Circumventing the Censors.

There has been a flood of people lately using spaces, asterisk's and such to get around the censors. Like c*rse or s w e a r. The censors are in place to keep ATS at the pinnacle of internet decorum. This has been turning up in the most unsuspecting forums, like Aircraft Projects.

ATS has had an incredible growth, over 20,000 members in the last 10 months. The interest is there but we have members that are younger. Imagine a parent walking by seeing what's on the screen. As a parent, I would be concerned. We also have people of faith here, would they be insulted by this? Maybe.

The fact is ATS is for ALL the members. ATS has censors in place for a reason, to accomodate it's members. By circumventing the censors you not only violate other members, you violate the Terms and Conditions. It's a lose/lose situation. Let the censors do their job.

the only reason i have used it is because it leave's blank spot

example

this is so #ing not so good

when it would be better if it was

this is so ****ing not so good

that way most people would stop doing that

because blank spaces makes the reply look horrible

[edit on 8-11-2004 by bodrul]

Why do you need a swear to get your point across in the first place? This is the internet, not the jobsite.

Personally I don't see the need for swear filters, it is up to the parent to stop a child browsing a site they feel is inadequate for their age.

Believe me, children hear much worse at school.

Originally posted by intrepid
Why do you need a swear to get your point across in the first place? This is the internet, not the jobsite.

Seems you want to take away freedom of speech.

This is america and the internet is a public forum. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

first of all i havent got a clue about job sites having forums


secound of all people have the right to swear in replys
but having the swear word blanked out is not a good solution

in my board it is replaced with ********

Originally posted by bodrul secound of all people have the right to swear in replys

No, you do not.

evecasino This is america and the internet is a public forum. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

This is a privately owned forum. When you signed up, you agreed to our terms and conditions, which is very clear that swearing is not allowed.

Another reason for swear filters that nobody has mentioned is ranking. Lots of search engines and such rank a site on content such as nudity, profanity etc. Having the swear filters keeps ATS from being ranked as an adult site, which would exclude it from search results that are filtered. Without the filters ATS would be blocked by many content-filters and ranked as Adult in many search engines, so they serve more than just the face-value purpose many see.

Originally posted by evecasino
Seems you want to take away freedom of speech.

This is america and the internet is a public forum. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

I'm very free with my speech but I don't talk the same way around my coworkers as I do at home, or to my grandmother. The internet is VAST conglomeration of info and people. Would you deny ATS to people because you want to ******************. Because that is what will happen if parents excercise their right to limit their kids for a site that uses profanity. I AM NOT LIMITTING FREE SPEECH, those that would GO AROUND the RULES of the site ARE.

Originally posted by bodrul
secound of all people have the right to swear in replys
but having the swear word blanked out is not a good solution

in my board it is replaced with ********

Nobody has the right to use profanity in the forums. When you joined ATS you agreed to the following terms. Like it or not these rules are here for a reason and will be enforced.

4.) You will not use profanity in our forums, and will neither post with language or content that is obscene, sexually oriented, or sexually suggestive nor link to sites that contain such content. Images of or links to gratuitous gore and/or mutilation are strictly forbidden. This applies to material posted to collaborative fiction and member short story forums.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

yay censorship, freedom from choise...

The sorry thing about censorship, both on this site and in general, is that I could probably describe in detail how to behead someone or make a fertiliser bomb, I could make all sorts of wild allegations about gays or racist remarks and still be considered quite acceptable.

but heaven forbid that the children see a "swear word"...

Originally posted by evecasino

Seems you want to take away freedom of speech.

This is america and the internet is a public forum. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

Misguided attempt to equate the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (Bill of Rights), which only applies in the United States, their territories to the legal and constantly upheld (by the courts) right for a private institution to pretty much do what they damn well please (now you�ve gone and made me %$#^&%$ curse). What of our members who are not privy to the divine protection of our aforementioned Bill of Rights? Are they somehow not as entitled to pursue certain discourse as may be mandated by their indigenous residency? And if Simon decided to pack up and close shop, wouldn�t that be a far greater convention against free speech than a modest request for civility? Who would you go to for some form of redress then? Bang on SO�s door in the middle of the night and demand the right for the whole world to view you thoughts on a subject� The Supreme Court waits not for thee.

Respect the rules of ATS, they�re here to make it a better, and more productive free exchange of ideas.

The bottom line here is that you have to swear, how effective of an argument are you making?

Nerdling: This is not a child adult issue as simplistic as it may seem .Some rules of decorum are required other wise its just a flame fest.

Originally posted by Flange Gasket heaven forbid that the children see a "swear word"...

www.abovetopsecret.com... Common sense. Not to mention general polite conduct.

Originally posted by alternateheaven
Another reason for swear filters that nobody has mentioned is ranking. Lots of search engines and such rank a site on content such as nudity, profanity etc. Having the swear filters keeps ATS from being ranked as an adult site, which would exclude it from search results that are filtered. Without the filters ATS would be blocked by many content-filters and ranked as Adult in many search engines, so they serve more than just the face-value purpose many see.

then how come ATS is blocked in college?
because its not classed as an adult site or anything

[edit on 8-11-2004 by bodrul]

SkepticOverlord is right, ATS doesn't have to allow anything, in fact, when it comes to board rules we get off really lightly compared to other places.

And just to clarify.. I've always said that I "in principle" do not agree with limitations but I did sign up to the ATS Terms and Conditions knowing full well that I would not be allowed to swear. It is in the best interest of the board due to the extreme nature of some visitors and of board trolls and I support the policy. It also keeps us from being listed in software such as netnanny which takes a dim view on excessive profanity.

I wish we were all mature enough not to use it but it doesn't work like that so the policy must stay.

The use of expletives does not help to validate anyone's point on any issue here, "if the points presented are supported by facts", "the point is validated."

I applaud ATS's policy to allow spirited discussion without the use of these words.

Originally posted by bodrul

Originally posted by alternateheaven
Another reason for swear filters that nobody has mentioned is ranking. Lots of search engines and such rank a site on content such as nudity, profanity etc. Having the swear filters keeps ATS from being ranked as an adult site, which would exclude it from search results that are filtered. Without the filters ATS would be blocked by many content-filters and ranked as Adult in many search engines, so they serve more than just the face-value purpose many see.

then how come ATS is blocked in college?
because its not classed as an adult site or anything

[edit on 8-11-2004 by bodrul]

Subversive topics. References to conspiraces, murders, freemasonry and guns. Some college intentionally block sites like these.

My intention was not meant to stir up debate. It was to make people realize that ATS has set a standard and we should live up to it. For the flow of info to WHOMEVER wants it. The rules are in place, the software is in place, getting around both puts us back, not forward.

great
is there away around the blocks?
because i tryed a few proxi sites but they are blocked