Over the years people have complained to me about the "dirty word filter" that this site has. It has been brought up multiple times recently and seems to be a continuing issue.

The filter replaces words like:

fuck - with procreate
shit - with poop
pussy - with cat
cocksucker - with roostersucker
cunt - with pelican

It was originally created as kind of a joke, and also because I didn't see why it was necessary to use such language in a public forum.

Anyway, here's your chance to chime in on whether the "dirty word filter" should remain or go away.

To vote:

- Click LIKE for it to stay in place, the same as now

- Click DISLIKE for it to be removed, so people can express their feelings in an "uncensored" fashion

Also, feel free to offer your comments and thoughts below. I'll take the results into consideration.

Regards, Larry
MilesCity.com Webmaster

If you have to use profanity to make your point, then your point probably isn't worth making.

I think it speaks well to the erudition of the mc.com forum users, as I can't recall ever reading here that someone called someone a roostersucker or a pelican.

Roostersuckers: Here.

Pelican: Here and here.

It's not consequential to me. I don't use profanity much at all so I don't mind it staying as it is.

Maybe you could make it an option to turn it on or off via the user's settings.

I love the profanity filter! It makes me smile whenever I see it has kicked in. Many a fine pelican has been tossed my way over the years.

I think it's a good thing. Profanity, only makes people more angry. Anger in my lifetime, never really solved anything. But, maybe a good ass whooping for the rotten motherprocreateer. Twitch, Twitch, scratch my head, take a walk. LOL!!!!

Please keep the filter in place.

Hmm... someone can't stand competition. He also framed the question so his moralizing perspective wouldn't be threatened. Predictable. Sad.

It was censorship when started and it is censorship now. Censorship blows.

Richard Bonine, Jr. wrote:

Hmm... someone can't stand competition. He also framed the question so his moralizing perspective wouldn't be threatened. Predictable. Sad.

Richard, WTF man. That's really uncalled for.

What amuses me, is that Richard is having all of his alter egos voting on this.

I need to create my own alter egos so I can compete. How does "Chimay Blue", "Pabst Blue Ribbon", "Russian Olive Ivan", and "Poker in the Rear" sound?

MilesCity.com Webmaster wrote:

Richard Bonine, Jr. wrote:

Hmm... someone can't stand competition. He also framed the question so his moralizing perspective wouldn't be threatened. Predictable. Sad.

Richard, WTF man. That's really uncalled for.

Is it?

And in view of your filter, shouldn't it be "WTP"?

=====

Allow me to explain myself: I am greatly irritated with the political happenings in this country. I have expended the effort to try and better myself and find ways in which I can be more persuasive. I see other progressives doubling down on the methodology that got them beat. People vote based on values, not "facts". How we go about asking questions, framing concepts, and connecting policy to peoples values is important. The manner in which issues are framed matters greatly. One of the unique qualities about humans is they have the ability to assign meaning to words.

So when you frame a poll about the "dirty word filter" you have made several moral judgements by the way you framed the question. You've decided:

- a certain group of words or ideas are "dirty" (whatever that means);
- nobody should publicly express the ideas represented by those words;
- that you have the moral authority to put alternate words in peoples mouths.

I don't think words are "dirty" per se. Words simply call to mind associated concepts or thoughts which are commonly understood. Filtering S H I T to poop really does nothing... the common understanding is still conveyed. It simply bugs me someone else is making a choice in the language I get to use. It's irritating puritanical forces from yesteryear get to decide appropriateness. I think an earthy honesty is refreshing and healthy. If cussing helps me dispel my anger, why deny that avenue of mental health?

You remove a thread I started which I saw as an opportunity to demonstrate the concept of framing. You say "dirty word filter", I say "freedom of expression filter". I am simply trying to apply some of what I have learned through my study to cause people to rethink their points of reference.

In the end, it's your website, your code and filtering technology. If you believe your interest are better served by censoring peoples words, then those are the rules by which we will all have to live. I will respect your decision.

[Edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (3/24/2017 9:55:03 PM)]

Richard Bonine, Jr. wrote:

You remove a thread I started which I saw as an opportunity to demonstrate the concept of framing. You say "dirty word filter", I say "freedom of expression filter". I am simply trying to apply some of what I have learned through my study to cause people to rethink their points of reference.

The post was removed for disrupting the site. I asked a simple question to the users here. You posted a confusingly similar thread to the Admin & Announcements Forum (which you are not supposed to be able to do), with a similar title, implied that I was somehow setting the users up to vote how I wanted by the way I framed the question, and then proceeded to vote this thread down and your own thread up using a bunch of fake aliases.

The dirty word filter has been on this site its entire existence. I explained it above. It doesn't limit your freedom. And it's a bit late for you to be getting your panties in a bunch over it, especially by attacking me as if I am doing something wrong by asking a question, and then attempting to manipulate the results by voting multiple times with fake aliases.

The only problems I've ever had was when I was really pissed off at pelicans and roosters.


FH

"Dirty words" really? Has anyone heard that term used for exclamatory profanity since the third grade? I am going to wash my faux king mouth out with soap and stand in the corner.

F@ck
Sh!t


See, there are ways around it if you're hell bent on swearing.

Yeah, just look at what Larry did on the first post in this thread.

I've had to update Net Nanny to block my kids from seeing this site.