Henri Matisse Well! Something shocked me yesterday and I worried all night, trying to work out what was going on. An innocent excerpt from my novel came up as containing sensitive material. What? How could this happen?
In the past, I'd clicked on several blogs containing this warning, and wondered what had caused the message. Some of the blogs were about home or family, and couldn't have offended anyone.
While I sat quietly this morning, after drinking my tea, the solution came to me. During my meditation a word popped into my mind. It starts with the letter H and ends with … ing. That word might cause alarm bells. You'll see it in context later.
In the past, I'd clicked on several blogs containing this warning, and wondered what had caused the message. Some of the blogs were about home or family, and couldn't have offended anyone.
While I sat quietly this morning, after drinking my tea, the solution came to me. During my meditation a word popped into my mind. It starts with the letter H and ends with … ing. That word might cause alarm bells. You'll see it in context later.
There are gremlins crawling all over the internet, sifting material and finding words deemed forbidden. Even if they have two meanings, and they were used in a harmless way.
I can understand the need for security, but the little 'bots can't understand the intricacies of the English language.
You'll see on the sidebar that I use news stories in my writing. This is a case in point.
The short story I posted on my writers blog yesterday featured an old man who'd climbed down on a ladder to his cellar. He fell to become trapped, suspended [substitute offending word here] by one leg. I dare not write the word in case this blog is labeled as sensitive (which can also have two meanings. Let's face it, most words are multi-purpose.)
I can understand the need for security, but the little 'bots can't understand the intricacies of the English language.
You'll see on the sidebar that I use news stories in my writing. This is a case in point.
The short story I posted on my writers blog yesterday featured an old man who'd climbed down on a ladder to his cellar. He fell to become trapped, suspended [substitute offending word here] by one leg. I dare not write the word in case this blog is labeled as sensitive (which can also have two meanings. Let's face it, most words are multi-purpose.)
Here's the author's blog in question. http://francene--wordstitcher.weebly.com/blog/1
I've changed the word in the excerpt and republished. So far, everything is fine. Hopefully, I've removed the label.
So, let my gaff be a warning to you. Whatever you write, keep this in mind: your words could be misconstrued.
I've changed the word in the excerpt and republished. So far, everything is fine. Hopefully, I've removed the label.
So, let my gaff be a warning to you. Whatever you write, keep this in mind: your words could be misconstrued.
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