Profanity filter gone wrong?

[Oxblood]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16027' date='Jun 12 2007, 08:19 AM']Its lost on me Ken. We're just trying to manage a forum here and its a tricky balance to achieve sometimes. Why not help us find the right balance, bearing in mind we have a range of experiences, backgrounds and levels of maturity?[/quote]
I am trying to help you find the right balance - it's just that our respective concepts of what constitutes balance are at variance. Mine is rooted in the basic principle that it is the forum members themselves who should decide what they want to say and in what terms it should be expressed, with the moderators intervening only if threads degenerate into personal insult, if slanderous statements are made that could get the forum itself into legal hot water, or if prompted to do so by complaints of offence from fellow members.

As you will be aware, I lodged a protest recently regarding an edit that was made to one of my own posts. SHG's reply explained that there is apparently a problem with some members being unable to access the site from workplace computers, because their employers' 'bad language' filters were being triggered to block the content, and consequently action was being taken to avoid this happening. This all sounds very fair and reasonable, until you analyze what it really means in practice, and witness what it has now resulted in: a situation where the moderators are experimenting with blanket bowdlerization of our discourse - with inevitably farcical results. I can only repeat here what I said to him: it's a sad state of affairs indeed when Basschat forum policy is effectively being dictated by the corporate prudery of organizations with which we have no connection and to whom we owe no duty at all.

[Kiwi]

Ken

I'm happy to discuss this in further detail via PM.

[Waldo]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16022' date='Jun 12 2007, 07:28 AM']As for shouting and use of exclamation marks, incorrect use of the apostrophe, use of text speak split infinitives and anything that bothers Guardian readers . No, we're not going to catching those but the mods do pick up on excessive use of caps when used by someone who appears to be less experienced in using a forum.[/quote]

Guardian readers? Care to explain that?

I didn't mention apostrophes nor did I mention split infinitives, don't make an issue where there isn't one.

[Toasted]

[quote name='Oxblood' post='16090' date='Jun 12 2007, 10:49 AM']I am trying to help you find the right balance - it's just that our respective concepts of what constitutes balance are at variance. Mine is rooted in the basic principle that it is the forum members themselves who should decide what they want to say and in what terms it should be expressed, with the moderators intervening only if threads degenerate into personal insult, if slanderous statements are made that could get the forum itself into legal hot water, or if prompted to do so by complaints of offence from fellow members.

As you will be aware, I lodged a protest recently regarding an edit that was made to one of my own posts. SHG's reply explained that there is apparently a problem with some members being unable to access the site from workplace computers, because their employers' 'bad language' filters were being triggered to block the content, and consequently action was being taken to avoid this happening. This all sounds very fair and reasonable, until you analyze what it really means in practice, and witness what it has now resulted in: a situation where the moderators are experimenting with blanket bowdlerization of our discourse - with inevitably farcical results. I can only repeat here what I said to him: it's a sad state of affairs indeed when Basschat forum policy is effectively being dictated by the corporate prudery of organizations with which we have no connection and to whom we owe no duty at all.[/quote]

[Ham'n'cheesy]! [China Plate], I can't [Adam and Eve] it! [Me ole mucker] is as [Uncle [candle wick]] of all this [Pony and Trap] messing up our [Dicky Bird]s here on bass[Rabbit & Pork].co.uk. It makes us all look like [Steam tug]s, and makes me [christmas eve] those [Hale Bopp] don't have a [Danny La Rue] how to [Hans Blix] it.

[ped]

Well I think it is quite funny personally, if you are that bothered that you cant swear, then you need to chill out. Steve was only trying it, so a little more patience and tolerance wouldn't go amiss. We respect your opinions of course, but as this is a public forum open to 13 year olds and above, we want to filter out the worst language, but obviously we need to play with the tolerance settings etc.

ped

[Toasted]

In order to help out [me ole mucker ].. uh, sorry - my good friend Ped I'm going to PM him and Kiwi the Beeb's list of ranked naughty words.

If it's good enough for Auntie then surely it's good enough for us?

[Gazm]

[quote name='Toasted' post='16117' date='Jun 12 2007, 10:29 AM']In order to help out [me ole mucker ].. uh, sorry - my good friend Ped I'm going to PM him and Kiwi the Beeb's list of ranked naughty words.

If it's good enough for Auntie then surely it's good enough for us?[/quote]


Post it, should be a hoot!

[Waldo]

This reminds me of the subtitled cockney slang sequence in lock stock

[tayste_2000]

[quote name='Toasted' post='16107' date='Jun 12 2007, 11:17 AM'][Ham'n'cheesy]! [China Plate], I can't [Adam and Eve] it! [Me ole mucker] is as [Uncle [candle wick]] of all this [Pony and Trap] messing up our [Dicky Bird]s here on bass[Rabbit & Pork].co.uk. It makes us all look like [Steam tug]s, and makes me [christmas eve] those [Hale Bopp] don't have a [Danny La Rue] how to [Hans Blix] it.[/quote]

Can you PM me what you actually said here as I have no idea what the hell you are talking about

[Waldo]

He said 'I'll have a 12 inch deep pan with pepperoni, ham, onions, peppers, extra cheese and a stuffed crust'

Edited June 12, 2007 by Waldo

[Toasted]

[quote name='Gazm' post='16120' date='Jun 12 2007, 11:32 AM']Post it, should be a hoot![/quote]

Pm sent!

[ped]

Lol. Quite an interesting list. Sounds like the level on conversation in the Eagle Vaults in Witney on a friday night.

[Waldo]

It's funny how the words 'Jew', 'Jesus Christ' and 'God' are on that list.

Edit: Not sure if they still are though, the list I have is from 2000

Edited June 12, 2007 by Waldo

[Bassassin]

Is an autocensor really necessary - personally I find having my self-expression tampered with, as if I was a 7 year old, or an American or something, massively more insulting than any "bad cusswords" people might use. I hate this sort of thing. Besides - they can always be circumvented.

And how come it lets you get away with Scunthorpe?

Jon.

[alexclaber]

I really thought Bill Fitzmaurice had lost it when he kept saying "horse and cart"... Nice to know he's still sane!

Alex

[pete.young]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16095' date='Jun 12 2007, 10:56 AM']Ken

I'm happy to discuss this in further detail via PM.[/quote]

No, lets have that discussion in the open where we can all see it.

Post the list of offending words. Do you really think that anyone on a UK list is going to
be offended by the use of '[Myleen Klass]' ?

I'm in full agreement with Oxblood, and until I stumbled across this thread I couldn't understand why
'bass' in one of my postings was being scrambled into something else.

The sad fact, as someone employed to evaluate and write profanity and porn filters at one point in
my career is that they can't be guaranteed to work and can always be circumvented. There is nothing to be
gained from going down this route, and much to be lost.

It also seems odd that none of you appear to know any 12-year-olds, or know what kind of
vocabulary they are able to routinely deploy.

[pete.young]

[quote name='pete.young' post='16264' date='Jun 12 2007, 02:49 PM']Post the list of offending words. Do you really think that anyone on a UK list is going to
be offended by the use of '[Myleen Klass]' ?[/quote]

Good Ghod. I thought people were having a laugh, I didn't realise that the software was
doing this.

I hope the appeal is going well, because when Myleen's lawyers find out that her name is
being used as a synonym for "[Tiajuana brass]" they will have a field day.

[pete.young]

And it's spelt 'Tijuana'.

Unbelievable.

[Oxblood]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='16202' date='Jun 12 2007, 01:29 PM']Is an autocensor really necessary - personally I find having my self-expression tampered with, as if I was a 7 year old, or an American or something, massively more insulting than any "bad cusswords" people might use. I hate this sort of thing. Besides - they can always be circumvented.

And how come it lets you get away with Scunthorpe?

Jon.[/quote]

Now that's interesting, Jon. So you can see the whole word unmolested, yes? On my screen it came out as S[flower of power]horpe!

[Kiwi]

[quote name='pete.young' post='16264' date='Jun 12 2007, 02:49 PM']No, lets have that discussion in the open where we can all see it.[/quote]

No Pete, I don't want to do that. We'll deal with subjects concerning moderation offline thank you, as per the guidelines.

[Toasted]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16283' date='Jun 12 2007, 03:08 PM']No Pete, I don't want to do that. We'll deal with subjects concerning moderation offline thank you, as per the guidelines.[/quote]

This isn't as issue "about" moderation.

[Waldo]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16283' date='Jun 12 2007, 03:08 PM']No Pete, I don't want to do that. We'll deal with subjects concerning moderation offline thank you, as per the guidelines.[/quote]

This is an issue concerning everyone here, it should be discussed in the open. This makes it look like you arn't willing to discuss it.

Edited June 12, 2007 by Waldo

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Oxblood' post='16281' date='Jun 12 2007, 03:07 PM']Now that's interesting, Jon. So you can see the whole word unmolested, yes? On my screen it came out as S[flower of power]horpe![/quote]
I can, yes. But if I embolden the emotionally damaging & psychologically scarring bit, then I see what you see. I really think the author of this useless piece of software was a right talentless lady's front bottom. And very obviously, an American.

BW didn't have a "won't somebody please think of the children" filter, and oddly enough - no one died.

J.

[Hamster]

Chill out people It seems to be a work in progress (and a funny one at that!) I'm sure a proper balance will be found after a little tweaking. Most posters seem to be able to express themselves without the use of sexual swear words and IMHO, if a person can only express themselves by the use of such swearing, perhaps they should go and vent their spleen on the www.iknowsomerudewords.com forums and then buy a good thesaurus and dictionary to find some alternatives.

Or of course, just go to [url="http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/english/a"]http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/english/a[/url] to catch up on the patois - it's much funnier than swearing and educational!

[tayste_2000]

I don't understand this whole issue Talkbass has had a filter on for years true it didn't change it cockney slang it just **** it out, so the Cockney stuff (which I don't understanda word that is being said) is just Kiwi having a laugh in the word replacement I'm sure it can be made to just be boring and **** but if you shouldn't really need to swear in your day to day conversations (This is from some one who swears profusely) its simply not needed on any forum and I don't know any that really allow it anyways?

If ya need to call some one a harsh name you can do it in a PM can't we Kiwi ya ************************** see now you don't know what I'm talking about shoe's on the other foot now