Subject: Re: Profanity on the List
arthur@corlissfamily.org
Date: Fri Dec 28 2001 - 15:30:24 AKST
On Fri, 28 Dec 2001, Joshua J. Kugler wrote:
>
> I would consider this a valid rule of thumb: if in doubt, don't say it.
> There are plenty of ways to express yourself without using profanity.
>
> j----- k-----
While I agree with you in principle -- a good communicator doesn't need
profanity to get the point across -- I would also have say that I think people
should be a little less thin-skinned. To take a free speech perspective:
no one has a right *not* to be offended. Furthermore, most speakers of
profanity (as a former Marine, I can cuss a bluer streak than anyone when
provoked) don't use them consciously. As a previous poster pointed out, it's
common vernacular in some environments.
I would propose *not* summarily booting people from the list *unless* the
problem is endemic. A more reasonable way to combat the use of profanity is
to appeal to everyone's desire to control how they are percieved.
Barring such a policy, I can imagine that my days on this list are numbered.
Especially given my opinion of those whiners who are provoked by every idle
and isolated comment not directed at them to begin with. To those without a
legitimate gripe, I would be incline to tell them to kiss my. . . well, you
get the picture. ;-)
One last point for those not clued in: if you find someone's speech
consistently offensive, don't whine about it, simply send every e-mail from or
to them to /dev/null. You're on a UNIX platform, for crying out loud, use the
tools at your disposal.
Don't try to force your sensibilities on the rest of us who may not share your
sense of emergency in the situation. . .
--Arthur Corliss
Bolverk's Lair -- http://arthur.corlissfamily.org/
Digital Mages -- http://www.digitalmages.com/
"Live Free or Die, the Only Way to Live" -- NH State Motto
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