posted
Someone pointed out to me recently that they had noticed an increase in profanity, and I have to agree. There are numerous ways to emphasize things in a post without using language that has repeatedly been deemed inappropriate here. And no, changing a letter or two doesn't always make it ok (gosh darnit is still ok, and I make special exceptions for frack and gorram).
If there are honest questions on this, please ask. But please don't ask me to tell you exactly where the line is simply so you can skirt it as closely as possible (or how extreme this is, such as whether or not "zounds" is ok because of its religious origin). And while you may choose to post here what you think your justification is for why it should be ok, it has been requested by the owners of the forum (and agreed to by anyone who has registered) that you refrain, so please do.
posted
Other than for gags, I'm not overly fond of profanity... Although I believe the taboo of it to be a more cultural thing, rather than a religious thing... Though I'm a Christian... But 'bloody' can be relatively harmless in america, in Great Brittian it's deemed as bad as the F word. It's all relative. (And no, I'm not encoraging moral relativism.) But yes, certainly, I try to avoid swearing as much as possible... If I have sworn here, I apologize. :~)
Posts: 438 | Registered: May 2006
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If you make an exception for 'gosh darnit', does that mean that other non-profanities that are obvious replacements for profanities are unacceptable? (ex. "shoot!")
Is it acceptable to use a phrase or word that very commonly includes a profanity, and it is obvious that the profanity is intended when ommitted. (ex. "sonuva!")
Finally, is either "holy carp" or the actual spelling acceptable?
I'm not trying to be difficult. These are honest questions that I ask only to avoid offense in the future, because I do use these commonly and will stop if deemed necessary.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Can we keep the "OMG, my ears can stop bleeding now! Thank you, Papa Moose!" comments down to a low roar if I promise to stop profanin'? I know I'm one of the prime offenders. Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Papa Janitor: But please don't ask me to tell you exactly where the line is simply so you can skirt it as closely as possible (or how extreme this is, such as whether or not "zounds" is ok because of its religious origin). --PJ
I had no idea "zounds" had a religious origin. Now I'm going to have to go look it up.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I feel uncomfortable every time I see OMG or WTF <edit>used in a profane context</edit>. Since Hatrack's the only forum I participate in, those TLAs are still tightly coupled in my mind with their respective phrases, and I find the phrases themselves quite offensive.
Posts: 2926 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Now you've got me in all kinds of trouble Papa. I had to go look up the origins of "zounds" and ended up at this interesting site on minced oaths. So now I've got a new list of things to say when I'm POd but don't want to use something currently considered vulgar.
Here is my favorite: Dagnabbit -- which I have already modified to "Dang Rabbit".
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I figure if you (mainly to Tom since he asked but applying to others in general) mean it as it's written, then it's ok. If you mean "by God" as opposed to "unequivocably," then I'd say it's fine -- I just rarely (if ever) see it used that way. As for OMG (and WTF, for those who mentioned it), I personally consider it profane because of the way it's generally used, but I've been letting it go as long as it's not in a thread title (because I can personally read it as "oh my goodness"). Vonk, yours are ok, though I wouldn't encourage too frequent use.
Again, I'm not going to be sifting through anyone's posts to look for buzzwords -- but some pretty unsoftened scatological/sexual references had popped up recently, and I just don't relish the thought of having to edit them out.
posted
On a somewhat tangentially related note, the last book I contributed to for White Wolf game studio was for their Werewolf the Forsaken line, which they abbreviated as WtF.
You'd think someone would have flagged that in marketing to say "You know, I don't think 'werewolf the forsaken' will be the first thing in people's minds when they see that acronym".
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Hey, there is a whole multi-verse of sci-fi/fantasy curse words that would just spruce up the place by demonstrating your broad range of learning. From Shakespeare's "A Pox on you" to Mork's "Shazbot" lets show some originality in our cursing. OK?
quote:Originally posted by Dan_raven: Hey, there is a whole multi-verse of sci-fi/fantasy curse words that would just spruce up the place by demonstrating your broad range of learning. From Shakespeare's "A Pox on you" to Mork's "Shazbot" lets show some originality in our cursing. OK?
Call someone a Muggle if you need to.
I myself love, "Oh, dragon droppings"
Wouldn't that be "Oh, fewmets"? Or am I misremembering my L'Engle?
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
No offense to anyone, but is everyone here surfing the net in math class or something? I thought a lot of us here were beyond the age of gradeschool.
It may not be all that glamorous, but adults do use profanity.
From time to time.
Posts: 317 | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote: As for OMG (and WTF, for those who mentioned it), I personally consider it profane
I personally dislike WTF because when I read it (in my head) it actually translates to the real three words. And I don't like having those words in my head. So for me, reading the initials isn't any different that reading the actual words. They may as well be there - because that's how its read.
posted
A lot of us here are adults who respect the wishes of the site owners, and who enjoy posting in one of the few, very few forums on the entire Internet that remains civil and pleasant to visit.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Chris Bridges: A lot of us here are adults who respect the wishes of the site owners, and who enjoy posting in one of the few, very few forums on the entire Internet that remains civil and pleasant to visit.
Hmm. Interesting. To others it just seems like a lot of adults with their heads up their collective ani.
posted
To others it just seems like a lot of adults with their heads up their collective ani.
Something like this comes up whenever a request for cleaner language is made, and I have to admit I don't understand it. I really don't.
I cuss. I cuss in person, when I write, around my wife, around my friends. And yet I have absolutely no problem expressing my thoughts in places like this or around friends who dislike profanity or around strangers who haven't cussed first. Is it that difficult? Honestly?
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
And if it is all that difficult, perhaps improving your vocabulary is in order.
IMO and IME, for some people (and I have a few authors in mind for starters, as well as some people I attended chem labs with in college), using foul language is a sign of a stunted vocabulary.
Creativity is a wonderful thing. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Ay, I agree with Rivka. An excess use of profanity demonstrates a lack of communicative ability. Just like when, like, one of those like really annoying like people who like use "like" in every, like, sentence, like ya know? . There are always other words to use.
I put forth the words "Shribs" as an alternative curse word. As far as I know, it was created by some friends of mine years ago. I'm sure they wouldn't mind it being used here.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote: IMO and IME, for some people (and I have a few authors in mind for starters, as well as some people I attended chem labs with in college), using foul language is a sign of a stunted vocabulary.
*shrug* That's not really even remotely true, though. Overuse of expletive can be a symptom of having less intelligence, but using them normally, where they are accurate words for the situation, isn't ignorant. And that's the usage we're talking about here.
That said, I agree with Chris. Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Please read Chris' post again. Then read mine, which was in response to his.
Please note my use of modifier.
Yeah, I read them. And I still agree with Chris and not yours.
We should be able to curb our swearing when around friends we know to be uncomfortable with it.
I still don't agree that use of profanity, no matter how many IMO, IME, and "for some people"s you put in, is a sign of ignorance--not here at Hatrack. If anything, it's a sign of politeness or lack thereof.
Sorry, the whole "swearing is a sign of a stunted vocabulary" just grates on me. Sometimes, expletives are just the best word for the job, and I can't remember anyone in my Hatrack career overusing them to the point of being perceived as ignorant.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I have, and I still contend that it's a politeness and sensitivity issue rather than an intelligence one. You're free to disagree.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
You mean, people have difficulty expressing thoughts without profanity because they are impolite or insensitive, as opposed to choosing not to do so because they are impolite or insensitive?
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I think caring what other people are comfortable with is varying degrees of difficult depending on who you are. I doubt there's a person on this forum who couldn't replace an expletive with a more acceptable word if they had to. It's NOT that difficult. You just have to give a rat's...butt.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I don't really swear, but I'm bothered by rather "innocent" words compared to the big ones being censored...
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I've decided that from now on in someone is pretentious enough to use a Latin plural, I'm going to call them on failing to decline the noun properly. Consider yourself called, whoever done it. [edit] nevermind[/edit]
posted
Ooooh, I'm quoted. How flattering. Well, slightly misquoted, but the intent is there.
I disagree that the situations are analogous, of course, for the simple reason that since the Cards pay the bills they get to set the rules. You agreed to the rules when you agreed to the Terms of Service, otherwise you wouldn't have an account here. So enjoy whining about it!
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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