"That is not allowed" when attempting to update a post

I use the 'Edit Forum Topic" capability to manage leagues and update the results tables.  Just now I can't seem to update the forum thread any more, as I get a message "That is not allowed. Please try again."   Of course, trying again is no different.  It's not clear WHAT is not allowed.  

This is a new 'feature', I was previously able to update forums like this.  Is there a way to find out what the problem is?

And chess.com staggers from one absurdity to another - have you reported it?

I had this when an internal picture of chess.com (!!!) had in its URL (!!!) a string listed in CC blacklist. In this case, it was the threefolds repetition of letter "x". Bad word filter hits and tells you it's not allowed. It prevented me from updating my profile with TCMAC's logo. I had to DL it and re-UL it. I checked, the behavior is the same for topics.

Now you have to find what triggered the filter... Which sometimes is a very narrow bad word used only in very local regions of US of A.

I've recently seen people having been muted for talking about a cat breed from Maine. And I learnt about some racist slang specific to Texas.

I did discuss about that with devs, and basically they said we have to cope with it. They don't seem to understand a blacklist is just a way to annoy legit usage of words, and stimulate creativity in people actually wanting to post bad things.

@Ximoon, these "devs" - are they ten years old by any chance?

This site is run by idiots. At least it doesn't give the impression of being managed by sensible adults with understanding of human beings.

I can't see anything in the image you posted that could cause any offence whatsoever, so can you think of any item of content there that might be prohibited?

When you upload a picture it's given a URL that contains your nickname. In this case the (valid) nickname contains a forbidden string. I don't know if the generated filename itself could contain a forbidden string, but I can't rule it out.

The real issue IMHO is that automated filters aimed at text should be applied to text and text only.

And blacklist usually don't work, offenders just become more creative.

Ok I checked it's the URL of the picture. Same issue I had.

https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/Predators [threfolds repetition of X]/phpvtJvbm.jpg

Note it's a picture legitimately uploaded by a legit, unfiltered username.

edit: the two pictures actually.

.

Do I understand you right: Chess.com assigns file names to uploaded picture which may be judged somehow inappropriate by their backlist? So, the entire issue would not exist if their automatically created file names would follow restrictions from their blacklist?

This is just absurd!

Chess.com assigns file names that their own bad word filter system considers inappropriate.

Chess.com once again creates a problem out of thin air, and as always, ordinary users suffer🤦🤦

Second try (my answer didn't go through... maybe the filter?)

When you upload a file it's assigned an URL containing your nickname. In this case a valid nickname contains a forbidden string. I don't know if the file name itself can contain a bad string, but I can't rule it out.

The real issue IMHO is that filters created for text should be run on text only, and not on URLs or formatting code.

And blacklist are a general bad idea. Offenders just become more creative, and legit users have issues.

Filters are better than no filters. Members could claim they weren't aware something wasn't allowed if there's not any filter in place, but if they get creative to bypass it, then it's obviously to bypass said filter.

If reported a similar issue. The error should be more descriptive to determine what the issue is, instead of being generic.

I don't believe that's the case. It's most likely something else was flagged and not the filename.

How would I find out what is flagged? I confirm that I cannot even edit the post, add the literal word 'test' to it, and save it again. Deleting the image from the post doesn't work either.

I have to gradually remove content (all of which is potentially required) to find out whatever the system is complaining about.

Remove both images. I copied the content to a test topic and verified it works when both images are removed.

Martin: here's the topic. Can you post the image with the same URL in a post below?

https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/total-war-arena960-5-2024-2025-link-teams-results-and-program-1

Actually there were two images in the post. Deleting them both allows the post to be saved.

Both of these URLs include a string three repetitions of 'x' .

I can't even post this comment with those URLs

The URLs of those images are these. Replace the three capital 'Y' characters with three 'x' characters

https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/PredatorsYYY/phpvtJvbm.jpg

https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/CenturioneRomanoYYY/phpWa2o7J.jpg

I guess it is filtering that 🤔

You should be able to post by downloading and then uploading as a new image