In the “rules…” thread, Jeff asked if I “had to” use profanity when I asked if it was allowed. Come on! That rather pissed me off. If we have to behave like June Cleaver, I doubt I’ll spent much/any time here. I’m not asking to be allowed to riddle my text with “the f word” for no reason, but there are plenty of times when profanity is as good a way as any, if not better, to express something. If we have to abide by the Cowboy Goody Two Shoes Way, I’m outta here.
One of the things you can do on this board is have a RoboCensor automatically put in stars every time somebody writes **** or ****. We thought this looked kind of silly, so we have it switched off. (I typed those stars in manually just now.) I mean, Cecil wrote an entire column on the etymology of the F word. On the other hand, let’s face it, there’s a fine line between your creative and mature use of the F word and the vulgar and offensive usage of [name your favorite twit]. So the board moderators will judge things on a case by case basis. At this point all I’d care to say is, use some restraint.
I don’t think anyone wants to see this turn into a “Boy Scout” board. I mean, after all, our fearless leader Cecil is the eptiome, nay, the paradigm itself of tact and good grace. But, as I had written elsewhere, sometimes it’s best to leave the invective to the professionals.
That being said, overuse of certain profanities can mean death to a well-run board. Someone once said that use of profanities tends to indicate a failure of communication skills and tend to be used when one has run out of argument. I think it may have been my old Sunday School teacher who said that, but never you mind that. On the other hand, they can also add pepper to a post. But too much pepper can ruin the soup, as they say. Especially a nice onion soup, with melted cheese on top. Nice toasted bread crust. There was this great restaurant in Braintree that used to make this great onion soup …
Somebody stop me before I wax senile.
Suffice it to say, that we have had discussion about this and have decided that these things should be handled on a case by case basis. If words are used judiciously, we probably won’t give it a second thought. When things degenerate to the “fuck you” stage is when we’ll probably step in to put a stop to it.
Which is the answer to the question, I think. Wit, style, humor, knowledge, that’s what makes postings good, great, memorable, and in pursuit of those standards, pretty much anything goes.
I note that one advantage of this new system is that one needn’t C&P so much… since people see all the prior posts, it’s easier to follow the conversation without the need for C&P.
[[Profanity, even “masked” profanity (such as F**k) is against AOL’s Terms of Service and can get your account cancelled.]]
Technically, even here, AOL members are bound by TOS, and can get terminated for profanity. But, someone would have to be a real asshole to alert the TOS police to this board, IMO.
<< Technically, even here, AOL members are bound by TOS, and can get terminated for profanity. But, someone would have to be a real asshole to alert the TOS police to this board, IMO.>>
Umhmm. Or a real mischief-maker. Or just a pain in the arse who gets mad at someone and who doesn’t want to visit the BBQ Pit. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t had our share of folks who were out to hurt feelings or do damage, issit?
Ah me, the more things change the more they stay the same. Years ago we used other euphemisms for profanity along the lines of Ken Starr, Bob Barr, et al. We used to lift the middle finger and cry “Get Agnewed!” Or “Kiss my Nixon.”
And back in the 1950’s (yes, children, I was alive waaaaaay back then, even thouugh I look so young still), I took part in a hoax whereby sound alike words were substituted for critical words in a school play. This trick required two rehersals - one with the faculty advisor and one on the sly. Never uttered a naughty word but it became a blue play. We got in trouble, too. The high point of my high school career.
Using four letter words, in the end, is the sign of an improverished vocabulary. It is so much more satisfying and fulfilling to scream invective at people, or to flame in this forum, without the use of vulgarity and profanity. Over use has killed the impact of the F word, I think. Doesn’t even annoy anymore. We need new filth.
But, as I had written elsewhere, sometimes it’s best to leave the invective to the professionals.