Wikipedia:Requests for comment/English Wikipedia readership survey 2013/Should Wikipedia have a "safe search" option, so readers can selectively filter violent, sexual, or other potentially offensive images?

Discuss
We had a Wikimedia-wide referendum on an image filter, and about 9,000 en.Wikipedia editors and developers rated their average support for an image filter at 5.8 out of ten. They preferred a filter that is available to both logged in and non-logged in editors (6.43), that allows users to report or flag images that they see as controversial that have not yet been categorized as such (6.38), that aims to reflect a global or multicultural view of what imagery is potentially controversial (7.27), that is reversible (9.35), and that allows readers to quickly and easily choose which types of images they want to hide (e.g., 5-10 categories, 7.27)

I'd like to know what our readers think. --Anthonyhcole (talk · contribs · email) 15:41, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

The details matter
During the last referendum, I pointed out at User:Wnt/Personal image blocking that we could make an image filter with the specifications that every user gets to choose which images he thinks are OK or not, based on which users he would be willing to trust (i.e. to transclude their lists into his own). The problem I had with the image filter option being pushed at that time was that it had a single set of categories for what is acceptable and unacceptable for the whole wiki. Editors would need to decide i.e. edit war over which category applied to a given image, which in turn would mean that admins would have to block the ones holding out an "unreasonable" perspective, which turns the whole exercise into a rancorous debate over censorship rather than a personal choice. Unfortunately, my option was not paid much attention to; meanwhile the WMF gave up on their own idea for some reason I've never really heard explained.

If a new referendum/survey/whatever simply repeats the pattern of asking generalities rather than working toward specifics, you'll get the same result. If you want an image blocking option, write the Javascripts, get a few users to adopt them, and see if anyone else is interested. Bottom up, not top down. Wnt (talk) 16:32, 1 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Mmm. Whether and how it can be implemented is kind of another issue. I just want to know how our readers feel about it. Do you? --Anthonyhcole (talk · contribs · email) 16:47, 1 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Well, if your question is just the title of this article, we won't know - we won't know if they have my idea or the other one in mind. It would miss the debate entirely, and you'd probably have another divided result like the last mass survey that once again we'd be arguing about how to interpret. Wnt (talk) 17:57, 1 May 2013 (UTC)
 * What wording would you prefer? --Anthonyhcole (talk · contribs · email) 10:27, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I'm supportive of the idea of an image filter, sufficiently supportive that I designed an option myself. But I'm opposed to consulting the readers on options that the community can't deliver or won't accept. There are types of image filter that the community won't accept, such as options that put the onus of assessing all our images onto the existing volunteer community, or calibrating what is acceptable or not according to one specific culture. Providing it is clear that we are consulting about an option that meets the objections raised in the previous debates then I would be happy to see a question put to the readers.  Ϣere Spiel  Chequers  09:23, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

Ten dimensions
Please see User talk:Jimbo Wales/Archive 99 (March 2012). —Wavelength (talk) 17:49, 1 May 2013 (UTC)
 * "Wikipedia can have show-or-hide boxes for information of various types: (1a) violent text, (1b) violent images, (2a) horrifying text, (2b) horrifying images, (3a) irreverent text, (3b) irreverent images, (4a) sexual text, (4b) sexual images, (5a) spoiler text, and (5b) spoiler images. The information can be hidden by default when a page is loaded. One challenge is in defining the boundaries of each type of information, in effect, which texts or images are included in each type and which are excluded."
 * This question is about an image filter, not a text filter. I think the chances of implementing an offensive text filter is zero. Certainly, I won't be supporting it. Most people who have been involved in discussions around the image filter are aware of the challenges. We (a) don't have to enact their wish if the readers want the filter and (b) can confront the challenge of the design once we know if they want a filter and if we decide to implement it. This question is just to see how the readership feels about having the option. --Anthonyhcole (talk · contribs · email) 04:54, 5 May 2013 (UTC)