The automatic forum censor

[Duke87 1,070]

By now, many of us are probably aware of this problem:

-John Han*****

-Alfred Hitch*****

-*****roach

-pea*****

-*****-a-doodle-doo

but that's not the only issue here. The trouble with an automatic forum censor is that it means that when someone actually does post a bad word, it simply gets automaticaly edited and cut off. The trouble with this is that it means that when someone does it, they never get in trouble for using foul language. This means that someone that keeps doing it just keeps ending up with a buch of five asterisk groups in their posts. Thus, they can keep doing it as mcuh as they want and not risk getting banned, since it's impossible to tell whetether someone actually intended to swear or edited it on purpose.

So, if it is at all posible to turn this feature off, I would be in all in favor of it. This way, pottymouthed people could be held responsible for their actions.

Thoughts on this?

[Constantina 5]

The automatic censor filter is necessary to keep our children off the profanities, but another idea is a kind of a hit counter. When a swear-word or profanity is posted, the software takes note of the member who sent the swear-word with the post and save it onto a log, before censoring it. The administrators can then read the profanity-detector logs and take action.

signature

Constantina

at Athens and Midlands, NSWiki, SC4EVER.com and Simtropolis

London 2012

[Dexter 40]

I agree that it is pointless to have an automatic censor because it can block words that are not bad, but because many children access this forum, it may not be a good idea to remove it, because no matter how good the moderators are, they can't edit out a word as soon as it is posted.

Like you said, if I posted four asterisk symbols like this ****, nobody would know if I posted it like that or not.

Sometimes you get some trouble members that will get around it anyway with spaces (like in chat).

Edit: Costantina posted while I was posting, and I think the counter idea is a good idea.

[Tolomar 5]

dissagree.... I feel quite happy there are filters here....some forms of comunications are left in the locker rooms and bar etc etc...some words get caught in the shuffle that ok, nothings perfect....you can work around it..not censoring ideas...just the way in which you word them

ok...it doesn't stop those that wanna use rude (or some that are deemed racist or the like ) language ...nor does it stop ppl in the know...what the words are in anyways.

nice to sit down somewhere you know certain degree of social conduct is expect and enforced if abused

 feel quite happy with Dirk and the Admins on this one...they can filter anyword that they feel isn't accceptable as per their vison of the site

 

case closed...

[hym 358]

Got to agree; I'm happy with the word censoring. Sure, it seems to cause problems when it censors legitimate words, but I think that the good outweighs the bad.

[dev 47]

I like the censor...the only suggestion I would have is removing the term that is included in the Chicago building featured in SimCity 4...I have never seen anyone use the "c" word on SimTropolis.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

So you pronounce it Chi*****o? What would happen if you put a "t" in there somewhere...

but anyway, I think replacing the words with asterisks is that most people can figure out what was said.  Like how putting little black dots on womens nipples doesn't make it ok to show.

Personally, I don't think swearing is such a bid deal.  Even at 13, peoples peers, people in movies, and their teachers all swear.  So for me, as long as people are carpet F-bombing the forums, I think it's ok, but I see why it is the way it is, and that's ok with me too.

[mtbrocket 2]

A very well reasoned argument, Duke87

Do you thing that instead of eliminating the auto forum censer maybe the software of the forum censer needs to be refined? Maybe have three categories for words. The first catagory would be for definite words that are automatically deleted. Have a second category for questionable words and a third category for questionably phrases like “you’re a jerk” “get a life” etc. I know the moderators would not want the extra work so is there a software solution? How do libraries filter data, as I know some do? Mar$ exploration is a good example of when filters go wrong. I will give your ideas some thought.

-Dan

Edited to answer SamFlash's question.

[sloppet 3]

Well, I don't think we need an automatical censor... we cannot replace the mods/admins with machines! people are better!

[SamFlash 0]

If Constantina is correct, that there is a log  that can be reviewed by an administrator to allow for action to be taken against those who would be mute if they didn't swear, then I have no problem with a filter.   Sometimes I forget just how young some of our members are and although they probably hear worse from their peers in school they don't need to see it repeated here.  Duke87 does make a good argument however and I would fully agree with him if this was an adult only site (18+).

mtbrocket - Your post says three catagories of words but you only gave two.   What *** **** was the ***-*** ****** 3rd one?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The censor is wrong to take letter combinations out of context or in the middle of words.  Maybe we should be able to source one that can handle forbidden text when delimited by white space or punctuation?

I am a little disturbed by editing words like *****sure.

[Duke87 1,070]

You know, I just thought of something else. This is a test:

Dick Clark

Dick Van Dyke

Dick Cheney

EDIT: Well, okay, at least it's sensible enough to leave that alone.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

It doesn't recognize things like mo bee instead of mother beeper, and that kind of thing either.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Would we say the consensus is for a better recognizer?

[newyorkstate 6]

There's word censoring on this site?

[vidioman 21]

OMG scary scary words. Is faggot censored?

Nope.

Why not do what SCC did and instead of make them all "*****" make them change the world, like ass becomes bum, ***** becomes intercourse, *****ing becomes planting the cucumber, etc. It's good fun.

[Praetorian Cohort 0]

"The automatic censor filter is necessary to keep our children off the profanities..."

The youngest age allowed to register at this site is 13. When was the last time you were in a junior high school?

[Joesocwork 4]

We have very good moderators who are doing a fine job.  However, just like everyone else, they can't be around 24-7.  The automatic censor is a nice interim stop-gap during those times.  I would hope, however, that members would exercise enough maturity so that it would not be necessary anyway.  The quirkier words that got caught struck me as legible regardless, but feel free to p.m. staff if you think otherwise; again please use good judgement, maturity, and understanding.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body Would we say the consensus is for a better recognizer?quote>

 

I'd vote for a more intelligent censor, but as Joesocwork said, it's a stop-gap solution.  IMO, what we have is adequate if people follow the rules.

[Micah 16]

I actually like it. Now the moderators don't have to worry about curse words on the website. But there was one time when I said co-cktail (I had to add - so you would see it) and it banned that word.

[Duke87 1,070]

Here's another one:

*****ake mushrooms

An actual type of mushroom, common in Japanese Food.

[hamsterTK 93]

The censor is wrong to take letter combinations out of context or in the middle of words.  Maybe we should be able to source one that can handle forbidden text when delimited by white space or punctuation?quote>

sounds like a solution to me. i was thinking the same thing.

Since we arent allowed to curse, lets all make up words that sound similiar. Then we'll all sound like a bunch of prospectors con flabbit! jumpin jehosaphat! thats a shure good idea darn tootin!

[justanothersim86 83]

I tried to say John Han***** Tower and it got censored. Thats full of mecrob!

[magpieshooter 1]

The *****rel cried *****-a-doodle-doo each and every morning.

[Micah 16]

^ Ok, guys, this isn't a thread to post words to see if they get censored, it's to debate whether the censor should be here or not.

[Joesocwork 4]

I agree. This is quickly devolving into immature foolishness instead of a conversation. Thread closed.