# What's with the use of asterisks in swear words here? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 6, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866 "2003-10-06T14:26:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/21 "2003-10-07T01:49:59Z")
.- -.-. - …- .- .-… / – — .-. … . / -.-. — -… . But with asterisks, to keep with the decor of this thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/22 "2003-10-07T01:53:56Z")
Damn you, **Ilsa\_Lund**! Damn you and your horizontal scrollbar producing post! That makes me so \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*! ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/23 "2003-10-07T02:27:26Z")
Don’t ya mean “D\*mn you, Ilsa”?LD ---
**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:** [October 7, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/24 "2003-10-07T06:55:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*I don’t understand why someone would use asterices in this forum, but I understand why someone would do so in the other forums. We’re not really supposed to cuss in other forums, except for the occasional remark, so sometimes people will cover themselves by using the asterices. \*\* But it’s not like we can’t figure out what the word they’re “disguising” is. How does adding an asterisk make it more palatable? If you wanna use “fuck”, use “fuck”. “F\*ck” is just fucking lame. Or just don’t use the word. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/25 "2003-10-07T10:29:52Z")
It’s more palatable to those who can kick you off here. Using the asterisk is showing the intent without the impact or consequences. I don’t see it as that big of a deal; if you know what they’re talking about, then it’s a moot point. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/26 "2003-10-07T19:05:06Z")
If you’re going to say “fuck,” say “fuck.” Saying “f\*ck” makes it clear that you MEAN to say “fuck,” therefore I don’t see how it is any more palatable than actually saying “fuck.” If you’re in a position where you shouldn’t be saying “fuck,” THEN DON’T SAY FUCK. If you’re going to swear, then swear; don’t pussy-foot around it in a way that hides nothing from anybody. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/27 "2003-10-07T20:40:02Z")
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK Happy?! I’m surprised to find that I’m the only one with enough guts to type it while the rest of you were too scared! 😉 I have no idea why people do it HERE since it’s allowed, but in other forums I’ve been to, they censor it out so if I wanted people to know I meant to say fuck, I have to actually put fu\ **Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/28 "2003-10-07T20:53:59Z") Yeah, I understand why it’s done on censored boards, though I think censoring swear words is dumb (but that’s another topic). It just bugs the he!! 😉 out of me to see it in the Pit, and to a lesser extent, the other fora. As **racinchikki** said, you’re not fooling anyone so why bother? ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/29 "2003-10-08T05:55:46Z")
\*\*\*\*\* _—_ -\*\*\*- _—_ \* \*---- _—_ _—_ _–_- \* \*\*\*-- _—_ _---- **– \* ---- — — –- - ---- -- -**_- _—_ \* ---
**Author:** ![croakdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@croakdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/croakdale)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/30 "2003-10-08T13:17:09Z")
people who write “f\*ck”? stupid cunts. ---
**Author:** ![WhiteyFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@WhiteyFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhiteyFoo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866/31 "2003-10-08T16:52:05Z")
FUCK J_st f#lt the ne&d to j_in in the f_s_iv\*\*ies [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-use-of-asterisks-in-swear-words-here/205866.md?page=1)