Sorry Malcolm, your email only made it to '[Maybe Spam]' on our system.
I'm reminded when I used to be a lecturer in another university, and a
whole class had printing confiscated by a member of IT staff because it
contained the word 'sex'.  Unfortunately, this was somewhat unavoidable
in an analysis of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.  Or perhaps it was
the word 'analysis' that did it.  Unwarranted, non-contextual censorship
doesn't have to be through technology!
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E-mail: [log in to unmask]

________________________________

From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dobson, Malcolm
Sent: 21 February 2005 14:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [Maybe Spam] Re: Language!



I assume that was the point Dan was making. 

The word is presumably included in the censor-ware to block emails & web
sites relating to homosexual sex, either through homophobia or to block
access to porn sites & email. Unfortunately we provide information
services, which might legitimately include  information about sex,
sexual activity, sexuality, & many other things that get blocked. It's a
pity that IT folk aren't as committed to consultation with their clients
as we are (& that so much of the IT support is out-sourced)

(& if this email doesn't put the nanny software into melt-down nothing
will!) 

Malcolm Dobson 

        -----Original Message----- 
        From:   Stephen Cook [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] 
        Sent:   21 February 2005 14:18 
        To:     [log in to unmask] 
        Subject:        [Maybe Spam] Re: Language! 

        I realise why it was flagged but that doesn't mean to say that
the 
        filter system can establish a context. 
        I take your point about who makes the decisions though and the
issues 
        relating to blocking and censorship. 


        -----Original Message----- 
        From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals 
        [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bye, Dan J 
        Sent: 21 February 2005 14:09 
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Subject: Re: Language! 


        i don't quite know what you mean.  The word is not being flagged
because 
        it can mean "odd or different" but because it can mean
(prejudicially or 
        militantly) "gay".  

        This is a really serious problem, I think.  Who makes these
decisions 
        about what is acceptable or not, and on what basis?   And, 
        to extend the discussion, do libraries which install 
        censorware know what they're blocking? 

        Dan 

        > -----Original Message----- 
        > From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals 
        > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephen Cook 
        > Sent: 21 February 2005 13:19 
        > To: [log in to unmask] 
        > Subject: Re: Language! 
        > 
        > 
        > Hardly. In the context it was used "queer" is meant as odd or 
        > different. 
        > 
        > 
        > -----Original Message----- 
        > From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals 
        > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of vapid ness 
        > Sent: 21 February 2005 12:13 
        > To: [log in to unmask] 
        > Subject: Re: Language! 
        > 
        > 
        > Also homophobic.... 
        > 
        > 
        > On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 11:41:30 -0000, Frances Hendrix 
        > <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
        > > I once put  reference to 'nowt as queer as folk' in an email
to 
        > > Southwark and it was rejected. They have the most sensitive
email 
        > > filters that I have come across. f 
        > > 

	
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