(c) 1995 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1995 The Boston Globe
(Nov 30, 1995 - 19:26 EST) -- In an effort to clean up cyberspace, the
nation's largest computer on-line service last week declared the word
"breast" taboo -- thereby making it impossible for breast cancer
patients to contact one another for information and support.
An America Online spokeswoman said Thursday the action had been "an
error" and promised to correct the problem within 24 hours and provide
affected subscribers with five free hours of on-line time. The
company's action came after several days of irate on-line protests by
outraged breast cancer patients about the company's decision to put
"breast" on its list of "vulgar" words.
"This is outrageous and potentially life-threatening," wrote a woman
who uses the "screen name" Renna S. to fellow users of America
Online's breast cancer bulletin board. "
"Give us a break!" added MaryMarvin. "Must we have 'hooter cancer
survivors'?"
Another woman, who identifies herself as "A 10 Lady," wondered "if
they've purged the penile cancer files too." AOL spokeswoman Pam
McGraw said the company's list of "vulgar" terms "does not include any
other words that could be misconstrued," such as "body parts that
could be used in medical diagnoses."
McGraw refused to provide any examples from the list of vulgar terms.
She said "breast" will henceforth be permitted "as long as it is used
in an appropriate manner."
The problem came to light when a breast cancer survivor who goes by
the screen name of MiaBella found that her personal "member profile"
had been deleted by AOL. Users can create such profiles as a way of
identifying themselves and their interests. Member profiles enable AOL
users to contact others with similar interests while remaining
anonymous.
When MiaBella tried to create a new member profile, identifying
herself as a breast cancer survivor, AOL flashed her a message that
she could not use "vulgar" words. She then discovered that the company
had deleted the member profiles of all users who had used the word
"breast" in describing their interests.
Several AOL customers noted that this is the second time in six months
that the online service has disrupted communication among breast
cancer survivors by banning the word "breast." Last summer, the
offending word was prohibited as an identifier of a so-called "chat
room," a feature that permits groups of users to exchange views in
"real time."
At that time a flurry of protests directed at AOL chief executive
Steve Case caused the company to permit "breast" as a chat room
identifier. The company repetition of the proscription led one
exasperated customer to write: "Honestly, AOL, we have better things
to do with our time, like helping and encouraging each other. We will
not stand for this ridiculous stupidity every six months!"
Although the situation has its inane aspects, an American Cancer
Society official pointed out last night that on-line services should
be aware of the importance of their networks to patients who rely on
them for information and support. The AOL's cancer bulletin boards are
located under a heading called "American Cancer Society."
"There are thousands of women who are benefiting from forums like
this," said Barbara LeStage, a Massachusetts woman who is on the
executive committee of the American Cancer Society, and who recently
received a diagnosis of breast cancer herself.
Another disturbing implication of the episode, LeStage said, is the
thinking that underlay AOL's decision to declare "breast" a vulgar
term.
"We have spent so many years trying to teach women that breast cancer
is not something to be ashamed of and they need to be able to talk
about," she said. "This is how we can get them to go their physicians
when it is still in an early stage.
"I don't have any problem with AOL trying to keep dirty words off
their service," she added. "But I don't consider 'breast' to be a
dirty word. If you have people who see it as dirty, for whatever
reason, rather than as an everyday term, then this is going to
continue to happen."