roderick (03/03/83)
This article recently appeared in a student newspaper called "The Varsity"
published here at the Univerity of Toronto. The article is entitled
"Talk Dirty To Me." (Reprinted without permission.)
WATERLOO (CUP) -- Students at Sir Wilfred Laurier University
have to watch their language around the computers or they risk
losing access.
The computer department there has programmed several com-
puters to ring a bell repeatedly if anyone enters swear words
listed as prohibited. The computer then locks the student's
file until that student explains to the dean why he or she swore
at a computer.
One student was cut off for using prohibited words while
accessing the general account of the Faculty of Social Work.
This also froze the files of 80 other people using that account.
Dr. Bezner, the head of the computing centre, said every
society has "taboo words," and ours has very few. But when
someone crosses the threshold and uses these words, violence
could ensue, Bezner said.
I think this paragon of idiocy speaks for itself. I am, however, unable
to resist this tremendous urge to flame. I have recently reached the sorry
conclusion that one must expect this infuriating brand of prudery and con-
servatism in Ontario. It is done at a level that is both ridiculous and
horrifying at the same time. (You want what? The right to swear at the
computer?? Get out of here. **VS** You're telling me I can't type what I
damn please at a computer terminal?? Next thing you'll be restricting
what I may write in a letter. Get out of here.)
I am interested in the feelings of other people on this subject. Please post
or (preferably) mail to me any thoughts, expressions of disbelief, maunderings,
etc. you may have. I'd be especially interested in anyone who thinks they have
a justification for this, uh ... thing.
In all seriousness,
Rod Glover
University of Toronto
Department of Computer Science
...!utzoo!utcsrgv!roderickroderick (03/13/83)
I posted this article about two weeks ago, but a nearby cutvertex
in the great net news graph was down and so (judging by the addresses
of the responses I received) I don't think it got outside of a fairly
small biconnected component containing the U of T sites. (Can you tell
I aspire to be a graph theorist?)
Anyway, my apologies to those of you who have seen this before. If you
are far away (i.e. outside Ontario) and have seen this before, please
chastise me via mail.
This article appeared in a recent issue of a U of Toronto student newspaper
called "The Varsity." It is entitled "Talk Dirty to Me." [Reprinted without
permission.]
WATERLOO (CUP) -- Students at Sir Wilfred Laurier University
have to watch their language around the computers or they risk
losing access.
The computer department there has programmed several com-
puters to ring a bell repeatedly if anyone enters swear words
listed as prohibited. The computer then locks the student's
file until that student explains to the dean why he or she swore
at a computer.
One student was cut off for using prohibited words while
accessing the general account of the Faculty of Social Work.
This also froze the files of 80 other people using that account.
Dr. Bezner, the head of the computing centre, said every
society has "taboo words," and ours has very few. But when
someone crosses the threshold and uses these words, violence
could ensue, Bezner said.
Any comments? (Please respond via mail; I'll post a short summary of the
responses.) Personally, I find this repulsive and horrifyingly stupid.
I would be most interested to hear from anyone who feels they have a
justification for this sort of thing. (So far, no one does.)
In all seriousness,
Rod Glover
U of Toronto
..!utzoo!utcsrgv!roderick
P.S. "Violence"??? Ye Gods!
P.P.S. I am planning to send a compendium of the responses to the Dean
at WLU responsible for this. If you have any specific desire regarding
your response (e.g. MUST go in/must NOT go in, sign my name/DON'T sign
my name, etc.) please say so and I will act accordingly.