Thread: Town Hall Discussion: Modification to policy on bypassing filtered words -- use of profanity

Ok, it has been suggested that we are too strict on our policy regarding not allowing people to circumvent the filter outside of the lounge.

Our current rule was implemented in early January, after extensive Town Hall discussion. The current rule is:

The following Amendment/interpretation guideline has been added to the rules. Please review:

Implemented: New Guidelines On Allowed/Disallowed Words and Acronyms

Remember, these guidelines do not override any existing rules. Meaning, even if a word or acronym is allowed in general, it does not allow you to disregard the rules that prohibit personal attacks or sexually explicit/graphic comments.

Here are the new guidelines.

If a word is censored, meaning if you type a word that the message board automatically replaces with ****, it is NOT allowed to to use characters like !, @, etc. to get around the profanity filter, nor can you add a smiley to the end of a censored word or use any other trick to get around the profanity filter.

It is allowed for a member to type a censored word and let the profanity filter substitute **** for it. This will be seen as the equivalent of beeping or bleeping out bad words on TV/radio.

Acronyms that are allowed: WTH, WTF, FUBAR, SNAFU, LMAO, LMFAO, ROFLMAO, ROFLMFAO, BS, SOB

Acronyms that are not allowed: S.T.F.U., F.U.

This guideline will not list specific words that have been approved or disapproved. If the profanity filter replaces a word with ****, do not use any variation of that word, nor alter it to get it past the filter. If a moderator tells you a word or word variation is not allowed, do not use it.

The following quote from another Town Hall Discussion posed the question of whether or not our circumvention of the filter rules is too strong. Here is what a member posted:

IMO, this example seems a tiny bit strict as far as the interpretation of "circumventing the language filter"... if one was to type "fuuck" or "fu ck" or other means that display the actual profanity, then yes...but "f'k" or "f*ck" or "sh*t" are like self-censorship on the part of the poster... similar to "azz" or "a$$" instead of the less-acceptable word for donkey. I mean, how is "****" different from "sh*t"? One still knows what the poster meant in most cases

So, the discussion here is about whether or not the rule regarding not circumventing the language filter (outside of the lounge) should be changed. Since ass and shit are not censored, this is primarily related to F-bomb varieties: f*ck, f'ck, etc., but there are a few other words that people at times alter to circumvent the censor filter, rather than typing **** and having the filter put * in the place of all letters.

Please discuss what you think about the current rule, as well as the suggestion to loosen the 'circumvention' rule, or any other input you have regarding the the guidelines on allowed/disallowed language.

How about Frickin.............or freakin?

I think the rule is fine the way it is.

I'm with frau.

I'm with Frau as well. I don't think that the examples used where self-censorship. They seem designed to still get the point across.

I tend to think that if you censor your own phrase like sh*t (using this word so I don't break the rules!) it shouldn't be breaking the rules. To me breaking the no profanity rule is finding ways to bypass the filter either via HTML coding, or alternate spellings.

Frau is right. The rule is fine just as it is.

If you relax it at all, then why bother having any rules against profanity? I can't come up with an answer to that question.

Well as someone who uses fuq, or b'artch, I don't see the difference in saying "fugging bish" or I'll have some of that 'ish'.

Everyone knows what those mean, so if you get around the profanity filter with symbols, isn't getting around the profanity filter by deliberately misspelling a word the same?

Originally Posted by Kapaibro

Well as someone who uses fuq, or b'artch, I don't see the difference in saying "fugging bish" or I'll have some of that 'ish'.

Everyone knows what those mean, so if you get around the profanity filter with symbols, isn't getting around the profanity filter by deliberately misspelling a word the same?

We went through all of this discussion when we first decided upon the profanity rules months ago, and decided words like freakin', frickin' and whatnot are okay. Bitch and shit aren't filtered so ish and bish are fine.

Fugging....I think I used that in the Broncos Talk area once and it was changed. I don't remember if we specifically talked about that word or not.

Bitch isn't filtered. For the record.

Originally Posted by SeeingRed

Bitch isn't filtered. For the record.

I think this is more in regards to outside of The Lounge.


And whether or not using other words to circumvent the CoC should warrant an IP

Originally Posted by HolyDiver

How about Frickin.............or freakin?

Frickin and freakin are allowed, as the base rule is what is said on primetime network TV is allowed in the main (non lounge) forums. These terms, Frickin, freakin, etc. are used regularly on primetime network TV.

Originally Posted by Kapaibro

I think this is more in regards to outside of The Lounge.


And whether or not using other words to circumvent the CoC should warrant an IP

Yes, this is definately in regards to outside the lounge, since in the lounge, circumvention is allowed for all but a few words, like the big C.

Originally Posted by Tned

Frickin and freakin are allowed, as the base rule is what is said on primetime network TV is allowed in the main (non lounge) forums. These terms, Frickin, freakin, etc. are used regularly on primetime network TV.




Yes, this is definately in regards to outside the lounge, since in the lounge, circumvention is allowed for all but a few words, like the big C.

I think I broke his Freakin neck..........one of my all-time favorire lines.

Originally Posted by Kapaibro

I think this is more in regards to outside of The Lounge.


And whether or not using other words to circumvent the CoC should warrant an IP

But saying bitch outside of the Lounge isn't against the rules since it's not filtered. Right?

I'm just trying to make sure I don't break any rules. I'd like to be a mod here again some day.

When I read Sh*t or F*ck, I hear the word in my head, which is not usually the case with ****... although it can be if the context is strong enough, I guess.

*shrug*