Wordfilters are scripts typically used on Internet forums or chat rooms, that automatically scan users' posts or comments as they are submitted to the system, and automatically change particular words or phrases into other words or phrases. A fairly typical wordfilter can be seen at http://www.verminox.com/scripts/wp-wordfilter/ , visited June 21, 2006.

Functions of wordfilters

---

Wordfilters can serve any of a number of functions.

Removal of vulgar language

Most commonly, wordfilters are used to censor language considered inappropriate by the operators of the forum or chat room. Expletives are typically partially replaced ('f*ck'), completely replaced ('****'), or replaced by nonsense words ('fark'). "When the **** did we get a wordfilter?", http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=88125 , visited June 21, 2006; warning: abusive language This relieves the administrators or moderators of the task of constantly patrolling the board to watch for such language. This may also help the message board avoid censorware installed on users' computers or networks, since censorware often blocks access to Web pages that contain vulgar language.

Cliché control

Clichés -- particular words or phrases constantly reused in posts -- often develop on forums. Some users find that these clichés add to the fun, but other users find them tedious, especially when overused. Administrators may configure the wordfilter to replace the annoying cliché with a more embarrassing phrase, or remove it altogether. For example, on Fark.com, any use of the cliché "First Post" is replaced by "Boobies".Fark.com Farkisms, http://www.fark.com/farq/farkisms.shtml , visited June 21, 2006 On 4chan, the phrase 'FTW' is replaced by 'sucks'.

Vandalism control

Internet forums are sometimes attacked by vandals who try to fill the forum with repeated nonsense messages, or by spammers who try to insert links to their commercial web sites. The site's wordfilter may be configured to remove the nonsense text used by the vandals, or to remove all links to particular websites from posts.

Humor value

On some forums, webfilters are configured to replace common words with other phrases for no logical reason, purely to inject randomness and humor. For instance, the word "car" might become "wobbly-woop!". These filters are sometimes changed periodically to keep the users off-guard. Of course, filters designed for cliché or vandalism control may result in humor as well; for example, the "First Post" filter on Fark often trips up unwary users, as "I believe I made that clear in my first post" becomes "I believe I made that clear in my Boobies".

Evasion of filters

---

Since wordfilters are automated and look only for particular sequences of characters, users aware of the filters will sometimes try to evade them by changing their posts just enough to avoid the filters. A user trying to avoid a vulgarity filter might use "shi+" instead of "shit", for example. Some administrators respond by revising the wordfilters to catch common substitutions; others may make filter evasion a punishable offense of its own. Wordfilter evasion is thought to be the origin of the l337 internet slang.

Censorship aspects

---

Wordfilters are coded into the Internet forums or chat rooms, and operate only on material submitted to the forum or chat room in question. This distinguishes wordfilters from censorware, which is typically installed on an end user's PC or computer network, and which can filter all Internet content sent to or from the PC or network in question. Since wordfilters alter a user's words without his or her consent, some users still consider them to be censorship, while others consider them an acceptable part of a forum operator's right to control the contents of the forum.

Footnotes

---