NationStates Jolt Archive

FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. — A man says his attempts to sign up for an e-mail account with Yahoo failed when he used his name, which includes the letters a-l-l-a-h — as in Allah, the Arabic word for God.

Ed Callahan said he started trying to establish the e-mail account after his mother, with the same last name, couldn't get one.

[Another man in England, also named Callahan, reported the same problem earlier this week.]

As he tried using various words, he determined that e-mail addresses with other religious words seemed OK, but not if they included the spelling of Allah.

"The war on terror is becoming a war on Muslims," Callahan said.

Yahoo Inc. said Wednesday it has changed policy to allow usage of the word.

In a written statement, the company defended the previous policy as an attempt to protect users from hateful speech.

"A small number of people registered for IDs using specific terms with the sole purpose of promoting hate and then used those IDs to post content that was harmful or threatening to others, thus violating Yahoo's terms of service," the statement said.

(Story continues below)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185914,00.html

I was surprised that Yahoo would do this. They're sort of taking it to the extreme, don't you think?

I was surprised that Yahoo would do this. They're sort of taking it to the extreme, don't you think?

They seem quite good at it. Someone probably paid them to block the name.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185914,00.html

I was surprised that Yahoo would do this. They're sort of taking it to the extreme, don't you think?

So let me get this right ...

Yahoo was denying use of words containing "Allah" in an attempt to keep from offending Muslims?

Oy vey. That's as bad as offices in the UK making policy against images of pigs because Muslims don't eat pork.

I'm tellin' you people, somewhere in Arabia, Akhmed is laughing with his buddies saying, "Guess what I got those silly Westerners to do this time!"

Hmm, they wanted to protect users from hate speech by banning Allah. That sounds good until, hey wait, I have a better idea, lets ban: fuck, ****, dick, niggar, ******, towelheads - you know, the actually fucking offensive parts.

IMO, some Yahoo exec got it into his peanut-sized head that banning "Allah" was a good thing. Naturally, he didn't even think about words containing the dangerous word.

As ever, the residents of Assington and Scunthorpe get it the worst. :(

Hmm, they wanted to protect users from hate speech by banning Allah. That sounds good until, hey wait, I have a better idea, lets ban: fuck, ****, dick, niggar, ******, towelheads - you know, the actually fucking offensive parts.

lets not ban niggar so we can laugh at the stupid racists who can't spell

Hmm, they wanted to protect users from hate speech by banning Allah. That sounds good until, hey wait, I have a better idea, lets ban: fuck, ****, dick, niggar, ******, towelheads - you know, the actually fucking offensive parts.

One website I used to visit banned "tycoon" and "raccoon" because they contained racial slurs. :rolleyes:

lets not ban niggar so we can laugh at the stupid racists who can't spell
Oh believe me, you can do that without letting them be able to laugh at Yahoo for letting them have a loophole in using the i_hate_niggars name.

So let me get this right ...

Yahoo was denying use of words containing "Allah" in an attempt to keep from offending Muslims?

Oy vey. That's as bad as offices in the UK making policy against images of pigs because Muslims don't eat pork.

I'm tellin' you people, somewhere in Arabia, Akhmed is laughing with his buddies saying, "Guess what I got those silly Westerners to do this time!"Er, no, I'm under the impression they banned it because of the negative and hateful context it was being used in, much like someone registered here with a name like Niggers Burn in Hell would be immediately banned.

Its true, you can create fuckniggacuntsandtowelheads@yahoo.com and the service cares not a bit, but ohh no put alla in the line and every one gets all upset, surely it would make more sence to just offer a report service and y'know hire some human beings for the judgement calls. This kinda seems like the whole world of warcraft thing all over again.

Er, no, I'm under the impression they banned it because of the negative and hateful context it was being used in, much like someone registered here with a name like Niggers Burn in Hell would be immediately banned.
Exactly what Keruvalia was saying. They banned Allah to keep Yahooers from offending Muslims by making profane/disrespectful usernames.

Exactly what Keruvalia was saying. They banned Allah to keep Yahooers from offending Muslims by making profane/disrespectful usernames.
Then I demand they ban dozens of other religious names: God, YHWH, Jesus, christ, and Chuck Norris.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185914,00.html

I was surprised that Yahoo would do this. They're sort of taking it to the extreme, don't you think?
I would say that taking it to the extreme is putting it lightly.

Then I demand they ban dozens of other religious names: God, YHWH, Jesus, christ, and Chuck Norris.
BLASPHEMER

Then I demand they ban dozens of other religious names: God, YHWH, Jesus, christ, and Chuck Norris.
Yeah, when they ban Allah, nobody cares but the Muslims, and business goes as usual, but as soon as the majority is offended, Yahoo's in biiiiggg trouble...:eek:

Yeah, when they ban Allah, nobody cares but the Muslims, and business goes as usual, but as soon as the majority is offended, Yahoo's in biiiiggg trouble...:eek:
No body cares but them?

What do you think all the uproar from the rest of us is about?

Why do you think they have Already changed their policy regarding this?

Yeah, when they ban Allah, nobody cares but the Muslims, and business goes as usual, but as soon as the majority is offended, Yahoo's in biiiiggg trouble...:eek:
I don't think they did it out of discrimination against Muslims, but rather in a misguided and idiotic attempt to prevent discrimination against Muslims. Too bad they didn't think before they acted.

I don't think they did it out of discrimination against Muslims, but rather in a misguided and idiotic attempt to prevent discrimination against Muslims. Too bad they didn't think before they acted.
Yeah, but despite their good intentions, they still made a bad move. Which is exactly what you said.

I say we burn Yahoo's embassies.

So let me get this right ...

Yahoo was denying use of words containing "Allah" in an attempt to keep from offending Muslims?

Oy vey. That's as bad as offices in the UK making policy against images of pigs because Muslims don't eat pork.

I'm tellin' you people, somewhere in Arabia, Akhmed is laughing with his buddies saying, "Guess what I got those silly Westerners to do this time!"
Damn, I always thought you Muslims would tell us when you were offended. Like you would burn a couple cars or maybe a city block or two.

Damn, I always thought you Muslims would tell us when you were offended. Like you would burn a couple cars or maybe a city block or two.

We'll start by burning Yahoo's flag while firing our AKs in the air and screaming "Death to Israel!!" (that's s.o.p. for any situation)

If that doesn't work, then we turn to cars and buildings.

We'll start by burning Yahoo's flag while firing our AKs in the air and screaming "Death to Israel!!" (that's s.o.p. for any situation)

If that doesn't work, then we turn to cars and buildings.
LOL. My mistake. I must of been thinking of Ohio State students after they won the national championship a couple years back.

Heres a good, offensive name: U8allahpork -at- yahoo.com:p

*bump*