However, where there is censorship, I think it should at least be made clear so that we can understand the original context and judge the post/poster accordingly. I'd imagine that whatever software makes the "correction" could also apply a style, colour or font to make the editorial intervention transparent
Like your thinking. I'm all moaning and your coming up with solutions 
That mirrors my thoughts on the subject. I don't think censorship is a great move on here, but it's not a democracy and our only choice as posters is to participate or not.
However, where there is censorship, I think it should at least be made clear so that we can understand the original context and judge the post/poster accordingly. I'd imagine that whatever software makes the "correction" could also apply a style, colour or font to make the editorial intervention transparent. 
I'd actually be happier if there was simply a rule that the shortened version of the word prostitute wasn't used and then posters could be sanctioned accordingly if they broke the rule. The site owner can have whatever rule he so chooses. I agree that it is foolish (although creative) to find ways around it.
The changing of a word can change the tone and context of a post. If that's visible, we can read around the edit and still evaluate the comments made. I never use the word in question, but I don't like the concept that in future words I have carefully chosen could be changed arbitrarily. For example, when I choose to write to "tits", "boobs" or "breasts" I've done that for a reason, and I'd be unhappy if it then read as "mammary glands".
It would apppear that you are among the few that are getting the point.
Some good suggestions but I doubt if they will be taken up. Probably changing things is too much work or not a priority. Actually
putting in the Rules, as I’ve also suggested many times, would might look rather silly unless it was backed up with a rational reason or worded very carefully. Just imagine a formal statement saying “words like cunt whore hooker slag etc are ok but the use of the shortened form of the prostitute is unacceptable and will be automatically changed to ‘Sex Worker’ or result in a ban.” It would need something better than that.
Let’s be clear, It is difficult to define such wording as
the word is not considered an offensive word (except apparently by one person). The best way out of it would be for Admin to hold up his hands and say he was having a laugh, that either it was now ok or else ask people not to use it until the software was sorted out. (Which previously I had genuinely thought was the case.)
The only other reason I can imagine is if running scared of some
ill-conceived legislation that had a similarly idiosyncratic approach to the word. (Let’s not forget: prostitutes are not offended by the word, as anyone can see by browsing their website.)
Although it bears no direct relevance to the word in question I’d like to point out to those who don’t know me very well that
’rude’words like slag cunt etc are
not words I’d use to a prostitute. But this is a men’s forum. Of course, not all of us use them in our daily language with male friends, and neither do I, but I made a decision early on with UKP to use them when I felt it was appropriate but most especially when
fluffies were getting sucked in by the ‘ladylike’ prostitute marketing of the profession and describing them in the glowing terms reserved for reviews on AW and other prostitute-dominated sites. Fluffy language is inimical to UKP as it puts any criticism into rose-tinted words until it is virtually worthless. To discuss and review prostitutes with same factual bluntness as one would any other service (e.g. hairdressers, garbage collectors, personal trainers, postal service workers etc). The only other time I use it, other than to dissuade fluffies, is when prostitutes wander into UKP and get above themselves.
So no need for some folk to derail the point by talking about words which are indeed considered offensive in certain situations.
It’s not really about — or just about —
prohibiting something either. It’s a bit like me saying that I don’t like cheddar cheese — no reason, I just don’t like it — and if you or anyone else comes into my house with cheddar in their bag then I will go into your bag and replace it with blue cheese. I don’t care if it was the best cheddar in the world and you had brought it for the other guests: it will be destroyed and your bag will then smell of blue cheese.
Anyone can have what most others would see as silly likes and dislikes: foisting them on someone else is kind of different. That’s the point.
Meanwhile as prostitute is a rather long word to type and words like whore escort and so on have secondary connotations maybe I can suggest everyone uses ‘SP’ — the only reason being that it is the official designation of a prostitute registering as a guest-member of this forum, but at least it’s a reason. Eventually everyone will know what it means the same as when the short p word was used.
I have no reason to believe that other words will be automatically altered in the near future: but
Nik’s concern was not unreasonable: the way these things work in politics is you wait until the furore has died down and a few people will suggest it must have been a good idea or they wouldn’t have done it. Then you have carte blanche to increase the policy. It will die down on here until someone unawares sees their post has been re-written. At which point a host of people will make reassuring noises.
Maybe if enough people, politely and respectfully, urge Admin perhaps to reconsider, maybe he/she might. But such discussions were a hallmark of old UKP.
Admin even invited them. Be aware that that may not be the case any more.
