Changes to my PM's - how and why?

[C.Ann]

Well now this is interesting.. About 2 and a half weeks ago I received a PM with some info in it.. I just went back to look at it this evening and the info has been changed!

Who did it - and why? I "thought" that PM's were private here.. Is there a mod or a webmaster out there who would like to explain just what the policy is on PM's and who has access to them?

I love the DIS, but it's getting mighty strange around here..

 

[Galahad]

This is just a guess (not a mod or webmaster, but I am a "database guy" IRL). If there is a policy about the presence of certain phrases/words etc. like url's then the webmasters can make a "global change" that finds any instance of that string of characters in the database and change it. It would be done without a person ever knowing where in the database a change was actually made so our PM's would ostensibly still be "private". Just my guess.....

 

[C.Ann]

This is just a guess (not a mod or webmaster, but I am a "database guy" IRL). If there is a policy about the presence of certain phrases/words etc. like url's then the webmasters can make a "global change" that finds any instance of that string of characters in the database and change it. It would be done without a person ever knowing where in the database a change was actually made so our PM's would ostensibly still be "private". Just my guess.....

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I wonder why it was "okay" until just within the past few days? I had gone back to it several times prior and all was fine..

So basically what you're saying is everything is censored here - including basic info that DISer's share via PM's?

Wow!

 

[KathyTX]

What he's saying is correct. The word filters that apply to posts also apply to PMs.

Is that the kind of change you're talking about?

 

[C.Ann]

What he's saying is correct. The word filters that apply to posts also apply to PMs.

Is that the kind of change you're talking about?

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Words as in offensive, swearing, etc.? No - it wasn't..

 

[Galahad]

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I wonder why it was "okay" until just within the past few days? I had gone back to it several times prior and all was fine..

So basically what you're saying is everything is censored here - including basic info that DISer's share via PM's?

Wow!

Well, again a guess - that it would be technically unfeasible (or cost prohibitive) to "censor" one part of the database and not "censor" all of it. It is probably all or nothing.

 

[KathyTX]

Links to sites that are hostile toward the DIS are also in the word filter. Is that the kind of change you're asking about?

 

[C.Ann]

Links to sites that are hostile toward the DIS are also in the word filter. Is that the kind of change you're asking about?

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So basically links to any web sites the DIS doesn't approve of, such as competing sites; banks that were previously mentioned on the Budget Board; referral links for various commercial sites; etc. are all filtered out?

Is there a guideline list somewhere that could be posted so that people can be made aware of what they can and can't share?

Wow! I feel like the DIS has become a trip into the Twilight Zone.. How are posters supposed to determine what is going to be a problem and what isn't..

 

[KathyTX]

It's pretty simple. If you type it in and you see ******, then it's filtered.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I have a question along the same lines. I posted a link in another thread using the tiny url website to shorten a link. Is that site not allowed? If not, why not?

Kimya

 

[sydally9367]

Hey I coulda told you guys a few years ago that PM's weren't private around here

 

[jfulcer]

I have a question along the same lines. I posted a link in another thread using the tiny url website to shorten a link. Is that site not allowed? If not, why not?

Kimya

You're generally not allowed to post links to ebay in any way shape or form. I believe because it *could* interfere with DIS Auctions site.

It's the same if you posted a link to a travel agent that provides 'great deals on Disney crusies'. That link would be censored.

That Tiny URL place might be censored in general because you can hide offending URLs in it.

 

[KathyTX]

The URL shortening sites have been commonly used to circumvent the spam filters, that's why they're not allowed.

 

[jfulcer]

It's pretty simple. If you type it in and you see ******, then it's filtered.

Uh oh Kathy, it's against regs to try to defeat the filters by starring out parts of bad words so they get past the filter. I'm trying to think of 6 letter words you may have typed now....

 

[LadyyRedd]

I've seen tons of posts with Ebay links in them. It wouldn't allow me to post a tiny url (and your reasoning makes sense!), but when I re-posted with the Ebay link, it let me do that.

Kimya

 

[jfulcer]

The URL shortening sites have been commonly used to circumvent the spam filters, that's why they're not allowed.

Woo hooo! Got my spam through!!!!!

 

[chell]

Woo hooo! Got my spam through!!!!!

 

[KathyTX]

Uh oh Kathy, it's against regs to try to defeat the filters by starring out parts of bad words so they get past the filter. I'm trying to think of 6 letter words you may have typed now....

Dang it, busted again!

 

[poohandwendy]

It's pretty simple. If you type it in and you see ******, then it's filtered.

Serious question here, if that is the case...why is a certain word that caused the recent banning of a long-term regular poster not being filtered? I just checked by sending that one word in a pm to myself...it came through no problem. Is it or is it not considered an inappropriate word? And if it is 'inappropriate' for this site, why hasn't it been added to the filter?

I just think there is so much room for error/misunderstanding/confusion with the filter thing...

 

[KathyTX]

Inappropriate sometimes depends on context.