Stricter measures for posting.

[malaise]

Hi Ed. Due to recent happenings in B&S, I was wondering about the possibility of creating a system that is able to detect potential "hate speech" in posts (similar to the way in which expletives are censored).

I am a member of another website, where you can make journal entries and so forth. If you attempt to write anything racist, sexist, or generally non pc and abusive, after you've clicked "submit", a warning message appears advising that "Hate Speech is not tolerated on this website - please amend your post". It also advises that the system can occasionally misfire, but it certainly ensures that people can't post abusive questions and answers. I feel that this would be useful in achieving and maintaining the family nature of this website.

[noxlumos]

I'm sorry but I really disagree with you. This is a question and answer site and as such racial hatred will be discussed as will people's sexual orientation and gender all of which can result in the odd post that contains ideas and opinions that are not my own. However I believe freedom of speech is far more important than anyone upsetting a gay person by call them "q***r", or me by telling me what a worthless peice of scum I must be because I've been to prison etc etc etc.You couldn't possibly have an intelligent and extensive debate if what you proposed were implemented and nor do I honestly think it would be possible. Plus the best way of changing people's negative opinions is to let them see exactly how arcane and outnumbered they really are by the postings of more acceptable people.

[jno]

I agree with noxlumos... in theory. In practice, it seems hate speech often attracts more hate speech rather than reasoned debate and refutation. It depends who's being hated. It looks as if there are protected species and unprotected ones. Attacks on blacks, say, or Jews bring angry rebuttals; attacks on Muslims or Welsh bring a mixture of mild rebuke, sniggers, and agreement. This isn't a matter of AB policy, though; it seems to reflect the way people feel - British people, at any rate.

Anyway, there's always the facility to report posts you think are obnoxious, so the Editor can make the final decision.

[unruliejulie]

malaise, i see where you're coming from but i agree with the others. I think there has to be a reasonable level for debate. I'm afraid, things such as what has been happening are just part and parcel of life. It will always happen. All we can do is continue to report the offensive things, the only problem being, what some people find offensive, others see as humour. It would be incredibly difficult for ABed to check out every post before it was submitted and it is difficult to police what is classed as hate and what is a not as its always a matter of opinion.I honestly don't see how that could possibly work.

[smudge]

I would go along with what's already been expressed.

The Report Button, or the Contact Us facility is the best way to deal with any 'problems' on here.

[joko]

i would hardly say this site has a 'family nature'.

just because many try not to be too explicit because we are aware some kids come on here, the site has more adults than kids and is certainly not aimed at them.

if the the system can't recognise the difference between swearing and place name like sc*nthorpe, or that the swear word in the centre of weight w*tchers is purely coincidental, then there is no hope of it deciding whether the tone of a post is offensive or not.

if someone wants to be rude, then a warning before the submit button is not going to stop them.

[B00]

How about you recieve an electric shock, ike a poke from a cattle prod, when you hit the 'submit' button if your post contains personal abuse towards another user?

Oooo i'm loving this idea!

[unruliejulie]

BOO, i'm getting the impression that you've got a bit of a mean streak, and i thought you were such a gentle soul lol

[B00]

No sorry, hate to burst your bubble Julie, but I do have a teeny weeny mean streak, I try to subdue it, but it breaks out occasionally- sorry :-(

Go on admit it, you like my electric shock idea- heh!

[unruliejulie]

It would liven up some otherwise dull days BOO!!!!! I wouldn't want to be nasty but you would just have to try it out!!!!

[Jennykins]

freedom of speech.. dont like dont read it... sorry for being harsh..lol... but seriously... we come across the A-holes everyday in our lifes.. we should ignore them.. I dont think somebody should take anything serious on this or any website.. many people are liers and are just trying to **** other people off.. some people are honest and are trying to be nice... We should have to right to sort it all out our selfs.. if the rules get to tight around here this site will lose memebers.

[dot.hawkes]

i prefer not to take this site too seriously but that isn't easy sometimes, I don't actually have very strong opinions and tend to avoid any reasoned debate or argument on current issues, but i get upset when the idiots are about posting drivel and being down right nasty, unlike B00, i do have a cattle prod and I do intend donning my anonymity profile soon and applying said prod in the most suitable place if it continues.

[malaise]

I'm amazed that some of you don't know the difference between being rude and being hateful.

Like I said, this system works well on the other site (which is, by the way, an "adult" site, and so swearing is allowed. The site also has tens of thousands of members, and nobody complains about "freedom of speech" there). I have nothing racist, sexist, or fascist to say, so I don't notice the system in place.

I would have thought this would benefit the Moderators more than anyone - alerting them to potentially abusive posts.

But hey ho, each to their own.

Personally I'm quite bored of the amounts of nonsense abusive posts, that get responded to, and then legitimate questions are disregarded or pushed aside. This could be a really nice wee site to use, but trawling through all the bullsh*t is getting rather mundane.

[jno]

I'm not disagreeing malaise... but use the report button whenever you feel it's appropriate. As you're probably aware, this site isn't moderated round the clock, so the rubbish is often worst at night or over the weekend. AB Ed doesn't read all the posts, so she won't necessarily know about the really obnoxious ones unless users alert her to them by reporting. (Three or four reports will remove a post from the screen until it can be reviewed.) I believe the report function was introduced at the request of users, for this very reason, and a good thing too.

[Ward-Minter]

what a pants idea. (Short but to the point methinks)

[Buenchico]

The existing filters which AB already uses to censor posts are driving me mad. Recently, I made the mistake of abbreviating 'who are' (by using the form with an apostrophe) and the word got deleted because AB's system assumed I was referring to a 'woman of ill repute'.

More importantly, I often find myself posting links to archived stories from, say, the websites of local newspapers. These web addresses frequently end with 'StoryxID=" (but without the 'x'). This means that the link gets deleted because AB thinks I'm being anti-semitic!

Please, please, please: No more filters!

Chris