Bot returns sexist and harassing fortunes

[liilac]

Summary: When a user replies to the bot, it responds with its prefix along with a "fortune" from the fortune-teller package. This package returns sexist and harassing messages, which the bot relays to user.

Trigger: Reply to the bot using the "Reply" feature in Discord. Message content varies, so it may take repeated attempts to obtain sexist or harassing messages.

Expected behaviour:

• Bot ignore user repyling; or
• Bot reply with its prefix without a fortune; or
• Bot reply with its its prefix and a fun but not hateful message

Actual behaviour: Bot replies with its prefix along with a "fortune", which often features sexist or harassing content directed at the user.

(Note: the fortune behaviour cannot be disabled without modifying source code)

Why this is a problem:

• Content of this nature violates the Discord ToS and may lead to bot suspension
• Many communities have codes of conduct or other policies prohibiting harassing or discriminatory language; this bot cannot be used in such communities
• Some jurisdictions make it unlawful to engage in sexual harassment, or discriminatory language. Liability may extent to bot operators, making the bot potentially unlawful to use.
• The bot may make users uncomfortable, even in the absense of law or policy prohibiting such language.

Relevant code: src/shard/discordEvents.js#L84

Possible resolution:

• Change the linked line to not include a fortune; or
• Replace the fortune-teller package with another that does not include hateful content, such as fortune-teller-safe (GitHub, NPM); or
• Incorporate "fortune"-like content into QTweet itself

Examples of actual behaviour:

[liilac]

Pull request #88 removes the fortune function, which would address this issue.

Alternatives could be considered if it is desired to keep similar functionality.

[atomheartother]

Leaning more towards allowing people to disable it per-guild. I'd rather make it a non-breaking change in the DB though so it'll take a little bit of work.

[liilac]

For a better indication of some of the content the fortune function returns, take a look at the fortunes/ subdirectory in williamfligor/fortune.

Much of the content goes much further than those included in the screenshot. There are dedicated files for racism, misogyny, hphobia (homophobia), etc. Some of these exist in an off/ subdirectory, which the package uses the same fashion as those in the parent directory.

Examples of more objectionable content are included below:

Sexist; advocating violence

A little bit of rape is good for a man's soul.
-- Norman Mailer

Misogyny

Everyone has the right, without exception, to equal pay for equal work.
Except for women.

Segregationist; racist

A racially integrated community is a chronological term timed from the
entrance of the first black family to the exit of the last white family.
-- Saul Alinsky

Homophobia

A genius is a queer who can whistle while he works.
-- Bobby Knight

Homophobia; incitement to violence

You'll be a guest at a gay party that will have important consequences for you.

Anti-semitic; racist

Jews always know two things: suffering and where to find great Chinese food.
-- From the movie "My Favorite Year".

Homophobia; incitement to violence

If God doesn't destroy San Francisco, He should apologize to Sodom and
Gomorrah.

Racism (islamophobia); Misogyny

Men are superior to women.
-- The Koran

[charlotonne]

I, personally, would remove the fortune function -- doesn't seem pertinent to the bot's function. But a toggle command is also viable with a little reworking.

[leonardobagi]

ig you can just remove it from your bot if u want tho