Location: FAQ

Discussion: Censorship of ContentReported This is a featured thread

Showing 1 - 20 of 21  |  Show  posts at a time
2 | Next

litamex
Censorship of Content
Nov 14 2010, 6:11 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 14 2010, 6:11 PM EST
I use a Wetpaint wiki to supplement instruction in my face-to-face English composition courses at a public community college. In a document explaining how to do research, I typed the name of an article I found. This article had to do with international penalties for homosexual acts. The article title is: "Death by ******." Later, when I went back to my page, I noticed that the word "******" had been replaced by a series of asterisks. I was shocked that Wetpaint had censored this word. It was used in a purely academic manner in a scholarly way and could not possibly be considered pornographic or obscene. Why was this word blocked from my site? Have other instructors had similar experiences with Wetpaint? 1  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
Keyword tags: Rules Wetpaint (edit keyword tags)
justinwacnj
justinwacnj
1. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 14 2010, 6:18 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 14 2010, 6:18 PM EST
Yes, it was blocked because Wetpaint has a word filter that blocks out inappropriate words. I believe their should be an option to turn it off on your wiki if you wish to, but as of right now there is not, sorry :/

~Justin
1  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    

litamex
2. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 14 2010, 6:28 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 14 2010, 6:28 PM EST
Well, seeing that the word was automatically blocked out of the message I just left, I guess it must fall under the category of "miscellaneous adult language." Considering that this act is not illegal in the USA, it seems rather strange that I can't use it in an academic manner. 0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    

litamex
3. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 14 2010, 6:29 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 14 2010, 6:29 PM EST
Thanks, Justin! 0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
4. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 12:50 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 12:50 AM EST
There is a particular word, a felonious act involving sexual contact between an adult and a child, specifically labeling the adult in such an encounter.
That word, which starts with a “P” BTW, is blanked out in the language filter… yes, it’s very annoying not to be able to have a serious, adult discussion about criminal acts because of a filter.
0  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
bellswebster
bellswebster
6. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 6:57 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 6:57 AM EST
"There is a particular word, a felonious act involving sexual contact between an adult and a child, specifically labeling the adult in such an encounter.
That word, which starts with a “P” BTW, is blanked out in the language filter… yes, it’s very annoying not to be able to have a serious, adult discussion about criminal acts because of a filter."
Whats wrong with the word Ped..o..p..h..i..l..e.?..Its not a swear word.
1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    

Maxwilly
7. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 10:49 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 10:50 AM EST
The thing you use to post HTML and such in threads, also removes the swear filter. I can say words like B­itch and Pedo without it being filtered. However, those two words is as far as I will go, because I'd rather not get myself banned for posting rude words.

One thing that ticks people off is 'Dick'. The word is filtered, however there is people called Dick (Or called Richard, and dick is short for Richard), who cannot use their name on Wetpaint. They find it very frustrating.
0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
8. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 11:02 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 11:03 AM EST
"Whats wrong with the word Ped..o..p..h..i..l..e.?..Its not a swear word."
I don’t know, but there’s SOMETHING apparently wrong with it.
0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
bellswebster
bellswebster
9. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 5:01 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 5:01 PM EST
"The thing you use to post HTML and such in threads, also removes the swear filter. I can say words like B­itch and Pedo without it being filtered. However, those two words is as far as I will go, because I'd rather not get myself banned for posting rude words.

One thing that ticks people off is 'Dick'. The word is filtered, however there is people called Dick (Or called Richard, and dick is short for Richard), who cannot use their name on Wetpaint. They find it very frustrating."
Yes I have a friend that is called D*i*c*k and he has to spell it like this. One changed his name Dike..lol..
0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
10. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 15 2010, 9:54 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 15 2010, 9:54 PM EST
"Yes I have a friend that is called D*i*c*k and he has to spell it like this. One changed his name Dike..lol.."
And Dike means…
Just- WOW.
0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Losa78
Losa78
11. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 16 2010, 9:54 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 16 2010, 9:54 AM EST
Personally, I've said my peace about the filter many times and I also don't agree with it as being mandatory on every wiki, but I really wish I didn't get an automated PM from Wetpaint reporting "inappropriate content" every time someone posts a simple word like "d a m n", for example. Srsly... 0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
12. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 17 2010, 1:47 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 17 2010, 1:47 AM EST
"Personally, I've said my peace about the filter many times and I also don't agree with it as being mandatory on every wiki, but I really wish I didn't get an automated PM from Wetpaint reporting "inappropriate content" every time someone posts a simple word like "d a m n", for example. Srsly..."
I use that kind of language all the time, and never gotten a PM…
1  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
bellswebster
bellswebster
13. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 17 2010, 3:44 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 17 2010, 3:44 AM EST
"Personally, I've said my peace about the filter many times and I also don't agree with it as being mandatory on every wiki, but I really wish I didn't get an automated PM from Wetpaint reporting "inappropriate content" every time someone posts a simple word like "d a m n", for example. Srsly..."
I'm sure you can turn it off..Its turned off on site i belong to and we often say words like that...and a little more.
0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Naru2008
Naru2008
14. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 17 2010, 6:23 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 17 2010, 6:23 AM EST
Either that, or the system doesn't catch it. The system doesn't always catch all words and let some slip through. 1  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
walrusworldstudios
walrusworldstudios
15. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 17 2010, 5:40 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 17 2010, 5:40 PM EST
As an administrator, you can turn off the notification for reporting "inappropriate content". However, you would have to be an administrator or creator of the site to be able to access it. To do so, you need to go to the "Settings" panel of your website. From there, you will remain in the "Communications" section of Settings. There should be a little navigation bar on the page. Search for "Notifications" on that navigation bar. Once you reach that page, uncheck the box. If you do all the above, you can turn off notifications for moderators. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    

Maxwilly
16. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 18 2010, 10:37 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 18 2010, 10:37 AM EST
"As an administrator, you can turn off the notification for reporting "inappropriate content". However, you would have to be an administrator or creator of the site to be able to access it. To do so, you need to go to the "Settings" panel of your website. From there, you will remain in the "Communications" section of Settings. There should be a little navigation bar on the page. Search for "Notifications" on that navigation bar. Once you reach that page, uncheck the box. If you do all the above, you can turn off notifications for moderators. "
@litamex, Please note that it doesn't turn the swear filter off.
Do you find this valuable?    

moderator_kevin
17. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 20 2010, 5:32 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 20 2010, 5:32 PM EST
First of all, a discussion about censorship doesn't make it okay to cuss all over the thread. Keep it clean, guys, even in your examples.

The content filter was a feature requested by a few of Wetpaint's premium partners. Unfortunately, the company never got around to adding an option to turn it off, and there are no plans to do so in the near future.
Do you find this valuable?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
18. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 20 2010, 5:44 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 20 2010, 5:44 PM EST
"First of all, a discussion about censorship doesn't make it okay to cuss all over the thread. Keep it clean, guys, even in your examples.

The content filter was a feature requested by a few of Wetpaint's premium partners. Unfortunately, the company never got around to adding an option to turn it off, and there are no plans to do so in the near future. "
Then set it up so they can filter their sites if they want.
Either way, “ƿedoph¡le” is not a “bad word” and the filter is interfering with the business of various sites.
Do you find this valuable?    
justinwacnj
justinwacnj
19. RE: Censorship of Content
Nov 20 2010, 6:58 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 20 2010, 6:58 PM EST
"Then set it up so they can filter their sites if they want.
Either way, “ƿedoph¡le” is not a “bad word” and the filter is interfering with the business of various sites."
it should be in the plans for Wetpaint in the future. what about a site talking about local pedos you need to watch out for? Not being able to use that word would hurt that site. We need an 'off' option.
Do you find this valuable?    

Posted Anonymously
21. RE: Censorship of Content
Apr 3 2012, 11:33 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 3 2012, 11:33 AM EDT
What about the country ***** in Africa? My students can not post the name of the country or river in their report on the nation! Do you find this valuable?    
2 | Next

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)