Censorship on this forum

[hallsworthb]

I am amazed that editorial staff are so sensitive that they won't allow the use of the diminutive for Richard - **** - to appear in these pages. Apparently Di*k has to be asterisked out?

I do think that is going over the top even for our Politically Correct universe.
If "Tom **** or Francis" is good enough for Shakespeare, why are we forbidden from using it (Henry IV Part 1)

Bob

[donoreo]

That may be an automatic setting in the forum software using a list of "bad" words.

[donoreo]

Yes, the forum is using word filtering. No word filtering system is perfect, there is always a proper word that gets filtered as a bad word.

[hallsworthb]

Originally Posted by donoreo

Yes, the forum is using word filtering. No word filtering system is perfect, there is always a proper word that gets filtered as a bad word.

You are right - I remember in the early days, there were huge problems with people from Middlesex.

However I would rather see moderator action / counselling against infringements of a code rather than a draconian ban.

Bob

[Carly Drew]

Hi all,

Word filtering often seems over-sensitive but sadly the word in question is more often used as an insult rather than as a male name to be sandwiched between 'Tom' and 'Harry'. In fact, I think the Wedding Photography thread is the first instance of it not being used as an expletive on here!

As a good proportion of heated debates occur when moderators are unavailable, we'd rather lessen the potential blow by making sure that a very rudimentary filtering system is in place rather than not at all. This is not only to protect our members from derogatory, inflammatory and prejudice remarks, but to also protect the site.

Another small thing to note is that Google crawls websites for certain phrases and search terms. Although the Google bots are exceptionally clever in that sense, the point at which it fails is establishing the context for those phrases. So if the crawler sees the word 'photography' multiple times and various, possibly intimacy related expletives across the site, Photoradar will attract a rather different kind of web user and a lot more spam!

Apologies for the slightly bizarre word filtering system but it is a useful way to make sure that the site and our users are protected, without the need for 24 hour moderation.

[hallsworthb]

OK, Carly - It is your site and I guess you would want to protect those who are young or of a sensitive nature. (Including the editor).

I am against censorship in principle and regret the perceived need for it.

Thanks for the explanation, anyway!

Bob