why not have a busker for every street? That will make everyone's life happier, right?''
[effect]loud, out-of-tune music can be heard on every street
[stats]happiness decreases

[option]''I know a way we could make both sides happy,'' remarks your Minister for Arts, @ @random_name()@ @. ''We could introduce busking licenses, and only give them to musicians who can perform to a certain standard. That way, buskers would be able to perform as usual, without the added loud noises.''
[effect]buskers who are not seen as up-to-standard can be seen begging for loose-change on street corners
[stats]economy slightly decreases, civil rights slightly decreases

[option]''This debate should never have happened!'' shouts local puritan @ @random_name()@ @. ''Ban music altogether! In fact, just ban all forms of amusement! Ban dancing, TV, movies, anything that can be in any way enjoyable! Show these sinners what life in Hell will be like!''
[effect]all forms of enjoyment or fun are banned
[stats]civil rights decreases sharply, economy slightly decreases, happiness decreases sharply

I'm happy that all changes made were improvements.

[Laurentus Setats]

Ask any Afrikaans child who's ever used it in school if it is offensive.

I am an Afrikaner, and it is definitely an offensive word.

EDIT: And if we want to be grammatically correct, we should also probably say "be**kte" instead of just "be**k

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Cheers, I'll remember your name as a consultant should we ever attempt Afrikaans slang again.