A quite long text giving several translations and some background can be found here:
http://www.linguee.de/de-en/Judenvernichtung.html

Being German and thus, though actually way too young, quite often being confronted with the historic crimes committed along that name, I still must say, that the word as such is not illegal, even in Germany. Nazi-Propaganda and alike is.

There is no avatar with this account, there is no context. It is provoking to some, like me (personally I do like the account being banned), but you'd have a hard time filing any legal actions against it. I feel upset by accounts using avatars resembling Adolf Hitler as well.

It is a very delicate issue to start banning like this. There are enough avatars close to porn (e. g. Coro, to take a not really explicit one), others probably violating copyrights (ECartman for sure, mine maybe) and some being offensive to some peoples religious feelings (KDice God in name and avatar). GraveDigger could be a job or a hint to necrophilia (getting a bit wide here) and what could you be thinking of in connection with xxx<name>xxx?

My point is, I do not like the account, but I think starting to ban on that base is not a good thing. You'd need to observe the account, watch its behavior in connection with the name, see the avatar... After that, maybe you can ban him - but then, Zuendel's web site denying the happening in WW2 in Germany was online for a long time (maybe still) because it was not illegal in his country. We either need clear rules for names and avatars, or you can't ban.


Just to make it clear once more: I am not a Nazi and I strongly depreciate that account. Not being a fascist includes not banning at will though...

"Do not use hate language or avatars"

I very often ride the fence on the rules and usually lean toward not banning things that are semi-offensive. The name doesn't offend because I'm not Jewish, German, or a veteran of WWII. However, the name cannot be defined in any manner other than the translation of "Jewish extermination". This is politically incorrect in many ways and can certainly be deemed improper for this website.

The rules are open for interpretation and they contain a lot of grey areas. I happen to agree that this is an inappropriate name.

As far as nudity in avatars my rules are about the same as one of the local strip clubs near me. Cover the ass and vagina (and of course no penises) in some way and wear pasties on the nipples. Under that interpretation Coro's avatar is acceptable. I've banned others, such as Ea$t Coa$t, that are not acceptable. The only exception I can think of is the fact that I allow stigs to keep his avatar simply because the image is not provocative or suggestive in any way. It's more of a photographic art piece.

I'm rambling on......

I've been called a fascist before. It'll happen again.

First of all, I had no intention of calling anybody a fascist. If I did or leave that impression, take this as a correction of my intention and please accept my apologies.

Second, I think we agree that the account is not nice to have. Also, your translation is right and there can be no misunderstanding. BUT it could be a warning, a call for attention, a suggestion, an insult to Germans and/or Jews. It is most certainly meant to be provoking - just like GodNonBeliever or KDiceGod (which I don't want banned, but which other aim could those names have than provocation). Take my account which is a misspelled (stupid me) figure from the movie "Angel Heart" being the devil played by Robert De Niro - probably offending to some/many. I happen to really like that movie, no offense was intended.

Would you ban an account named "Mai Lai" using that prize winning photograph of the burned, screaming, running, naked child as an avatar?

Is my avatar offensive?

Who is that?

charlie day?

looks like it.

Then I'd probably say no, it's not offensive.

I think the key of what Louis Cypher is getting at, and which I fully agree with, is offensiveness is subjective.

Given that I think the rules need to cover specific items which will be banned. These might include pornography or racism. In this way banning in these cases doesn't become ruled by subjectivity and what the individual moderator or those requesting the ban perceive as offensive. Personally I might note that I don't think racism should be banned, even though I'm not racist myself.

To be honest I think a lot of people are just way too sensitive. So what if his name means jewish extermination? It's just a name.

And I mean, if someone wants to come on with an avatar oh Hitler and their name as AdolfHitler, see the lighter side of it - don't take it so seriously. Chances are that person isn't a nazi in beliefs, they just do it to provoke others - and sometimes it can be pretty funny if done well.

I actually think that's a big part of being able to heal the wounds of the past - being able to look at them with a light heart. That doesn't mean looking at them as a joke, they're not, but rather letting them go and getting over it.

Adolf Hitler's dead, what he stood for is largely dead too - so why feel so threatened by someone using his picture? What are you afraid of? It's not like it's going to spark a new nazi revolution. Same goes for anything else offensive in this kind of way if you ask me.