Posted on 09/23/2010 4:10:41 PM PDT by don-o
The increase of vulgarity and profanity on this board is troublesome to me. It was not always so. I can remember the olden days. There was no profanity. None. And there was no chat. None. The first Freepers held one another to a high standard of discourse.
I wonder why and how the profanity has become so common? The rule in the reply box includes no profanity. Do we have a problem of definition as to what constitutes profanity? Does replacing one of the letters in the F word with %## or ! mean that we have not used profanity in our posting?
Im not really sure where to go with this. Certainly the site owner and his empowered moderators are the arbiter of what is to be allowed. I guess the best I would hope for is to encourage us all to think just a bit more about trying for forceful language without gutter language.
That is all.
Yes, that is a big problem in the military. It is really bad in maintenance shops when you hit your fingers with a hammer or bust your knuckles when a wrench slips.
Passion maybe but always misguied imo. It a sign of weakness and usually indicated the discussion is over.
You've been here since '99 and do not recogonize the protocol of pinging another FReeper when we mention him/her in our post?
I thought everybody knew about that. Guess not.
Sometimes in life, you must simply call a spade a “spade”. Having done so, I suppose there is no additional need to call it a bleeping shovel.
“No you don’t otherwise you wouldn’t have spend your post talking about censorship and how to punish people who didn’t do what you wanted.”
You’ve taken my words so completely out context, qnd mischaractorized “self restraint” into “punishment” that a cogent response to you is not worth my time. Sigh.....
At least you didn’t call me bad names, so at least I’ve made some headway! LOLOLOLOL
Have you ever considered taking a course in reading comprehension?
If that was your intent then I accept it and will leave it at that.
bump
That's punishment.
Sorry honey when you say: I hate the idea of censorship, but Conservatives, if they are true to their conservatism should be self restrained.
You are saying two different things. Remember when making a statement then saying BUT, everything after the BUT is an untruth.
“Sorry sweetie when you say: Maybe the admin mods could enforce a 2-3 day to week suspension for those that regularly exhibit this behavior?
That’s punishment.”
No. that is a question.....designed to foster discussion....mission accomplished.....What actions, if any, should be taken against serial abusive posters? Your thoughts and rationale?.........(I’m not talking the occasional expletive uttered in the heat of discussion or one thrown at the world in general.)
” Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.” Isn’t this stated FR policy? How should it be enforced? Or do you prefer stated, but toothless standards? Arbritary enforcement? Used as guidelines only? Thoughts?
“Sorry honey when you say: I hate the idea of censorship, but Conservatives, if they are true to their conservatism should be self restrained.
You are saying two different things. Remember when making a statement then saying BUT, everything after the BUT is an untruth.”
You’re right.... I should have said “and” instead of “but.” or, better yet, separated the ideas into two simple sentences....my bad! The subject sentance was a poor attempt to express the dilemma I feel confronted with in the area of free speach....
It begs the questions, “Should a community be allowed to establish behavioral standards, and by what mechanism should it enforce them? “Isn’t self restrain the best option?” Is reliance on self restraint unrealistic or naive?
While I am not surprised by the crude and disrespectful language used on liberal sites or “politically neutral” discussion sites given the level of maturity and thought often on display there, (and the primary reason I rarely visit them... children on soap boxes isn’t an appealing environment for me.) I would expect that conservatives, being thinking adults, would have a low tolerance for this type of language/behavior ....or have I have misjudged my fellows?
Apparently you feel it is OK for and individual to regularily use that type of expression on a public forum, or am I reading too much into your post?
What are your thoughts on a poster who constantly posts disrespectful, profane, and crude language on any public forum? or.... On FR? Step right up and give us your position here.....Is your personal tolerance high or low? What level of tolerance should the site maintain? Should forums even have and enforce posting standards?
What if the abuse is directed to others that you disagree with? Or at people that you agree with? Or if it is directed straight at you? Is your answer consistent in all scenarios?
Step up and stick your neck out, sweetie. Be expansive!
I don’t care what people say to me, as long as I understand their point, I am way to lazy to fain abuse. It is up to others to decide if what is said to them is viewed as abuse. I am not responsible for their “feelings”.
Of course a community has the right to establish what code of behavior they will or will not accept. If you do not care for FR’s codes, then start your own site with your own code.
Respect is given where respect is due.
I’ve cut way back on my swearing...*sigh*
Part of my problem is that FR's "codes" (your word) are neither enforced nor respected. If Jim wants it that way, he should just remove the "no profanity" and be done with it.
I find the "start your own site" argument (which seems automatic for about any criticism) unpersuasive. There are quite a few of us who have invested some amount of money and a lot of time (probably too much time.) and who have opinions that deserve at least a hearing.
As I said upthread, the positive feedback and resolution of some to try to do better is all that I was hoping for. That has already happened.
I guess the bottom line is profanity is in the eye of the reader.
If that is the case, then why have a rule, "No profanity" if profanity is subjective?
Hitting your fingers with a hammer and related situations, I can understand why someone would curse. I just hate when every other word is motherF this, F that, in casual conversation. Then that language is spoken in front of civilians. It’s like the cursing is done out of ignorance.
Well, it is in the eye of the reader as demonstrated by your reaction versus others reaction. I do not in anyway feel WTH? is profane, whereas you may. The “no profanity” is JRs rule (code) he decides what is profane - no me not you.
” If you do not care for FRs codes, then start your own site with your own code.”
I have no issue with stated FR standards......no profanity, no abuse, no violence, no racism, and never said that I do.
“Respect is given where respect is due.”
Not always, and that is the entire issue.
I used to commute to work with a very nice lady. I never heard use the f word, and seldom the s*** word. I picked her up at her home and one day we were about 7 or 8 miles on the road.
She said "Turn the overhead lights on for a second". I did and she said "Oh F***. I have shoes from two different pairs". That was the only time I ever heard her use that word.
Is the F word profane?
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