# Asterisks are not a substitute for letters in particular words! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372 "2009-02-25T15:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/21 "2009-02-26T05:49:01Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > You are a motherfucking asshole. > > No, not you, Joe – that’s just what you said. I tried to make it simple - you are correct. \*\*\* \*\*\*\* \*\* \*\*\*\*. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/22 "2009-02-26T06:50:28Z")
Guys, I was actually hoping for this to be a semi-serious discussion; can we knock it off with the joke replies, please? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/23 "2009-02-26T10:48:38Z")
It pisses me off more when people won’t type nigger. “Senator X said the n-word on live TV.” No he didn’t, fuckheads!! He said nigger! You’re not being racist by reporting speech dumbass! A corollary to that is when there’s a discussion about it. “I think the real n-word is worse than nigga.” Jesus fuck, just say it. It’s only bad when you’re using it as an epithet. oh, and snuGglYPuPpy ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/24 "2009-02-26T16:18:12Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > A corollary to that is when there’s a discussion about it. “I think the real n-word is worse than nigga.” Jesus fuck, just say it. It’s only bad when you’re using it as an epithet. But if I do, a marauding troupe of black people will instantly pounce on me. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/25 "2009-02-26T16:41:07Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > But if I do, a marauding troupe of black people will instantly pounce on me. You mean the Nigger-Nappers? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/26 "2009-02-26T16:50:43Z")
I don’t know, **Martini**. I admit of the possibility that some people have more delicate sensibilities, who restrain their use of language, but who find themselves recounting a story or quoting an individual. It is not _the storyteller’s_ intent to be shocking or vulgar. There could be kids watching over one’s shoulder (or co-workers!). In short, the use of “d— you!” doesn’t bother me as much. Now, d@mn or 5#!t… those are more juvenile. It’s just a feeble way to bypass a dumb computer censorship filter. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/27 "2009-02-26T21:42:22Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Your Mum isn’t going to come along and wash your mouth out with soap for using Naughty Words on the Internet. My boss might do worse. If you’re using company based email or browsers, you don’t want to set up any snooping programs. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/28 "2009-02-27T03:48:57Z")
> [@muttrox](#): > > My boss might do worse. If you’re using company based email or browsers, you don’t want to set up any snooping programs. If you’re using company e-mail/browsers and using swear words is going to get you into trouble, then I would suggest you either find a different word to use or wait until you get home to use the words your boss might object to. > [@Fish](#): > > I don’t know, **Martini**. I admit of the possibility that some people have more delicate sensibilities, who restrain their use of language, but who find themselves recounting a story or quoting an individual. It is not _the storyteller’s_ intent to be shocking or vulgar. There could be kids watching over one’s shoulder (or co-workers!). In short, the use of “d— you!” doesn’t bother me as much. I’ve got no time for the “OMG kids might see naughty words!” argument. _Any_ kid who knows how to use Google is going to find stuff a _lot_ worse than “Fuck” or “Cunt” or “Ni!”, often by accident. Also, your kids/coworkers would have to have _really_ good eyesight and be a _really_ fast reader to be able to read a particular swear word in normal type on a screen amongst lots of other words when you’re (presumably) trying to engage them in conversation (or else they shouldn’t be reading over your shoulder). Asterisking out letters makes the swear word _MORE_ obvious, IMHO. For what it’s worth, I’m very much in the “Fair Comment” view of quoting someone who has used racist or objectionable language. As long as you’re quoting what they said, _in context_, for purposes of discussion or to back up a point, then you’re not racist if, for example, you repeat a statement by an outspoken Member of Parliament or other Prominent Person referring to a minority group as “Porch Monkeys”. (Unless, of course, you add a qualifier to the effect that you agree with that person making the comment, but we’re assuming that as a reasonable adult you don’t agree with the comment(s) and are just repeating them for the purposes of educated discussion/debate etc.) The only exception I allow to blanking out parts of swear words are when it’s done for historical reasons (for example, several of the _Flashman_ novels have many swear words blanked out, ostensibly as part of previous editing by a Maiden Aunt who- curiously- objected to Flashy’s constant use of “Damned” and “Bastard”, but not to his constant references to rogering every woman within sight). In that case, it adds to the versimilitude surrounding the stories, and it’s worth noting that the “editing” is very uneven and there’s still plenty of oaths uttered and blasphemies exclaimed. There’s a right way to imply swearing without offending people, and there’s a wrong way. IMHO, the use of asterisks, dashes, or other symbols to nobble swear words in the vain hope they’re less naughty if you don’t use all the letters is the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/29 "2009-02-27T04:08:05Z")
Fuckin’ A, bud! ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/30 "2009-02-27T04:18:42Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > It pisses me off more when people won’t type nigger. “Senator X said the n-word on live TV.” No he didn’t, fuckheads!! He said nigger! You’re not being racist by reporting speech dumbass! > > A corollary to that is when there’s a discussion about it. “I think the real n-word is worse than nigga.” Jesus fuck, just say it. It’s only bad when you’re using it as an epithet. > > oh, and snuGglYPuPpy Louis C. K. agrees with you and does a [great bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqwj--wGEgY&eurl=http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/09/12/louis-ck-hates-the-n-word/&feature=player_embedded) on it. Do I need to warn about the link content in **this** thread? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/31 "2009-02-27T05:29:43Z")
Sh_t P_ss F_ck C_nt C_cks_ck_r M_th_rf_ck_r T_ts ~G\*\*rg\* C_rl_n People who would type like this are just fascinated with vowel movements. That was actually much harder to type than I would have thought. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/32 "2009-02-27T05:45:32Z")
The difficulty of the achievement does not mitigate the vileness of the pun. **'luci** has been notified, and should be along shortly to decide your punishment. Seriously, that was sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/33 "2009-02-27T06:01:06Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The difficulty of the achievement does not mitigate the vileness of the pun. **'luci** has been notified, and should be along shortly to decide your punishment. > > Seriously, that was sweet. Damnit! I knew I should have said _vowel **re** -movements_. Flagellates self with w_t n\*\*dl_ ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/34 "2009-02-27T06:48:44Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I don’t know, **Martini**. I admit of the possibility that some people have more delicate sensibilities, who restrain their use of language, but who find themselves recounting a story or quoting an individual. It is not _the storyteller’s_ intent to be shocking or vulgar. There could be kids watching over one’s shoulder (or co-workers!). In short, the use of “d— you!” doesn’t bother me as much. > > Now, d@mn or 5#!t… those are more juvenile. It’s just a feeble way to bypass a dumb computer censorship filter. Seems like a pretty effective way to me. It’s the filter that’s feeble. “D-- you” is far lamer. I’m with **Martini Enfield**. “F\*ck” is exactly the same as “fuck”. Subbing an asterisk and pretending it isn’t is childish. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/35 "2009-02-27T09:01:29Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > … “F\*ck” is exactly the same as “fuck”… No it isn’t, the first one is a proper noun. Seriously though, I’m right behind the OP on this one. My personal pet causer-of-uncontrollable-eye-twitching is “frickin” or “flippin”. BOO!! \*\*\*Martini Enfield \*_jumps_ ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/36 "2009-02-27T09:35:03Z")
Good God, people are actually agreeing with me??? About bloody time! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/37 "2009-02-27T10:04:14Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Good God, people are actually agreeing with me??? About bloody time! 😃 Speaking of which, G-d? And this is a non-snarky enquiry, what do writers of G-d say/do in actual conversation? ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/38 "2009-02-27T11:31:36Z")
I agree with the spirit of the OP, but I sometimes use an asterisk if I’m emailing certain people that work in places that will block my email due to profane language filters. Using an asterisk as a substitute is an easy workaround. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/39 "2009-02-27T12:37:44Z")
> [@Mellivora\_capensis](#): > > Speaking of which, G-d? And this is a non-snarky enquiry, what do writers of G-d say/do in actual conversation? The use of G-d (assuming I’m remembering what I’ve read here before correctly) is based on an Orthodox Jewish prohibition against destroying anything with God’s name written on it. In written texts, this is usually prevented by using alternate versions of God’s name. Anything written online is by its nature ephemeral (it is “destroyed” when you turn off your computer, IIRC), so this rule applies to anything posted online. In speech, this rule does not apply, so the word “God” can be spoken. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/40 "2009-02-27T12:44:22Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > The use of G-d (assuming I’m remembering what I’ve read here before correctly) is based on an Orthodox Jewish prohibition against destroying anything with God’s name written on it. In written texts, this is usually prevented by using alternate versions of God’s name. Anything written online is by its nature ephemeral (it is “destroyed” when you turn off your computer, IIRC), so this rule applies to anything posted online. In speech, this rule does not apply, so the word “God” can be spoken. Interesting. I’d rather not hijack this thread with a discussion of this particular issue (perhaps a spin-off thread is in order?), but I do have to say I see this in a lot of other forums, often used by non-Jewish posters, and I find myself wondering “Why censor God’s name? Isn’t that more offensive than just typing it, or better yet, finding another word if it’s that much of an issue?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372.md?page=3)