Why do some of you not spell out certain words?

[Tim]

I have noticed that some people on the Puritan Board don't spell out certain words. These include names of other religions and the word often used for lewd images. What are your reasons for this practice?

I am not referring to the view that the name of God should be spelled without vowels.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

The forum filter does not allow the use of p0rn; which should read P*** once I post this. I'm not sure of the other examples.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Well; I guess that should me that. We used to filter it I thought. Curse words may be filtered; but please don't try it out.

 

[earl40]

I think some may not spell out muslim because they live in a country that has a large % of muslims and that country may have computer programs that track certain words that can be traced to the person who posted anything derogatory towards that "religion". So a fear of persecution either for themselves or the adherents of The True Religion may ensue. Sort of the same thing I experience in that I dare not speak too strongly against the SDA religion on FB because I work at a Seventh Day Adventist hospital. Well I have done such but as of yet the SDA's have not caught on to me.

 

[Jack K]

There are evil people in the world who prowl the Internet or emails searching for certain key words. These people may target those who use such words in a way that is, for whatever reason, deemed offensive. This is why several missionaries I know don't spell out certain words in emails and online. Why attract extra attention from people who wish to do you harm or get you kicked out of your country?

I suppose there are evil people who, if they felt offended by something said here, might search out members they could identify and track them down via their signatures on the board. The risk of that seems low in the West, but there are members on this board who live all over the world, so I don't blame those who're trying to be extra careful for the benefit of us all. I don't personally worry much about it. It comes with the territory of being upfront about one's faith in Jesus. Then again, I live in (relatively) safe Colorado.

 

[arapahoepark]

There are evil people in the world who prowl the Internet or emails searching for certain key words. These people may target those who use such words in a way that is, for whatever reason, deemed offensive. This is why several missionaries I know don't spell out certain words in emails and online. Why attract extra attention from people who wish to do you harm or get you kicked out of your country?

I suppose there are evil people who, if they felt offended by something said here, might search out members they could identify and track them down via their signatures on the board. The risk of that seems low in the West, but there are members on this board who live all over the world, so I don't blame those who're trying to be extra careful for the benefit of us all. I don't personally worry much about it. It comes with the territory of being upfront about one's faith in Jesus. Then again, I live in (relatively) safe Colorado.

I get an email newsletter from a missionary in North Africa and this person can't say things like pray or God in the emails and neither can we if you reply back. Being North African you can probably guess why.

 

[brendanchatt]

Is it possible some feel a general equity thus applicable from Exodus 23:13. Hosea 2:17 might be an application to a certain situation

Neither am I approving or disapproving. Might this be on course concerning your OP?

 

[Tim]

Is it possible some feel a general equity thus applicable from Exodus 23:13. Hosea 2:17 might be an application to a certain situation

Neither am I approving or disapproving. Might this be on course concerning your OP?

Actually, Brendan, I think my original post anticipated discretion in a world of evil-doers, and this idea was confirmed by several persons.

However, I must say that your post is very insightful and I invite further discussion down these lines. I had not considered any of this before as a reason to guard one's speech in a certain way. For the benefit of others, I paste the verses you referenced:

And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth (Exodus 23:13).

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name (Hosea 2:17).

...and I also add this one from the New Testament:

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret (Ephesians 5:12).

Further thoughts, anyone?

 

[reaganmarsh]

When I posted recently regarding *slam, I intentionally used the asterisk in order to protect some of our international brethren here from possible reprisal. I intended it as an act of kindness and respect toward our fellow PB'ers.

 

[Tim]

When I posted recently regarding *slam, I intentionally used the asterisk in order to protect some of our international brethren here from possible reprisal. I intended it as an act of kindness and respect toward our fellow PB'ers.

Understood.

But if what you are saying is true - that there really is a need for this sort of protection - should this not be tackled with board-wide regulation, automatic filter, or even a higher-level internet security protocol? Otherwise, it just seems to be a few thoughtful individuals that have this practice and everyone else converses as normal. Other than this thread, I have not heard any call for a more discrete practice, which should necessarily take place if there is a true threat.

 

[reaganmarsh]

Tim, you raise a good point which I'm not really qualified to answer (I've never lived abroad). It had simply occurred to me that reprisal *might* occur, and I didn't want to have contributed by omitting something so simple to do...that being said, I'm not intending to bind the conscience of any of our PB friends. But perhaps it's something our moderators could consider?

 

[brendanchatt]

I appreciate the Ephesians 5:12, especially since many think the church is too "hush hush" about certain cultural issues, they may be forgetting, and not knowing of verses like the one you presented. I hadn't considered the relationship between these two areas, I guess they're the same in some sense.

"especially since many think the church is too 'hush hush'"
Not that there might not be a point to things like that.


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[MichaelNZ]

I am not referring to the view that the name of God should be spelled without vowels.

Are you referring to the Jewish practice of writing G - d and L-rd rather than writing the full words for fear of desecration?

When I posted recently regarding *slam, I intentionally used the asterisk in order to protect some of our international brethren here from possible reprisal. I intended it as an act of kindness and respect toward our fellow PB'ers.

Do terrorists electronically track down those who write negative things about Islam on the Internet and then attack them?

 

[One Little Nail]

Sort of the same thing I experience in that I dare not speak too strongly against the SDA religion on FB because I work at a Seventh Day Adventist hospital. Well I have done such but as of yet the SDA's have not caught on to me.

I enjoy watching SDA Historicist videos & their anti J35U1T videos even though they are a C*LT.

 

[reaganmarsh]

When I posted recently regarding *slam, I intentionally used the asterisk in order to protect some of our international brethren here from possible reprisal. I intended it as an act of kindness and respect toward our fellow PB'ers.

Do terrorists electronically track down those who write negative things about Islam on the Internet and then attack them?[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure. A missionary friend has recently begun employing this in some of his communications, and I suppose that was stirring around somewhere in my mind when I posted like that recently.

Wasn't trying to offend anyone here; I meant it as a courtesy, "just in case."

I sincerely apologize if I have given cause to stumble.

That being said, I'll bow out of this thread. Grace to you, brothers.

 

[Tim]

Brother, you have done nothing wrong!

Nobody is being singled out in this thread. I was just asking for reasons for the practice. If you think this is an important, you are most welcome to provide your views and I thank you for having done so already.