Censored words are now replaced with asterisks only in the rendered message. The original words remain visible in Peek Mode and when editing.
The number of asterisks is now equal to the number of letters in the original word.
I appreciate the distinction between censoring here and having the option available on the software. If it is a useful tool for moderation it could still function behind the display.This pseudo censoring is an improvement but the whole idea of censoring is a dangerous concept.
It is counter productive in that it draws more attention to the words than would have otherwise been applied and thereby increases whatever harm you were trying to reduce.
It looks like you are censoring words but you are, in fact, trying to censor ideas. How many ways are there to express an idea?
beggar, black sheep, blackguard, bully, bum, cad, cardsharp, charlatan, cheat, delinquent, devil, disgrace, felon, fraud, good-for-nothing, grafter, hooligan*, hypocrite, idler, imp, liar, loafer, mischief-maker, miscreant, opportunist, pretender, prodigal, profligate, recreant, reprobate, robber, rowdy, ruffian, scamp, scoundrel, sinner, skunk, sneak*, swindler, tough*, tramp, trickster, varmint, villain, wastrel, wretch
Rules and regulations should evolve to be fewer and each one more effective. The tools are in place. If someone is out of line then suspend them. Having it as an overt function is another step toward legitimising the concept of censorship.
Asteriskized words look like pixelated nipples on a picture of a corpse.