Time to reconsider the FetLife filter?

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Time to reconsider the FetLife filter? - 10/27/2012 4:58:09 PM

shallowdeep

Posts: 343
Joined: 9/1/2006
From: California
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At least in the past, filtering of the string 'FetLife' (and variations thereof) from profiles and journals on the other side was explained as being purely in reaction to spam links and user complaints. I seem to recall some sort of FetLife Christmas giveaway once that did result in a proliferation of some spam-like referral links that could have engendered complaints. However, that incident was a fairly long time ago. Does the filter still makes sense, at least from a user perspective? Every once in a while on the other side I notice someone writing about running into the filter and it seems bemusement or annoyance is the typical reaction upon discovery of the words being silently excised from posted profiles and journal entries. Veiled references to "FL" or "the other site" to work around the filter seem relatively common.

As a user of the site, do you have any views on the filter? Would you like to see it lifted at this point in time? Or do you see a benefit to restrictions on direct mentions of FetLife?

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RE: Time to reconsider the FetLife filter? - 10/28/2012 1:06:49 AM

littlewonder

Posts: 15659
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I've never once in all the years I've been on here, have ever had "Fetlife" censored. I write people all the time telling them if they are looking for bdsm stuff in Baltimore, they should go over to Fetlife where there are tons of groups to follow.

I find that a little strange but who knows. Maybe others have had your experience.

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RE: Time to reconsider the FetLife filter? - 11/3/2012 12:38:02 AM

shallowdeep

Posts: 343
Joined: 9/1/2006
From: California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: littlewonder
I've never once in all the years I've been on here, have ever had "Fetlife" censored. I write people all the time telling them if they are looking for bdsm stuff in Baltimore, they should go over to Fetlife where there are tons of groups to follow.

To clarify, the filter isn't applied to CollarMe mail, just to text in profiles and journal entries. I doubt I would have noticed it myself except that I've stumbled across more than one profile or journal in which someone was expressing confusion or irritation about the filter. It is definitely present, however. If you view the source for a page, the code (reproduced below) to filter out mentions of FetLife is easy to see. Curiously, unlike most of the other proscribed strings, mentions of FetLife also get stripped out somewhere on the server side even if you disable the client-side JavaScript.

At one point it seems the filter may have served a purpose, but I'm not sure the circumstances that prompted its implementation still obtain. Given that it was something I noticed causing at least momentary confusion or frustration for a few users, it seemed like a reevaluation of the current pros and cons could be worthwhile.

Relevant code snippet:

if (indexOfNoCase(desc, "fetlife") != -1)
{
	editor_setHTML('p_desc',desc.replace(/fetlife/i, ""));
}

if (indexOfNoCase(desc, "fet-life") != -1)
{
	editor_setHTML('p_desc',desc.replace(/fet-life/i, ""));
}

if (indexOfNoCase(desc, "fet life") != -1)
{
	editor_setHTML('p_desc',desc.replace(/fet life/i, ""));
}

(in reply to littlewonder)

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RE: Time to reconsider the FetLife filter? - 11/3/2012 3:56:01 AM

LillyBoPeep

Posts: 6873
Joined: 12/29/2010
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Exactly shallowdeep - it's not in the mail, it's in public writings. I think the filter is silly to be honest. It's like CM is trying to pretend Fetlife doesn't exist. I mean you can mention all sorts of other sites - people have links to xhamster, or youporn, and other porn sites that are JUST as bad, if not WORSE, for malware and other nasties.

I really don't think it has anything to do with "protecting users," so much as it has to do with "they're our competition, so no." haha =p

Has anyone noticed if bondage.com or adultfriendfinder are filtered out? I've never mentioned them in a public writing, so I have no idea. If those other sites are filtered, too, then that might change my opinion.

But still, I think it's unnecessary.

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RE: Time to reconsider the FetLife filter? - 11/3/2012 2:01:41 PM

littlewonder

Posts: 15659
Status: offline

I have never, ever come across this so called feature and I mention FetLife all the time to others who want to know about stuff near them where they live. I don't understand the purpose. If the adverts or spam or whatever, bothers you here, what do you do with all those other sites online that have them? Do you go complaining to the site about it? If so that must keep you awfully busy!

ETA: I have never been filtered for bondage.com. I mention it from time to time because I will run into someone on here who I knew from b.com and we would get into talking about the "good old days".

I have no idea about adultfriendfinder. I've never been there or mentioned it. I've just never been filtered for any word at all.

< Message edited by littlewonder -- 11/3/2012 2:03:27 PM >

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