:snipped:
You are, and I won’t.
You’re not.
I’m not particularly fussed either way. There are adult and TMI subjects discussed here anyway which would probably offend some of the same crew who’d get their knickers in a twist over the language used as well. I do show people the board, with the caution (especially here in the Pit) about the language. They can take it or leave it.
One thing I find about the swearing, though, is that it’s boring. Very much so. Folks have a bit of a complaint at times about over-use of in-jokes here; the swearing is far more over-used, and far more of a ho-hum. But, hey – just as folks like the in-jokes (I do), so others like to keep using the same bits of swearing over and over again. We all have to have our little bits of chuckle, I s’pose.
So I suppose it would do no good to explain to these “people” of whom you speak that this particular forum is reserved for more frank, explicit discourse than the others?
Or are they so narrow-minded that they would judge our entire board based on ONE thread title in ONE forum?
:rolleyes:
Maybe. What’s up with the “quotes” around “people” - you think I’m just making this up or something?
I’m sure there are such narrow-minded people out there, but I don’t think I’m talking about them. This is more about my reservations than the actual reactions of my friends and colleagues.
I HATE this emoticon. Why use it here?
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No, of course not. It was simply for the purpose of quoting that word from your post (and a bit of emphasis).
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You’re a charter member and suddenly you have reservations about showing others the board? Has this always been the case or is this a new development?
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Because it accurately portrayed my reaction when I read your post. But, if you prefer, how about :dubious: ?
Judging from the tone of your last post, I can only echo Rhubarb :
You guys are being whooshed if you think **Mangetout **was serious about the ‘fuck off’ part. I am confident he was being fucking ironic.
OK
Yes, it’s always been the case. Only now the question of restricting the content of thread titles arose did it seem worth mentioning. I haven’t, as far as I can recall, felt comfortable to introduce any of my IRL contacts to this board (although the thread titles thing is probably only part of this)
It’s somehow ironic that you would point that out…or iconic.
Very persuasively and eloquently put. I was originally for the idea of censoring thread titles but your sound argument has made the scales fall from my eyes and I see the beauty that is the uninhibited cuss word.
In fact, I think we should reverse the ban. Henceforth all thread titles shall contain no less than (because it is such popular figure around here) 51% swearing. Who’s with me?
Hell, I’m always trying to get people I know to come here, but for whatever reason it doesn’t stick. It’s nothing to do with profanity though; some of my friends are some foulmouthed bastards.
Doesn’t make your analogy right, either. A “significant number” also favored integration — like Lyndon Johnson, for example.
The way I see it is that the community will become whatever you invite. You’ll get what you attract. If we want to attract juvenile mental midgets all excited about typing bad words on an R rated board, then we should just stay the course. But if we want to attract people like Cecil, who can be brilliant and witty on a PG level, then we should at least make the place browsable for newcomers so they can read the thread titles.
You’d still be able to type cuss words in threads. I don’t know why that isn’t enough for you. Why not name the site “Straight Fucking Dope” so we can just stop telling most of the people we know about it?
Contrary to what some might think, it isn’t just religious nuts who object to the infantilism. Lots of people are uncomfortable with certain evocative language. Gaudere once asked me (as a member, not a mod) to please stop using scatological terms because they bother her. She’s an atheist, but was discomforted by them.
First, please stay calm. Nothing is decided or changing at the moment. The mods are only discussing whether there should be a change. And we’re not ignoring member opinion, there are three threads in three different forums on this topic. You have plenty of opportunity to express your opinions, and the mods read those threads. We understand the arguments, believe me. No, we don’t want more rules unless we have to.
If there is some argument that you think we haven’t considered, pro or con or other, please email me so I’m sure to see it.
Best analogy for the suggested change: the Straight Dope column itself. The content is certainly for adults, but the titles are written for the general public. For example:
What’s the origin of the “F” word? and Why is, um, fecal matter brown?
A quick count of the Pit main pages for the first four pages gave five or six titles per page with the word “fuck” or “fucking.” I presume there are days when there are more, and possibly days when there are fewer. That’s 10% to 12% of the titles on the page. Is that excessive?
Fuck no.
Not even fucking sufficient.
And I wouldn’t be comparing this to the column. I seem to recall pulling up the main page when this article ran, featuring a cartoon of a woman masturbating and gushing vaginal fluids. I’m no prude, but that went a lot farther than “fuck” in a thread title. I actually was at work, and had to close the page immediately. Thankfully, that kind of thing doesn’t happen often.
The point of that anecdote was that I didn’t raise a ruckus or bitch to anyone at the Board about it, because I knew what the SDMB was like, as do whomever is complaining now. Hey, they don’t like it? They don’t think it’s “work safe”? Tough shit, I say. The Board has always been thus, and they have all the time in the world to figure out this can be a raunchy place and not return if it offends them.
As for those who think the swearing is “infantile,” well yeah, that’s the point. Like to be all serious and quote Milton? Go to Great Debates.
I really don’t get the ‘like it or lump it’ thing - I think it’s a false dichotomy - there must be other valid choices than just accept it or go away.
Especially since it could apply just as well to the board as a whole. By their logic, if people don’t like a Dope that anyone can browse without embarrassment, why don’t they just go to any of the thousands of message boards catering to juveniles who love typing “fuck” in the titles?
To be honest, I’m not going to pretend that making this one change (if it happened, which I don’t consider likely) would alone make me comfortable enough to start introducing my friends and family to the board - it probably wouldn’t. In which case I don’t think there’s a lot of point, from my POV, in any change happening at all.
I only posted in this thread to try to provide a reasoned counterpoint to the apparently prevailing assumption that anyone concerned about ‘fuck’ in thread titles must either be illicitly posting from work, or a parent overly anxious about their precious widdle kiddums, and that the problem could be avoided entirely by staying out of the pit. They’re not and it can’t.
Hey! Can we use this kind of process in elections? Since third parties don’t stand a snowballs chance we can just limit the election question to:
Election day would be a breeze! Don’t like the incumbent? Just don’t vote!
And I personally don’t give a flying fuck if the thread title lists George Carlin’s seven words as long as the thread itself is entertaining, thought-provoking or at least interesting. Swearing for the sake of swearing is immature. Swearing as a sign of vitriol is OK because, let’s face it, sometimes saying, “Golly gee, I really am perturbed by this,” just doesn’t cut it.
What announcement?? Has it been removed already?