Posted on 09/23/2010 4:10:41 PM PDT by don-o
The increase of vulgarity and profanity on this board is troublesome to me. It was not always so. I can remember the “olden days”. There was no profanity. None. And there was no chat. None. The first Freepers held one another to a high standard of discourse.
I wonder why and how the profanity has become so common? The rule in the reply box includes “no profanity”. Do we have a problem of definition as to what constitutes profanity? Does replacing one of the letters in the “F” word with %## or ! mean that we have not used profanity in our posting?
I’m not really sure where to go with this. Certainly the site owner and his empowered moderators are the arbiter of what is to be allowed. I guess the best I would hope for is to encourage us all to think just a bit more about trying for forceful language without gutter language.
That is all.
Oh and I thought this was an opus...
...it is safe, nothing to see here, move along.
A/H, bastard, and B/S stays in my vocabulary. They are all connecting words that complete a thought.
Now, the one cuss word that bothers me more than any of them is... Huckabeee.
Anyone that uses that horrible word should be banished for all time.
I’ll go wash my mouth out with soap now.... 3 or 4 times.
Nope.....their manners. Ball caps are optional.
What about blogpimps? We should ALL rage against blogpimps!
Stinkin’ dirty filthy plagiarizing scumbucket blogpimps!
EEEEYAAAAAGHHH!
Yes. The site owner is known for his free use of profanity. His house and his rules. He can certainly have rules that he violates and does not enforce.
I understand all that.
I am appealing to the rest of us.
Everyone needs a hobby.
The use of vulgar language has become more prevalent and accepted in our daily lives- in all situations - not just online; and NOT just when we are frustrated or angry. It's as if it's expected of everyone to use this gutter language...to be ‘cool!’
In the several years I have been online, participating in message forums and chatting with people, I have seen a definite downward spiral in the language we use with each other.
The sad part about it is...the more you hear/read it, the less offensive it sounds! We build up a tolerance!
I, personality, hope I never get to the point of not being, at least mildly, uncomfortable with vulgar language!
But that's just me...
Junie
I have a friend who says “mother puss bucket” instead of MF and “gaul darn it” instead of GD. To me, these are just as offensive as the words for which they are substituted. Man assigns the meaning of words, which is why gay no longer means “happy” in common usage today.
I am guilty of using “d@mn, a$$, and hell” occassionally, but honestly, I assumed that since those words are approved by the FCC for television, it would be okay on FR. I will make an effort to stop using them.
Discussion points:
- Is cursing in Spanish still cursing if the reader doesn’t speak/read Spanish? (e.g. pendejo for a-hole)
- Is “WTF” considered profanity? When I use it, I mean “dubya tee eff” literally and not “what the ——.”
Profanity is a big problem in the military. I’m one of the few who avoids cursing. Some actually think that is a sign of weakness. Little do they know.
Could it also be a large % of children raised in day care and not at home*******
Don't know about others,l but that is just plain boring...I can understand an all men's area, but to some of us females, it is a little juvenile junior high school stuff...but we are not prone to complain about it..
IMHO, the racist posts about Michelle Obama are far more offensive than some of the mild profanity. I am embarrassed to see freepers say such hateful things. I don’t like the Obamas either but calling the FLOTUS a wookie (and much worse) makes us seem like a hate site, IMHO. I’ve only been here two years though, so I don’t report abuse unless it’s so offensive that I think the mods would delete it.
Yes, John did it first mom so it must be OK.
“In some cases, this might be accurate, but it still is not a direction I would like to see Free Republic heading down.”
Agreed 1000%!
Often I see myself pulled in that direction, but I restrain myself from hitting the post button out of respect for...FR, Jim Robinson and his staff who have worked so hard in providing us this forum, myself, all other Freepers, and the person that I’m posting to (even if they don’t deserve it).
FR has certainly changed in that respect from its earlier years. As time has passed so have the lives of some of the earliest posters.....All lot of them are with their Maker!
I’ve noticed that although some freepers will slip now and then, the most agregious offenders are the same people over and over again......they also seem to be the loudest in proclaiming their conservative purity to the exclusion of any contrary opinion.......boorish behavior if you ask me!
Maybe the admin mods could enforce a 2-3 day to week suspension for those that regularly exhibit this behavior?
I hate the idea of censorship, but Conservatives, if they are true to their conservatism should be self restrained....if not, would it be out of line to remind them of that important Conservative trait?
Here’s an idea. Bookmark this thread and when we see a post with gratuitous profanity, paste in a link. I think raising awareness is the only way that has a chance of raising the level of the discourse.
Yeah no joke. I grew up in Midwest river town. Way different world than some of these people here are used to.
“Here’s an idea. Bookmark this thread and when we see a post with gratuitous profanity, paste in a link.”
Good idea! What do ya say folks?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.