Posted by Lou Pilder on January 6, 2007, at 16:14:14
In reply to Re: The No Offensive Language Rule » JeffSmith, posted by 10derHeart on January 4, 2007, at 18:45:39
> They don't make things worse for me. I like them. I think they help maintain a little bit of a kinder, gentler, more civilized community, as a whole, here.
>
> And this is from someone who spent 22+ years in the military and can keep up in a swearing contest with most anyone. But...there's are times and places to choose to temper that (eg, use of asterisks), or not to speak that way at all. It seems nice to me for Babble to be one of those places.
>
> Vulgarities have their purpose, perhaps, and can be an effective way to express very strong feelings. But OTOH, that sort of language also may upset folks and make for a harsher way of communicating overall. And harsh can become stressful, confusing, even hurtful sometimes.
>
> The asterisks seem like a pretty good compromise, something that is hard to come by here at times, and so is a valuable thing to hang on to.
>
> Just my few cents worth :-)
Friends,
One of the aspects in this discussion is if the offensive words should be allowed at all, even with the asterisks. It is written here,[...if we keep the words, keep the asterisks...not made worse...].
Psychologists have written many volumes about how profanity could be damaging to the one that uses the words, and the recipiants of the words. The use of offensive words that children can read is criminal in some jurisdictions. Profanity is often used by directing the words to those opressed by others for reasons that you can find in the psychologist's writings or email me if you like for those.
It is my deep conviction that a child and adults could be damaged just as much by reading here an offensive word even if there is an asterisk in it and you could email me if you like for my perspective,
It is written here,[..vulgarities have their purpose...can be an >effective< way to express very strong feelings..OTOH..hurtfull...]. Those interested in my response to that statement can email me if they like.
It is written here,[...the asterisks seem like a ..good compromise..a valuable thing...]. Those interested in my response to that could email me if they like.
Lou
lpilder_1188@fuse.net
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:717797
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20061228/msgs/719906.html