WOT: Why the asterisks?

[marduk]

Maybe I've just been noticing it more lately, but it seems like a lot more people have been randomly inserting asterisks into their posts. What's the point to this; wouldn't it just preclude someone from finding the posts using the search function? For example, if someone were searching for build reports on a Delay-O-Matic 5000, it couldn't find posts were someone said D*lay-O-M*tic 5000.

[markr04]

Maybe I've just been noticing it more lately, but it seems like a lot more people have been randomly inserting asterisks into their posts. What's the point to this; wouldn't it just preclude someone from finding the posts using the search function? For example, if someone were searching for build reports on a Delay-O-Matic 5000, it couldn't find posts were someone said D*lay-O-M*tic 5000.

I think you have the point . Do you see this more when folks mention B*ss, Fooltone, and other commerical pedals? It helps keep posts "off the radar" from Googlers... attention some people don't want when discussing the innards of a commercial pedal, or saying it s*cks. But I imagine you wouldn't see many build reports done this way... unless the build report is that of a commercial pedal I suppose

It's not a rule here - that I'm aware of anyway. But some do it for the reason above.

[George Giblet]

> Maybe I've just been noticing it more lately

Yes, I've noticed it,  I was thinking of posting something too, however, given that many post subjects are unclear (Mark Hammer has had a beef about that a few times) I didn't think it would go anywhere  .

What's the point of having a public forum when people are trying to hide stuff from the wider public?  It's the old boys club mentality which probably doesn't achieve much because it's well known that people in the industry lurk here anyway (you only hear from them when they object to their schematics being posted).

In the long run it also hides information from the group because the archive search might not find it.

[smccusker]

i also noticed this, and then just started following suit incase i was breaking some unspoken agreement or something. :/

[nelson]

Blindly following is not the answer.


The search criticism is not relevant, given that a search engine searches more than the topic.

So,

it indicates a disrespect for the companies, the asterixes have connotations of a curse word.

Personally, I believe in "freedom of speech" and the way one expresses themselves is no business of mine.

If a person is "inside of the industry" and doesn't want their views or actions in the public domain, they dont post those views or actions.

A few asterixes is hardly an encryption method.

[vanhansen]

Ye*h, I'v* n*ti*ed it t**.  Wh*t's up w*th th*t cr*p?   

[brad]

It's okay to call commercial products by name folks 

[Hal]

but its more fun to say B*ss sucks, then see if people say "but I play the bass!"

[George Giblet]

> The search criticism is not relevant, given that a search engine searches more than the topic.

The Klon Centaur Overdrive schematic is posted on the web but it is encrypted using *'s  eg.  Kl*n C*nt*ur

Try to find it using the other keywords, perhaps Overdrive and Schematic -  LOL!

[nelson]

> The search criticism is not relevant, given that a search engine searches more than the topic.

The Klon Centaur Overdrive schematic is posted on the web but it is encrypted using *'s  eg.  Kl*n C*nt*ur

Try to find it using the other keywords, perhaps Overdrive and Schematic -  LOL!

uh huh

[Dirk_Hendrik]

i also noticed this, and then just started following suit incase i was breaking some unspoken agreement or something. :/

While agreeing with Nelson's reply on this,

Isn't a forum becoming pretty tough to use, especially for new users,  when there's so many unwritten rules that members start following suit "just in case"?

[zachary vex]

>... it's well known that people in the industry lurk here anyway (you only hear from them when they object to their schematics being posted)...

with such few posts, one might only describe your attitude as inno-cynicism.  8^P