Why do we still need word filters anymore?

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  • Bill of Rights

    Cogito, ergo porto.
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    Apr 26, 2008
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    I noticed this question today which a member answered.

    Why do we still need word filters. Is it an advertising thing?

    If I want to talk about Dick pricking his finger as he cocked his [STRIKE]642[/STRIKE] 637 Airweight, I want to do it without second-guessing myself.

    Jamil had asked "who ruined "*******", referring to the fact that one used to be able to type out the plural word for what Trump claimed celebrities could/should grab, and commented that "some INGOfficial had gone and blocked that word, too", but then answered the above, stating:

    To me, they're just words but there are times in the presence of certain company that I wouldn't talk like that. INGO is a family site.

    And he is correct.

    For the record *I* was the one who noticed the fact that the singular was blocked, but not the plural, and suggested it should be blocked as well.
    My logic was that one cannot refer to the "S" word for ":poop:", whether singular or plural, one cannot give either one or several f***s, and following that train of thought, there is little reason to reference either singular or plural forms of the vernacular/vulgar term for "vulva".

    Make no mistake, I cuss, and usually do so unapologetically. When around small children, clergypeople, and my mother, however, there are some words I won't use, or if I slip and do so, an apology is forthcoming. In the former case, it's so that the children don't learn words from me that will get their mouths washed out with soap (if parents even do that anymore; mine sure did!) and in the latter cases, it's a matter of respect. I don't use those words at work, in front of a patient, as it's unprofessional, and I don't use that word lightly.

    GPIA, to answer your question, we still need word filters because the mod staff can't read every post, and hasn't been able to in a very long time. Too, we realize that people do "oops" from time to time, but that doesn't change the fact that INGO is now, has always been, and good Lord willing, always will be a family-friendly site. We don't want, to use Eddie Murphy's caricature of Bill Cosby's phrase, a bunch of "filth flarn flarn filth" cluttering up the site and making it a place where a parent would not want his/her child to go to learn what's what about guns. (ideally, the parent will be teaching them about USING the gun responsibly and properly, but if the kid is looking for academic guidance or is researching what gun he wants for his next birthday, he should be able to without wading through a bunch of feces and copulation and the like. (reference to the "For the record" comment, above.)

    We use filters to give you, the user, the ability to do exactly what you asked. You can talk all day about Dick pricking his finger as he cocked his revolver. Those are appropriate uses of those words. If you start talking about the string of words he uttered as he did so, and due to your (generic you, not saying you personally cuss all the time) regular use of cuss words, slip and miss a word (which I find myself doing occasionally... Have to go back when something twigs and says... waitasec... did that say...? Aw hell. Now I gotta infract that.) we want the word to be caught for you, censored automagically, and keep the site family-friendly.

    And yes, I'm fully aware that using filters leads to such things as the much-chuckled-at word for salinated dihydrogen monoxide, "sal****er", and its included quasi-profanity. There is a way to fix that, but I don't know how to do it and don't have access to do so even if I did. I'm sure I could figure it out, given a few minutes or so (and access).

    I really hope this helps. I know it's frustrating to feel like you're always being watched, but having the machine watching for specific words (and not even notifying us, just auto-blocking them) is the least intrusive method there is, or at least the least intrusive of which I'm aware.

    Blessings,
    Bill
     

    KittySlayer

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    I appreciate the filters. Participating in a few different forums each has its own standards. Sometimes when on INGO I might still assume I am typing on a site that permits rougher language. The filters are a nice reminder that I may wish to rephrase my comments. I can always get around the filters using enough M@g!c characters that people understand my meaning. Thanks to the moderators for doing a thankless job.
     

    K_W

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    I'm a Mod on a fairly good sized car forum that is owned and hosted by a decent sized company... all profanity, insults, nudity, and pornography is banned... except in off-topic where anything legal goes. They say "you have to be 18 [or say you are at signup] to access off-topic". :dunno:
     
    Last edited:

    Expat

    Pdub
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    It doesn't bother me. I think sometimes we fail to remember that females or children might be reading our posts. I do think the choices of words that made the list are in some cases strange. Some words that I always thought were really bad are okay and vice versa.
     

    MCgrease08

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    I too appreciate the filters. I swear plenty in real life conversation, but rarely in writing unless it's meant to add a specific impact.

    I'm a member on the PA Firearm Owners board and they have no restrictions on cursing. Several members there seem to be consistently crass and it is always a bit jarring to see since I spend much more time here.

    I just really don't see the need to curse in text. Things slip out in conversation, but in writing there is plenty of time to compose a thought and edit.
     

    chezuki

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    Can we get **** removed?

    Removed? I'm not a doctor, but I think they just kinda sew it up.

    chaz-bono-435-5.jpg
     

    Bill of Rights

    Cogito, ergo porto.
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    But surely forgivable in discussing s@ltw@ter fishing...

    Preferable to just add the space in salt water fishing.

    Can we get **** removed? Seriously, it's a juvenile word that isn't that offensive, but it does screw up certain links.

    http://www.marke****ch.com

    ...or to say "market watch.com (remove the space)"

    I will advocate against that word's removal, given that, juvenile or not, it's a word that is almost as offensive to most women I know as that four letter word beginning with C and rhyming with the smallest member of a litter of puppies or kittens. Yeah, it's frustrating to have your links busted, but the benefit of it being blocked is greater in my estimation than the detriment caused by its removal.

    The words in the filter are sometimes odd, yes, but they are usually there for a reason, and that reason is usually that they were abused at one or another point in time. If you find one that makes no sense to you, make your case. :) The final decision to add or remove a word from the filter rests with texkev. (Please don't inundate the man with requests... if you see a usage that seems odd, just report the post so the whole staff can see it, and in your report, include your rationale and reasoning. You can always PM us if there's more info than you could fit into your initial report.)

    Finally, I'd like to ask that no one get wrapped around the axle over this or that term. It's an easy fix to say "salt water" or "market watch".
    It's a simple matter to call Obama a rectal orifice, rather than the other word.
    Challenge and expand your vocabulary where you can, rather than just resorting to an expletive.

    Blessings,
    Bill
     

    Rookie

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    Meh. I think it's silly, but, at the end of the day, I really don't care. I'll continue as normal and type whatever and let the filter catch it.
     

    BehindBlueI's

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    ...or to say "market watch.com (remove the space)"

    Which breaks links. It's a shame the software isn't well written enough to know stand alone words vs strings of letters, or that exceptions can't be written in.

    That said, I agree with rookie. It's silly to but not something I care much about. We already have a rule against insulting others, so calling someone a profane name should be covered. I'm not sure the sky would fall if the filter was loosened or removed.
     
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