Frequency of Profanity in Halo 2
Thanks for visiting, please realize that I’m not writing this to advocate censoring or that I’m surprised by swearing or don’t like it, I was just curious to see what the frequency was.
When you logon to Xbox live more often then not you will be greeted by a 14 year old that learned a new word on the playground that day, or maybe it’s the drunken 24 year old who hates black people, gays and anyone who isn’t in his frat. individuals afflicted with IAS (Internet A-hole Syndrome). No matter who you are if you have played on live you have run into cursing and lewdness. If you look at the rating for the game you can see that it is intended for ages 17+ but parents don’t care/understand/listen so lots of underage kids have this game. Another important thing to note is that the rating includes a warning that the game experience changes with use of online features. Please do not confuse this with a plea for the government to crack down and tighten control on the gaming industry. If anything this information should be used by parents to educate themselves about what their child is involved with and then make an educated decision to let them play or not.
Last December I started recording the frequency of profanity that I was able to hear while playing Halo 2. The results of the study which lasted 33.9 hours were surprising.
Disclaimers:
1. The curse words were those which I could hear, more may have occurred and other players in a given game may not have heard the same number of curse words I did. The ability to hear other players depends on your proximity to them.
2. The times recorded are the times I was signed into Xbox live and either engaged in a game or in the process of joining a game or viewing the results and listening to the discourse of other players. The times do not reflect solely “in game” time. You can view my games at bungie.net with the gamertag Ca1vin. note the ONE in the gamertag.
3. Do not proceed if you do not want to view words which may offend some.
More after the Jump
The Results….
The Words and categories used are as follows.
Fuck: All forms, ing, ed, er
Ass: hole, bag, hat, etc
Shit: Self Explanatory
Racial: any derogatory term which focused on a player’s race
Sexual: Sexual phrases which were not homosexual. Fuck was not included in this unless it was directed at a person i.e. your mom.
Homosexual: Comments which called someone gay or any slang term with the same meaning or referred to two people of the same gender performing sexual acts on each other.
Damn: Self Explanatory
Bitch: Self Explanatory
Overall percentage use of curse words or lewd comments
Hourly breakdown of Curse words or lewd comments in Halo 2
Overall Usage of Profanity
You can download the Excel spreadsheet with my data in it here (right click, Save As) FIXED
If you have any questions about the study please leave a comment.
!UPDATE!
If you are unclear of the intent of this study or think I am a prude who wants the government to regulate our lives please read the update. Link
UPDATE 2
Cleaned up some broad generalizing in my intro.
Josh Smith is a blogger, database manager and adjunct professor of business and technology. 
I got the link from Joystiq and this is very true. Much of the time, I just mute everyone because I get sick of all the cursing.
i give you a lot of credit because in order to do this you needed to stop playing everytime someone said it and wrtie it down!
no, but seriously awesome job. this looks very professional and well-planned. kudos.
I love playing Halo 2 online, but I must admit that all the foul language and immature trash talking really turns me off.
Perhaps Nintendo has the right idea by using Friend Codes to allow who you want to play with. Does Bungie ever do anything with the user feedback?
Nice study. Now it would be interesting to know if the swearing is as intense with other games as it is with Halo.
when i played xbox live i didn’t hear it that much…
This is awesome! LUL. Fag shouldve gotten its own category.
Very, very nice post!!
Interesting. It’s discouraging that there is three racial epithets over every two hours. My nephews are hooked on Xbox online. They can easily total five six hours over a weekend. Perhaps Microsoft could add the disclaimer, “You’ll hear some mouthbreather yell nigger/chink/wop every hour or so.” I’d like to see more material about what people spew to strangers.
Thanks for the post. This is impressive yet at the same time just scary…
Unfortunately, the sample size in this study, which can only be attributed to the game of Halo in the hours that the writer actually logged on to play, is not big enough. Unfortunately, the results, by statistical standards, are insignificant.
I applaud your courage in undertaking such an ear battering, for the sake of research. I only hope that you efforts were not in vain, and that the powers that be in Microsoft/Xbox, PC gaming world, and other up and coming online gaming services will not only take note, but also, take action to encourage a positive gaming experience for all ages. I just hope the anti gaming political squad doesn’t skew the results. Yet, they wouldn’t be politicians if they didn’t try.
Good point Bob,
Ideally I would have liked to run the study longer and with other people playing in seperate games, and I would have probally done so if I was still a student. Thanks for the input.
Props Josh…
I’m not a huge Halo player and to be honest, I don’t even own an Xbox. I am, however, a big PC gamer and can say that this issue is not a new one. I’ve been playing games online for years and this issue is one that has been around (and steadily getting worse) since people began gaming online. It has gotten to the point now that it is a part of pretty much EVERY game that has any type of chat functionality (Counter-Strike and Unreal being a couple of the worst).
I’ve often wondered why it is that people suddenly degrade into mindless filth fountains as soon as they log on. The only thing I’ve been able to come up with is that the anonimity of being online allows people to show who they are deep-down without fear of societal judgement. Unfortunately, if this is the case it doesn’t provide a very pretty picture of the true state of our society (or at least the portion that plays online games).
I don’t pretend to have a suggestion about how to correct this issue, but it seems that this is a big enough problem that something needs to be done. There are still some of us out there that have more than 5 words in our vocabulary and are actually able to form a complete sentence that doesn’t include the F-bomb. And although I’m personally able to shrug off the vulgarity, there’s no way I’d want my kids exposed to that kind of language. At least not until they start hearing it in 2nd or 3rd grade =).
Sorry about the soapbox rant, but I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who’s noticed this and I’m glad to see that it’s getting some attention.
Excellent post, congratulations man!
so what if people are using cuss language. that’s what happens when mates get together and talk trash – it’s the competitive spirit to knock your friends with disparaging remarks. no-one takes them seriously, and if you do, then set up a guild or clan that doesn’t use colourful language. can you imagine online gaming without the profanities?
lmox: “gosh darn, you hit me. don’t get too cocky for i forsee a time when i may be able to return the favour and remove a life from your score”
meethed: “why are you talking this way foul nave? methinks your sexuality is of questionable heritage!”
n00b: “hello, i am new here. would anyone care to show me how to play this game?”
xcelsior: “welcome to our friendly arms simulator mr noob. follow me and i will show you everything you need to know to become the best at this game. please feel free to use my personal tactics for your own advantage. lets go”
noob: “gracious me, i do believe a rife accidentally discharged into the back of my head. how uncouth!”
xcelsior: “oops, i have been hit too. i feel like a big piece of excrement – curses to you LMOX. why don’t you go and kiss my flowerbed!”
n00b: “it’s such a happy place in here – people throwing fireworks at each other – so wonderful – almost gay! hooray for everything!!!”
lmox: “so what is up meethed. i’d like to throw a colourful coloquialism at you but i fear that using a slang word migh incur the wrath of the other players. do you think they would mind if i just refferred to you as my brother?”
Apparently I wasn’t clear. I don’t care that people cuss, you can say whatever you want I cuss when I play halo. I was curious about how often it happens and so i tracked it. After the study was done I figured at the least it will help make parents aware about what can happen on Xbox live. And I would hate the what if presented in your scenario, so please cuss all you want i don’t want to feel like I am playing Halo trapped in a Care bears environment.
you raised some great points.
i’ve heard that the PS3′s online service is likely to inlcude a “parental safe” option for their kiddies to go online with. don’t know how that would be maintained though…
I don’t see how the parental mode would work unless it took the voice function, i guess props for trying.
For any of you looking for a kind of sanctuary for “mature gamers” that come together to play Halo 2 and other online games without children’s antics check out http://www.seasonedgamers.com!
Great info by the way, I’m definately going to be telling some of my psychology grad students about this potential subject of research!
~Dai
I’ve been recording xbox live jerks for a while. I’ve posted links to some of them.
** Big warning ** this is extreme stuff
http://forum.ebaumsworld.com/showthread.php?t=79083
I have over 100 more I am editing down that will be released.
obviously you havn’t played CS, the word “fag” gets said after every kill.
Interesting article tho! good work!
FFS, try recording a warcraft teamspeak session….that will really go off the charts
I’d like to see a study where you find out what age people are who curse most often. I get the impression that it’s the high school/middle school kids who want to rebel…
I really feel this number is very low.
Atleast from LAN parites I have been at.
The better the party, the more the swearing. Thats my 3 second study.
The people that comment on this site make me laugh. They might as well post “Let me suck your ass, Josh”. Use of ass 100%, 1 per hour, and used 1 time overall.
I have no problem with foul language. I stopped playing Halo 2 because I got sick of adolescents talking trash. There are too many kids who have put in 60 hour weeks mastering the game, and get off on trouncing those of us who stop by for an hour or two every once in awhile. There’s only so much taunting one can take at the hands of fat 12-year-olds who don’t get out in the sun much.
Battlefront II is much more enjoyable. The game is fun and competitive even when playing with fat weenie kids with no social lives.
That’s the same with any online game… not really news to anyone who’s ever played online. Kids can get away with saying anything without any recourse. I think it’s more shocking that parents don’t know what their children are into.
I actually like the swearing. It gets really fun when people start getting creative. It’s better than the military.
Congrats. You are now the biggest loser I’ve come across on the Internet. As if 30+ hours of xbox didn’t make you a big enough nerd, you sat there and counted curse words.
Go play in traffic
All these immature little kids out there think they’re so tough that they can talk trash over a video game. Hiredgoon, you take it too far. People aren’t going to talk so formal over XBL, but why can’t someone just say “Yea, he caught me while I wasn’t looking” instead of using an excuse like “You stupid b**** you’re host powers suck”. It’s only the insecure players that think they have to prove themselves to everyone else that talk smack when it is unwarranted. In real life, the majority of Halo 2 players are thin little stay-at-home kids who wouldn’t be able to talk smack fact to face with someone and get away with it. It’s a video game. Little immature people, stop trying to prove yourselves over XBL because in the end you’ll be married to your Xbox instead of a wife.
If you take a 30 hour sampling of the average conversation at a bar you will find similar results. This is how people talk! It’s nothing new, and this should neither surprise nor offend anyone. When was the last time you hung out at a fraternity house? or at a bar in Boston, or at a Steelers game?
Well done, but you spent alot of time to state the obvious and well-known. Time wasted in my opinion….you could’ve been playing Civ IV this whole time, or fapping to Leisure Suit Larry games.
You F*cking Homo’s, I’ll kick you@ss any day n00bs
“Fag” – LOL. Haven’t heard that in a long time due to the pc nation we are now.
People are swearing while playing an online game, are you SERIOUS? That’d be like using the internet for porn or sex chats, what’s next, catholic priests molesting alter boys…..does this really come as a surprise to anyone. Lighten up, it’s more then drunk frat boys and adolescent trouble makers. These are normal kids and this is how they talk today, wake up. Parents today don’t care except when it comes to sex. Supress sex but let them listen to 50 Cent talk about shooting someone while smoking crack and you get abunch of fowl mouthed kids.. I know when I supress my sexual energy I swear a lot more, personally I think there are worse things then kids swearing while playing a violent video game, that’s what you’re supposed to do. Would you be happier hearing something like “I say, nice shot old chap. When I respawn I’ll try my dandiest to return the favor.” I’d be very scared if this study showed restuls like that.
There should not be a 24 year old frat boy unless he was working on his Masters degree.
On another note, the game is Halo2. It is a war game. I imagine that when you are ready to run out to take the enemy you would be thinking/saying explicitives and other phrases that makes you feel larger/greater/superior than your enemies.
Only 7% were people being called faggots? Clearly I’m a trendsetter here.
In all seriousness, since we can’t control what people say I guess we should just stop being offended by it, or does that make too much sense?
Jidar,
Excellent suggestion, though I’m afriad your right it makes too much sense to get picked up mainstream.
I have found that using the headphones with XBOX live is a distraction. Unless you are playing in a Team game, it really provides no function except to let opponents get your attention with the above mentioned profanity and stupidity.
Kiss my ass you treehuggers
What I don’t understand is why sites are implying that your numbers are way off because you didn’t record frequency for 100+ hours. Why would they act like this doesn’t exist? Granted sometimes it’s worse than others, but it’s a problem in my opinion, and anyone that plays Halo 2 can’t deny that this is pretty much spot on. Cussing is crude but sometimes crude is the only way to emphasize something enough to get your point across. In that respect I have no problem with cussing. But when it’s used in every other word, that’s annoying and offensive because it’s making improper use of the language and it’s just being crude for the sake of crudeness and reaction.
Of course, that’s a minor issue compared to racism, homosexual comments, and other sexual comments made in game. Sometimes these get to the point where I want to throw up. You think you’ve heard mean comments about your mom? Play some halo 2, your face will turn purple with rage at some pimple-faced 13-year old. I get tired of the homosexual joking too, especially when it gets graphic. That’s just sick. The other sexual comments are just as bad, I don’t need to hear that while I’m playing an online FPS. But the worst is the racism. Before I joined the Halo 2 community, it had been a long time since I had run into a racist. I was shocked and disgusted to find kids whose parents pay for their live accounts putting down a whole class of people just because of the color of their skin. I can almost say I hate racists. But I try to pity them instead. It’s really hard sometimes.
What is the f0cking point of this?
The worst part is that most of this comes from kids under the age of 15.
So, you went into a game atmosphere based solely on killing, violence, war, domination, and you expected flawless english and complete sentences? You seem to be missing a point here. For example, people with tourette syndrome swear profusely because those words require the least amount of thought and are the easiest to trigger. Maybe you’re confusing a simple brain function with The Downfall of Society. In the midst of shooting sprees and adrenaline rushes, most people would not come out with sophisticated and articulate expressions.
This shows us nothing, but parents can’t watch their kids. School yard trash talking has been around for years. I can rember as early as 1st grade ttalking junk, but now this is in a public forum. This game and games a like are for mature audieces only for obivous reasons, blood, violence, use of language. Young kids should not be playing games of this type, but lets face it they do. So, stop tring to sissify the world and act like this is ground breaking because it not. Use of language or being verbal is one of our freedoms, please refrain from takin that away from me you COMMIE!
KevMack , can you read, I am arguing for parents to take some responsibility not the government.
http://www.imjosh.com/?p245 for more info
wow. there is alot of cussing over live. I knew that there was a lot of cussing, but dang. seriously.
“There should not be a 24 year old frat boy unless he was working on his Masters degree.”
Uh… when was the last time you attended college? From what I’ve always seen, frat boys are ALWAYS older, because their way through college is usually being paid for by their parents and they’ve failed their way through about 7 years of classes. How (or why) they remain in college is anyone’s guess.
Though I agree that it was unlikely that the author heard a Frat boy cursing on XBL — they usually don’t have the necessary sobriety or motor control to hold onto a controller for more than 4 or 5 minutes at a time.
Josh, please. What an exciting life you must lead to be able to count curse words for 30+ hours on the Xbox.
Go get some sunlight
Thats the problem when you put a microphone in front of someone, they’ll use it.
I hate playing Halo2 on live, so I quit. It sucks.
Beh. I understand the point, but the “14 year old” remark was a little farfetched. Most fourteen year olds that I know are pretty mature, and the fact they’re in highschool usually cuts out the “playground” business. Usually, it’s the nine year olds that play too much XBox Live and pick up on the words. Other than that, good job.
And for the record, parents shouldn’t be too concerned about their children cussing in their teen years. It’s not like they don’t hear it at school. Too many damned soccer moms…