Why is this word censored?

[anotheoldgit]

I have in the past had the word **** (a male bird) censored on this site.

I have now heared that the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) have also censored this word on their site, and yet still allow the word Tit.

Can anyone explain why this is so, taking into account the fact that we have all seen much worse words allowed?

[Quizmonster]

The answer is pretty straightforward, really, and it is because not everyone here would use it to mean a male bird! That, plus the fact that this site is open to all, regardless of age. It's annoying for adults, of course, but the site owners feel they have to try to exercise some control of the language used here.
Even some totally innocent letter-combinations within words used to be forbidden. I'll type a sentence containing a couple of them and see what happens. Maybe they've eased the rules somewhat. Here goes... "I bought this wristwatch in Scunthorpe."

[Quizmonster]

Well, well! Things have changed somewhat!

[NikkiB]

I visited a British Islamic forum before and the name Charles Dickens was printed without the first four letters of his surname. I thought that was frankly taking things way too far! His name is so famous surely no-one could get the wrong idea?

[Romeo]

A certain brand of sherry will have to be renamed 'malebirdburns'. And a well known Science Fiction author will have to change his name to Michael Moormalebird.
I will have to fix the stopmalebird in my cistern. What a total malebird-up the whole thing is!

[ruby27]

AOG. Normally when something is labeled as politically correct, this is usually a signal of something that I will be in complete agreement with; I am a liberal do gooder. However to stop using **** is absurd and offensive in my opinion. **** has a number of meanings, predominantly relating to birds, it is also slang for p.e.n.i.s. What is offensive about either of those terms? What parent wants to prevent their child from seeing these words, they can only be offensive in context, ie shouting that you are one, meaning to be derogatory or offensive, **** is often used as a term of endearment as well. Should we ban the alphabet because a child might put together words? Words are not offensive, rude or offensive; they are just words; it is only the meaning that the sender intended and the receiver receives that can be construed as offensive.
RSBA who I subscribe to, get a life, stand up for your birds and stop bowing to nonsense. If you are this weak on language how will you fare on other issues?
Ps what about people who have the surname ****, should they be made to change it by deed poll?
AoG thank you for raising this point. I am off to write to RSPB

[ruby27]

sorry for my over use of the word offensive. It is an indicator of my indignation. The response of the RSPB has resulted in me having a hissy fit

[Joe_the_Lion]

At least the ed has amended the swear word filter and allowed such words as Cockney.

That used to be really annoying when such innocent words were edited!!

I suppose you can always write **** like c0ck, if used talking about birds.

[brionon]

The old verse will be -''Who killed Rooster Robin ?''

[chaotica]

Well would it stop us writing things like look at that big hard red **** ??? I can say I am p****d with this silly site and its silly rules.I am an adult and the world wouldnt stop revolving if i saw the c word in its entirety whatever age I was .look at toileet walls or bus shelters or any wall you happen to look at.theres much worse..Dippy bleedin doo gooders!!

[chaotica]

That should say toilet! oops tee hee !! i made a c0ck up!!

[rabbitygirl]

The older you get the more you have to think about words you use these days. Not that I recall using 'male bird' during conversation but recall instances during my work at a local council where people got very cautious. Actually had one staff member reprimanding someone for asking for a black coffee. I also complained that we were no longer allowed to say able bodied but everyone not a wheelchair user was to be labelled non-disabled. Utterly ridiculous. This seemed to be one persons instruction but couldn't get any interest in challenging. So most accept how things are going, as you read in the papers all the time and you wonder where it will end.

[Avatar]

Well Ive just been to the RSPB website and can see no evidence of the word c0ck having been censored.
Woodcock is still called a woodcock for example.
Sounds like unfounded nonsense to me then.

[the g man]

This write it like this c o c k

[Doc Spock]

hi