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
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
I'd just like to understand if the policy is to keep the site suitable for minors or to avoid it being blocked in the workplace.
As I've said before, it doesn't work for the former. In the following sentence ...
"He squatted down and did a massive st".
... even if a six year old wasn't in the habit of using the word, I bet most would be able to fill in the blank and guess it.
In the case of the latter, is substituting the "i" for a "1" not just the same as the censored smiley?
Yet it's frowned upon. But it's not mentioned in the posting rules.
I'd just like to understand.
As I've said before, it doesn't work for the former. In the following sentence ...
"He squatted down and did a massive s
t".... even if a six year old wasn't in the habit of using the word, I bet most would be able to fill in the blank and guess it.
In the case of the latter, is substituting the "i" for a "1" not just the same as the censored smiley?
Yet it's frowned upon. But it's not mentioned in the posting rules.
I'd just like to understand.
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