Optional Chat Filter

[IAmLesbian]

My personal opinion is that this is in fact censoring chat, and I'd much prefer it if I was able to use my own language and it being actually received. If it is received negatively, that should be my fault and I should deal with the consequences. Though I also think that strong language is just a part of any vocabulary and makes language more expressive, which I value greatly. If I'm talking to someone I know have the filter enabled, I won't be able to express myself in the extent I wish. So basically I think it's like imposing limitations on what people can say to you and around you. Whether that's good or bad depends on the context. As a rule of thumb, if it's directed at someone's personal hardship or grief, you can keep it to yourself. Though at that point it basically becomes impossible to filter out specifically so human labor for this is really the only way.

I totally get wanting to convey the meaning behind the original message in its entirety, but if someone doesn't want to see words blocked by the chat filter then I don't think anyone else should be more in charge of that decision than they are.  Sure conveying the meaning of a message is important, but if the user on the receiving end doesn't want part of that meaning (swears, slurs, nsfw content, etc) then that's their choice.  If someone doesn't want to see something, I see no reason not to let them.  I agree that there is a loss of meaning to some extent when a chat filter is in place with swears, but if the user makes the decision to accept that when deciding they don't want to see them then who is anyone to say they're wrong to do that?

In short: Yes, meaning can be lost, but that's something I feel should be left up to each user to decide for themselves.