Censorship of the word g a y

***

Yep. Asterixes. Seems a bit strange that a commonly used, inoffensive word should be regarded as profanity by the automatic filter?

I was recently on the train and somebody called someone g a y. A complaint was made to transport police and the person who shouted g a y was arrested. Some homosexuals do find it offensive as I witnessed on the train.

Comes down to the context in which it was used for me. f*g, P**f, q***r wonder if these are censored?

Answer yes they are so maybe they are just screening any potentially offensive word?

Hi all

We've removed the word *** from the filter. Thanks for drawing our attention to this.

Best wishes

Forum Admin.

Have a *** day everyone. #cheeryandgayday

Dear Forum Users,

Following the post on the use of specific words, which is no longer censored. However please remember to be more sensitive and responsible with the use of words which can at times be used offensively and also positively, please remember to be respectful and not trivialise a word which has sensitive use.

Thank you

Kind Regards

Forum Admin

agreed. hence i put the hashtag in as the context.

tri

Has no-one looked @ the list of censored words? It beggars belief some of the ones that we have had to bring to your attention 🙁

Hello ODAAT,

If there are specific words that you feel should not be automatically filtered, you are welcome to email specific feedback to forumadmin@gamcare.org.uk

Please remember that we aim to provide an inclusive space that is accessible to people of different ages and backgrounds, and people do vary in their sensitivity and taste. What may seem like ordinary language to one person, might be perceived as off-putting, intimidating or offensive to another person. The forum etiquette guides forum members to show consideration, sensitivity and respect for other forum members, and to be careful about how their posts could be perceived by others. The forum rules warn against posting comments that are obscene, insulting or considered malicious to others. The automatic word filter is there to help forum members post within forum guidelines. If you find that the filter is censoring particular words that you believe should not be filtered, you can email forum admin about that, and the forum team leader will consider your feedback.

Thanks,

Forum admin.

I do get what you are saying but offering an inclusive space seems a contradiction in terms when the profanity filter works in this way!

I was told quite unnecessarily that Queen can be used in both a 'respectful & pejorative way' and since then 'we' have had to ask for LGBT & *** to be authorised.

Whilst I accept the rules & regulations around the automatic filter 'helping us' I don't think it was unreasonable to ask if a human had ever glanced their eye over it...Having to ask for words like this to be removed is not cool!

Hi ODAAT,

It's reasonable to ask if we have ever looked over the complete list. The answer is yes, we have. '***' was in among a long list of insults that had the word *** in them. Each word or phrase is separated by a comma. When you're scanning a text file of hundreds of words, a comma is easy to miss. I don't know how we missed 'LGBT'. But please remember that we are human, and that we are constantly balancing supporting people on the forum, the Netline and the chatroom. We try to focus our time effectively on reading and responding to posts, emails and problems on the forum. The profanity filter means that we don't have to spend time scanning posts for swear words.

Apologies that we have allowed some positive words to be left in the profanity filter. Again, we're human, and remember these words were in there because they could be used as insults, either on their own or as part of a phrase. If in future you spot any other words that you feel shouldn't be filtered let us know and we'll consider them.

Best wishes,

Deirdre
Forum Admin