I just had a question removed before the ink was dry. Has Yahoo gone too far? It wasn't vulgar or obcene and

Question

I have asked it in more benign times without repercussion. People who have never received violations or have been suspended are now feelilng the brunt of Yahoo's McCarthyism attitude. I asked the question: Do adult film stars get laid off?" Hardly offensive, a certainly a serious question that needs to be addressed. Who are they trying to protect. As a teacher I am around those young impressionable minds and their language shocks an old Marine like myself. Nothing on this site will offend their delicate sensibilities after the R and X rated movies they see at home on their DVD players. Are we going back to the 1950's when we can't use the word 'pregnant'?

I have taught middle and high school. The language I hear in the hall and in the classroom still shocks me. I should be used to it, but I am not. The girls are as bad if not worse than the boys. They may not watch x rated movies, but I know they watch the R rated ones. I hear them talk about what they watch. The point is, double entendres are not going to offend anyone. It takes too much effort for most people to figure them out.

Freedom of speech does not pertain to a site like this. They can allow and disallow whatever they want. I understand that, but what I don't understand is the wide variance of acceptance and refusal. I see far worse stuff than what I write and when I come back to check it is still there days later.

Answer 1

Funny that you would say that. I hear you 100% and agree 100%. I had a question removed about 2 days ago. The question was: When was the last time you confessed to the Devil? in the polls and surveys section. Some religious freak (I respect religion as long as it respects me. If you see what I mean) reported me. Now, if this person as well as yahoo committee would have done some research, they would know that this question is based on a literary classic, "Pantagruel" by Rabelais, that it comes from an old proverb meaning: to tell one's secrets to the enemy (to betray someone else), and that it is depicted in the famous "Netherlandish Proverbs" (also called The Blue Cloak or The Topsy Turvy World), a 1559 oil-on-oak-panel painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder which depicts a land populated with literal renditions of Flemish proverbs of the day. I don't know where we are going exactly but if we are not careful, it is possible to go back to some very boring times.

Answer 2

First of all, of course, Yahoo has too often allowed truly grotesque material to post while deleting relatively harmless stuff.
Part of it, I think, is that we who support the principle of free expression don't report the "baby-raping" questions, but some thin-skinned individuals report any little thing that bruises their delicate sensibilities. And Yahoo more or less rubber-stamps such complaints.

As you note, Yahoo, of course, isn't bound to apply the principles of free expression within a proprietary forum. It is, however, an interesting object lesson for those who don't understand the importance of free speech --- when laws or regulations can be used to suppress speech, the application is inherently arbitrary. Someone makes the decision, and how much do you want to trust that someone?
Something to think about, folks.....

Answer 3

Oooohhh...you used the "P" word! Seriously, it is getting worse. I blame it on the fact that most of the monitors don't have a full grasp of the English language. They see a word like "laid" and it's full speed ahead on the deletion button. What we accept as normal, other countries take the narrow view that it's offensive. Beats me how $mitty and his gang get away with their postings, without being deleted straight away. Oh, and I found your deleted question very funny!

Answer 4

Yahoo & a few users on this site are so out of control that little if any rehab would help at this point.

At best, we just have to continue to do what we do best... ask great, but somewhat unusual questions....and answer with our own witty retort.

At worst, we may have to pool our resources together & purchase conventional weapons & stage a coup.

Either way, I'm good...

Answer 5

I mean who cares about adult films anyways. Don't get offendend I wouldn't have wanted my granddaughter seeing that question. The young impressionable minds shouldn't be so vulgar. What grade do you teach? What makes you think all kids are watching R and X rated movies? How would you know something like that this all sounds very strange to me.

Answer 6

A student posted their homework assignment on Y!A, and I said the student should do their own homework, and Yahoo sent me a violation notice. They have gone crazy with violations, this is as bad as communism. I'm ready to quit Y!A.

Answer 7

I agree with you Charles.Try not to let it bother you. There are some trolls in the house today but today is also National Thumbs Up Day.by my decree. I have asked everyone to thumbs up every answer they see when they answer a question. So far, it is going well. Try it, it might make you feel better!. Here's a star too!

Answer 8

Quite lying.... laying? You laid about what you asked...... or lied about it. Ok I so get lie and lay confused!! *cough*

The point being, your question was fine and no one should get a question pulled for a grammatical/ spelling error. *smile*

But surely by now you know that the computer has certain words that just tell it to pull the question automatically. *sigh* I'm just glad you were asking if they chicken got laid ..... then you'd really wanna egg yahoo! Don't call them names and act like a cock-a-doodle doo. Just go with the flow. *kiss* feel better after venting? Ok..... now let's play. :)

Answer 9

Well brother, this is the second or third question that I've seen that talks about the "controllers" of Y!A. It's not cool, not cool at all. What happen to "Freedom of Speech?" Isn't this what you and I are veterans for??

Answer 10

To answer your question:

Yes, we do get laid off now and then. Sometimes we even get fired without severance pay. Lorena Bobitt offered severance pay to porn star John Bobitt.

Fortunately, I am still a working stiff.