Microsoft Succumbs to Political Correctness--censors own font libraries.

Microsoft Knowleg Base::Windows Update ^

[VulgarWit]

Microsoft announced today that it is pulling symbols deemed "offensive" from it's font libraries. In an unprecedented act of political correctness Microsoft Corporation has releases a "Critical Update" which forces the removal of the "BookShelf Symbol 7" font library (Bssym7.ttf) which contains several symbols which may offend enlightened persons with elevated sensibilities as and may cause the immediate failure of personal computers running various versions of the Windows operating system.

The font library in question (Bssym7.ttf) was originally released on Friday, November 17th 2000. Microsoft has no immediate comment on why it took 4 years to discover the offensive symbols. Industry experts have suggested that sensitivity training may be required for the software developers and graphic designers involved in the project. Unconfirmed sources have also suggested that the symbols themselves may have been recently elevated from merely offensive or Orange to completely intolerable or Red in the early days of the current Democratic campaign.

A Critical Update is one that the Redmond, Washington corporation considers "critical to the operation of your computer..." The category is normally reserved for security patches for the computer itself but has to all appearances been expanded to include security patches for the consciences and sensitivities of end-users.

It is unclear from the Microsoft statement which of the characters (fig. 1) contained in the recalled font library spurred the recall though there is speculation throughout the industry that character x6A (a two-barred 'S' similar to '$') or character 0x77 (resembling a heart) are the most likely culprits. The former because it may offend those who are financially challenged or "resource-deprived" and the latter because they are romantically challenged or--as one commentator put it " have made a self-referencing life choice."

One of the potentially offending characters 0x77 or a "heart" which may offend single people or those who "have made a self-referencing life choice." Other possible offinsive characters are shown in the "Characters to copy" box.

No representatives from Microsoft Corporation were available for expanded comment. Microsoft is an industry leader in Personal Computing Software. Linux, a competing software platform, is not known to have font resources paralleling those pulled by Microsoft.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Beware of the Y in wingdings! Y is for Yehuda, so you know it's a Zionist plot!

YYYYY

[Moosilauke]

You are correct. Here's a MS letter about the issue:

Dec. 12, 2003 Microsoft has learned of a mistake in the Bookshelf Symbol 7 font included in the Microsoft Office System client applications. Due to an unintentional oversight, we failed to identify, prior to the release, the presence of two swastikas within the font. We apologize for this and for any offense caused. Microsoft is taking immediate measures to remedy the issue for all customers. Microsoft has released a utility today for worldwide download that removes the font. Again, we apologize to those who have been offended or upset. We continue to work to improve our processes in order to prevent this type of error in the future.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - Viet Nam Veterans Against Political Correctness!

[microgood]

Thanks for finding that. They seemed to be the most obvious ones.

[VulgarWit]

where'd you locate that one?

[GigaDittos]

This has to be bogus. I know I have no such font on my computer.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

There are those who would assert that the word 'history' is entirely too restrictive an adjective.... 'total' or 'turbo' being more applicable... :0)

[humblegunner]

Microsoft has no immediate comment on why it took 4 years to discover the offensive symbols.

Maybe because no one has a use for idiotic fonts like that.
I have them, and others, that are meaningless drivel.

Seriously, what are those fonts good for, anyway???

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

P.S. I hear the choco ration's going up to 20 grams/week.

[VulgarWit]

Perhaps because you don't write articles on easter religion or the history of Europe from the 20's to the 40's you may not need these fonts. And if you don't make web-pages for children you might not need the "Comic Sans MS" font... Personally I could do without Elephant and Edwardian Script but that's pretty much irrelevant to the topic. Having those fonts available if the need should arise IS the topic and the fact that it's considered a "Critical Update" is a joke (oh-my-god joke not ha-ha joke) AND-if you're legally running one of the products listed in the linked KB article--you PAID for this font along with all the others and now because some hypersensitive loon has decided it's offensive they think it's imperative that you remove the font entirely.

[Dan Evans]

The swastika has been banned in Germany. Most likely Microsoft is trying to avoid maintaining a German edition of Windows.

[humblegunner]

Perhaps because you don't write articles on easter religion or the history of Europe from the 20's to the 40's you may not need these fonts.

That's true, I don't.
I'm thinking of those "webdings" and "wingdings" fonts that are not
characters in any known language.. just nonsense symbols.

Granted, I don't find them offensive, but I can see no need for them.
If someone is offended by something like that, I'd suggest they
should not use the nonsensical incomprehensible font.

Or use the nonsensical incomprehensible font to make their feelings known! ;-)

[VulgarWit]

They already maintain a German Edition complete with fonts and resource files specific to the German langauge--More than one in fact. There's Swiss German, Austrian German, German (standard) etc...

[VulgarWit]

Now there's a thought..."Microsoft has announced that all complaints regarding the political-correctness of any aspect thier products must be submitted using the BookShelf Symbol 7 font library."

/sarcasm (as if i could end sarcasm)

[Chad Fairbanks]

It comes with Office 2003, I believe - do you have Office 2003?

[Chad Fairbanks]

It's all part of localization/globalization - Do what you can to avoid use of symbols and phrases that could be construed as offensive in other markets. Makes sense from a business standpoint.

If you decide you need a font that has a swastika, or a burning cross, or a peace symbol or whatever on it, feel free to make your own and sell it. ;0)

[VulgarWit]

Why should I make my own and sell it when I already bought one with my copy of Windows?

[GigaDittos]

No, just 2000. :(.....

[GigaDittos]

Hey, I protest the removal of those fonts!!!!! I demand that they remain! They are an integral part of my substantive writings on Dirty Underwear.org (DU)! /sarcasm

[GigaDittos]

Doesn't the German edition require that you at least have the swastika fonts? /sarcasm