# Dear Ed Zotti. Re: Restrictive Language. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 29, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685 "2011-12-29T00:40:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/21 "2011-12-29T03:16:38Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > And, as an aside, there is some language that I believe is prohibited in all forums. French, me thinks. Vraiment, tu le penses? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/22 "2011-12-29T03:17:35Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Vraiment, tu le penses? Oui, il est vrai. Qui a coupe le fromage? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/23 "2011-12-29T03:55:49Z")
Isn’t this what The Pit is all about? (Although some do bring a knife to a gunfight, they come, um, half-loaded or something.) The above statement is a generalization and is not pointed directly at anyone who is in this thread, has ever been in this forum, or has ever read this message board. Why are you looking here? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/24 "2011-12-29T04:49:28Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It’s like **Wildest Bill** was reincarnated with an Ozzie twist. Why can’t Americans ever get this right? If they spell it correctly (Aussie), they invariably pronounce it “ossy” (rhymes with “bossy”), which is wrong. And when they manage to work out how to pronounce it, they then insist on spelling it like a character from a 1950s sitcom. It’s spelled Aussie, and it’s pronounced “ozzie.” Fair dinkum. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/25 "2011-12-29T04:57:41Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Why can’t Americans ever get this right? > > If they spell it correctly (Aussie), they invariably pronounce it “ossy” (rhymes with “bossy”), which is wrong. > > And when they manage to work out how to pronounce it, they then insist on spelling it like a character from a 1950s sitcom. > > It’s spelled Aussie, and it’s pronounced “ozzie.” > > Fair dinkum. I assumed Fear was referring to Mr. Osbourne. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/26 "2011-12-29T05:00:27Z")
Everyone’s momma is fat. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/27 "2011-12-29T05:18:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I assumed Fear was referring to Mr. Osbourne. I believe it was a reference to [Ozzie Nelson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzie_Nelson). ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/28 "2011-12-29T06:58:46Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I assumed Fear was referring to Mr. Osbourne. I guess that’s possible. I just assumed that, because the OP has Australia as his location, that was where the reference came from. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/29 "2011-12-29T07:55:50Z")
Plenty of cites spell aussie,“Ozzie” or even “Ozzy”. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3e96dc/32.png) [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dennis_Arthur_PERRETT)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/30 "2011-12-29T07:58:37Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Everyone’s momma is fat. Yeah, your but your mumma claims good and services on her fat. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/31 "2011-12-29T08:09:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Plenty of cites spell aussie,“Ozzie” or even “Ozzy”. Plenty of people also write “definately” and “hypocrasy” and “wierd.” Ask 100 actual Australians, and i suspect that at least 98 will tell you that it’s spelled “Aussie.” ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3e96dc/32.png) [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dennis_Arthur_PERRETT)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/32 "2011-12-29T08:20:57Z")
I thinks its a bloody good idea. Treat it like a game. Some one who has put a bug up ya arse, challenge in a formal fight in the BBQ pit rather than a slanging match on the street. Verbal Gladiators or a boxing match for word wise Muhammed Alis, full of vitriol and sharp, fiery wit, should be fun I reckon. Have it a controlled setting make it short and fun. Though you have allow some time for the match to play itself out for not everyone is on the computer at the same time. Here are some other thoughts… 1. subject to be chosen randomly. 2. phrased in such a way that it elicits smart arse responses, gives it an element of humour. 3. build into the game that doesn’t allow out and out hatred or bad language to the nth degree, for instance the vote by other dopers is to chose a winner by a smart arse criteria like subtlety of remarks or telling remarks that causes a noticable dint in the other person’s armour. 4. challenger to go first so as challenged gets final word, it would be only fair. Anyway, just thoughts, cause I’m sick of getting moderator warnings whenever I react to my fellow obnoxious human beings’ annoying ways. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/33 "2011-12-29T10:53:02Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Ask 100 actual Australians, and i suspect that at least 98 will tell you that it’s spelled “Aussie.” Yup. (And it’s a pet peeve, but that ‘ozzy’ spelling annoys the daylights out of me for some reason.) ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/34 "2011-12-29T13:07:56Z")
> [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](#): > > Anyway, just thoughts, cause I’m sick of getting moderator warnings whenever I react to my fellow obnoxious human beings’ annoying ways. That should be a hint that something may be wrong with you, not with this board necessarily. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/35 "2011-12-29T13:10:39Z")
You could be an innovator and spell it Auzzzie. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/36 "2011-12-29T13:31:01Z")
There is already a game forum, so if you want to set up such a match (which I believe will be a flop, but what do I know?), I don’t see anything stopping you. Or any reason to make a new space just for it. And there is already a Pit for having at each other, should discussions, in other forums, get overly heated or push the boundaries. You do seem to have some minor suggestions that are little more than moving, where the line is drawn, to more suit your tastes. But even you ought to recognize it’s a large, diverse board and it’s unlikely the lines drawn will ever perfectly suit everyone’s sensibilities. I mean, what’s too offensive, what’s not? No way are we all going to agree. Period. Aussies, Ozzies? Hey, at least we’re not calling you Kiwi’s! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/37 "2011-12-29T14:12:39Z")
KIWIS? That is fighting language… But yeah- what was said above- if you are getting all these Mod notes perhaps you need to look at how you are interacting. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/38 "2011-12-29T15:07:36Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Why can’t Americans ever get this right? > > If they spell it correctly (Aussie), they invariably pronounce it “ossy” (rhymes with “bossy”), which is wrong. > > And when they manage to work out how to pronounce it, they then insist on spelling it like a character from a 1950s sitcom. > > It’s spelled Aussie, and it’s pronounced “ozzie.” > > Fair dinkum. I thought it was pronounced “bloody git”. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/39 "2011-12-29T15:21:41Z")
> [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](#): > > Verbal Gladiators or a boxing match for word wise Muhammed Alis, full of vitriol and sharp, fiery wit, should be fun I reckon. I’m pretty sure you stole this idea from an episode of _Benson_. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685/40 "2011-12-29T15:22:41Z")
> [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](#): > > Anyway, just thoughts, cause I’m sick of getting moderator warnings whenever I react to my fellow obnoxious human beings’ annoying ways. 1. You’d rather the board adjust to you rather than the other way around? Good luck with that. 2. You wouldn’t score very high anyway, if post #30 is any example. “Your mama” jokes were old and tired when I was a kid, and you used a term, “claims goods and services”, that would be unfamiliar to most Americans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-ed-zotti-re-restrictive-language/607685.md?page=3)