# an i free here? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 7, 2001, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242 "2001-08-07T06:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vannaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@vannaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vannaken)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/1 "2001-08-07T06:21:23Z")
do i get to talk about anything i want with out a prick mob deleting or closing down my thread…? can i say… fuck shit cunt pussy asshole cock whore dickhead etc around here with out this—\> \*\*\*\* happeningto it? ---
**Author:** ![vannaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@vannaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vannaken)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/2 "2001-08-07T06:23:51Z")
WELL I GUESS I CAN! but in time you guys are gonna see that i have a sick mind, so the question still remains. am i free…? ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/3 "2001-08-07T06:45:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vannaken \* > \*\*am i free…? \*\* Do you remember the number one rule you agreed to when you registered? The one about “Don’t be a jerk”. You’re free until you break that rule. Some times you even get to break it twice although I wouldn’t recommend trying it. Betting my two cents a mod will be along shortly, Abby ---
**Author:** ![Keko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@Keko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keko)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/4 "2001-08-07T07:17:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vannaken \* > am i free…? \*\* What does any of the above have to do with any of Cecil’s columns??? Yanno, there are times to be a jerk and times to use your brain. If you don’t know when to use your brain, then you’re _free_ to leave 😛 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/5 "2001-08-07T12:41:05Z")
I have moved this topic from Comments on Cecil’s Column to “About this Message Board”, which is the more appropriate location. The answer to your question is: vulgar language is not edited here. You are free to say what you please as long as you stick within the rules, but we do not edit your vocabulary. You might want to read the rules. Freedom does not mean that you can pee on the carpet with impunity. (Go to the dictionary and look up impunity.) ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/6 "2001-08-07T12:52:50Z")
Nah, I’d say that you’re at _least_ eight. Knowin’ all them fancy cusswords, like you do. pan ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/7 "2001-08-07T14:05:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vannaken \* > **do i get to talk about anything i want with out a prick mob deleting or closing down my thread…?** Nah, we only have nice mods around here. That is, if you stick to the rules you agreed upon when registering. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/8 "2001-08-07T14:31:17Z")
There’s a fine line between “can” and “should”. Sure you _can_ use all those words, but should you? Well, that’s up to you. You will find (in your short stay here) that words are incredibly powerful. To that, there are powerful words and weak words. Those in your list are very weak. This board is populated by many people of many intelligences. Some use vulgarity for emphasis and some use other, more powerful words. Few people use vulgarity simply because they can. Hang out, read ten times as much as you post, and obey the mods. Remember that posting here is a priveledge and not a right. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/9 "2001-08-07T14:45:14Z")
**Scored from 0 (low) to 10(high)** Originality: 0 - heard it all before. Shock value: 0 - ditto. Humour: 0 - neither high wit nor schoolyard charm. Provoking thoughtful debate: 0. Language skills: 2 - 1 typo; punctuation missing, presumed dead. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/10 "2001-08-07T15:57:34Z")
Potty Mouth! ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/11 "2001-08-07T16:13:38Z")
> [@](#): > > can i say… > > fuck > shit > cunt > pussy > asshole > cock > whore > dickhead As with so many other things in life, it’s all in the context. And you made Dexter move a thread; that’s probably far worse than a few curse words. He _hates_ to move threads. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/12 "2001-08-07T16:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vannaken \* > do i get to talk about anything i want with out a prick mob deleting or closing down my thread…? Prick Mob. Off it goes to the band list! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/13 "2001-08-07T17:43:16Z")
What’s appropriate depends on where you’re saying it, and why. We don’t want a Triumph the Insult Dog here. If, for instance, you want to know the etymolygy of one of those words, you should feel free to ask about it. If you use the terms for their literal meanings, there’s also usually no problem. You should not, however, use any such words to refer to other posters, unless possibly in our BBQ Pit forum. Even there, you’ll find your writing to be much more effective and more respected if you can think of more creative ways to flame people. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/14 "2001-08-09T02:48:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by vannaken \* > > **do i get to talk about anything i want with out a prick mob deleting or closing down my thread…?** > > Nah, we only have nice mods around here. That is, if you stick to the rules you agreed upon when registering. \*\* Coldfire, I think he means what he says, prick _mob_, not _mod_. As in, a mob of pricks. Just thought I’d clarify. Uh oh, I just corrected a mod, am I free to do this, or does it spell the end of my Dope career? Will Coldfire take this sitting down, or is a new storm of moderator fury on the horizon? Tune in next time to: The Revenge of the Moderator: or, if it’s Cold, start a Fire. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/15 "2001-08-09T11:37:22Z")
Yeah, you can say all of those words. However, there is **one** word that is so bad, you can’t even say it here. The word is is \*\*\*\*\*. See? the board software won’t let me say it. [sub]sorry, had to do it…[/sub] BTW, welcome to the fuckin’ boards 😃 [sub]yes, I like to pointlessly use foul language. It gets me respect, or something…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/16 "2001-08-09T12:01:31Z")
Yeah, I saw he wrote “mob”. But he was also talking about someone deleting and closing threads, so I figured it was a typo. A mob of pricks? What porn universe do you live in? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/17 "2001-08-09T13:23:06Z")
\<\< A mob of pricks? What porn universe do you live in? \>\> It was a spoonerism, and a not very good one. He meant to indicate a problem with the Irish. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/18 "2001-08-09T14:06:59Z")
Insufficient attention has been paid to vannaken’s sig line: “it’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’r\* free to do anthing…” It’s kind of paradoxical. Seeing as he can post slightly naughty words here, he is not free. And yet - since it is clear that there is much an ignorance-fighting site can do for him - he must gain _something_ before he has any fucking thing to lose. My guess is he will contribute much to debates on self-reference and the being/ becoming part of questions about the nature of that wanton ephemeral, freedom. \*[sub]I think this is where the _sic_ mind comes in.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/19 "2001-08-09T19:32:52Z")
> [@](#): > > A mob of pricks? What porn universe do you live in? Obviously in japan.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242/20 "2001-08-09T21:07:30Z")
And all this time I thought pricks came in clutches, not mobs. Now _there’s_ a straight line for someone. Take it away, Don Pardo. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-i-free-here/75242.md?page=2)