The Register reporters were found today lying in the streets with bleeding fingers having tried to desperately scrape the bottom of the barrel for XBox trolls until their fingers bled.
Really, "Automated name-filtering software catches person with potentially offensive word in their name/nickname". This hasn't been news for at least 10 years now.
Similarly, I'm sure if you make an account called Edwin Fuckface or Roger Twatcunt or something on most online services it'll be picked up. On the same note, if you make an account called Gareth SuckMyMassiveW4ng it probably wont be picked up. Thus is the nature of automated filtering.
So first MS cannot wait to offend it's users: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/03/santa_filth_outrage/
But now they will go to ridiculous lengths to stop anything they deem inappropriate!
Think I will stick with my PS3 anyway, that way if Sony blocked my name (if it was remotely offensive to any companies) I would not have been paying for it - which I think would make the Live service a more customised service and would try to keep their customers happy!
This reminded me of the wonderfully named 'Randy Bender' (literally meaning horny homosexual for those outside the UK) who was heavily linked several years ago. El reg even did an article on it but sadly the link is no longer valid. Googling 'randy bender' nowadays seems to bring up a long list of namesakes.
I worked with a 'Randy Winkel' once, which is almost as similarly amusing.
When I was at college, I was in a class with a girl from Eastern Europe called Annette Kurtin - That is a real name, but still her nickname was "beefy" . . . . .
Mine's the flasher Mac in the corner.
P.S. an obvious one, but Paris, cos we have all seen her beefy curtains !
That error seems to imply that the gamertag was allowed, then was revoked at a later stage.
If so, this would be due to people taking offence and reporting him, sadly if someone gets enough complaints about their gamertag (there is an automatic complaints option for gamertag names) then they are automatically invalidated.
XBox staff should make more of an effort to have a human input on these things, afterall, XBox live is a subscription based service.
Just to clarify a few points -- yes, my tag was allowed and then revoked, I've been using it without problems since Jan 2007. Yes, this decision is made by a human and not automated, as confirmed by the Microsoft rep on his blog: http://www.stepto.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=434
Yes, I was teased growing up. Yes, I got over it :oD
Also note that I'm pretty sure that in Ameriglish "gay wood" would mean "arsebandit's hard-on", so their filter's probably objecting to the unfortunate juxtaposition (for Septic software) here rather than being a drooling, fascist homophobe.
Surely Microsoft classing the word 'gay' is offensive is against the law on the ground of discrimination. It's not an offensive term for homosexuality (especially in this case where it's in the blokes name) like queer or faggot but Microsoft seems to be saying it is. Would a username mentioning race or ethnicity be banned (e.g. Indian or black)? If not, surely this shouldn't be.
Also, do they filter the letters 'ass' from usernames which most people would agree is swearing (admittedly very mild swearing)?
This article reminds me of an incident with MS Hotmail several years ago. I was trying to register an account with my real name. As my last name "Maila" begins with "Mail...", Hotmail decided it's an invalid choice for the last name. The error message I got was funny. "Invalid last name. Please change your last name". Well, as you might guess, I didn't change my last name but chose another email provider.
No support from the Reg readers for people with a first name of 'Gay'?
Apart from the female use so far I can only think of 'Gay Burns' sp? the Irish TV host.
The fairly childlike attitude towards folks with the word 'gay' somewhere in the name sort of reinforces M$'s stance on their filtering if all they can hear is sniggering at the back of the class
For years if you wanted to signup with AOL and lived in Scunthorpe you had to be a bit more creative with your address as it wouldn't let you, got to the point where it made the front page of the local rag.
There's a Randy Bush works for one of the network operators in America, always makes me smile.
If this is rampant homophobia or the sort of mimsiness that made the Victorians refer to 'limbs' rather than 'legs',,,,,
And given the fact that my 11 yr old grandson uses 'gay' as a sort of general purpose adjective for people he considers rather feeble (like his older brother), I'm not sure which children these folks are trying to protect from such wicked words
"Really, 'Automated name-filtering software catches person with potentially offensive word in their name/nickname'. This hasn't been news for at least 10 years now."
I disagree. The technique was surely discredited beyond redemption almost as soon as it was first deployed and anyone still using it must have spent the last decade or more in a coma. Why are they now heading up one of Microsoft's biggest developments?
IT angle: Knowing this much about their project management, can we trust *anything* else from Microsoft?
In Ireland, Gay used to be a normal abbreviation for Gabriel. Gay Byrne was a leading broadcaster for decades, while Gay Mitchell was a leading politician. However, younger Gabriels don't use this abbreviation, for some reason.
I am prejudiced against gays for one reason - that they destroyed the old meaning of a good and useful word, "gay". I wish they had created a new word, rather than killing a good old one. Today, many young folk are actually unaware that gay has any other meaning than homosexual.
Actually AFAIK homosexuals didn't change the meaning; it was heterosexuals misunderstanding the then-alternative meaning of "gay" meaning "working as a prostitute". Hence the famous phrase "some of my best friends are gay" when originally used was meaning "some of my best friends are prostitutes". But it was used by a man talking about his male-prostitute friends.
And "gay" has since shifted meaning again to mean "naff". Many young folk actually would be surprised to hear that "that's so gay" would be interpreted by older people to be a homophobic insult, in roughly the same way that the word "spazz" when I was growing up in the 80s was used without meaning any insult to people with cerebral palsy.
A while back one UK radio station (can't remember which) took to rummaging through US phone directories for amusing names, calling them and trying to get them to say their name on air.
Still chuckle when I think of their best one - "Randy Fanny" :)
When I was a kid in Ireland, a long time ago, I just couldn't understand how the broadcaster Gay Byrne was a man while radio 'Dear Frankie...' Frankie Byrne was a woman. Although to this day in Cork City Florance is a common name for men, as is Mary as a middle name.
Mickey on the other hand seems quite innocent to many - personally though I was creased up laughing at the myriad combinations while at the Paris Disney, especially a box labelled 'Jedi Mickey'. The mind boggles...
I'm assured that tour guides in the USA Disneys are often perplexed at the ripple of laughter from Irish tourists when introduced to a statue billed as The Biggest Mickey in the World.
As for young kids use of 'gay' - many of them are now unaware that it has any other meaning than 'rubbish'.
Nintendo Wii Console
Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 120GB Console
Sony Playstation 3 160GB Console - Drake's Fortune Bundle (PS3)
Microsoft Xbox 360 Premium System
Sony PSP-3000 PlayStation Portable System
MS bashes Gay(wood) Xbox Live gamer
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Eponymous Cowherd
Well.... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:12 GMT
They still allow Mike Huntiswet......
Still to try Ben Doone and Phil McAvity.
Anonymous Coward
Oh... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:12 GMT
"Dick Gaywood"- poor sod.
You would have thought that the parents could have tried harder.
Anonymous Coward
In other news... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:16 GMT
The Register reporters were found today lying in the streets with bleeding fingers having tried to desperately scrape the bottom of the barrel for XBox trolls until their fingers bled.
Really, "Automated name-filtering software catches person with potentially offensive word in their name/nickname". This hasn't been news for at least 10 years now.
Similarly, I'm sure if you make an account called Edwin Fuckface or Roger Twatcunt or something on most online services it'll be picked up. On the same note, if you make an account called Gareth SuckMyMassiveW4ng it probably wont be picked up. Thus is the nature of automated filtering.
Iain Waddingham
Make up your mind MS! #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:32 GMT
So first MS cannot wait to offend it's users: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/03/santa_filth_outrage/
But now they will go to ridiculous lengths to stop anything they deem inappropriate!
Think I will stick with my PS3 anyway, that way if Sony blocked my name (if it was remotely offensive to any companies) I would not have been paying for it - which I think would make the Live service a more customised service and would try to keep their customers happy!
JonB
@AC #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:32 GMT
>You would have thought that the parents could have tried harder.
Yeah, Randolph Richard Gaywood perhaps?
Mike Taylor
Gay Search anyone? #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:32 GMT
http://www.greeneheaton.co.uk/pages/authors/author.asp?AuthorID=8
MET
Thinking internationally #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:32 GMT
This reminded me of the wonderfully named 'Randy Bender' (literally meaning horny homosexual for those outside the UK) who was heavily linked several years ago. El reg even did an article on it but sadly the link is no longer valid. Googling 'randy bender' nowadays seems to bring up a long list of namesakes.
I worked with a 'Randy Winkel' once, which is almost as similarly amusing.
Sarah Bee
Re: In other news... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:32 GMT
Thank you for the feedback, Allowicious Smythe-Jones St Penisface. We always appreciate it.
Oh, sorry, you meant to post anonymously, didn't you? Tsk, buttermodfingers!
Dave
GENIUS #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:38 GMT
Mike Huntiswet - I LOVE that - superb.
When I was at college, I was in a class with a girl from Eastern Europe called Annette Kurtin - That is a real name, but still her nickname was "beefy" . . . . .
Mine's the flasher Mac in the corner.
P.S. an obvious one, but Paris, cos we have all seen her beefy curtains !
Nevland
Account was live #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 09:38 GMT
That error seems to imply that the gamertag was allowed, then was revoked at a later stage.
If so, this would be due to people taking offence and reporting him, sadly if someone gets enough complaints about their gamertag (there is an automatic complaints option for gamertag names) then they are automatically invalidated.
XBox staff should make more of an effort to have a human input on these things, afterall, XBox live is a subscription based service.
Shinobi87
@ sarah bee : Re: In other news... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:08 GMT
i belive the term for this sort of act is "owned" nice work sarah!
Steve Evans
God help... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:08 GMT
..anyone from Scunthorpe.
radian
@ AC (In other news... ) #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:08 GMT
Blimey! Calm down, you're not bein forced to read this.
oh bugger, the boss is calling me, I'll finish this comment later.
Rob Aley
Re In other news... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
>Really, "Automated name-filtering software catches person with potentially
>offensive word in their name/nickname". This hasn't been news for at least 10
>years now.
That may not be news, but this is. "Gay" is NOT an offensive word. Welcome to the 21st century, Microsoft may enter it soon, too.
Mycho
Welcome to the internet #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
Not available to residents of Scunthorpe
Anonymous Coward
Microsoft hate gays! #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
Clearly they must! What haters!! And why did this poor bloke get his real name banned?? They must like being nasty!!
:-)
Richard Gaywood
Hey, I'm on The Reg again #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
Heya all.
Just to clarify a few points -- yes, my tag was allowed and then revoked, I've been using it without problems since Jan 2007. Yes, this decision is made by a human and not automated, as confirmed by the Microsoft rep on his blog: http://www.stepto.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=434
Yes, I was teased growing up. Yes, I got over it :oD
Iain Waddingham
@Dave - Genius #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
Didn't Annette Kurtin run off with Wayne Kerr? :-)
TeeCee
Where does he live? #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:11 GMT
Scunthorpe?
Also note that I'm pretty sure that in Ameriglish "gay wood" would mean "arsebandit's hard-on", so their filter's probably objecting to the unfortunate juxtaposition (for Septic software) here rather than being a drooling, fascist homophobe.
Mr Chris
Richard - gay? Would! #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:40 GMT
Good to see you're famous for a good reason now, mate. ;-)
Neil Docherty
Discrimination... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 10:40 GMT
Surely Microsoft classing the word 'gay' is offensive is against the law on the ground of discrimination. It's not an offensive term for homosexuality (especially in this case where it's in the blokes name) like queer or faggot but Microsoft seems to be saying it is. Would a username mentioning race or ethnicity be banned (e.g. Indian or black)? If not, surely this shouldn't be.
Also, do they filter the letters 'ass' from usernames which most people would agree is swearing (admittedly very mild swearing)?
Anonymous Coward
I've similar experience with Hotmail #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:03 GMT
This article reminds me of an incident with MS Hotmail several years ago. I was trying to register an account with my real name. As my last name "Maila" begins with "Mail...", Hotmail decided it's an invalid choice for the last name. The error message I got was funny. "Invalid last name. Please change your last name". Well, as you might guess, I didn't change my last name but chose another email provider.
Elmer Phud
Sexist? #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:03 GMT
No support from the Reg readers for people with a first name of 'Gay'?
Apart from the female use so far I can only think of 'Gay Burns' sp? the Irish TV host.
The fairly childlike attitude towards folks with the word 'gay' somewhere in the name sort of reinforces M$'s stance on their filtering if all they can hear is sniggering at the back of the class
Eponymous Cowherd
The Ass in Class #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:03 GMT
@ Neil Docherty
When Sun introduced naughty word filtering on their Java forums they did, indeed, filter the word 'ass'.
You can imagine the fun that caused..........
Rob
My mate #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:07 GMT
had "yougay sodd" as his gamertag for ages and never heard anything, he's not online now though so I don't know if they expire or anything,
RichardB
The number of times #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:07 GMT
I've been banned for using the common name Wang in online communities...
Rob
names #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:07 GMT
also, a girl at our college (a few years ago now) was called Jenny Taylor, many people took a lot longer to get it than i did,
Erwin Blonk
That's why Iron Maiden's singer never plays on Xbox Live #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:07 GMT
Poor Bruce.
Chris Walker
Redundant yet amusing emphasis #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:07 GMT
"literally meaning horny homosexual for those outside the UK"
I'm genuinely flabbergasted (I'm having a faux Victoriana day) at the need for the word 'literally' in that explaination... :)
Anonymous Coward
@Welcome to the internet #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:08 GMT
For years if you wanted to signup with AOL and lived in Scunthorpe you had to be a bit more creative with your address as it wouldn't let you, got to the point where it made the front page of the local rag.
There's a Randy Bush works for one of the network operators in America, always makes me smile.
Anonymous Coward
Hmmm Re. Discrimination... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:33 GMT
I wonder how Richard Blackwood gets on with his Xbox live account
TrishaD
I cant work out... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:33 GMT
If this is rampant homophobia or the sort of mimsiness that made the Victorians refer to 'limbs' rather than 'legs',,,,,
And given the fact that my 11 yr old grandson uses 'gay' as a sort of general purpose adjective for people he considers rather feeble (like his older brother), I'm not sure which children these folks are trying to protect from such wicked words
Jimster71
@rob #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:40 GMT
Jenny Taylor - [snigger]
I've seen many a person on forums who hail from "S****horpe".
Ken Hagan
Re: In other news #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:40 GMT
"Really, 'Automated name-filtering software catches person with potentially offensive word in their name/nickname'. This hasn't been news for at least 10 years now."
I disagree. The technique was surely discredited beyond redemption almost as soon as it was first deployed and anyone still using it must have spent the last decade or more in a coma. Why are they now heading up one of Microsoft's biggest developments?
IT angle: Knowing this much about their project management, can we trust *anything* else from Microsoft?
Chris Morrison
Gay #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:40 GMT
I know someone called Gay. She was introduced to my wife recently to which my wife thought she was being a bit forward:
"Hi I'm Gay.."
"I'm Stephanie, and I'm married thank you."
Made me smile for weeks!
Scott
@Iain Waddingham #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:42 GMT
Was it this Wayne Kerr? Seems to run his own electronics business....
http://www.waynekerrtest.com/
Steve Heal
I prefer the old MS #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:59 GMT
This is from the same company that slipped:
Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz
into fontview.exe
Paris, she's more swan than jackdaw but my sphinx doesn't discriminate!
Dalek13
Innuendo-based filtering? #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 11:59 GMT
So does this mean that all names with even the feintest whiff of innuendo will be filtered from now?
What of the many 'Blackwoods', 'Hiscocks', 'Slowcums' 'Bellheads' and 'Longhorns' of this world (to name but a few)?
It'll only end in tears!
Anonymous Coward
I've been GAY since the day I was born... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 12:29 GMT
So has my Dad.. As was his Dad...
Facebook took dislike and wouldnt even let me register, asking me to email them to resolve the 'issue' with my name lol
I couldnt be bothered - Blessing in disguise perhaps..
Bob Gender
What was wrong with... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:02 GMT
Glyndwr?
George Bush's nephew is called "Pierce", by the way.
Michael O'Malley
Gay names #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:02 GMT
In Ireland, Gay used to be a normal abbreviation for Gabriel. Gay Byrne was a leading broadcaster for decades, while Gay Mitchell was a leading politician. However, younger Gabriels don't use this abbreviation, for some reason.
I am prejudiced against gays for one reason - that they destroyed the old meaning of a good and useful word, "gay". I wish they had created a new word, rather than killing a good old one. Today, many young folk are actually unaware that gay has any other meaning than homosexual.
Paul Townsend
@Steve Heal #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:39 GMT
> Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz
Are you saying they should have stuck to quick brown foxes?
Graham Bartlett
@Michael #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:39 GMT
Actually AFAIK homosexuals didn't change the meaning; it was heterosexuals misunderstanding the then-alternative meaning of "gay" meaning "working as a prostitute". Hence the famous phrase "some of my best friends are gay" when originally used was meaning "some of my best friends are prostitutes". But it was used by a man talking about his male-prostitute friends.
And "gay" has since shifted meaning again to mean "naff". Many young folk actually would be surprised to hear that "that's so gay" would be interpreted by older people to be a homophobic insult, in roughly the same way that the word "spazz" when I was growing up in the 80s was used without meaning any insult to people with cerebral palsy.
Nigel Rook
Re. Hmmm Re. Discrimination... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:46 GMT
"I wonder how Richard Blackwood gets on with his Xbox live account"
I'd imagine he has a larger than average... err... gamerscore
Nick Ryan
Randy #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:46 GMT
A while back one UK radio station (can't remember which) took to rummaging through US phone directories for amusing names, calling them and trying to get them to say their name on air.
Still chuckle when I think of their best one - "Randy Fanny" :)
Tom Cole
There can't be that many of them... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:46 GMT
What's particularly scary about this, is that I went to school with a guy who had that exact name.
It couldn't be the same guy, could it?
@Erwin Blonk
The Bruce Dickinson comment also made me giggle...Can't believe I never saw that.
Anonymous Coward
so is... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:46 GMT
a merkin really just someone who lives in the us?
Gerry Doyle
@ Mickey O'Malley - Gay Names #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:53 GMT
When I was a kid in Ireland, a long time ago, I just couldn't understand how the broadcaster Gay Byrne was a man while radio 'Dear Frankie...' Frankie Byrne was a woman. Although to this day in Cork City Florance is a common name for men, as is Mary as a middle name.
Mickey on the other hand seems quite innocent to many - personally though I was creased up laughing at the myriad combinations while at the Paris Disney, especially a box labelled 'Jedi Mickey'. The mind boggles...
I'm assured that tour guides in the USA Disneys are often perplexed at the ripple of laughter from Irish tourists when introduced to a statue billed as The Biggest Mickey in the World.
As for young kids use of 'gay' - many of them are now unaware that it has any other meaning than 'rubbish'.
Richard Gaywood
@Tom Cole #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 13:59 GMT
Bloody hell, did I used to play AD&D with you?
DirkGently
What about... #
Posted Thursday 22nd May 2008 14:12 GMT
... Gaylord? I guess if you were a fundie you'd change your name by deed poll.
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