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From: mickey@proper.UUCP (Michael Thompson)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: BBS Confiscated, a way to avoid it!
Message-ID: <1298@proper.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 2-Jun-84 15:15:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: proper.1298
Posted: Sat Jun  2 15:15:35 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jun-84 19:14:01 EDT
References: <283@intelca.UUCP>
Organization: Proper UNIX, San Leandro, CA
Lines: 51


From: glen@intelca.UUCP (Glen Shires)

> In college we had an operating system on one computer that scanned all
> terminal I/O for cuss words.  If it found one, it would warn you not to
> use such language.  If it found a second, it would warn you that one more
> occurrence and you would be logged out and your password changed.  If 
> it found a third, it would log you out and change your password thus
> forcing you into an embarrassing discussion with your TA to get your
> account back.
> 
> Why couldn't a similar program be constructed for bulletin boards?
> It could scan for suspicious words.  If it found any, it could either:
> 
> 	warn the person about his messages of suspicious nature
> 	or better yet, not warn the person, but instead save the messages
> 		in some protected area where they can only be read by
> 		the sysop.  Then they could be broadcast only after the
> 		sysop has read them and determined they were suitable.
> 
> The list of suspicious words could be kept in an easily updatable
> dictionary.
> 
> Granted, this solution isn't perfect as devious users could avoid
> such lingo with careful wording/misspelling, but atleast it's a step.
> Maybe someday an artificial intelligence program could figure out
> if the MEANING and not just the wording was appropriate for BBS's.
> 

Come on!  Are you seriously suggesting automatic censoring? 

	Look, first of all, "cuss" words are as valid a form of expression
as any other.  When i hear of people who can't deal with this, i immediately
become livid, my blood pressure goes way up and i break out in a terrible 
sweat.
	Second of all, do you really think that your suggestion would 
have helped in the case we are addressing? What kind of words would
such a censoring program look for? "Credit card"? "Calling card"? "AT&T"?
Do you realize how many articles would have been censored from net.legal,
net.consumers net.general alone!
	I can't claim i know of a solution, but i think that what you
are suggesting is definatly a step in the wrong direction.  I am sure
that many of us would not even use a system that was implemented in that manner.
	I really hope you were kidding when you wrote that, Glen.

					Michael Thompson
					Altos Computers, Santa Clara.

{ The preceeding opinions may not be resold without written permission from
  my mother }