[discussion] Word Filters

[Stark]

Since the 'hilarious' discovery of Mike's word filters, I think it's worth discussing what they're for in context and if they should be used more.

Obviously, they are defeatable, but that isn't the point; they exist to punish people who reflexivly post 'annoying' 'catchphrases' with embarrassment. This is a goal I agree with pretty strongly, certainly from a humour perspective. Given my own manner of overusing such phrases, I think this is a good method of preventing excessive casual use, while not really stopping anyone saying whatever they want.

What do others think it's for, and how should it be used in future? Should I be prevented from ending a sentence with 'who knew'? Should Big Orange be prevented from using the phrase 'critic proof'? Should 'zerobama' be filtered in a humourous way? Should the list of filtered words be public? Should the replacement words be clearly flagged, or not?

[General Zod]

As long as the replacement at least makes an attempt at humor and mocking the overuse of a meme or catchphrase I can't say I really care one way or the other; as long as they're not stifling actual communication (ohai thar xbl forums!). I've been on enough sites with filters that they're really a minor nuisance at best.

[aerius]

I think word filters are stupid. If the problem is people using Testing catchphrases outside of Testing, then a few good slaps in the face (ie. "cut that shit out, this is not Testing you stupid asshole") ought to cure the bad habit after a short while. Rip'em a few times and the perpetrators should learn not to use stupid catchphrases, and if they still don't learn then they can be beaten with one of the board rules (ie. use proper English), if they still don't shape up then we can get Shep to run another show trial or something.

[Stark]

I think that logic falls down because Mike clearly wants to humilate people who use phrases that annoy him. Personally I'd like to see it extended.

[Count Chocula]

I didn't even KNOW the board had filters. But I'm an ignorant smarmy asshole. (Hah! beat the filter!)

Seriously, what was the genesis of word filtering on the site? I can't recall a post I've read (or made) that cued them, until this whole mysterious *I'm a smarmy asshole* thread pooped up in Testing.

[Junghalli]

Does anybody actually use "am1rite" non-ironically around here? Just curious, because I can't remember the last time I saw it happen.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Does anybody actually use "am1rite" non-ironically around here? Just curious, because I can't remember the last time I saw it happen.

Don't ask me to back it up, as I can't, but I think I've seen *I'm a smarmy asshole* used a few times in N&P.

[Darth Wong]

Even once outside of Testing is too many times. If I keep seeing 4chan-isms on the main forums, I'll start a "shoot on sight" policy.

[fgalkin]

Does anybody actually use "am1rite" non-ironically around here? Just curious, because I can't remember the last time I saw it happen.

Just saw one used today.

Yes, people use it outside of Testing.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Darth Holbytlan]

I find the word replacement annoying, but not because I don't think the use some words/phrases isn't worth mockery. It bugs me for the same reason that moderation by post deletion annoys me—it erases the evidence. If the board auto-Horsemanizes posts, I'd at least like to know what was originally said.

On a related note, would this feature be usable for auto-breaking links to sites like stormfront, something awful, etc.?

[Darth Wong]

Actually, it's already used for auto-breaking links to stormfront and somethingawful, and has been for years. And I don't really see how it erases evidence; it's obvious that if the replacement phrase is there, someone must have used the original one.

[Havok]

Even once outside of Testing is too many times. If I keep seeing 4chan-isms on the main forums, I'll start a "shoot on sight" policy.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that a term, along with many others like it, that actually originated in G&C since many of the arguments in there are far more subjective and open to 'Fat nerds are fanboys аmirite who knew?' type of mud slinging.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

I find the word replacement annoying, but not because I don't think the use some words/phrases isn't worth mockery. It bugs me for the same reason that moderation by post deletion annoys me—it erases the evidence. If the board auto-Horsemanizes posts, I'd at least like to know what was originally said.

It doesn't erase evidence. If the word 'am1rite' or the phrase 'who knew, lol?' are integral pieces of evidence to your argument, I'd question the seriousness of the debate in the first place. Besides, I can find any number of boards that have this policy with no problem. It doesn't impede discussion, it's generally easy to spot, and it makes for fun mockery when some smarmy ass forgets about it and unwittingly activates it.

[Instant Sunrise]

If you're to do word filters, I would filter common misspellings like "rediculous" and "definately" to something mocking like [PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM TOO STUPID TO CORRECTLY SPELL THE WORD "definitely"]

If there was a way to get the filter to read an asterisk as an asterisk and not a wildcard, then maybe filter f*ck to FUCK, and other cases of purposeless self-censorship.

[Kuja]

I think that would be overkill. Misspellings happen, even to meticulous people, and most times it's not really worth jumping on unless it's some kind of aggravating netspeak or the like. Someone who is ESL may find such a thing deterrent to joining, as well.

[Darth Wong]

Even once outside of Testing is too many times. If I keep seeing 4chan-isms on the main forums, I'll start a "shoot on sight" policy.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that a term, along with many others like it, that actually originated in G&C since many of the arguments in there are far more subjective and open to 'Fat nerds are fanboys аmirite who knew?' type of mud slinging.

Frankly, I don't give a shit exactly where it started. I hate that shit with a passion and if it spreads too much, I'll take whatever measures are necessary to kill it. Do not think I'm joking when I say I would rather kill off 75% of the board members than allow this place to turn into another 4channish kiddie-spam forum.

[Darth Holbytlan]

Actually, it's already used for auto-breaking links to stormfront and somethingawful, and has been for years.

Huh. I could swear I reported an unbroken stormfront link in the last month. Perhaps the filter needs to be tightened...

And I don't really see how it erases evidence; it's obvious that if the replacement phrase is there, someone must have used the original one.

Right. And if you know what the replacement patterns are already, then that works. Me, I'm completely clueless as to what "*I'm a smarmy asshole*" replaced.

It doesn't erase evidence. If the word 'am1rite' or the phrase 'who knew, lol?' are integral pieces of evidence to your argument, I'd question the seriousness of the debate in the first place. Besides, I can find any number of boards that have this policy with no problem. It doesn't impede discussion, it's generally easy to spot, and it makes for fun mockery when some smarmy ass forgets about it and unwittingly activates it.

I don't mean that it impedes discussion. I mean that erases the evidence of what stupid phrase they used. Essentially, I feel left out of the joke.

[fgalkin]

Right. And if you know what the replacement patterns are already, then that works. Me, I'm completely clueless as to what "*I'm a smarmy asshole*" replaced.

Then you are a moron, considering it's been mentioned several times in this very thread.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Darth Holbytlan]

Then you are a moron, considering it's been mentioned several times in this very thread.

Without it being substituted. Perhaps I can be forgiven for realizing that the phrase wasn't actually used here, especially since I was making a more general point about substitutions and expect that most of the time there aren't going to be HoC and Testing threads on the subject to cross-check. Doubly so, since I almost never visit Testingstan.

But I'm pretty sure I've got it figured out, *I'm a smarmy asshole*? [Presses Preview]

Yep. Now I feel dirty.

[Havok]

Even once outside of Testing is too many times. If I keep seeing 4chan-isms on the main forums, I'll start a "shoot on sight" policy.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that a term, along with many others like it, that actually originated in G&C since many of the arguments in there are far more subjective and open to 'Fat nerds are fanboys аmirite who knew?' type of mud slinging.

Frankly, I don't give a shit exactly where it started. I hate that shit with a passion and if it spreads too much, I'll take whatever measures are necessary to kill it. Do not think I'm joking when I say I would rather kill off 75% of the board members than allow this place to turn into another 4channish kiddie-spam forum.

That's fine, but as you are insinuating that it started in and is the fault of Testing (It's not) I thought I would mention it.
Just say you don't like it period and institute the lock down. The 'word' has been around for a couple years now and there has been no apocalypse.

Also, is 'am i rite' really 4chan type of behavior? If it is, the place gets far too much press.

fgalkin's example is pretty funny considering he linked to a political cartoon thread, a thing born of irony and sarcasm.

[General Zod]

Also, is 'am i rite' really 4chan type of behavior? If it is, the place gets far too much press.

You can find a pretty good chunk of "testingstsan" vocabulary/memes in the *chans, Encyclopedia Dramatica and Something Awful. It's not like testing's really made anything original in that regard.

[Duckie]

I'd dispute how much of Testing really has its own vocabulary and how much is original (smugdog is certainly a loan from somethingawful, but that's about all that comes to the top of my head besides ED's Am I Right that actually comes from G&C anyhow, and, uh... well, Uraniun posted a gif from SA about captain picard smoking weed once, if I remember correctly), but that's not the point of this thread: The point of this thread is that the word filter is pretty cool in my opinion.

I've got to say after an initial 'Whoa what is this?' that I like the filter on Am I Right. It's a pretty irritating thing to say, and the filter is a good way to say 'hey cut that shit out' even if it's not actually going to stop anyone creative from saying it. Also it's certainly a much more interesting and public way than actually just posting an announcement 'hey don't say that it's annoying as fuck', and probably more effective at sticking in people's minds.

I think we, like Stark suggests, need even more filters for annoying catchphrases and stupid things people say, like who knew.

[rhoenix]

I'm betting that a couple people were waiting for me to rail against the word filters as I've done with a few other topics, but I'm afraid those poor souls are in for disappointment.

To me, the only time that phrase was funny was when used in a mocking manner, similar to how "lol" has evolved in use on these forums. Having it replaced with *I'm a smarmy asshole* is actually funnier than even the best use of the original phrase, so I say "so be it."

Less seriously - replacing "lol" with "I have crabs and they itch" would be awesome.

[J]

I think we, like Stark suggests, need even more filters for annoying catchphrases and stupid things people say, like who knew.

If "who knew" is added to the list I'd be quite upset since there's a nice newspaper article I'd like to post which has a headline starting with that particular phrase. I share my husband's opinion on word filters, they're just there so the mods can be lazy bums and waste more time oppressing people for their personal amusement.

[Duckie]

That's actually a good point I hadn't considered, a blanket substitution would actually for 'who knew' affect legitimate dialogue whereas nobody ever actually has to say 'amírite' in any worthwhile conversation. My mistake. If only you could tell a regular expression 'replace only stupid posts with scorn'.