Language Filter

[Plague Rat]

I'm surprised this hasn't been done before, but... if the forums have a policy against language, how is it that instead of editing member's posts, why doesn't an admin just create a language filter? That way any language that is spoken can be censored anyway, but a member can still be warned in case the phrase was used inappropiately.

It can also help in the case of the more adult-oriented forums, where mild language is allowed, because even so it will still be censored, just not frowned upon.

I know that there are language filters in the Invision Board admin control panels, but I can't say for sure I know about V-Bulletin.

[Rook]

Its a good idea, they've had years to put this into the forums.

However, profanity filters can only do so much, and it is painfully easy to find loop holes using s p a c e s, numb3rs and symbol ch@r@cters. Then again thats only for those who really feel the need to force their words.

Still...

On that note, some people seem to take offense to the word damn (nonsense but whatever) or the improper use of the word gay.

[DarthGonzo]

IMHO members should be intelligent and mature enough to get their point across without resorting to cursing.

[Plague Rat]

There is a language filter. There's a predefined set of words that we have banned here, but obviously we can't catch all of them...
Unless you're talking about forum-specific sets of censors, in which case there are only a few forums here that have lighter language rules anyway.

-BB
A bit of both, really. I never really saw the censor go to work, just a mod edit removing the inappropriate phrase. Maybe it's just me, but I don't know if it's necessary for a mod to edit out the entire post for its language or inappropriate content. If the language is already blocked, at least any provocative slang can be removed or just a simple edit on the bottom of the post indicating a violation of terms.

It's true though that a lot of people tend to try to slip past the language filters, but this doesn't seem like the place where people would TRY to get past the censor. More of, any language is normally just a slip-up, usually not intentional.



On that note, some people seem to take offense to the word damn (nonsense but whatever) or the improper use of the word gay.
It's such a mild word, though. I mean, the term 'damned' has been around for a long while.

The improper use of the word gay, as far as I've been told, isn't permitted.

[Ed Liu]

A bit of both, really. I never really saw the censor go to work, just a mod edit removing the inappropriate phrase. Maybe it's just me, but I don't know if it's necessary for a mod to edit out the entire post for its language or inappropriate content. If the language is already blocked, at least any provocative slang can be removed or just a simple edit on the bottom of the post indicating a violation of terms.

Simply censoring out the language serves the letter of the law, but not its spirit because that does nothing to remove the intent. If I call someone "a little ****" on the forum, the fact that the language is censored does not make the underlying sentiment any less severe and it's not going to prevent a harsh reaction.

As I tell people who trigger the forum censor, it exists in case you slip, not so you can swear with impunity. If you make a post and notice that something in it has been censored out, the proper reaction is to edit the post and rephrase the violating content.

[Lazerboy5000]

As I tell people who trigger the forum censor, it exists in case you slip, not so you can swear with impunity. If you make a post and notice that something in it has been censored out, the proper reaction is to edit the post and rephrase the violating content.
The filter has caught me a few times, and I always edit my post right away, becuase even though there are a bunch of astrics, most people can still make out what you are saying anyways, and I'm not one to cuss in public anyways. But i think the filter suprised me a few times by editing words that I didn't think needed editing.

[Gold Guy]

I think it's a pretty good idea, although I have never cursed or sweared in my life.:)

[Antiyonder]

Language filters while probably needed have yet to be done with care.

Sites like tv.com or gamefaqs are so sensitive that typing in a word that has profanity spelling in it like:

- Classic
- Josie And The Pussycats
- Aishiteruze Baby

Will activate it. Heck, library computers will block an entire site like fanfiction.net just because some stories are inappropriate, thus keeping the harmless pages unusable.

[Dr.Pepper]

I think this website has a filter thing on it, because I think it was here and I typed the word "shirt" and forgot the r and it came through censored. I had to go back and change it.

[Matt Hazuda]

I think this website has a filter thing on it, because I think it was here and I typed the word "shirt" and forgot the r and it came through censored. I had to go back and change it.Thanks Captain Obvious for stating what has already been addressed in this topic :D