Community
Where is the list of profanity words not to be used on this site I can’t find it or is the list not out for us to see? I did not want to go to all the trouble of typing something up in Microsoft word and post it here and then find out this site says it is profanity then I wasted my time typing whatever I wrote. If there is not a list yet for us to see will there be a list soon for us to look at. I'm just asking I’m not trying to start any trouble.
My guess - there isn't a list because it would look like this:
****
******
***
************
******
lol - just kidding. Your entire blog would not be scraped - only the bad words and I have never seen you use a bad word in any of your blogs or comments - so really no worries as I see it. I did comment earlier about someone getting thru hell week and it got the **** (the word we use for the first week quit) but that is OK - it is the price we pay for a couple of jerks who verbally insulted some of our long term members who donate their precious time here to help others. Sad world.
christine_aka_legend Yes, even if I tried to put a list it would be starred out. Plus POTUS wouldn't ever provide his launch codes right?
Furthermore, the list isn't static and things may be removed/added over time so keeping it updated could be a challenge. Simply stated, if it changes to *** then it is prohibited. I have removed some words off the standard list I was provided so that is why some words are getting through.
If you use a word that is on the prohibited list. No harm or foul if it wasn't directed at another member. Just edit and pick something more benign. Don't try to trick the filter though.
There are also a fair amount of words on the list that are derogatory racial infused. Certainly we don't support any such language that doesn't contribute to a welcoming environment for the purpose of quitting. We accept all walks of life no matter their gender, economic status, race, sexuality, nationality, employment status, etc.
Jennifer_Quit_05-01-14 parties on both sides were guilty in the discussion you speak of. Perhaps as the "Report Button" is used more consistently then the need for the naughty word list will be lessoned. This goes with the assumption that established members won't react to periodic outbursts and will report content requiring review by the EX Team. EX Team will evaluate all reports as impartially as possible for the betterment of the community as a whole. All big things grow from something small, so while issues are minimal now, they'll be dealt with rather than ignored so that periodic outburst will not become the norm here on EX.
Mark
EX Community Manager
I am not disagreeing with you Mark - If it cannot be said without using a prohibited word then it probably does not need to be said.
Jennifer_Quit_05-01-14 wrote:
I am not disagreeing with you Mark - If it cannot be said without using a prohibited word then it probably does not need to be said.
Couldn't agree with you more. There are always two ways to say things no matter where your opinion lies. The appropriate way and an inappropriate. I honestly love differing opinions on communities. It really makes things interesting. But when people lose respect for each other and it just starts getting out of hand it's fun for no one. I actually have a lot of respect for people who are able to creatively write get their point across in a respectful manner without breaking the community rules. And by creative, I don't mean just substituting words or variations in spelling
When I worked for a former technology company I had to ban both people who were for and against the company because they couldn't agree to play nice. It was a tough call when you ban a supporter but in the end I knew it was the right thing for the community.
Mark
EX Community Manager
Mark For just a moment I want you to imagine that you are a new person on this site and don’t have COPD yet or any form of cancer from smoking. You blog and are terrified of blogging because you don’t have any friends yet and your emotions are all over the place because you just quit smoking. Then suddenly bam you are censored and your blog is showing you used profanity and you did not think what you said was in any way profanity and now you feel so incredibly humiliated in front of the entire web site you now want to leave and you do leave forever. So now you leave this site and go on smoking because you don’t have any support to help you and you go to the doctor and now you have been told you have COPD. I have been on this site since it first started and I can tell you new people are raw with their emotions and anything can set them off and leave this site and that would be a shame if they left because a computer decided they used profanity. New people are more likely to use words that express how they feel at the moment instead of choosing a better word to use after they get censored. I don’t think all new people are going to go back and rewrite what they said on a blog they are going to just get mad and humiliated and may leave forever. I’m not trying to argue with you I’m trying to let you see how this all could be seen through a new persons mind. I overlook the raw emotion talk of new people I don’t get offended I see a person needing guidance and are bleeding and need help. A profanity list that can be seen might just give a new person a chance to not be humiliated in front of everyone and feel more in control on this site even a short list with common words used. New people will use any excuse to go back to smoking just putting that out there because it is true. If there is a way to buffer all of this profanity censorship I wish you would find a way. We all know some words like 4 letter words are forbidden but the less offensive words new people tend to use maybe give them some buffer room. I hope I did not offend anyone in admin by writing this. I hope you have a good day see ya.
Christine_aka_Legend I'm open to hearing which words you believe should be taking off the list? You can send a list to communityadmin@becomeanex.org. If you post them here, they might be censored. I'd also be curious to see if there are examples of new members who have been subject to this. I do read a fair amount of the new posts and don't tend to see profanity used by new members. Certainly I could have missed something but it's not typically the MO for a new member. Certainly this is a different type of community so I'd love to see where your concerns stem from.
All members, when they join the community agree to the community guidelines. Which acknowledges that we reserve the right to edit any profanity. Certainly I have encountered some over the last two years and largely haven't edited it provided it wasn't a personal attack toward another member. But still we reserve the right to do so
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
Aren't TWO pictures better than one?
;-)
Mark Mark I’m not going to go back through blogs and pick out words I have seen people say I have limited time to sit up because of spinal problems that I can’t fix I have to live with doing everything I do in short spurts and it is very hard on me to just sit up. I can’t remember what blogs I saw this and that said I don’t keep a list going on people. Look around and you will see people saying that got censored by saying this word and that word and it really was not that bad of a word. I saw today the h*ll word was censored and the cr*p word was censored. I have seen both of those words posted by new people in the past when they are frustrated and blog and by even not so old members here even me when I got totally frustrated but they are not calling anyone a bad name. Look on this blog these two words I put here got censored and I do remember new people using these words I just don’t know where I saw it I don’t keep track of what everyone says.
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/97048-when-did-jive-go-into-auto-censuring-mode
I don't see a blessed thing wrong with bull crap or Hell yes it's worth it to be FREE! Big gentle cyber hugs from me to you Christine_Aka_Legend
Hummmmm my words didn't get censored this time Yay!
MarilynH Thanks for the hugs I need it today I am having a really bad day today. I don't know how much more I can take.
Maybe Mark fixed those two words now so they don’t get censored I hope so.
I hope he did too, I'm beginning to get very frustrated and it takes a lot to get me ticked, here's another gentle caring hug and I think I need one too, hopefully this will get straightened out soon! Christine_Aka_Legend
MarilynH (((((Giving you a really BIG CYBER HUG))))) Thanks for the hug I need all I can get. Where is tinker bell to sprinkle us with magic fairy dust to make us feel good lol.
It would be fantastic if Tinker bell would sprinkle some of her fairy dust on our body parts and make our aches and pains go away even for a little while. Christine_Aka_Legend
I pray that you'll be able to get a half decent nights sleep tonight with lots of Zzzzzzzzzzzzz's sweet Legend Blog
Me too...get some rest.
Thanks my friend, let's enjoy a hot chocolate with Christine first.
Very gentle hugs ladies and happy thoughts before heading to LA la land so Lord willing we'll all be able to get lots of Zzzzzzzzzzzzz's, love you both xo.
MarilynH and Legend Honestly, I am doing okay at the moment, I realize that will probably change if I sneeze or have to use the bathroom but laying completely still right now...I am doing okay. No idea about sleep though...sometimes, that seems to have a mind of its own...and it can be very elusive. Husband was working on central air until well after 2:00AM, turned it off and it was SWELTERING in here, he was going up and down the basement stairs which are right across from my bedroom door. My oxygen concentrator is noisy so that drowned part of it out but I ended up using ear plugs. My alarm goes off at 7:00 every morning so I can take meds but I fell back to sleep until almost 10:00...nearly ruined my day...seriously. I don't always get right up but I usually at least keep my eyes open. I hope your hornet stings are better, Marilyn. I got stung a few years ago on the back of my thigh and I honestly thought I had been SHOT, LOL. It knocked me down and left a HUGE bruise. It was at the pool where I go all the time.
I hope you can sleep tonight, my ankles are still burning pretty good but the swelling and redness is down quite a bit, hopefully your husband won't wake you up tonight! Men!
elvan I hope you don’t sneeze I know how that goes. If I am standing and I don’t have hold of something when I sneeze my right leg will want to go out from under me it feels like a big lightning bolt going down my leg ouch. That would really bug me if I had an oxygen tank making noise I am a light sleeper. I have to have a fan above my bed making that shhhhhh noise like the wind gently blowing to sleep. I hope you feel cool enough tonight to sleep.
Crap and Hell aren't on the list . "Go to... " is however.
Mark
EX Community Manager
So "have dinner in Hell is ok?" :-)
I'm FAIRLY certain (although I have no first hand experience) that dinner is not served!!!
Bbq and Smores!
Can you guys imagine George Carlin doing a routine on this? Come to think of it, Giulia came close earlier.
Just remember, any word can hurt if said in a mean spirit.
Pictures might be fun though....
I'm done now, Dian
Thank you sweet Ellen, I think we all could use several huge sprinkles of Tinker bell's fairy dust! elvan
elvan Thanks Ellen for the HUGE HUG I need it. I have my tens unit cranked up and I am packed in ice for now trying to get numb it’s kind of chilly you know what that is like. After the ice packs are off then I get the hot chocolate yay. I hope your day has been going better than mine has. (((((BIG HUGS TO YOU ELLEN)))))
Here I got everyone here some hot chocolate come get it.
Yum thank you, don't mind if I do!
Sneezing can really set things off. Sleep well, right now, he has the A/C working.
Legend Christine, I agree 110% with your response to Mark. "For just a moment I want you to imagine that you are a new person on this site" And his: "Certainly this is a different type of community " YUP! And THAT's what makes it real special. And the more it becomes confined, constricted and forced into the "what everybody else does" channel, the less unique and the more ordinary it becomes. It's a very delicate balance.
Jennifer-Quit "it is the price we pay for a couple of jerks" I have a real problem with that. Why should WE, the 'nice people' have to be censored at large because of the jerks. The majority should not have to be penalized because of a few scabby vulgarians.
This Politically Correct world of ours, in speech and thought content, has destroyed all sense of humor in our land and made the free expression of our hearts and minds so contemplated and dissected that it curtails that very free expression so touted by those who profess, but actually oppress it. MOO (My Opinion Only)
Well--- I can see both sides of this issue
Questions-----
1. Isn't this a computer program that is doing the screening? So it has to be programmed in some way, correct?
2. When a blog/comment is under question---it doesn't really say it's banned for profanity does it? Doesn't it just say the blog/comment is under review? And then, when it is noted it is ok...the blog/comment is "released". Is this correct?
3. So is there some way that the response could be "this blog/comment is under a random review"....I don't think a random review would humiliate anyone.
I think we can all agree that the language that was used towards Youngatheart was unacceptable to all of us. There may have been blame on both sides as Mark said, but the unacceptable language was all on the side of the person who left the site. None of the elders or commenters used profanity. Obviously, every web site needs some censorship. I really don't know that much about it, but I would think you cannot simply operate a site which is funded through a certain grant or foundation or something and allow a free for all in language. I don't become offended by that language BUT---I will say that it lowers the quality of any discussion just by its crudity. It's unnecessary. So, it just needs to be a random check on content. My comments get "reviewed" all the time. I have no idea why.......it's not language. But then they are always approved and released. I realize I am not new and not as wary of blogging as a new person would be.I don't want them scared away----but we do need some sort of check on content.
As G always says-----MOO (my opinion only)
Sootie Yes, the auto word censure functionality is a normal part of the Jive platform that has recently been incorporated/enacted into our community. And the words allowed or disallowed are programmed by whomever is in charge of the word policing on each site, I believe. It's not across the board. I THINK you can specify certain words and allow others. Though I really don't know.
#2 I think you're referring to comments that go under robot moderation for no apparent reason (that we are aware of.) Has nothing to do with naughty words per se. All of us seem to have made a simple comment here and there that has gone into moderation that has to be released by Mark. Unfortunately, because it takes time away from what he might be better spending his more valuable time on. He, from what he's said, doesn't even know what those algorithms are that cause certain responses and comments to go into moderation.
#3 - I think you're talking about apples and oranges. The auto vulgarity censure just puts in asterisks where the actual word might be. It doesn't say it's in "moderation" review and prevent the comment or blog from being posted.
I'm in accord with most of your final paragraph, particularly that certain language "lowers the quality of any discussion just by its crudity." And that "it just needs to be a random check on content." I believe that most of us on this site who have been here a while will click the "report abuse" action if we feel someone has stepped over the limits of common decency. Or inform Mark in a PM at least. That's why I have a problem with "automatic censoring." It gives no credit to the common sense and value of the membership at large.
Well G---I agree with the reporting mechanism by members HOWEVER----before something is reported it can be truly hurtful to the recipient. As I said, that last person really viciously attacked Nancy. Knowing Nancy---I figure she can take it....but someone else perhaps not and why should Nancy have to.BUT----I "get" what you are saying.
And yes---you are right....I was equating apples to oranges but I did not know it. It simply never happened to me so I did not realize that the language was not "put under review" but rather asterisks the word. I thought the writer was doing that themselves.
"I thought the writer was doing that themselves." Well Dale and I certainly are now - to make a further point of the issue.
You know life is full of hurts. In my opinion part of this quitting journey is learning to grow a backbone. Most members will come to the rescue of another member whom we feel is being abused or treated wrongly. Nancy CAN take it. I think most successful quitters can. It may hurt, but we learn to deal with it and get over it. And if we don't, then we remain victims to our addiction (and life) forever. Because if you're a delicate flower and can't take some tough times - how the heck are you going to handle quitting? I mean really? Ridding oneself of an addiction isn't for the delicate. It takes some cojones (and that will probably be asterisked out, so let's just say what Spanish bulls have a pair of between their buttocks. Hmmm, I wonder if buttocks is allowed?) But I "hear you." Obviously no one would want a new member to be attacked that causes them to leave. But you can be attacked without any foul language being used whatsoever. It's the intent that, I believe, is really the issue. Not a stupid cuss word. If I were to say to someone: "your comments are stupid, ignorant, unhelpful, meaningless and should be put in the toilet!" I haven't used one verboten word. It's still hurtful.
Interesting dialogue we've got going here.
Agreed. I just want you to stay and work on the problem and not leave. I cannot imagine EX without Giulia you!
And you! JonesCarpeDiem
And you elvan
And you ShawnP
And you MarilynH
And @ ALL OF YOU!!!!!!
Giulia wrote:
You know life is full of hurts. In my opinion part of this quitting journey is learning to grow a backbone. Most members will come to the rescue of another member whom we feel is being abused or treated wrongly.
Here lies a problem. When members "rescue" others, historically, it hasn't gone well. Rather than rescue them I should be alerted by the report abuse button. This is a close knit group and people are protective of each other. If a new member, or any member really is creating a ruckus, I can handle it. I've had new members message me on occasion (it's been a while) expressing that they felt that long time members were very close and it was intimidating being a new member.
I've read several posts (including before my time) over the last three years where people were "rescuing" others and some things were said that shouldn't have been said. People want to protect their friends, I get it. Emotions get heated. But there is a better way to do it without retaliation. I have to moderate impartially.
I'm a coach for my kid's sports teams and we have a "rule" where I cannot respond to a parent other than an acknowledgement of receiving their concern for 24 hours so that emotions are largely removed from the response. Depending on the concern, I also have to have liaisons up the chain present if there is an in-person meeting. Parents are also encouraged to wait 24 hours before sending a concern, which helps too. Not directly applicable here but possibly.
Giulia wrote:
Obviously no one would want a new member to be attacked that causes them to leave.
Agreed, and sadly it has happened. In some cases I think the person was just in a rough spot trying to quit and was trying to become part of the group. They were defensive and got emotional. People coming to the rescue only put them over the edge.
Giulia wrote:
But you can be attacked without any foul language being used whatsoever. It's the intent that, I believe, is really the issue. Not a stupid cuss word. If I were to say to someone: "your comments are stupid, ignorant, unhelpful, meaningless and should be put in the toilet!" I haven't used one verboten word. It's still hurtful.
Agreed, that can be done as well. Unfortunately the software doesn't have natural language sentiment included in it to detect these type of attacks and I rarely get member reports of abuse like this. If you see something like this. Please flag it rather than responding. I'll jump in and address.
I do get automatic reports for potential spammers. This had really helped. There has been very little spam that has made it to the site in the last year and a half. Most I have been able to catch before it has gone up. The ones that have shown up have either been reported by members or I happen to catch on my own. A couple occasions people have put spam in their profiles but that's still fairly rare as well.
Giulia wrote:
I think most successful quitters can. It may hurt, but we learn to deal with it and get over it. And if we don't, then we remain victims to our addiction (and life) forever. Because if you're a delicate flower and can't take some tough times - how the heck are you going to handle quitting? I mean really? Ridding oneself of an addiction isn't for the delicate.
New members don't always seem prepared for this. They're delicate. They're not confident at first. They're in a new environment. They may have previous failed attempts. Certainly you see the result. You've been through the journey but they're not looking through that lens when they join. They're intimidated but are hoping to be inspired by others who have been successful all while managing everything related to the quitting process. I've not done it personally but I've read a lot to know what a struggle it is in the words of these members. It's about taking someone who may be fragile/delicate and helping them to become resilient and prepared for quitting.
Sorry for the late response on this Giulia
Mark
EX Community Manager
New members don't always seem prepared for this. They're delicate. They're not confident at first. They're in a new environment. .... You've been through the journey but they're not looking through that lens when they join. They're intimidated but are hoping to be inspired by others who have been successful all while managing everything related to the quitting process...... It's about taking someone who may be fragile/delicate and helping them to become resilient and prepared for quitting.
Really important point, Mark . Thanks. I often have to take a step back (usually after coming on too strong in the tough love department) and recognize my lens is not theirs. Yet. lol
And your other points are very well stated also. That's why you're the CM! And I'm sure you're a wonderful coach as well.
Giulia wrote:
New members don't always seem prepared for this. They're delicate. They're not confident at first. They're in a new environment. .... You've been through the journey but they're not looking through that lens when they join. They're intimidated but are hoping to be inspired by others who have been successful all while managing everything related to the quitting process...... It's about taking someone who may be fragile/delicate and helping them to become resilient and prepared for quitting.
Really important point, Mark . Thanks. I often have to take a step back (usually after coming on too strong in the tough love department) and recognize my lens is not theirs. Yet. lol
And your other points are very well stated also. That's why you're the CM! And I'm sure you're a wonderful coach as well.
I'm always learning!
Mark
EX Community Manager
christine_aka_legend Yes, even if I tried to put a list it would be starred out. Plus POTUS wouldn't ever provide his launch codes right?
Furthermore, the list isn't static and things may be removed/added over time so keeping it updated could be a challenge. Simply stated, if it changes to *** then it is prohibited. I have removed some words off the standard list I was provided so that is why some words are getting through.
If you use a word that is on the prohibited list. No harm or foul if it wasn't directed at another member. Just edit and pick something more benign. Don't try to trick the filter though.
There are also a fair amount of words on the list that are derogatory racial infused. Certainly we don't support any such language that doesn't contribute to a welcoming environment for the purpose of quitting. We accept all walks of life no matter their gender, economic status, race, sexuality, nationality, employment status, etc.
Jennifer_Quit_05-01-14 parties on both sides were guilty in the discussion you speak of. Perhaps as the "Report Button" is used more consistently then the need for the naughty word list will be lessoned. This goes with the assumption that established members won't react to periodic outbursts and will report content requiring review by the EX Team. EX Team will evaluate all reports as impartially as possible for the betterment of the community as a whole. All big things grow from something small, so while issues are minimal now, they'll be dealt with rather than ignored so that periodic outburst will not become the norm here on EX.
Mark
EX Community Manager