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While I think the Dakka Language Filter is probably a good thing I think it can be confusing for some users (especially those who don't have English as a first language)

While browsing N&R today I saw an exchange that could (if it hadn't been between two reasonable and level headed members) have led to real upset

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/10470/356404.page#7041901

I think the user Red Harvest put it quite well

Are we disagreeing on the filter? My issue is with the filter, not with the fact that it replaced a word, but how it replaced a word. Perhaps that was not clear? In this case, a better filter would simply be to replace the censored word with [removed] or something similar, or even an obviously made-up word like filters normally do around here, instead of another real word. Less confusing to all. I was under the impression that Loki had mis-quoted Bostria.

Filters which are non-obvious, or which change the very meaning of what is said, as in this case, are poorly implemented. Which is why I think, and wrote, it is a dumb filter. I think the same of the "Donkey Cave" filter, if you must know. Perhaps you could suggest to the Admins a filter that is more obvious? To avoid future potential confusion.

I think we can agree that people misuse the word [removed] and there is no place for it on this forum.

I hope this clarifies things.

I wonder if you might consider modifying the language filter as suggested above

or perhaps if you don't want to interrupt the flow of conversation with a simple [removed] to something like 'Donkey Cave (filtered for language), so it can be clearly seen that a word substitution has been made

I disagree.

+1 to Disagree.

I think the language filter works very well….However, I have just found one of its quirks in a post i made not two minutes ago. I tried to type the word 'H e e b s' (as in Heebie Jeebies) and it replaced it with SEE POSTING RULES….

[see forum posting rules]

Huh.

That'd be because the word itself is also widely used as a Jewish slur.

...The more you know.

I just want to be able to turn it off; I am a big boy after all, surely I should be able to read big boy words.

Wait.... there's a language filter? First I've heard of this. Link to proper info?

 Overlord Thraka wrote:
Wait.... there's a language filter? First I've heard of this. Link to proper info?

Yes there is, and has been for about 5-6+ years.

There is no 'proper info', I don't even know what 'proper info' could possibly be. Fact is that there is a language filter, there's really nothing else that can be said about it.

Its to filter out all the swear words or possible slurs. Like [see forum posting rules] or racoon. (Yes I don't know why they are.)

Yet I can call people yellow bellies and thats not censored. But anyway. The thing is that some slurs are censored for a very good reason.

Should they say? (These are bad words, Don't Post them) Yes they should.

Feth, feck, gak, and some others... I thought for years that it was just some weird dakka slang that caught on here.. Oh donkey cave too.

Feth and Gak both came from the Gaunt's Ghosts novel series.
Feck is also possibly a 40k swear word too but I'm not sure.


It would appear that racial slurs come up as [see forum posting rules]



Why we're on the subject though, I think that dill weed should get re-censored to be Tony Abbott rather then Dill Weed.
Calling someone a Tony Abbott is far more offensive then calling someone a dill weed.

I think feck is also Gaunts Ghosts. From the regiment that was tipping off convoys to the enemy for benefits.

It would be cool if people got a little message when they swore informing them that it will be changed like they do when you dont have Capital letters. I would not have been so confused for the first month or so here if that where the case.

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:

Filters which are non-obvious, or which change the very meaning of what is said, as in this case, are poorly implemented.

Here's the thing: the filter in that particular case doesn't change the meaning of what was said unless you are using the original word in an inappropriate fashion.

If you're using that word, say, as relates to a paint additive for slowing down drying time, then 'slowed' is a perfectly reasonable substitute.

If you're using that word as a pejoritive... Don't.

The filter in the latter case isn't intended to be a viable substitute, because we would prefer that people just found a different way of making their point.



At the end of the day, the filter isn't there so that people can type whatever they want in the blissful assumption that the forum software will take care of anything that isn't allowed. The filter is there as a helper to catch to more commonly used stuff. We still expect posters to take responsibility for their own words.

If the filter is changing what you want to say to something different, there's a reason for it. Find a different way to say it that isn't offensive.

I find myself actually typing "gak" and "feth" these days

 RiTides wrote:
I find myself actually typing "gak" and "feth" these days

Same here, and that is not even limited to Dakka.

 RiTides wrote:
I find myself actually typing "gak" and "feth" these days

I fething don't. Swear filter has probably saved this donkey-cave a few fething bans from this gak hole.