I've just gone through all the swear words I can think of and searched for them.

I think there are 14,942 images on this site and at a guess getting on for 45,000 comments.

I obviously cannot repeat the actual words I found as that would make matters worse.

I found 1 'bad' word and 2 derivatives of that word. The remainders were more of 'curse' words and I would not be surprised to see them in kids films. The quantities were 12 s***, 9 b*****, 1 a***, 1 b*******. The word hell appeared 105 times but of course that may have been used correctly and my enthusiasm for the truth waned at that point so I didn't look through all applications of the word.

Possibly the site search doesn't find them all but the stats showed that this site is probably 'cleaner' than TV, Radio and tabloid press, at a guess.

I agree with Rex and I don’t understand what words/bad language you are referring to. I haven’t done a search, but for the past year I’ve read a lot of the comments written on the site and I can’t remember having seen any swearing except for a few cases of words written with loads of **** and a few ‘hell’. All in all far less swearing than we (or a school child) would be exposed to one ordinary day (by overhearing people in the streets and/or looking at Television).

You may not want to repeat the bad language you have seen, but you could post a link to pictures or discussions were you think the language is inappropriate. That would perhaps give us an idea of what you are referring to/thinking about.

...if I see any problem with language on this site. The rules set up by Alan and Mario are something to the effect of, anything goes as long as it is legal in Canada. I thought that maybe, just maybe we were adults here. I have a bigger problem with bad use of the language, and of that I plead as guilty as you would like.

11 of those too.

Leave those adults alone !! "

(Complex amendment/quotation from The Wall by Pink Floyd )

8 Christs, but only one in vain, but get this.....No God!

Best wishes- Andy

You seem to have missed my point, yes this site has been very good, but RESENTLY more and more bad language has been creeping in, and in my experience once it starts it can only get worse………. Here are two examples,

Sorry put a bad link in should be:

Hi Gavin, I am passionate about photography and much else and I do swear from time to time as well. However, I think that one of the attractive things about the site is that people are being honest about their likes and dislikes and their enthusiasms. They shouldn't have to second guess themselves too much because primary school children may be watching. (Which this site is unsuitable for anyway).

With respect to that image...there were no swear words at all in the thread, although the conversion turned to various aspects of the sexualisation of children and those that prey on them. Adult stuff, yes. But talked about openly and without fear of the thought police intervening. Stimulated by Caroline's and Ferd's comments I spent several hours checking out psychology books and chatting with my girlfriend as well as other friends. I feel that I now understand something more than I did before that picture was posted. The world that photography inhibits is as big as the real world. All sorts of issues may crop up in it. That what I particularly enjoy about 4/3rds..there are eloquent and deeply thinking people to converse with. I am not interesting in what an 8 year old thinks about p*rn. But I am interested in what some very able and interesting photographers have to say about it.

I was involved in an exchange with Rob in the second thread you talked about. The words used are no stronger than can be heard in family shows such as 'Only fools and horses'. Furthermore I apologised for the 'language' used.

Niether thread contains vindictive or discriminatory comments. As people get to 'know' one another possibly the niceties break down to a certain extent. But so what? I do not feel that I gravely insulted anyone with my language and certainly used nothing more than I frequently hear after the watershed on TV.

This site is not intended as a young children's learning zone as Alan & Mario's opening statements to the site make clear. 'anything with Canadian law'. Tghe language that is very occasionaly employed, or inferred by myself and others is certainly no stronger than anything that appears in the Higher or A level english (15-18 year old school level) syllabus in the UK.

I think that you are over reacting Gavin.

Best wishes- Andy

I keep looking for any words that would offend me at this site. Oh - my - god ... somebody dared to type the word "ploinker"!

I don't know you Gavin, but if you are offended by words such as that I... well, I don't know what. You must be very, very sensitive and live in an unreal cloistered world. I mean, watch the news some night at all the death and killing in the world and protect the kids from that. I am certainly more offended by blood flowing in streets and gutters than I am by a photographer using the word "ploinker".

Internet filters are not intelligent Gavin. I would suggest that you turn off your filter and read what is written under the picture Rouge Bar. I have re-read all comments written to that picture and I honestly can’t see any examples of “bad language”. But there are several words there which a filter will block (most of them written by me).

I don’t know how old your pupils are, but if they are around ten or older I think they would both understand and be able to take part in the discussion under that picture (except that some children maybe would need an explanation by a grown up or teacher to understand why Helmut Newton is brought into the discussion).

As a curiosity: Internet filters block out educational sites/pages made for children about animal life in Norway because terms for gender is also found on “adult pages”. *lol* I hope your filter isn’t so sensitive that it also blocks out this comment because of the word “adult”. :-D

Edwin, “plonker” isn’t as far as I know a swear word, using slang isn’t a problem I sure everyone on the site appreciates the efforts non native English speakers take to put across their point of view, but I find using words like “wanker” and “shit” uncalled for. Is it ok for me to say that someone is a wanker for making a particular point, or what sort of constructive criticism is “ its shit” or its “shit hot”. I spent 24 years in the army and have seen my share of blood, guts and things that I will never be able to tell people about but I still maintain that there is a time and place for swearing and I don’t think that it should be on a site as good as this one, practically when you have no idea who will be reading the comments. Months ago it was mentioned about having links with the official Olympus web site, strange I don’t ever recall seeing swearing and bad language on their site, I’ll keep an eye out for the next “shit hot lens” on their pages. Doro, sorry but I can’t turn off the filters that have been set up by the school to protect and prevent the pupils from seeing and reading things that their parents and teachers consider unsavoury, (I’ve had to put this reply together from my machine at home). Like some other threads, enough said, time to put this f***er to bed so if there are any wanker’s out there hope you don’t have to much of a shit night and that you don’t suffer a crap day tomorrow. I will learn to put up with, what I consider offensive language that is sometimes used on this site and just concentrate on the photos. :-)

Gavin – have you now read the comments under the RougeBar picture or are you just assuming that there is “bad language” there as it’s blocked by your school’s filter? If you have read the comments I suggest that you tell us what you consider as “bad language” in the discussion under that picture and which words you would have used instead. The only occurrence I can find of something which some may consider as “bad language” is that “Jeez” is used once. Do you mean that pupils have to be protected from reading a word like that?

If you haven’t read the comments under that picture and can’t do from your school or at home I suggest you read it at an Internet Café or at friends.

You start your last post in this discussion with “Enough” and close your post with saying “I will learn to put up with, what I consider offensive language….”. I think that is offensive. You accuse the members here of using “bad language” (perhaps without having read what’s written in the article and picture you refer to) and when I say I can’t see any examples of “bad language” you say “enough” and “…learn to put up with…” (which in effect is the same as upholding your accusations).

There is a place in Oregon called "Wanker's Corner". The Brits just love going there. It was founded by Fredrick and Liza Wanker in 1895. As I understand it, the whole darn family were nothing but Wankers!

But at last, I see the terrible words you are talking about. Am glad somebody else used them and not me. So, I guess you will never see this site in school now! LOL. I honestly have never seen those words here, or if I did was so unimpressed as to not even take notice. I am not offended by cuss words in general I guess and take little notice.

As for using vulgar language, conversationally it is a crutch for a lot of people and because of that has creapt into general use; sadly, because the power of those words is diluted. I think that is why you might find the phrase you mentioned about hot lenses being used. It has become part of the language in some places and with some people. However, using George Carlin's list of forbidden words in print simply shows a lack of vocabulary. After all, 98.6ºƒ is only body temperture and "white hot" is much more descriptive.

I do think some images are pure crap and I try not to show those. ;-)

"Jeez" is American slang and it comes from the clean enough for 1950s television childhood exclamation "gee whiz!" "Gee whiz" becomes "Jeez".

Thanks! I've walked around all my life believing it was short for Jesus. :-)

Yes, that too!

"Gee whiz" was a clean way of saying "Jesus", not that there is anything dirty about Jesus. Then there was a product that was cheese in a can (yuck) called "Cheeze Whiz". That sounds like "Jusus" too... and god, was it bad! LOL.

Havn't laughed as much in a long time on this shite.

Sorry about that :-) It was of course, an unfortunate slip of the tongue :-)

Like I meant to say site.........

with Gavin's assessment of the language problem here on the MFT forum, can you not acknowlege his concern for others? Is it wrong to be considerate of others who may visit the site? It may well be true that the students of his school are exposed to all of this, and more, but this hardly makes it appropriate, or necessary.

His point, about the Olympus website, was simply that you wouldn't expect to see 'objectionable' language there, so why here on MyFourThirds? Are we not a quality site as well? Would Olympus, or any other reputable company, want to align themselves with a site that wasn't in keeping with their own concept of quality and professionalism? I think not!

I commend Gavin for his concern, both for people, and for the quality of this site. I hope you will too!

I am lagging, only having used the 'w' word once - and applying it to myself! Lighten up!

Rob, not a dig at you at all I just used your “phrase” as an example, you did even apologise if I’m not mistaken, your images and comments are very valuable to this site. Things that are posted here on this site, even if its friendly banter between two people, are open for everyone to look at and read. I’m not sure but would you use that phrase when talking to your mother of another member of your family. Remember that there are mothers and grandmothers that are members of this site. John does help make my point (thank you John and all those who can see the point I’m trying to put across) and for Eugene there is a very nice town called Wankum in Belgium and just to make you laugh even more, due to my adding examples of certain words, I have now “flitered” myself out of this thread when I log on at work!

I wasn't even aware of your post when I penned mine. I thought I was following Blayne. Regardless, I respect your view but I simply don't get so worked up about my kids hearing language. They're gonna hear it anyway. Perhaps I'm more lenient because I have all boys. My view is that this is a lot of hullabaloo about something which is not a significant issue at MFT. I don't buy the analogy comparing this site (a public forum) to the Olympus site (a corporate shop front). I would be scathing of a corporate site that demonstrated poor use of the language let alone bad language.

Truly, it would not bother me to use the 'w' word in almost any company in Australia- 80 year old mum included. It's not really a venomous word here. No, I wouldn't call another member of my family that because...well...I don't think any of them are Wallies, dills, pretentious, egomaniacs or bombastic - the general meaning of the 'w' word in Oz. It has long since become a general term of derision for someone full of their own importance rather than its original meaning rooted in the *masturbative connotation.

• I think I just invented that one!

You see Master Bateman, Rob's self abuse simply isn't an issue for most australians. Even his mum would accept it for what it was.

Best wishes- Andy

I ask you again Gavin: Which word or words in the comments on the BarRouge picture do you consider as bad language and what would you have written instead?

It gets funnier by the minute.

Well, as a libera American, I bristle every time someone mentions W. But I now know what the initial "W" stands for. LOL.

Gavin, I am glad that you are seeing the funny side of this latterly. I do accept that you are writing in good faith here, but, and you knew there was a but coming didn't you?,,,,,, I really do think that this thread was best left as a private thought than a public article. Sometimes, sleeping dogs look best that way. Now that you have awoken the sleeping dog, you are left with a bone of contention, and the dog is hungry at the salivating thought of what that juicy bone would taste like in its salivating, masticating, quivering jaws...... I can tell you, we are not talking Lassie here....... (only kidding ..... ) Seriously, its an adult site. If children view it then they should do so only with their parents/carers approval. If adults cant handle it they have the choice not to come here. It will still be a great site.

Hi men,

Yup, quite agree with Eugene's bona fido logic even although I am still haunted by the vision of him spread eagled over a car bonnet with his hands behind his back AND in the air at the same time.

Linguistically, the odd lower percentile dysfunction is inevitable especially with such a predominance of middle aged males on the site. But really, it doesn't matter, no really it doesn't. It can happen to anyone from time to time. Its natural and far too easy to read into these threads stuff that just isn't there.

Best wishes- Andy

You made me laugh again...at myself of course.

Hey Andy!!

Didn't I tell you that I'm ambidextrous, a split personality, in possession of ESP and quite knowledgeable?

Fore-warned is four-armed.

As I’ve said before I think the language bit is done to death now……as a multicultural site terms and phrases will have different meanings some more offensive to certain groups than others. Agree with Eugene (and I do find my self agreeing with you a lot) Time to let the dog go back to sleep but…….. and you knew this was coming……

 I do have to disagree with Eugene and his reference’s to this been an adult site (that term in itself will cause much debate I’m sure) isn’t one wonderful part of photography the fact that as a hobby it something that can be done by any age group,  I won my first photography prize when I was eight, so really shouldn’t this site be open to any age group. I don’t remember seeing “can only be used by an adult” on the box when I brought my E1.  (unless Canadian packaging is different, I know you get printed manuals and we Europeans don’t) 

This for me has been a most entertaining and eye opening thread and has certainly prompted a wide variety of thoughts and opinion, so I personally would like to thank all the members that have taken part for some serious and also not so serious remarks, another reason why this site is so good, I may have to go and find another sleeping dog to wake or have I all ready done that? (I was going to put kick but I thought it might upset all the dog owners)

Silly poopie heads! Amazing what a photo inspires in others. It's not even my best shot nor my most suggestive either.

All this energy wasted on this forum..shame. Perhaps this same passion could be used to do something wonderful like help the homeless but silly poop heads have to over analyze a stupid photo.

Thanks for all the laughs - it's all Poop

Gavin, intenet filtering systems are notoriously unreliable. If they do any reasonable job of blocking "undesirable" material, they will also have high false positive rates. There have been lots of studies showing this - they are one reason mandatory filtering in public libraries hasn't been enforced at a federal level in the US, since the courts keep knocking it down.

So it's quite possible that your school's internet filters are blocking MFT pages that don't actually have "bad content" on them. The comments to the image you give as an example contain words like ge*italia, feti*histic, n*de, ch*ld abuse, anor*xia, lol*ta-looking, etc. All of which are blocked by some filtering software.

In the context, none of these words are "bad" - they are part of a discussion about a controversial image. If the image is deemed kosher then the comments certainly should be!

Danny, Yes of course you are right, filtering does tend to be on the “safe” side where children are concerned. I’ve been a member of this site for over a year but its only in the last month that any pages/comments have been blocked and thanks again for everyone’s comments and thoughts.