"Breast pump" is offensive language, "breastpump" is not.

[Belle]

I tried selling a breast pump in our local newspaper. They have a cheap stuff section for free for stuff under $600. So I place the print ad.

"BREAST PUMP (description about breast pump, cost, phone #) "

The automated thing takes it just fine.

Then I place the online ad. I copy it exactly from the print one. It reads an error message because I put offensive language in it. It didn't like the word "breast" I changed it to "Breastpump" and it didn't have any problem with it.

I was minorly annoyed by this. I wrote them a letter explaining their inconsistencies. I also mentioned that it shouldn't be offensive in the first place. I pointed out that they have done many articles on breastfeeding and that they didn't have any qualms about using the word "breast" then. Why should it be more offensive in the classified section?

Thoughts?

[MarcyC]

Geez! Just because of word breast. What if you were selling armor and you had a breast plate? What if you were selling food and you were trying to sell a chicken breast. A breaded breast of chicken. What if you were describing a detailed wedding gown and trying to say there was beading around the breast area. People get so freaked out over the word breast. BREAST BREAST BREAST BREAST BREAST!!!!!!

[LittlePeanut]

Good lord... What next? I hear far more offensive language from the mouths of small children than that.

LP

[jimblejamble]

I would've written in too. That is so ridiculous! We can have places like "Bad A** Coffee" and right across the street, the "Pho King" restaruant (I'm dead serious!) but "breast" is a horrible "offensive" word.

Did anyone ever see the movie Now and Then?

Chrissy: What is it about her that gets everyone so excited?
Roberta: Long legs, a tiny waist, and perky breasts!
Chrissy: Roberta, you KNOW how I feel about swearing!
Roberta: Chrissy, BREAST is not a dirty word.
Chrissy: Can't hear you!
R: Breast.
C: Can't hear you!
R: Breast.
C: Can't hear you!
R: Breast!
C: Can't hear you!
R: BREEEEEEEEAAAAASSSSST!!!

[frontierpsych]

Maybe they don't want someone trying to sell breasts on their site?


Honestly though, I'm baffled.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by MarcyC

What if you were selling armor and you had a breast plate?

breastplate

What if you were selling food and you were trying to sell a chicken breast. A breaded breast of chicken.

breaded chicken cutlet.

What if you were describing a detailed wedding gown and trying to say there was beading around the breast area.

beading around the bodice.

Seriously, I agree that this is rediculous. The chicken one is the best example because what if it wasn't a cutlet but chicken breast on the bone? "White meat chicken on the bone" is pretty wordy for a classified ad! I wonder if the censor would let you use the word "brest."

[*MamaJen*]

That reminds me of Victorians thinking that piano legs were lewd.

[greenrosemom4]

This reminds me of when I worked in the deli of a certain large grocery chain.

At the time the stores marketing campaign was "Think Big!" Think big value... Think big selection!.. Think big savings! You get the picture.

So anyway, there were signs hanging everywhere that said, "Think Big!" Every sale sign said "Think Big" in the corner.

So one day I'm working and this old lady comes up and says, "You can tell some MAN thought up this sign."

I'm like, "huh?"

She then points to the "Turkey Breast, 3.99lb" sign and screams, "It says 'THINK BIG' on the same sign it says BBBRREEEAAASSSTT!"

I thought she was joking and started to laugh. I realized she wasn't when she stormed off to complain about the sign and myself to the manager. Oh well.

Terri

[orangefoot]

I'm ready for a tomato at my head now but

If you all stopped calling it 'nursing' and started calling it 'breast feeding' then you might make inroads into this kind of issue.

Please don't tell me that a nursing relationship is different to a breastfeeding relationship: no-one here calls it nursing and we enjoy the same relationship with our children as you do.

[Nautical]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I wonder if the censor would let you use the word "brest."

In high school, I was an exchange student in Brest, France. I had several things that said the town name when I got home (t-shirt, postcards, photo album cover). I wasn't allowed to bring any of the items to school, even though the school sponsored my trip and arranged the program. Are you kidding me? :

[Belle]

Originally Posted by orangefoot

I'm ready for a tomato at my head now but

If you all stopped calling it 'nursing' and started calling it 'breast feeding' then you might make inroads into this kind of issue.

Please don't tell me that a nursing relationship is different to a breastfeeding relationship: no-one here calls it nursing and we enjoy the same relationship with our children as you do.

I use both words interchangeably. I never really thought of it like that. I didn't realize that the word nursing wasn't used in other countries to describe breastfeeding.

[llamalluv]

Oh, but imagine if you couldn't get your OWN NAME as your e-mail address, like this poor guy:

http://www.switched.com/2008/08/04/v...n-e-mail-addr/

[Belle]

I recieved a response from the newspaper

Hello Heather,
I believe the problem with the cautionary popup was that the word 'breast' was looked at by the on-line screening process as an isolated word rather than the phrase breastpump.

The system will pop up cautions or reject an isolated word that seems inappropriate as it can not analyze how the word is used. We are sorry that offended.

Thank you for drawing this to our attention.

I think they missed the point of my concern. If I had used something with the word "arm" would it have been offensive?

[Unoppressed MAMA Q]

Yup. They're missing your point entirely. How frustrating.

[EviesMom]

Actually I don't think they are missing your point. The issue is, unlike with a human being who puts in print classifieds, the computer system doesn't recognize the difference between saying "LOVE BIG BREASTS? THIS IS THE VIDEO FOR YOU!!! Breasts! Breasts! Breasts!" which they don't want to sell in their classifieds and "Breast pump for sale." which they are happy to sell.

It's a technology issue, and while the system can be made smarter (as many "child protector" web surfing software has done; they all used to disallow LLL and cooking sites etc. for the same reason. Most have gotten better and now allow them, but their computer system still flags them. Someone then has to sit there and tell the software that LLL is appropriate but porn sites are not.

What do you want them to do exactly? Allow the word breast knowing that it means there will be more porn, escort services, etc in your local classifieds? Because that's what that will probably mean on a practical level. It's unlikely that a classifieds system is going to hire someone to sit there and mark appropriate and inappropriate ads with the word breast. It's expensive to do.

Unless you're complaining generically that the word breast is used for inappropriate uses like porn instead of breastfeeding. In which case, yes, that's totally true, but trying to oust pornographers from using the word breast is a long, long path. It may be totally worthwhile, but if you get personally offended every time someone uses the word breast in a way you don't like... you're going to be stressed out and angry an awful lot.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by EviesMom

What do you want them to do exactly? Allow the word breast knowing that it means there will be more porn, escort services, etc in your local classifieds? Because that's what that will probably mean on a practical level. It's unlikely that a classifieds system is going to hire someone to sit there and mark appropriate and inappropriate ads with the word breast. It's expensive to do.

I get your point, but they are inconsistant. They permitted "Breast pump" for my print ad and I copyed it word for word to my online ad. They found it offensive there. I submitted both ads online. I'm not angry either. In my OP I mentioned being minorly annoyed.

[angelpie545]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

That reminds me of Victorians thinking that piano legs were lewd.

What? No! Are you serious?

[kriket]

I'm surprised that they didn't use one of the silly filters that just changes the word. You heard about the poor man named Mr.Gay? They changed every instance of "gay" to homosexual. So he is now Mr. Homosexual. You could have been selling a "chest pump" or something equally as silly!

[Khourtniey]

Actually thanks for posting this... Now I know how to get around those dang offensive screeners when I try to sell my porn.. Just add all of the words together...


UAUABREASTUAETC

(Totally joking BTW)

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

That reminds me of Victorians thinking that piano legs were lewd.

Limbs! they're called limbs! You lewd woman!