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When It Comes to Profanity, the Left Can't Help Itself (can the right?)
Newsbusters ^ | March 3, 2007 | Matthew Sheffield

Posted on 04/24/2009 9:42:17 AM PDT by don-o

I meant to post this yesterday but didn't have time to get to it at CPAC. A lot of people have noticed that profanity on conservative blogs is a lot scarcer than it is on the left-leaning ones. Believing this to be a correct hypothesis, I did a few Google searches and discovered that profanity is far more common on the left.

Lucky for my weekend, this information has already been distilled by Patrick Ishmael at the News Buckit blog. He went to Google looking up George Carlin's "seven dirty words" on many of the most-read right- and left-wing blogs. The results are unsurprising to anyone who's observed resident lefties here at NewsBusters.

His study isn't completely "scientific" since it is only a partial survey (leaving off NewsBusters and our count of 822 for instance), however, it is fairly comprehensive.

Anyway, the results are as follows: 1,537,788 instances in left-wing blogs compared to 38,107 (including NB) on right-wing blogs.

That's a pretty amazing disparity there. I'd say it's mainly due to the fact that 1) liberals are less "old-fashioned" when it comes to profanity than righties, 2) partisan anger seems higher when the opposite party is in power, 3) many of the non-deranged left work in the MSM, whereas the the non-deranged right is relegated to the blogosphere and 4) liberal bloggers' limited intelligence stops them from expressing themselves without profanity.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dagnabbit; goshdarnit; profanity; teesmeohtonoee; tinkledoff
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Pulled this from 2007 because I have seen a noticeable increase in profanity and vulgarity on this site. I do not think "out-cussing" the left is a good strategy for reclaiming our beloved Republic. Your thoughts?
1 posted on 04/24/2009 9:42:17 AM PDT by don-o
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To: Running On Empty

ping


2 posted on 04/24/2009 9:43:24 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Private First Class - 1/16/09 - Parris Island, SC)
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To: don-o

it also means the right isn’t angry 100% of the time about 100% of stuff


3 posted on 04/24/2009 9:44:12 AM PDT by GeronL (TYRANNY SENTINEL. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com LIBERTY FICTION at libertyfic.proboards.com)
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To: don-o
I agree. I think the right needs to be passionate and needs to stop pulling its punches. But vulgarity is not a positive contribution to the effort.

I really would like a return to a time of manners and morals. We lost a lot when we threw those away.

4 posted on 04/24/2009 9:44:50 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (American Revolution II -- overdue)
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To: don-o
Perhaps that can be traced to the author's reason #2:

2) partisan anger seems higher when the opposite party is in power

However, we could all go back to our dictionaries and learn a few new words that aren't expletives-better-deleted.

5 posted on 04/24/2009 9:45:52 AM PDT by Tax-chick (O hai. Do I need you for something right now?)
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To: don-o

I’m sick of being compared to what the lefties do and being expected to be ‘the opposite’. Since when do conservatives have to live their lives worrying about what the left does or doesn’t do?


6 posted on 04/24/2009 9:47:47 AM PDT by ReneeLynn (Socialism, it's the new black.)
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To: don-o
I do not think "out-cussing" the left is a good strategy for reclaiming our beloved Republic. Your thoughts?

&^%$%&* yeah.

7 posted on 04/24/2009 9:48:07 AM PDT by JRios1968 (The real first rule of Fight Club: don't invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
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To: don-o

Oddly enough, those on the left would consider themselves greatly superior intellectually, culturally, and Linguistically.

We on the right are just a bunch of dumb yahoos!


8 posted on 04/24/2009 9:49:33 AM PDT by MNDude
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To: don-o

Thanks for pinging me.

I’m ready for some improvement on this site regarding how posters express themselves.

How true it seems to be that when there isn’t an intelligent way to offer a point of view that vulgarity makes a convenient substitute.


9 posted on 04/24/2009 9:50:06 AM PDT by Running On Empty ((The three sorriest words:"It's too late"))
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To: don-o

I saw your post yesterday regarding the Megan Mcain thread. I agree with you.


10 posted on 04/24/2009 9:50:09 AM PDT by SeanOGuano
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To: don-o
"I do not think "out-cussing" the left is a good strategy"

If anything, it means we aren't angry enough yet, about our loss of freedom and liberty.

The Left is permanently in "outrage" mode - over nothing. Except that apparently, it makes them feel empowered, or something.

We actually have reasons to be outraged. Curse words have their place. Those who pretend to be offended, should close their eyes, stick their fingers in their ears, and go, "la la la la ....."

11 posted on 04/24/2009 9:50:19 AM PDT by ChicagahAl (Don't blame me. I voted for Sarah.)
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To: don-o
Pulled this from 2007 because I have seen a noticeable increase in profanity and vulgarity on this site.

It's OK, because we abbreviate and use " *** " and " $%@@! " instead of the actual words.

/effing sarc here.

12 posted on 04/24/2009 9:51:22 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I am Legend)
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To: don-o
I have seen a noticeable increase in profanity and vulgarity on this site. I do not think "out-cussing" the left is a good strategy for reclaiming our beloved Republic.

Do the words "plant", "ringer" or "troll" come to mind?

13 posted on 04/24/2009 9:51:50 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (It's obvious from Nancy Pelosi's appearance that she tortures people every day.)
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To: don-o

I’m proud that there’s not much of this on FR.

When I go to D.U. for a laugh, I’m shocked that almost every sentence has instances.


14 posted on 04/24/2009 9:51:58 AM PDT by Tigercap
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To: don-o
Profane: blasphemous, irreverent; not connected with things sacred or biblical. (From Webster's)

There's your reason.

15 posted on 04/24/2009 10:02:30 AM PDT by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: don-o

Don-o, I was tempted to go for the cheap shot here in order to be funny, but thought better of it.


16 posted on 04/24/2009 10:02:31 AM PDT by exit82 (The Obama Cabinet: There was more brainpower on Gilligan's Island.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
"It's OK, because we abbreviate and use " *** " and " $%@@! " instead of the actual words".

I am not particularly offended by allusions to cussing, when done in a limited amount and with relatively gentle or humorous intent. Also, using code for cuss words shows somewhat more respect for readers who may take offense. That said, I expect people to minimize the use/allusion of swearing (not only to avoid offensiveness), because it is vulgar and says that the speaker/writer is unable to make a point in a reasonably intelligent manner.

17 posted on 04/24/2009 10:06:03 AM PDT by neocon1984
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To: don-o
Pulled this from 2007 because I have seen a noticeable increase in profanity and vulgarity on this site. I do not think "out-cussing" the left is a good strategy for reclaiming our beloved Republic. Your thoughts?

"If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

Vulgarity is a reflection of a lack of self-control. There is nothing positive about it. I associate it with a selfish and hedonistic worldview, and thus by and large with liberalism/secular humanism.

18 posted on 04/24/2009 10:08:15 AM PDT by Liberty1970 (Democrats are not in control. God is. And Thank God for that!)
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To: don-o

Fits the pattern.

My parents always said that only uneducated, small minded, illiterate people use profanity because they don’t have enough knowledge or intellect to use the appropriate words.

In other words, If You’re Stuck On Stupid, You Probably Use Profanity.


19 posted on 04/24/2009 10:11:39 AM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (The Constitution & Bill of Rights stand as a whole. Remove any part & nullify the whole.)
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To: ReneeLynn; don-o
I think the point here is that when people dump an outhouse-full of scatological, sexually abusive and gratuitously offensive language into their internet (or other) communications, they are displaying some disturbing things about their character.

Verbal filth/abuse actively decays intelligence. It is something I detest and will not live with. I certainly value Free Republic highly enough that I will resist even its earliest encroachment here.

20 posted on 04/24/2009 10:14:53 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (When they attack one personally it means they haven't a single political argument left.- M. Thatcher)
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