A suggestion for the ED forum - we want *your* input!!!

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Hey Guys

I’ve got an idea to run by you all…the message board on Something Fishy (a pro-recovery site) has a filter in place that removes all digits because they can be major triggers. Any digits are replaced with '*****', which means people need to go back through and edit if they accidentally add digits into their posts. Now, we have a similar rule for this forum in that we don’t allow most numbers and when they’re written, staff try to edit them out as soon as possible. The problem though is that often we don’t get to them before at least one person sees them and is triggered .

For this reason, a member suggested we take a look at Something Fishy and the filter they use, and I personally think it's a wonderful idea. I’ve checked with my team and they are all happy for it to go ahead, but figured it’s your forum, so you should all get a say as well . It wouldn’t automatically mean that there won't be anymore triggers in ED, but it would certainly help.

So, what do you all think? Is this something to get for our forum?

 

[bumblebee62331]

Oh wow, that's a fantastic idea!

In all seriousness, I think it's a great idea. It will stop numbers getting through and will prevent members from having to have their posts hidden and edited, and will also prevent others from being triggered from digits.

I'm all for it!

One question though - when we post, if we do have numbers will the post show up like normal with the numbers replaced with *** or will it not let us post the post until we have edited the *** out (like we hit submit and the page refreshes again with ** instead of numbers, then we have to edit that out?) If that makes sense...

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Oh wow, that's a fantastic idea!

Now let me think...who was that who suggested it to me?

In all seriousness, I think it's a great idea. It will stop numbers getting through and will prevent members from having to have their posts hidden and edited, and will also prevent others from being triggered from digits.

I'm all for it!

One question though - when we post, if we do have numbers will the post show up like normal with the numbers replaced with *** or will it not let us post the post until we have edited the *** out (like we hit submit and the page refreshes again with ** instead of numbers, then we have to edit that out?) If that makes sense...

From speaking to Erwin, it will only replace it, not stop you posting. So yes, it would be a manual edit from there. With that though, is it preferred that staff then ask members to edit out the *** or not? We won't be issuing warnings or any of the such, but we can ask that the filtered part be edited out if that's what you guys want.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Now let me think...who was that who suggested it to me?

Hehehehe

From speaking to Erwin, it will only replace it, not stop you posting. So yes, it would be a manual edit from there. With that though, is it preferred that staff then ask members to edit out the *** or not? We won't be issuing warnings or any of the such, but we can ask that the filtered part be edited out if that's what you guys want.

That's a good idea. And when you think about it, there might not even be a need to edit it out. If it's just ***'s, then it's not triggering, but I guess it could be in the context. But yeah. At least it wouldn't be an urgent edit.

 

[anteloperunner]

question: so would it all block numbers? like if i were to say it is 12:30am and im not gonna get to sleep till 3am. Would taht be blocked? but would not block "three"?

im all for it if it keep just one person from getting triggered

***'s just make it look liek you said a bad word i wouldnt care if it was left that way

 

[bumblebee62331]

question: so would it all block numbers? like if i were to say it is 12:30am and im not gonna get to sleep till 3am. Would taht be blocked? but would not block "three"?

im all for it if it keep just one person from getting triggered

***'s just make it look liek you said a bad word i wouldnt care if it was left that way

Yes, it would block all numbers. I know that's annoying because if you put your age or the time in, that's obviously not triggery, but if it blocks something like your age, I'm sure you could edit your post to write the age a different way, or spell out things that aren't supposed to be edited out. if that makes sense.

And I guess it would make it look like you said a bad word! haha, but everyone in ED will know the real reason the ***'s appeared, so it'll be okay.

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

I would edit out all digits...times included. It just means we'd need to type it out, so it would be three am instead.

I've pretty sure it doesn't have to be *** if we want another filter...are there any suggestions that are better?

 

[Soulwings]

I think that sounds fine, Steffi. Lovely idea, and all the numbers that we'd use we could easily type out. It would just take a little more typing effort but I believe it'd be worth it in the end.

 

[oneandlonely]

It sounds like a lovely idea Steffi.

 

[goldenviolet]

I would edit out all digits...times included. It just means we'd need to type it out, so it would be three am instead.

I've pretty sure it doesn't have to be *** if we want another filter...are there any suggestions that are better?

how about "X" instead of '****' . because the latter looks like cussing. and the "X" looks like an indication of something. plus, when peeps post, if they forget to edit out the latter, it will look clearer.

 

[oneandlonely]

how about "X" instead of '****' . because the latter looks like cussing. and the "X" looks like an indication of something. plus, when peeps post, if they forget to edit out the latter, it will look clearer.

That is a very good point Dee. I agree.

 

[bumblebee62331]

I like "X" as the filter.

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

My concern with 'X' is that if 3 digits are posted, we get XXX (a symbol with implications we don't need here).

April suggested '+', which I like as an alternative .

 

[Celtic Camel]

I just wanted to quickly add that I think its a great idea, whatever the symbol to be used is.

 

[bumblebee62331]

What about changing it to # or something?

I know this is probably ridiculous, but to me, "+" is a trigger. If I see someone post something like, "I can't believe how much I weigh! I mean, I weigh ++lbs!" I see that as a "I weigh a LOT" (plus) and it's a trigger. It also reminds me of weight GAIN due to the "plus" thing and makes me have a panic attack and freak out and feel like I need to lose more to prevent this imaginary gain.

If it's just me though, then it doesn't matter. I'm just weird. And easily triggered I guess.

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Righteo...anyone have anything against '#'?

 

[oneandlonely]

Nope, I have nothing against #. Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[BigToe]

Will this make it harder for you moderators to catch numbers that are typed out that would be triggers?

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Maybe, but I try to read every post that goes through here as it is, so digit or spelled, chances are I'll read it. The idea is also, hopefully, that if someone types in digits and notices they get edited, they will also realise it could be a trigger. To go back and edit after that by writing out the word will often give a person enough time to remember that we shouldn't have digits here.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Sorry .. I'm being a pain.