Why you shouldn't blog on Windows Live Spaces

Windows, posted: 2-SEP-2006 10:31

Number one reason: Microsoft's cack-handed censorship of your thoughts. So I can't use the word "porn" on what is allegedly the world's biggest blogging service? Or is it perhaps "feminist" that Windows Live Spaces thinks is "prohibited language"?

WLS

I've been playing with Windows Live Spaces for a bit to see where it's all going (and of course, to check whether anyone actually reads the stuff there), but this silliness concludes the experiment for me.

By Juha Saarinen

Other related posts:
Today’s incomprehensible Windows security warning
Today's strange Internet Explorer 8 error message
Microsoft takes the wind out of Windows 7's sails

Permalink to Why you shouldn't blog on Windows Live Spaces | Add a comment (6 comments) | Main Index

Comment by cokemaster, on 2-SEP-2006 11:25

The Chinese version has more features including censorship of terms like freedom, democracy and more!

Author's note by juha, on 2-SEP-2006 11:30

As reported by the BBC last year:

"Weblog entries on some parts of Microsoft's MSN site in China using words such as 'freedom', 'democracy' and 'demonstration' are being blocked."

"The censorship has been introduced as a concession to the Chinese government."

So who or what is Microsoft kow-towing to when it stops Windows Live Spaces bloggers outside China from writing certain things?

Comment by Rose, on 3-SEP-2006 09:30

If this hasn't already been dugg, would you mind if I digg it?

Author's note by juha, on 3-SEP-2006 09:34

Hi Rose. Nope, no diggin' yet, so please feel free to do so.

Author's note by juha, on 3-SEP-2006 10:11

This is a bit silly perhaps, but further testing shows that Xeni Jardin's list of "rude words" censored by MSN Spaces (as it was called then) still stands.

In addition to the Xeni's list, Microsoft also censors:

cock
hardcore
paedo
nazi (communist and fascist are fine though)
ass (arse is OK)
masturbation (masturbate is cool however)
cum (magna cum laude is rude!)
cojones
nigger (other ethnic slurs passed though)
bitch
panties
faggot

That's not the complete list, most likely, but can't be bothered to go through more.

Comment by Rose, on 3-SEP-2006 14:17

The word porn is only censored in the title. I wrote a review of Windows Live Spaces.

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