Oh Dear, the things I found today...

[JayW]

It's nice having a balance of this moralist forum where one must watch one's "P's and Q's" and "other" forums where i can swear and curse and grumble where i'm purely surrounded by likeminded individuals and no-one gets on their soapbox because (to all intents and purposes) we're all adults and I for one am happy being "salt of the earth"...

[mds141]

I agree so does this mean i can go through all the old posts and change any suject heading i feel is inappropriate or possibily offensive to a minority! Good job i don't own a toyota MR2 which when pronounced in French is shit!

[scarecrow]

I have to admit that, generally, I swear like a proverbial trooper (I also smoke like him too). I don't regard it as being a reflection on my intellectual ability (such as it may be), but I do dislike it when I misjudge a social situation or when I forget myself...

I think generally swearing can simply be an outward sign of the comfortableness people feel in being with each other. Conversely not swearing can be a way of showing respect for others - or perhaps discomfort in their company.

If I want to read too deeply into this I could say that I feel offended by people who use high-morality to demonstrate that they are better than others...

Having said that, I'm perfectly happy not swear on this forum, any more than I have to



Right thought, right speech and right action. Right on!

EDIT: I think I just repeated, but with less clarity, what you blokes above just said.

[scarecrow]

I think its just a slow news day (week?), some times you just have to make stuff up to keep the audience interested.

actually did laugh at that

[Philip Chidlow]

(I apologise in advance if you are offended by swearing!)

This is a very interesting discussion, chaps.

This forum is a good place to be! Made better IMHO by the general level of decorum exhibited.

It's only being suggested that THREAD titles be self-censored - but even then, only when it comes to common swear words of a certain level of crudity. Otherwise, why not accept the use of **** (the 'C' word) if you are going to allow SHIT or FUCK? All anyone's saying is give some respect for visitors and other users of the forum by just inserting one asterix or whatever to acknowledge that you are not being disrespectful.

At the risk of being accused of being some imperial moderator wannabe (not!): Personally this thread title could've had the title Sh*t! and nobody would've mentioned it at all. Funny old world isn't it!

Not everyone (I don't necessarily count myself amongst them) likes to be assailed with the language of the terraces (or trenches etc.!)... After all - the BX Project forum's got that base covered

[JayW]

After all - the BX Project forum's got that base covered

And that's why i love it so! Home.

[Vanny]

I don't get the 'C' word, i mean its a word, like many others, but why do the general population take such offence to it? I know many many people who do, but ask for an explanation of why and all i ever get is 'its a horrible word', no it's not, its a word, what are you on about?!? Grrrr

Oh and as for the insinuation that the BXP is the 'SouthPark' of web forums, well it is, but I like to think we just get on well I have personally met all but one member over there, and i've only met a small number of members here, and i've been here since day two!

[Oscar]

I don't get the 'C' word, i mean its a word, like many others, but why do the general population take such offence to it? I know many many people who do, but ask for an explanation of why and all i ever get is 'its a horrible word', no it's not, its a word, what are you on about?!? Grrrr

See, words don't just exist in a vacuum, hanging there since time immemorial. They are invested with meaning derived from context, understood by speakers and hearers. The C-word has worthy indo-european and anglo-saxon roots and a reading of Chaucer will show that it was in common use in mediaeval English.

Nowadays, it is offensive. Offensive because our society has moved on from Anglo-Saxon gender relations, because we've decided that all people are due respect, and that referring to women's genitals by vulgar terms in public is not acceptable. The C-word is invested with the inherent misogyny of language - most men spend a lot of time trying to get a piece of c*** (and I'm using that turn of phrase deliberately), but then, whether because of an ancient fear of women's menstrual cycle, or of shame at being pussy-whipped, or out of some misplaced macho urge to reinforce their apart-ness from women (who after all only give birth, nurture, and complete the cycle of life), feel that they need to take the object of their efforts and turn it into the worst sort of abuse.

And enough people, many of them women, some of them men, have said that this is unacceptable and offensive, and if we want to be better, we have to start using better language, language being the mirror of our thoughts and the expression of our internal life as it is.

Hope that clarifies matters.

[JayW]

I don't get the 'C' word, i mean its a word, like many others, but why do the general population take such offence to it?

I agree! I can think of a dozen other names for the female genitalia, but none upset people anywhere as much as that one. Which, intself is rather odd

Oh and as for the insinuation that the BXP is the 'SouthPark' of web forums, well it is.!

Well, i'd say that's a fair Analogy!

Cartman: Vanny
Kenny: Mat
Kyle: Me
Stan: Doc
Chef: Smiffy...

[Vanny]

Hope that clarifies matters.

A little, its certainly the first thoughtful response I've ever had to the question. I've never had the desire to apply the term to a woman, and nor do i consider it a term for women's genitals. That could be why i just don't get the objection. I refrain from its use due to societies desire to restrict free speech, and for no other reason.

[Defender110]

I don't get the 'C' word, i mean its a word, like many others, but why do the general population take such offence to it?

Me neither in the spoken language, I don't find it any more offensive than other sware words that would be used in it's place and I too have wondered why it appears to be a greater offender.
I find it almost endearing when spoken in a cockney accent

But strangely for what it's worth I must admit althought I don't mind swearing when spoken in certain situations and in moderation I personally do not like to read it on a forum in it's full form. Abreviated to show emotion yes but I think if I saw it in a title (i didn't) I simply wouldn't open or join in that particular post.

In regards to moderation, I have been extremely impressed with the moderation of this forum in fact compared to other forums I'm on I find it perfectly moderated so wouldn't pressume to offer any oppinion for improvement. I would however like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the moderation team for all their hard work that contributes so much to keeping this the excellent forum it is. Thany you guys!

[mat_fenwick]

Well, i'd say that's a fair Analogy!

Cartman: Vanny
Kenny: Mat
Kyle: Me
Stan: Doc
Chef: Smiffy...

So in what way am I like Kenny? Or shouldn't I ask?

[electrokid]

And enough people, many of them women, some of them men, have said that this is unacceptable and offensive, and if we want to be better, we have to start using better language, language being the mirror of our thoughts and the expression of our internal life as it is.

Clear as a bell Oscar - excellent post Sir

[docchevron]

Good thread this is turning into, and all this from a shit... amazing really..

TBH Defender, it's not exactley hard work moderating here, very little is required most of the time, because we are all grown up's and discuss stuff publicly and reach agreement more times than not.

There's a pretty good bunch on here, and even if I dont agree with everyone all the time, I do respect the thought and knowledge that goes into many of the posts I dont always entirely agree with if that makes sense, and I'll never stop anyone from holding any view they show choose or edit anything anyone has to say unless it's absolutley neccessary for the greater good, and then an explanation is given. I think it works well enough on here..

To return to the BXP / South Park medly, I'll leave you with
"oh my god they killed Kenny!.....you bastards"...

[scarecrow]

I have to admit that I love the word c*nt! I would like to see similar sentiment and imagined meaning attached to prick, or whatever... Personally I think people who are offended by certain words want to be offended, to demonstrate that they are better than others. That's probable a bit c*ntentious. Isn't it the case that those who take offence to this word are the same people who have given it such imagined potency?

I thought c*nt was used by a French lady in one of those Shakespearian plays (Richard the something-or-other, "Once more into the breach my friends"). Isn't "cont" a French word for "idiot"?

Swearing has its time and place - strangely at both ends of the emotional stick. Sometimes a post littered with invectives bothers me, but only on a similar level to an untidy house. Swearing is great when used to reinforce meaning - but when used spuriously serves only to cloud what's being said.

I still look back to that interview with the Sex Pistols when Johnny Rotten shattered a few of the illusions about English class subservience.

I hope I'm not talking bollocks?