Asterisk Swearing

[Drusilla]

As the computer system is designed to use astericks when certain letters are linked together and deliberately, or sometimes by chance, form a swear word, wouldn't it be possible for the system to be tweaked so that the whole answer is refused and the subscriber asked to re-write before it can be posted.
I'm still having to police my children on this site, in a manner that wasn't necessary back in October.

I'm not really a prude, but I get fed up being asked what astericked words mean. In fact, they sometime draw my nine year olds attention more than a complete swear word.

[jno]

yes, that would be sensible. Asterisks do draw the eye, don't they? There are still a few potty-mouths posting on threads here, and it would make more sense if the posts were just rejected. Also, perhaps the software could be tweaked to recognise non-swear words. It looks as if wrist...watch now gets through but night...watch doesn't. Asterisks draw entirely unjusitifiable attention to this.

[Drusilla]

I will now spell asterisk one hundred times. It's just my luck that jno answered this question. doh!!!

[jno]

you spelt it fine in the question headline, the rest's just hitting the wrong keys by accident Drusilla! Do it twelve times a day myself. And the suggestion is still a sensible one.

[Marsh]

I do agree about the asterisks.

However, some posters want to swear in public, so asking posters to do their own editing might not be fully effective. Perhaps any answer the Bowdler picks out could be forwarded to the Topic's moderator for editing as necessary. (Or does it all fall our poor, overworked ABEd?) A note to the poster to say this had happened would enable a quick self-edit and re-post.

[AB Editor]

Hi All

All users know that profanity is not allowed on the site as everyone needs to read our Site Rules before registering. Unfortunately, some users of the site, despite knowing the rules will continue to put up profanity - we agree that astericks draw they eye, but it is preferrable to displaying the word.

All users are able to post their views, whatever they happen to be - and fellow users are able to Report them if they are found offensive - this shared moderating process is part of what makes AB a good site.

Saying this, please Report any post that contains offensive words or profanity and they will be removed.

Interesting comment regarding October, as ChatterBank was up and running then and I can guarantee you that the amount of profanity I had to remove was greater then compared to now.

AB Editor

[Drusilla]

Not outside Chatterbank, it wasn't. My girls knew they weren't allowed in there, so it wasn't an issue for us.

[AB Editor]

Oh, and I also use astericks to show where I have edited a post - not necessarily because the comments were profane - as a sort of marker. Yeah, I guess it would seem like ABers were a bunch of potty mouths if you take that into consideration!

Have a good weekend guys!

AB Editor

[Hippy]

Asterisks = plural of asterisk (Gk 'asterikos' = little star)

Astericks = ticks that have been hit by asteroids?

[Dkeyse]

Oh dear, AB editor, 'Astericks draw they eye' And why a capital 'R' every time you use the word 'report' ? Sorry, but worked in Fleet Street for 30 years and would never have got away with it!