Policy on use of bad language and the “swear filter”
Discussion
First of all, this isn’t intended to stir what’s happened in the last 24 hours – it honestly isn’t. I’ve been intending to post about this for some time. Now seems like a good time since Paul Garlick is apparently about to review the situation.
PH / Haymarket must have a policy regarding use of swear words on the forums. I don’t mean a formal documented policy but people must have discussed the matter and agreed how things should be.
For something I’m doing elsewhere, I’d find it useful to understand that policy. Providing a summary might also be good to stifle all the recent disapproval of moderator conduct.
The “swear filter” puzzles me. I can’t figure out if its purpose is to keep PH “family friendly” or if it’s to prevent PH ending up on one of these fabled lists that companies apparently use to decide what sites their employees are allowed to access.
If it’s the former, then I don’t think it’s very good. Here is an example sentence.
“That bloke is a f
king wker and he is talking bks”.
I reckon any child who can read the words will be able to tell you what the sentence means. That doesn’t fit with the “family friendly” thing.
It’s been pointed out before, and I agree, the ‘censored’ icon being an angry face is maybe not such a good idea. I think it would be better to just blank out the word or substitute it – but that’s just an opinion.
Moving on, if the swear filter is purely there to sidestep these list things, then the likes of swapping a ‘1’ for an ‘i’ in the “S word” is ok – isn’t it? (I don’t know). As an aside, I see people slapped on the wrist for this yet I can’t see any mention in the posting rules.
It would be a shame to see this closed; unless it descends into pointless muppetry … but it’s PG’s call of course. I also apologise for flagrant disregard of “rule twelve”.
As a footnote, personally, I occasionally use the f-word in conversation if the context and the company suits. I think seeing swear words written is ugly though.
Cheers,
Eric
PH / Haymarket must have a policy regarding use of swear words on the forums. I don’t mean a formal documented policy but people must have discussed the matter and agreed how things should be.
For something I’m doing elsewhere, I’d find it useful to understand that policy. Providing a summary might also be good to stifle all the recent disapproval of moderator conduct.
The “swear filter” puzzles me. I can’t figure out if its purpose is to keep PH “family friendly” or if it’s to prevent PH ending up on one of these fabled lists that companies apparently use to decide what sites their employees are allowed to access.
If it’s the former, then I don’t think it’s very good. Here is an example sentence.
“That bloke is a f
king wker and he is talking bks”.I reckon any child who can read the words will be able to tell you what the sentence means. That doesn’t fit with the “family friendly” thing.
It’s been pointed out before, and I agree, the ‘censored’ icon being an angry face is maybe not such a good idea. I think it would be better to just blank out the word or substitute it – but that’s just an opinion.
Moving on, if the swear filter is purely there to sidestep these list things, then the likes of swapping a ‘1’ for an ‘i’ in the “S word” is ok – isn’t it? (I don’t know). As an aside, I see people slapped on the wrist for this yet I can’t see any mention in the posting rules.
It would be a shame to see this closed; unless it descends into pointless muppetry … but it’s PG’s call of course. I also apologise for flagrant disregard of “rule twelve”.
As a footnote, personally, I occasionally use the f-word in conversation if the context and the company suits. I think seeing swear words written is ugly though.
Cheers,
Eric
Edited by Kiltie on Sunday 5th May 22:09
Kiltie said:
It’s been pointed out before, and I agree, the ‘censored’ icon being an angry face is maybe not such a good idea. I think it would be better to just blank out the word or substitute it – but that’s just an opinion.
This works really well on another forum that I frequent, plus someone gets to make up stupid phrases to replace the swear words and we have to guess what they were. You goat herder carrot pounder happyhole 
I think the censor/filter is relatively useless when a lot of posts - even containing unfiltered language - can easily pass the line in content. It's not a criticism of the forum, there's some really hilarious posters here but it seems pretty pointless having a swear filter when you can sit in the lounge and talk about the time you got it on with the mrs in the back of a Capri in 1986.
However, I do believe some filtering is necessary because of advertising - feel free to correct me - but I know from experience on other sites advertisers are sensitive to the content of posts and often that's the main reason for filtering.
I do agree the link issue is a bit silly and I'm glad the staff are reviewing it
However, I do believe some filtering is necessary because of advertising - feel free to correct me - but I know from experience on other sites advertisers are sensitive to the content of posts and often that's the main reason for filtering.
I do agree the link issue is a bit silly and I'm glad the staff are reviewing it
eldar said:
I often wonder who the target PH audience is. Mildly rude words are censored but misogyny is almost celebrated, which seems at odds with the family and work safe mantra that is trotted out.
Quite. I think I'd rather see someone post 'local takeaway is excellent' than 'women are all snakes with tits'.Silver said:
eldar said:
I often wonder who the target PH audience is. Mildly rude words are censored but misogyny is almost celebrated, which seems at odds with the family and work safe mantra that is trotted out.
Quite. I think I'd rather see someone post 'local takeaway is excellent' than 'women are all snakes with tits'.... and, yes, I know that if I don't like it, I don't have to read it ... but sometimes, it's too late ...
That wasn't the point of this whole post though. PH / Haymarket can do what they like - that's a given and if I don't like it, I have a choice.
The point was to ask those in charge to explain the policy in broad terms and I'm baffled as to why they haven't taken a minute to respond.
Cheers,
Eric
Alex said:
My view has always been that there should not be a swear filter. If anyone can show me one person, one, who has ever been, or would ever be, offended by a swear word on PH I'd be amazed.
Then prepare to be amazed. The swear filter doesn't bother me one way or the other, but there are some sensitive souls on here. I once wrote a little rant in the lounge and a particularly exciting man took the time to write this:horribly sad man said:
With the amount of foul and abusive language, even though it's bleeped out, I can't be bothered to even read this disgusting thread. You may have a valid point, but no idea what it is since I really can't be bothered to wade through all that vile invective.
I know that it seems unlikely that anyone could possibly be offended by some censored swearing on the internet but some people manage to do it.On the whole I suppose the censoring should stay in case Haymarket get sued for making someone's monocle pop out in shock or causing a rash of swooning amongst the more delicate members. The policy about deleting links to sites with swearing though is/was unthinkingly f
king stupid though.I posted a photo I found using a google search for Jerry Marshall. It was a topic about fat drivers or similiar. I was horrified to get an email informing me it had been removed as " the photo was considered not in keeping with the standards of the site and family values etc ". I let it go but I thought it was a very nanny response and it made me wonder re PH . For your info , he was surrounded by topless birds , it was a stock photo from the 70s beside Baby Bertha.
Being Irish I notice that the UK papers that come here are all blanked out f words , even when a direct quote yet all our local parers use the full fking word .
IMHO we should not censor swear words.
Being Irish I notice that the UK papers that come here are all blanked out f words , even when a direct quote yet all our local parers use the full f
king word .IMHO we should not censor swear words.
Kiltie said:
“That bloke is a fking wker and he is talking bks”.
I reckon any child who can read the words will be able to tell you what the sentence means. That doesn’t fit with the “family friendly” thing.
]
Surely if the 'child' knows what the sentence means then it is not aimed at them?king wker and he is talking bks”.I reckon any child who can read the words will be able to tell you what the sentence means. That doesn’t fit with the “family friendly” thing.
]
What about if your young kids see it?
Its a fair point generally though. It doesn't make sense to half-censor it in that way
I still think the best solution is to give control of the censor to individual users. Those who want (or, perhaps, need in an office environment) to have rude words censored could browse with the censor turned on in their preferences and those who don't can read uncensored. One would hope that people would then stop trying to evade the swear filter. Certainly it would make the current non-offence of evading the swear filter easier to police if you ever get round to updating the rules and including such an offence.
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