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iPhone app censorship goes too far (language warning)
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6541		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  paulzolo [ Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  iPhone app censorship goes too far (language warning)
I have the Viz Profanisaurus app on my iPhone. It’s a hoot - 8000+ definitions. However, they are all censored. And the censorship is ridiculous!

Here are some examples of what is allowed, and what isn't.

Vagina - allowed
Penis - censored
Both these words are used in definitions - penis appears like this: p**is.

Cock - again, this word is censored, both on its own and also when part of other words. Eg “cockney”.

Pecker - allowed, but the definition defines it as:
Quote:
1. n. US P***s 2. UK Nose


Fanny - again, censored. Odd considering the different uses of the word across the “pond” - it’s far less offensive a word in the USA.

Wank - not censored, but used in this context:
Quote:
oil the truncheon
v. to buff up the bobby's helmet, collect kindling, wank.


It’s odd what has been censored and what hasn’t. It’s partly Viz trying to see what they can get away with. The Americans do have a peculiarly coy attitude when it comes to language at times.
Author:  brataccas [ Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: iPhone app censorship goes too far (language warning)
Its to stop filthy buggers searching for porn, good on them I say :) yet that sounds so contradictary as I utterly deteste americans :x
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: iPhone app censorship goes too far (language warning)
Bratty. It doesn't affect the iphone itself, just an app. It means you can still look for porn.

It's ridiculous and Poorly applied censorship.
Author:  paulzolo [ Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: iPhone app censorship goes too far (language warning)
cloaked_wolf wrote:
Bratty. It doesn't affect the iphone itself, just an app. It means you can still look for porn.

It's ridiculous and Poorly applied censorship.


I feel that in this case, it is unjustified censorship. Even if it were consistent, the whole idea of the Profanisaurus is that it’s a massive piss-take. The fact that they can sell a book with the thickness of a proper dictionary tells us that the English language is delightfully capable of describing many things on extremely obscure, but very obvious, ways. If they quoted sources or origins of their definitions, I reckon it could almost become a scholarly work.

The censorship will be at the behest of the Americans who get twitchy about language used in some ways, but not in others.
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