Should we have/need a 'word filter'?
By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
March 14, 2016 6:48am CST
Yeah, I know why it is there, but do we really need it there?
We have a 'report' option; if someone is using a word as a means to denigrate someone, we could simply report it and let Admin deal with the person.
The way it is, you can't talk about your buddy the 'class*clown' or how cold a 'brass*monkey' might be because the word filter thinks you are saying something else.
But if you talk about setting clocks by hand, and forget the 'l', well, the word filter thinks it is fine to set those 'by hand'. 
But do we seriously need one?
We're adults here (for the most part) and know what is right/proper/nice and what is wrong/improper/mean.
I myself promise not to call someone an ***clown or an ***monkey...but if they are being an ass, I might tell them so...
But do we seriously need one?
We're adults here (for the most part) and know what is right/proper/nice and what is wrong/improper/mean.
I myself promise not to call someone an ***clown or an ***monkey...but if they are being an ass, I might tell them so...17 people like this
19 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104619)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I agree. I can see where we might have needed it in the old mylot but this newer one, we are more civilized to one another.
My only concern would be a "lost in translation" and someone getting offended over it and misusing the report button.. but that shouldn't happen very often if at all.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
14 Mar 16
@TheHorse Pretty much my take on things. In certain contexts I haven't a problem with the odd profanity. If it gets gratuitous then I have a problem but I would probably only report someone if they were being personally abusive toward another member.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
I tend to see it that way myself, perhaps if enough people speak up, Admin would reconsider it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104619)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I certainly say we need Clocks in this world. 
Oh that's not what you meant was it?
Oh that's not what you meant was it? 2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104619)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@TheHorse 
When I used Bhastaird in my discussion it wouldn't let me but JJ told me that someone had misused it so much that they had to add it to the filter. It's a shame that we can't use some words that may be considered rude but can be used in different context.
When I used Bhastaird in my discussion it wouldn't let me but JJ told me that someone had misused it so much that they had to add it to the filter. It's a shame that we can't use some words that may be considered rude but can be used in different context.1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
I didn't even see it until I went back to respond to a comment, and I was like 'Oh...my...God, what did I do?"
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
I'd love to get a good representation of what the community thinks and then ask Alex or Bugsy to think about it.
2 people like this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
14 Mar 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum "Innocent little words" are English words used in my country but with different meaning or context or hidden naughty meanings.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104619)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@mammots I am just wondering when you say "innocent little word" do you refer to words *already* translated from the filipino language or English Words that you use in your country, but with a different context to you than it would be to us?
I hope that isn't confusing.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
The intention of the words should be moderated, not the words themselves so much.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I dont care either way as if I really want to say something no filter is going to stop me.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@JolietJake haha I was last night on here deliriously so haha
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
14 Mar 16
An engineered control, the bad word checker, is always preferable to a 'human control' (ie, someone seeing and reporting an inappropriate word for someone else to address). The checker is in place, why not leave it? It provides a discussion point, if nothing else...
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
14 Mar 16
@JolietJake The moderator workload would surely rise without the bad word control, though? Not best use of moderator time, given the existing control cuts out at least the cuss'n element of board admin :)
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
I just myself do not consider it needed. We have a moderator (actually more than one; Alex is a liaison between us and TPTB) that could easily handle anything needed.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
@pgntwo Not really, because they just alternately spell it, which means they get reported anyway
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
15 Mar 16
I tried to put the word scoooched, it wouldn't let me post it. I was puzzled as to why.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
15 Mar 16
Had to add the extra o because it said I couldn't post the word.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
15 Mar 16
@ElusiveButterfly Fer cryin' out loud...that is just plain ridiculous 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (114284)
• El Paso, Texas
14 Mar 16
Ok, so we are all adults but not all adults are mature and everywhere I've written they have a problem with ho mo which I once tried to use when referring to humans as ho mo sapiens.
I'm also curious, isn't the age to start writing here 13? To me 13 yr olds are not adults.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (114284)
• El Paso, Texas
15 Mar 16
oh good grief @JolietJake maybe they should set the age limit to 18....1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
14 Mar 16
@JolietJake hahaha. Wait for my couzin chimp to say any word
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
And most of us are civilized enough not to misuse them, although in my early days here, I wasn't quite civilized
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Mar 16
I think the word filter is a bit too stringent. There have been a few words that I think can be used that would offend no one yet not allowed to used.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
The usage, and not the word itself, is what should be moderated (in my opinion).
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104619)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@JolietJake I was actually being very sneaky, the word I used (though spelled incorrectly somewhat) is one irish equivalent of the word I wanted to use.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum That particular word got added after someone made several posts with "You Bast**ds" in the title of the discussions
@TheHorse (228674)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Mar 16
I'm on the fence. Can someone write "v u l g a r w o r d" or "v*lgar word" and get away with it? I might want to quote someone who swore. But I guess I don't care overall. If we want to discuss a female dog, do we have to say "female dog"? I'm too lazy to test it right now.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21846)
• Canada
14 Mar 16
I'm surprised you could right the word a** but it was an animal before it was a swear word.... I love the report button. I also had no idea there is a filter in place? I haven't seen much nastiness yet and I hope I never do.
@PainsOnSlate (21846)
• Canada
14 Mar 16
@owlwings Its been called that in the states too...
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Mar 16
Yep, the word filter has always been in place, although the words allowed/disallowed have changed over the years. There are a few that have absolutely no place to be used, but the majority of them would be fine if a little sense was used.
2 people like this
