Can we turn down the swear filter one notch?

**shmokinponcake** · 03-22-2009, 02:29 PM

Ps.....PINCHE! Lol

**ren857** · 03-23-2009, 07:25 AM

Just chimin in here...

I am an adult that doesn't use profanity at all and sometimes I wince when other people curse around me. Most of them do say "excuse my language" because they know I don't use it and I don't want to hear it.

I say all that to say...I'm glad the filter is used because that kind of language is not necessary to get one's point across. There are a few forums that I wanted to participate in, but I didn't sign up because the language in those forums was ridiculous - and I'm talking about automobile forums.

**scrannel** · 03-23-2009, 08:17 AM

Hmm... I belong to several motorcycle forums and only one filters. I rarely see profanity. Usually, when I do see it, it's in the context of a joke and is appropriate. However, I have noticed a great deal of incorrect usage. So, if we're going to police our thoughts, why not have a grammar cop? Quite frankly, there's more miscommunication because of poor usage than obscenities. Or, maybe we need to just plain bar people who use bad grammar -- or how about we just bar non-white people who use bad grammar? I mean, the ways to police our actions, our thoughts and expressions can take on all sorts of definitions.

You know, my son -- a straight 'A' student -- recently handed in his book report on "Into the Wild." He called it "bourgeois barf" and "pretentious". His teacher sent him into the Principal's to be reprimanded. The Principal called the teacher in and reminded her there was room for descent from the "popular view", and that after reading the report, he had to agree there was a lot of merit to my son's point. She said, "Well, what about the use of the word, barf?" He looked at her and asked, "What did you want him to use, vomitare?" I think the people that break out in a sweat over "bad words" doth protest too much.

**constellanation** · 03-23-2009, 10:01 AM

i'm glad your son could voice his opinion, but what is pretentious about a young man taking off on treks and accidently dying from eating an easy misidentifiable plant? and the term bourgeois barf makes little to no sense in the context of describing the book. i honestly feel if there was more to this story then being sent to the principal for using those terms.

**scrannel** · 03-23-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by constellanation

i'm glad your son could voice his opinion, but what is pretentious about a young man taking off on treks and accidently dying from eating an easy misidentifiable plant? and the term bourgeois barf makes little to no sense in the context of describing the book. i honestly feel if there was more to this story then being sent to the principal for using those terms.

No, you're wrong -- the teacher loves this book and feels much as you do about it. She is also a devout Christian and my son has, on occasion, pointed out things about persecution of artists etc., by Christians in the past that she has taken exception to. And, truth be told, they generally have a good relationship. (She gave him an A). Sorry, but your need to rationalize a clear case of attempted censorship by suggesting there is "something wrong with this picture" because the teacher involved the principal, is pathetic. Are you thinking about your kids, maybe?

My son is far from perfect, but he's a straight A student, got into the college of choice, plays drums, guitar, base, piano -- is already composing and performing his own material. He doesn't hang out with the drug kids at school, but -- because he reads, uncensored by us or anyone else -- has a pretty decent vision of the world. Yeah, and I agree (as do many others, by the way) that "Into the Wild" is junk designed to pull money out of pseudo-hip pockets.

But the real issue here is censorship based on "bad words". So, does this mean if you don't like "bad words" you can't read Ginsberg or Salinger or Shakespeare? Now, what's wrong with that picture?

**constellanation** · 03-23-2009, 10:58 AM

you know i began a response, but nevermind. you're right censorship is bad.

**daveid** · 03-23-2009, 11:14 AM

The point I was trying to make is about the censoring of words despite the context they are used in. I think the example I used about having a cóckerspaniel is relevant. If people want to be profane they will be, regardless of whether they have to fill in the blanks with other characters to avoid the swear filter. But, when the indiscriminate filtering blocks out words that are usable in non-profane manners, it just seems to cross a line.

I don't argue with the use of a swear filter, I commend the forum administrators for attempting to run a tight ship. It is just something that goes a step too far in my opinion. Honestly, I never even noticed the filter until this thread was started. But to learn I couldn't talk about my dog, share quotes from poetry and music, our former Vice-President of the USA, etc. without resorting to underhanded character replacement tactics. Which, would be the same tactics that people looking to use profanity would resort to.

Perhaps my first post was too narrow, I apologize for that. However, I do feel that adults who don't want to see or hear profanity would have to live a very narrow life. Which is why I assumed that the filtering is for the sake of minors whose parents would rather protect them from reality. But, I don't know the reasoning behind instating the filter in such a strength that it has been.

On a side note, right now I am listening to LMNO (Leave My Name Out), a hip-hop artist who never uses foul language. However, some of his lyrics would be censored here, due to the use of words that could be used in a harsh manner - although there is nothing harsh about his music.

**scrannel** · 03-23-2009, 11:44 AM

+1 Daveid,

It's their choice. As I said, I belong to a number of motorcycle forums and most of the time no one uses "bad words." Basically, because they just don't care one way or the other. In fact, I never tried to use a "bad word" here except to mock the "cleansing" of the market (which they did instead of fixing the phone). It doesn't matter. For some people it just seems to matter a bit too much. I wonder why...

***susan*** · 03-23-2009, 11:51 AM

Here is the bottom line. This is a privately owned and operated board. In as such, if we choose to incorporate a filter to keep our boards family friendly, then that is our right to do so. I am sorry that you own a ****er spaniel and the **** is removed from it due to our filter. But, we don't want that particular word being used here, and the spam filter does not realize you are referring to the all American dog as opposed to a part of the male anatomy.

As for those of you who just want the filter removed because you feel the need to cuss, sorry, it is not going to happen. Intelligent people should be able to have a conversation and a good enough grasp on the English language to be able to express themselves without having to resort to swearing.

End of story.