**** THE FILTER

[Thig Lyfe]

So two weeks ago, I web-surf on over to my favorite World Wide Web Bulletin Board ChiefsPlanet.com expecting to engage in some lighthearted Chiefs-related banter. Instead, I'm greeted with a screen telling me I was banned for two weeks for filter evasion.

I could not for the life of me remember when I could have possible evaded the profanity filter. I literally had no idea what I had done to deserve the ban.

So I visited the board as a guest and tried to work my way through my old posts, and I found something in a Geno Smith related thread that finally jogged my memory: I spelled "****" without the "c." That was it.

It's completely ****ing ridiculous that filter evasion is a bannable offense. You really think people can't handle a misspelled swear word? Fine, delete the ****ing post. But there's no reason to ban somebody over that.

I've been surprised by filter evasion bans before. Once I absent-mindedly posted a .gif with a swear in it. Most bafflingly, I was once banned after I spelled "****" with multiple U's. In a case like that, it should be blindingly obvious to any ****brained ****face that I'm not "evading" the filter -- I'm changing how I spell the word to convey a certain meaning or attitude. The intent implied in the word "evasion" is simply not there, and banning should be about intent. Again, a simple deletion would suffice.

I know the counter-argument will be that I've obviously established a pattern of filter evasion, but here's the thing: because I'm not a Sunday School teacher from the 1950s, I'm not shocked by swear words. They don't register as remotely offensive to me. And since I have my filter turned off, I see a constant stream of uncensored swear words in all their ****ing glory. So it's insanely easy for me to forget, on a day-to-day basis, that there's an absurd profanity filter with an even more absurd enforcement policy, made even MORE absurd by the unchecked racism, misogyny, and homophobia that runs rampant on this board and yet is apparently not nearly as offensive as occasional misspelled swear words.

If somebody bombs a thread or the board with blatant, obnoxious attempts at evading the profanity filter, fine, ban them, whatever. But if somebody just slips up and posts a uncensored ****-word, just ****ing delete the post. That's it. Point made. It's goddamn annoying to get banned for TWO WEEKS over some truly minuscule bullshit like that.

AAAAANYWAY, I'm glad to be back! Draft Geno!

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Oh, and once again, the Pi0li filter is ****ing retarded.

Reported.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by frazod

He's an idiot. I've still got him on ignore. All his posts are blank. It's wonderful except for when somebody quotes him.

Seems like he's getting banned so much that you don't even really have to keep him on ignore.

[Phobia]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

I don't care much about it, and I know you've set a precedent... and you're stuck with it. But it's kind of a silly rule.

Clearly, I don't give a shit about swearing. Kyle put a lot of work into creating filters and non-censored styles. So swear all you wish. Just spell it right or risk a vacation. The more you get banned the longer the vacations will be each successive time.

[Phobia]

Originally Posted by frazod

What the **** did I miss that made you go from top 5 in rep to mod whipping boy?

He turned into Clay WRT rep abuse.

[jspchief]

This is Austinchief's biggest pet peeve.

If you don't like it, take it up with the owner.

[frazod]

Originally Posted by Phobia

He turned into Clay WRT rep abuse.

Heh. I do that too, but it's only douchebags like Wickedson and native. I think those two account for 95% of all the negative rep I've given.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Clearly, I don't give a shit about swearing. Kyle put a lot of work into creating filters and non-censored styles. So swear all you wish. Just spell it right or risk a vacation. The more you get banned the longer the vacations will be each successive time.

Seems like that diskrimnation aganst peeple who dont spel stuf rite all the time.

[Phobia]

Originally Posted by frazod

Heh. I do that too, but it's only douchebags like Wickedson and native. I think those two account for 95% of all the negative rep I've given.

Lots of people do. A few people take it to an extreme. It never even hits our radar unless it gets reported. Then we have to take action.

[frazod]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Lots of people do. A few people take it to an extreme. It never even hits our radar unless it gets reported. Then we have to take action.

The plus side is I'm a bountiful harvest of positive rep for everybody else.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by listopencil

I like you Thig Lyfe. I'm really trying to care. Trying really hard. I just don't. Sorry. I just type shit out and don't care whether it gets filtered or not. Maybe try that?

I have tried that. It's kind of the whole problem. I don't care about the filter, this I forget it exists, thus I accidentally "evade" it, thus I get banned.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by frazod

He's an idiot. I've still got him on ignore. All his posts are blank. It's wonderful except for when somebody quotes him.

I miss us.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by stevieray

be careful princess, these things go in 3's.

Nothing you say ever means anything.

[Phobia]

Originally Posted by Thig Lyfe

I have tried that. It's kind of the whole problem. I don't care about the filter, this I forget it exists, thus I accidentally "evade" it, thus I get banned.

How is it that hundreds of people make tens of thousands of posts on this site every week without evading the filter but you're somehow above it or that since you're such a squeaky clean nice guy who has never caused any issues on this site the mods should have made an exception for you? Why the hell should we follow you around the site cleaning up after you? You think that's fun for us? No, it's not. You're a grown ass man. You did it. Own it. The whining thread after the fact and your responses since just tell me that you really don't respect the rules and the you're probably going to be a candidate for banning in the future... sooner rather than later.

[Baby Lee]

I've never understood the obsession with curse words.

Words express thoughts, if the thought is '**** this' why do you have to say 'eff this' in polite society? People know what your thoughts are in either case.

Had a guy I played soccer with in College who said Motherscratcher whenever he made an error, and I always thought 'what are you trying to avoid?' I know why you're mad, I know how mad you are. In 100 years will Motherscratcher be a curse word and mother****er innocuous?

Why is shit verboten and poop acceptable? Why is **** verboten and coitus acceptable? Hard consonants? Are hard consonants simply unacceptable?

Would 'du kannst mein hund fincken yenst' offend you as much? Because it's inviting you to coitus with a dog, though you probably would not know.

[Phobia]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I've never understood the obsession with curse words.

You obviously disagree with the profanity rules here. That's fine. I'm not a huge fan either. But you've never once been banned or even warned to my knowledge. What's the difference?