Disemvowelr? - A new passive-aggressive form of moderation..

[magnus]

http://usefulidiot.org/disemvowelr.png

Keywords: Disemvowel, Devowel, Revowel

Description:
Where to start? Basically, this modification will allow you (the moderator) to strip a post of it's vowels (ie. "disemvowel" -- get it? See what I did there? Oh yes..) Why would you want to do this? Well, I can think of a multitude of reasons.. none of them relevant, but I digress. Disemvoweling has been made e-famous by popular blog sites such as BoingBoing (http://boingboing.net/) and Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com).


Details:
So, what is disemvoweling exactly?

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:
In the fields of Internet discussion and forum moderation, disemvoweling is a technique used to censor unwanted postings such as spam, internet trolling, rudeness or criticism and yet maintain some transparency, both of the act and the underlying word. Disemvoweling (also spelled disemvowelling) appears to model the word "disemboweling" and involves removing vowels from questionable text, either as a form of self-censorship or as a technique used by forum moderators and newsgroup operators. The net effect of disemvoweling text is illegibility or legibility only through significant cognitive effort; thus the technique helps to suppress unwanted comments.

Neat idea, huh? Yea.. I thought so, too.. and here we are!

Cliff-Notes (y'know, for the slow..):
This mod will turn this:
This site sucks, you (and your dog) suck too. I'm going to go eat paper, bye!

... into this!:
Ths st scks, y (nd yr dg) sck t. 'm gng t g t ppr by!

(FYI, if you need pictures.. I attached those too.)

-
Installation:

Download and unzip the attached archive.
Upload included files to their respective directories.
Import product-disemvowelr.xml via the Product Manager.
???
Profit!


Notes:
All template edits are done automagically for you. However, if you'd like to do them yourself in an alternate location, color, whatever -- simply disable the auto-template editor plugin via the Plugin Manager.

-
Comments:
As with all my hacks, this modification is provided free of charge. However, if you find this product useful and have money burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to make a small donation (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=magn2o%40gmail%2ecom&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&tax=0&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF&charset=UTF%2d8), I won't mind.. really. :)

Version History:

1.0 - Initial release, here's to hoping..
1.1 - Added a FAQ entry as to what disemvoweling is and linked to it from within the disemvoweled post.
1.1.1 - Added auto-template support for postbit_legacy
1.2 - Icons! Yay! Also included instructions for manual template edits (see README.TXT)
1.3 - Fixed a problem when disemvoweling a post with quotes (or possibly any BBCODE). Now the post is stripped of BBCODES before disemvoweled. No more broken quote tags.


* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[Oyabun]

I don't get it. What does this do? Im german and i don't understand the description and the pictures also doesn't tell much (to me)

[magnus]

Allows you to strip a post of it's vowels, rather than deleting it.. thus allowing for public shaming of the affected party.

More information about disemvoweling at Wikipedia: Disemvoweling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweling).

[DobieGillis?]

I'm cautious. Your screen shot shows the word diemvowel in the postbit. Looks like it may stretch it out a bit.

[magnus]

I'm cautious. Your screen shot shows the word diemvowel in the postbit. Looks like it may stretch it out a bit.

... What?

[vbboarder]

Hey Magnus, glad to see you're releasing VB 3.8 mods.... your mods are cool!

[Sweeks]

Very amusing, does it show the disemvowelled notice to all members or just staff?
________
The Cigar Boss (http://thecigarboss.com/)

[magnus]

Very amusing, does it show the disemvowelled notice to all members or just staff?

All members.. I thought it would make a more effected deterrent that way, as well as explain what happened.

[bahrainfalcon]

You did a great job ! Thanks

[Sweeks]

All members.. I thought it would make a more effected deterrent that way, as well as explain what happened.

Is it simple to remove the notice? I would like this one without it and let our members know about it but when people spam and troll they will end up confused.
________
CREAMPIE TEEN (http://www.++++tube.com/categories/473/teen/videos/1)

[magnus]

Is it simple to remove the notice? I would like this one without it and let our members know about it but when people spam and troll they will end up confused.

Absolutely, everything is template based. Just remove/comment out the portion of the auto-template edit plugin that adds it.

[Wired1]

Heh, nice mod :)

[pete_brady]

Very amusing, does it show the disemvowelled notice to all members or just staff?

All members.. I thought it would make a more effected deterrent that way, as well as explain what happened.

can you make it "all members except the author of the disemvowelled post"?

[glorify]

Looks cool, will try it out. :)

[soletrader]

how does one set usergroup permissions on who can use this?

[Daniel_HBK]

Allows you to strip a post of it's vowels, rather than deleting it.. thus allowing for public shaming of the affected party.

More information about disemvoweling at Wikipedia: Disemvoweling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweling).
i got it too [i'm Egyptian :D] , thanks man :)

[redlabour]

Awesome Idea but does not work.

There is no Link for this Function shown in the Postbittemplates. vBulletin 3.8.2

[Hugo Holbling]

Am I reading the coding correctly insofar as this only functions with the default postbit, not postbit legacy?

I'm cautious. Your screen shot shows the word diemvowel in the postbit. Looks like it may stretch it out a bit.

I agree and think it would be better to replace the postbit text with an icon.

[magnus]

how does one set usergroup permissions on who can use this?

It's a moderator function. Those with the ability to moderate posts may also disemvowel them.

[magnus]

Awesome Idea but does not work.

There is no Link for this Function shown in the Postbittemplates. vBulletin 3.8.2

Sure it does. Are you by chance using Legacy Postbit? If so, template edits would need to be manually.

[magnus]

Am I reading the coding correctly insofar as this only functions with the default postbit, not postbit legacy?

Correct, the auto-template feature (currently) only modifies postbit, and not postbit_legacy. Edits would need to be made manually.

I'll include postbit in the auto-template edits in a quick update.

I agree and think it would be better to replace the postbit text with an icon.

I'm a programmer, not a designer. :) Plus, there are so many different styles out there -- finding an icon that goes well with all of them is a futile task. Hence, text.

I'll have an update with a few customization options. To choose between text or a user-specified icon, postbit or postbit legacy, etc.

[imedic]

Great idea for a mod. I never have enough moderators tools to make my life easier :).

I am too looking forward for a postbit legacy version.

[Hugo Holbling]

Great, thanks magnus. Looking forward to the update and the ability to choose postbit legacy. :)

[ericgtr]

Great idea for a mod. I never have enough moderators tools to make my life easier :).

I am too looking forward for a postbit legacy version.

Great, thanks magnus. Looking forward to the update and the ability to choose postbit legacy. :)

Thirded. :)

Installed though.

[SoloX]

I changed postbit to postbit_legacy in the following code to make it work for legacy! :)
<phpcode><![CDATA[if(isset($vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']))
{
$find = '<strong>$post[postcount]</strong></a> &nbsp;") : (""))."';

$replace = '<strong>$post[postcount]</strong></a> &nbsp;") : (""))."
".((can_moderate($thread[\'forumid\'], \'canmoderateposts\')) ? ("
".((!$post[disemvowel]) ? ("[&nbsp;<a href=\"disemvowelpost.php?do=disemvowel&p=$post[postid]\" name=\"vB::Disemvowel::$post[postid]\">$vbphrase[disemvowel]</a>&nbsp;]") : ("[&nbsp;<a href=\"disemvowelpost.php?do=revowel&p=$post[postid]\" name=\"vB::Revowel::$post[postid]\">$vbphrase[revowel]</a>&nbsp;]"))."
") : (""))."';

$vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy'] = str_replace($find, $replace, $vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']);

$find = '<!-- message -->';

$replace = '".(($post[disemvowel]) ? ("
<div align=\"center\" style=\"color: red; background-color: white; border: 1px solid black; padding:2px\">
$vbphrase[this_post_has_been_disemvoweled]
</div>
") : (""))."
<!-- message -->';

$vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy'] = str_replace($find, $replace, $vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']);
}]]></phpcode>

[ericgtr]

I changed postbit to postbit_legacy in the following code to make it work for legacy! :)
<phpcode><![CDATA[if(isset($vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']))
{
$find = '<strong>$post[postcount]</strong></a> &nbsp;") : (""))."';

$replace = '<strong>$post[postcount]</strong></a> &nbsp;") : (""))."
".((can_moderate($thread[\'forumid\'], \'canmoderateposts\')) ? ("
".((!$post[disemvowel]) ? ("[&nbsp;<a href=\"disemvowelpost.php?do=disemvowel&p=$post[postid]\" name=\"vB::Disemvowel::$post[postid]\">$vbphrase[disemvowel]</a>&nbsp;]") : ("[&nbsp;<a href=\"disemvowelpost.php?do=revowel&p=$post[postid]\" name=\"vB::Revowel::$post[postid]\">$vbphrase[revowel]</a>&nbsp;]"))."
") : (""))."';

$vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy'] = str_replace($find, $replace, $vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']);

$find = '<!-- message -->';

$replace = '".(($post[disemvowel]) ? ("
<div align=\"center\" style=\"color: red; background-color: white; border: 1px solid black; padding:2px\">
$vbphrase[this_post_has_been_disemvoweled]
</div>
") : (""))."
<!-- message -->';

$vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy'] = str_replace($find, $replace, $vbulletin->templatecache['postbit_legacy']);
}]]></phpcode>
Didn't work for me. This isn't too hard to figure out but it has to be picked apart so I'll do it when I get home and if magnus doesn't have it up by then I will share it. Many people use legacy so I am surprised it's not added.

[imedic]

Unfortunately does not work.
If I copy paste your code it gives error on product upload. I have manually replace it and still no luck to see the link in postbit.

[magnus]

The above code has been wrapped in <phpcode><![CDATA[ ... ]]></phpcode> tags. Those will need to be removed.

Anyway, I have postbit_legacy support finished .. I had intended to finish the other features before releasing, but since the demand is there, I'll release the minor changes. I'll have it posted tomorrow morning (the code is on my work machine).

[magnus]

As promised, I made v1.1.1 available which will detect which postbit layout you're using and modify accordingly. Nothing else has changed.

[Hugo Holbling]

Thanks, magnus - much appreciated. It works great. :)

I'll try to figure out how to replace the text (Disemvowel/Revowel) with icons; I suggest the famfamfam font_delete and font_add silk icons would work nicely.

[GCSkye]

Would be a nice feature for you to choose a usergroup that always has disemvoweled posts.

[ericgtr]

As promised, I made v1.1.1 available which will detect which postbit layout you're using and modify accordingly. Nothing else has changed.
Thank you.

[magnus]

Thanks, magnus - much appreciated. It works great. :)

I'll try to figure out how to replace the text (Disemvowel/Revowel) with icons; I suggest the famfamfam font_delete and font_add silk icons would work nicely.

The next release will allow you to choose between text or (user-specified) icons via the AdminCP. If you come across any (public domain) icons you feel would fit nicely with this hack, feel free to post them up. :)

[magnus]

Would be a nice feature for you to choose a usergroup that always has disemvoweled posts.

That's not really what this hack was designed for, if you want someones posts to ALWAYS be disemvoweled, you may as well just use Tachy Goes to Coventry. This is meant more to be a surgical strike, rather than a carpet bombing.

[Hugo Holbling]

If you come across any (public domain) icons you feel would fit nicely with this hack, feel free to post them up. :)

I think the famfamfam silk icons attached would do nicely. :)

[magnus]

I think the famfamfam silk icons attached would do nicely. :)

Wow.. yea, those are pretty perfect (and free!) if you ask me. I'll definately be including them in the next release.

Thanks for pointing those out!

[Alien]

Nice work, magnus!

I'll have use for this. Looking forward to the icon update and consider this installed!

[Wings69]

Would be a nice feature for you to choose a usergroup that always has disemvoweled posts.

I know you said this isn't what you intended the mod to be used for, but I would also just like to second this. I allow my users to "buy" custom titles etc for other users(with vbcredits) for fun, and I'd love to be able to get them to "buy" this for someones posts for x amount of hours :)

[ericgtr]

Just thought I would throw this out there, might be pretty cool with this mod.. Swedish chef speak https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=134327 :D

[magnus]

As promised, 1.2 is released -- now with ICONS! (thanks Hugo Holbling)

Also included manual instructions for template edits.

[biome.pat]

AWESOME! I was actually searching for this last fall, and finally checked again, just as you released! GREAT mod!

[biome.pat]

Oh PS, I'm nominating you for MOTM. Clearly.

And no way this would work on 3.7.3, huh? Well, I suppose this gives me reason to finally update...!

[bigcurt]

Thanks for this..it looks great. However, there is a small problem. When you put something in quotes instead of just leaving the quotes it turns it to: "&qt"..any way to fix that?

Curt

[magnus]

Thanks for this..it looks great. However, there is a small problem. When you put something in quotes instead of just leaving the quotes it turns it to: "&qt"..any way to fix that?

Curt

Really? Hrm.. that's weird. This is just a simple preg_replace(); .. it shouldn't be doing that. I'll take a look at it. Thanks!

[bigcurt]

Ya, also when I do it both on my test forum and main forum and someone has a quoted post..it messed up the quote tags by taking away the uoe :P.

[bigcurt]

Any ideas?

[bigcurt]

Eh, I love this idea but it just doesn't work right..have to remove. Thanks for the mod though bud. If you could make it where it doesn't remove vowels in quote, tags, etc..then it would be great.

Thanks

[ti07shadow]

nice mod. i dont think ill use it, but just in case im gonna tag it for future reference :p

[magnus]

Sorry for the late update, but things have gotten pretty hectic the past few months and I haven't had time to breathe let alone update my vB mods. Anyway, should be good. Let me know if you hit any other snags!

~ m.

[sheep92032]

I don't think spammers care whether you shame them. All you're doing it allowing your forum to be flooded out. Google 'WoW forum' if you want to see what your forum will look like if you let it happen.

[magnus]

I don't think spammers care whether you shame them. All you're doing it allowing your forum to be flooded out. Google 'WoW forum' if you want to see what your forum will look like if you let it happen.

Ideally, this would be used for troublesome posts (ie. flamebaiting, off-topic, etc.) Think of it more of a "pre-warning" before and official infraction is given.

[Digital Jedi]

I don't think spammers care whether you shame them. All you're doing it allowing your forum to be flooded out. Google 'WoW forum' if you want to see what your forum will look like if you let it happen.
It's not a spam tool, it's a troublesome user tool.

I won't be using this because, well, I chased all the jokers out of my forum. But I must say, it's funny. If I ever start getting trouble again, I'm definitely installing this and Miserable Users.

[1Unreal]

Wonderful idea. Installed :)

[biome.pat]

Hmmm any way that disemvowelr could be made to ignore text between QUOTE and IMG tags? Maybe not quotes (as I'm sure people would figure out a workaround and just quote their whole post), but ignoring IMG tags would be useful... This might be complicated though...

I'll update if I figure anything out!

[biome.pat]

Ugh... I've got nuthin... Drats.

I'm sure it involves preg_match, but I can't wrap my mind around it right now... :(

if($this->post['disemvowel'])
{
$this->post['pagetext'] = preg_replace('/[[\/\!]*?[^\[\]]*?]/si', '', $this->post['pagetext']);

$this->post['pagetext'] = preg_replace('/[aeiou]/i', '', $this->post['pagetext']);

$this->post['title'] = preg_replace('/[aeiou]/i', '', $this->post['title']);

$this->post['message'] = $this->bbcode_parser->parse($this->post['pagetext'], $this->forum['forumid'], $this->post['allowsmilie']);
}

[barcena]

I have doubts:

Does this mod takes the vowels by itself or do the admin has to disemvowel-whatever the post?, I guest the Admin or Mod has to do it. I find this hilarious and I'm so having it, but since my site is in Spanish I don't know if it will work, guess so if I, as Admin, take the vowels out, but aside from the hilarious part it takes more time than delete or edit the post, right?.

[imedic]

@barcena - If you set the rights for a group to use it you just click a link to devowel and same to restore. Easy to use and very effective for a visible warning.

I found a possible bug (or is just on my forum).
If you reply to a thread with a disvoweled post, below you can see the post in clear.
I guess it should not be like this as it beats the purpose of having the mod.

[J105C]

WOW, what an awesome idea!

[ctbo]

Absolutely, everything is template based. Just remove/comment out the portion of the auto-template edit plugin that adds it.

There seems to be two sections in the .xml that look like they are adding the message (from laymans view) could you confirm exacty what section(s) should be removed to take away the message.

Thanks

[gmerin]

Cute. This should cause about as much frustration as the Miserable Users mod. Thanks.

[amish_irish]

Works great but anyone can quote the disemvoweled post to see what the person said and the person can just quote their own post and repost it. Any work around for this? Otherwise I like it a lot.

[ctbo]

Works great but anyone can quote the disemvoweled post to see what the person said and the person can just quote their own post and repost it. Any work around for this? Otherwise I like it a lot.
Yup I was interested in this but tbh seems a bit useless with the quoting issue :|

[8thos]

I need this for VB4

[New Joe]

I need this for VB4
Have you installed it to see if it works on vB4 yet?
So many Mods do, always worth a try.

[8thos]

Have you installed it to see if it works on vB4 yet?
So many Mods do, always worth a try.Doesn't work. It gives me this error.

The following error occurred when attempting to evaluate this template:
%1$s
This is likely caused by a malformed conditional statement. It is highly recommended that you fix this error before continuing, but you may continue as-is if you wish.