# 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:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**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, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/41 "2009-02-27T13:21:54Z")
Not to continue the hijack, but I’ve always been fascinated when movies on TV are censored to eliminate the “God” in “Goddamned”, so what you hear is --damned. Apparently damning someone or something is okay, as long as you’re not suggesting that God is supposed to do it. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/42 "2009-02-27T13:29:45Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > 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. This is your argument? Really? So they’re going to see things - you still need to try and reduce the odds and frequency that they will. By your reasoning, Elmo should teach the kids about felching - they’re going to learn about it someday. > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > 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. I gave you a reason why. You responded by telling me I shouldn’t post from work because the asterisks offend you. All there is to say is, F\*ck you! 🙂 ---
**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, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372/43 "2009-02-27T13:51:59Z")
> [@muttrox](#): > > This is your argument? Really? So they’re going to see things - you still need to try and reduce the odds and frequency that they will. Why? Like I said, any kid that can read well enough to pick “fuck” or “shit” out of a morass of words on a computer screen already knows those words. And as for your co-workers; if they’re such delicate flowers that seeing a particular word on the screen will give them an attack of the vapours, then that’s their problem for reading over your shoulder, IMHO. Look, I read a lot. I write a lot. And the best way, in my opinion, to draw attention to swear words on a page, is to asterisk or blank or dash out letters. “M\*therf\*\*ker” immediately draws the eye, Whereas “Motherfucker” is just another word on the page (unless I’m specifically looking for swear-words, but that’s true of any keywords; I might be looking for breeds of cat and so “Sphinx” and “Russian” are going to stand out in that context). The asterisks etc are a BIG VISUAL CUE that there’s A NAUGHTY WORD HERE! > [@](#): > > By your reasoning, Elmo should teach the kids about felching - they’re going to learn about it someday. There’s a huge difference between felching and swear words, you know. And children learning about certain sexual practices between consenting adults (which we can all agree is a Bad Thing- not the practices, the kids learning about them side of it) is a totally different kettle of fish to discovering the world “Fuck”. > [@](#): > > I gave you a reason why. You responded by telling me I shouldn’t post from work because the asterisks offend you. All there is to say is, F\*ck you! 🙂 I responded that you shouldn’t post _swear words_ from work if they were liable to get you in trouble with your boss. I didn’t say you shouldn’t post from work full stop. 😉 Look, I’m prepared to concede that you can’t really have Reputable Newspapers publishing uncensored swear words; as amusing as it would be to see **PRIME MINISTER TELLS OPPOSITION LEADER TO FUCK OFF** on the front page of _The Australian_ that’s not really practical for fairly obvious reasons. There is, however, an astronomical difference between a Broadsheet Newspaper and an internet forum, IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asterisks-are-not-a-substitute-for-letters-in-particular-words/487372.md?page=2)