The "people" Problem

[SherLOCKED221]

EDITED BY Carol the Dabbler

 

This problem was noticed on another (unrelated) thread. I have excerpted that sub-thread and moved it here.

 

First, SherLOCKED221 said:

 

Other (shorter) shows such as Law and Order have passing bad guys that either are arrested and or killed in one episode (exceptions apeopley)

 

Then Carol the Dabbler said:

 

There's that "people" thing again, that I was asking about over on the abbreviations thread. I get that (in this case) it's the word "apply" with the word "people" embedded in it. But why?

 

And SherLOCKED221 replied:

 

That "apeopley"?? I didn't write it!!!

Something must have gone wrong with the site, I don't understand it either

[aely]

maybe there's something odd in the code somewhere as apeopley has come up for a p p l y before now

[SherLOCKED221]

Maybe.

Someone should check with an admin.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks for letting us know that it wasn't your doing, SherLOCKED. I will PM Mr. Medic. But it isn't just "apply" that gets the "people" treatment -- I've also seen it with "apple" and (most commonly) with "applause" or "applaud" -- just about any word that starts with a-p-p-l. Checking the dictionary for other candidates -- there's appliance, plus variations on the aforementioned words.

 

I've been assuming it was something like pig Latin.

 

ADDED AFTER RUNNING A FORUM SEARCH: OK, I am thoroughly convinced that the people posting these "people" words are not responsible -- one of them cropped up in one of my posts a while back! But why are these words affected only sometimes? Let's try these:

 

I applaud you.

(exceptions apply)

 

The next question is, are the words corrupted at the time that they're posted, or do they "go bad" later on?

[SherLOCKED221]

Seems fine!

What is wrong with this thing??

 

apply

apple

apply

apple

[Carol the Dabbler]

Judging by a discussion I found online, it may simply the doings of an autocorrect algorithm getting a bit overzealous about expanding "ppl" into "people." Though why only sometimes, I have no idea.

 

I have PMd Undead Medic about it.

[SherLOCKED221]

It might need some tweeking (and that's what I suspect, an autocorrect thing...)

[Undead Medic]

It would appear that one of the entries on our "bad words" filter had the wrong setting checked. It should now be working correctly.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks, Tim!

 

I have repaired all of the auto-incorrections (except for those where this syndrome was under discussion) -- so if anyone sees this crop up again, please say something!

[SherLOCKED221]

Great (hopefully) no more confusion!

[Alice Holmes]

Ahh, Tim to the rescue.

 

I at first I was like, 'People Problem? B--but--but--we're growing all the time, what's the problem?'

[SherLOCKED221]

*laughs*

Oh Alice