17. A system, comprising: a data processor; a computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for commanding the data processor to perform steps including: receiving a first plurality of offensive words, the first plurality of offensive words being associated with a first category of offensive words; receiving a second plurality of offensive words, the second plurality of offensive words being associated with a second category of offensive words; receiving a user preference identifying a plurality of categories of words that should be filtered, wherein the plurality of categories includes the first category and the second category; based on the user preference, generating a consolidated list of offensive words for the user that includes the first plurality of offensive words and the second plurality of offensive words; receiving a string of words, wherein one or more detected offensive words is selected from the string of words that matches words from the consolidated list that includes the first plurality of offensive words or the second plurality of offensive words; and processing the string of words based upon the detection of offensive words in the string of words.
17. A system, comprising: a data processor; a computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for commanding the data processor to perform steps including: receiving a first plurality of offensive words, the first plurality of offensive words being associated with a first category of offensive words; receiving a second plurality of offensive words, the second plurality of offensive words being associated with a second category of offensive words; receiving a user preference identifying a plurality of categories of words that should be filtered, wherein the plurality of categories includes the first category and the second category; based on the user preference, generating a consolidated list of offensive words for the user that includes the first plurality of offensive words and the second plurality of offensive words; receiving a string of words, wherein one or more detected offensive words is selected from the string of words that matches words from the consolidated list that includes the first plurality of offensive words or the second plurality of offensive words; and processing the string of words based upon the detection of offensive words in the string of words. 31. The system of claim 17 , wherein the string of words is input from an input user to a service and output to an output user from the service; wherein the input from the user is rejected if an offensive word is detected that matches an offensive word within the first plurality of offensive words; and the output to the second user is modified if an offensive word is detected that matches an offensive word in within the second plurality of offensive words.