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Microsoft Swastika in Font...

post #1 of 29
12/13/03 at 12:43am
Thread Starter 
According to This CNN story they found a swastika in a Microsoft font pack...
Quote:
SEATTLE, Washington (Reuters) -- Microsoft Corp. said on Friday that its latest version of Office software inadvertently contained a font featuring two swastikas, and said it would offer tools to remove and replace the offending characters from the program.
Anyone have this font - I haven't heard of it...

-myrkat
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post #2 of 29
12/13/03 at 1:28am
Yeah, I have it. It's installed with Office 2003. There are two there, in the higher order characters - they don't appear thru any "normal" keys.
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post #3 of 29
12/13/03 at 2:38am
this was from the official statement from microsoft:

Quote:
An Open Letter from Senior Vice President Steven Sinofsky

Microsoft Releases a Utility to Remove Inappropriate Symbols from the Microsoft Office System

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.

Sincerely,

Steven Sinofsky
Senior Vice President, Microsoft Office
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post #4 of 29
12/13/03 at 2:36pm
lol - the article says a form of the 'swastika' is prevalent in india & south-east asia

that is the ORIGINAL swastik (no 'a') - more than 4000 yrs old
and its been there before buddhism (which is 3000 yrs old)

the nazis used a mirror-image swastik for their 'swastika'

trust CNN for misinformation
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post #5 of 29
12/13/03 at 3:02pm
I'd actually like to see this font also.

Hell my dad might even like it!
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post #6 of 29
12/13/03 at 4:08pm
Damn people are really over dramaticized, its not like Microsoft forced people to shave theirs heads, they simply included a character that although the meaning has changed has meant a great deal to our history
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post #7 of 29
12/13/03 at 4:27pm
Thread Starter 
I don't see this as any mistake or misjudgement on MS's part, but rather over zealous types that are too easily offended. I mean, the person or persons that found it probably didn't know dick about the symbol's history other than Nazism. It reflects poorly upon those who would have a problem with it. I mean, it is just a symbol in one font library... although, someone had to put it in there (probably MS's Eastern/Indian division).

-myrkat
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post #8 of 29
12/13/03 at 4:32pm
Well myrkat, to be clear the meaning before the Nazis came into power are irrelevent. They changed the meaning to represent their cause. Just like gay doesnt mean happy anymore and fag isnt an English public-school boy who acts as servant to an older schoolmate.
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post #9 of 29
12/13/03 at 6:16pm
I thought a fag was a cigarrette.
Meanings are what people make of them. Anything can mean anything. Its all in the eye and intent of the users, both the person that puts it out and the person that takes it in. Its ever so true that people will usually find what they are looking for, whether its there or not. And those seeking to be insulted or abused are often the most very successful.
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post #10 of 29
12/13/03 at 7:10pm
I can mean cigarette too, but i found the definition i used more humorous.
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post #11 of 29
12/13/03 at 7:48pm
A Cigarette in england is called a fag.
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post #12 of 29
12/13/03 at 8:49pm
and according to Merriam WEbster, here too
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post #13 of 29
12/13/03 at 8:57pm
Its called that in a lot of countries, but I wasnt sure which ones, so I just sad england
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post #14 of 29
12/13/03 at 9:17pm
hahha either was i, thats why i used Merriam WEbster
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post #15 of 29
12/15/03 at 5:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fiction1337
A Cigarette in england is called a fag.
Quote:
Well someone better tell that cigarette to shut the hell up!
any guesses where that's from?

-myrkat
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post #16 of 29
12/15/03 at 12:38pm
Here's a pic of it.....
LL
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post #17 of 29
12/15/03 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpinyNorman
Here's a pic of it.....
Well thats great, now where do I have to go to download this one?
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post #18 of 29
12/15/03 at 5:28pm
Myrkat -

That's from Family Guy. A classic episode.
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post #19 of 29
12/15/03 at 6:26pm
Has anyone ever been to a country where a major religion is Buddhism. In Korea, China, and India you see the "Swastika" all over the place. As long as you know what the intent is, it should not be offending. It sucks that MS is removing the font, many people who use it in a good way are going to miss out.
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post #20 of 29
12/15/03 at 7:58pm
Is it the exact same swastika? Like, any funky differences? I recall someone before this said its "backward?"
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