The F-word

[THECORBYLOON]

ABE I have telt you on here that the automatic censor is or was not working and e-mailed you about a question that contained the F-word. Another question used the same word but instead of censoring it, you put up a flippant response.

No doubt I will be slated for this but this is getting beyond a joke and you have done nothing to discourage those who are doing it.

What is the point of reporting questions if you do NOTHING?

[jno]

I can't speak for other users but yes noxlumos I did mean you (among others). I don't think you're a yob or an illiterate - on the contrary, I find your posts among the most thoughtful and illuminating on the whole site. But I don't like swearing. It's not a question of who uses or understands the words; more one of civility and politeness and the way we adapt our speech with different audiences. Swear in the pub or among friends if you wish; but not among the strangers of all ages you interact with on AB. I say this because some websites of course don't mind but as I understand it AB does mind - at least, it's banned under the house rules. But as the Editor appears not to be bothered by the rules, I have perhaps been guilty of misunderstanding what seemed, on the face of it, to be a pretty clear prohibition.

I am also concerned at the whole notion of rules simply being ignored; I'd prefer it if the ban on profanity was removed rather than just overlooked. Then everyone could swear all they wanted. I think the result would be like ChatterBank only much worse; but if that's what people want, and the Editor doesn't mind, then go for it. I'd hate it, but I guess I'm just prissy.

[THECORBYLOON]

nox, If you have a �reasonable command of the english (sic) language� what part of

�9. You agree that any posting or contribution you make to such forums will not be defamatory, discriminatory, racist, obscene, offensive, threatening or in breach of any copyright or in any way unlawful or objectionable. �

do you not understand.?

�If that is your own opinion then all well and good but please don't pretend to speak for the majority as that clearly isn't the case and I think that most people don't give a hoot if the odd swear word appears in a reasonable context.�

Has every AB member e-mailed you then? Are you psychic? I doubt it, so why not take yir own advice

[noxlumos]

hi Jno, I appreciate everything you are saying and rarely go out of my way to purposefully offend anyone, and generally apologise if I have. However, I think as you suggest that it's time that all of the rules of answerbank were overhauled as a lot of them either no longer apply (or are applied) or need revision. I think it's wholly ok to ban a question which is gratuitously vulgar, but it's quite possible to be exceedingly offensive and vulgar without resorting to saying F**k. So where does one stand with that?I simply feel that we need to excercise some common sense when dealing with swear words which appear in posts that are sensibly put. The "f word" is a ridiculous way of referring to a word that appears in the dictionary and as everyone still knows that it means the word f**k , what on earth is the point?The corbyloon had the downright temerity to call someone a "merchant banker" which is rhyming slang for w****r, but as it's him saying it and cloaking it's meaning he seems to think that's ok but it's a heinous crime to say anything directly. I try to never be impolite unless anyone has really got my back up and apologise unreservedly if you were genuinely offended but if I reported every post that I found personally offensive then it's all I'd be doing all day and to be honest I don't feel I have the right to shut people up just because I don't like what they are saying.This is first and foremost an grown up site so I would have expected it normal for some grown ups to swear some of the time without being made to feel that they were in some way being impolite.

[THECORBYLOON]

nox, I did not call someone a �merchant banker� read that post again please.

As I said before,

�Why is there the need to use those words on this site in the first place? Is it because the person does not have the command of the English language to use a combination of words to get the message understood in another manner?�

I used a combination of words to get the message understood in another manner and it was used in relation to the English "subsidising" the Scots and was a double entendre.

[jno]

thanks for your (polite!) answer noxlumos. I believe AB was intended initially as a family site - but now wonder if that is still the case. But actually, my mention of age groups had in mind not so much the young as the old - people like me. Those born before, I'd say, about 1965 grew up believing swearing was aggressive and insulting, and I know I'm not alone in still finding it so. (For the record, I do swear occasionally, but almost invariably at my computer and never at people.) That's why I personally welcome the ban on profanity. I know younger people couldn't care less, and are not much worried about offending the sensibilities of others - especially older ones. So that's why I suggested it was time to change the rules; if an editor can't be bothered to enforce her own rules, why should anyone else? But I don't know that I'd find it a comfortable place to be if that happened.

[noxlumos]

Oh dear loon, still cut to the quick that the AB Ed is ignoring you? How very frustrating for a person who thinks they are so important that they need to have their name in capitals.
I do not pretend to speak for anyone other than myself, but it's a reasonable assumption that if many people were actually bothered by the odd in context swear word that there would be more questions of this ilk. So far it seems that only yourself, jno, julia and kay have bothered to respond to your pedantic little thread. Oh, and the reason that English is spelled with a small e is that it's a typo error. There were many more before I corrected them, oweing to the fact that it takes me ages to type because I have a brain injury sustained by my father beating me unconscious with a poker when I was 5, but apparently i missed that one. Please excuse me if I don't break my heart over the fact that my typing and saying f**k occasionally offends you, but I find it really tiresome when self important people set themselves up as everyone else's censor.
Now "clear" off.
Polite enough for your delicate sensibilities?

[noxlumos]

Hi jno, thanks for that nice reply. Very sensible statements too. I was actually born in 1960 so that makes me an oldie too I'd imagine. I think the way we all view swearing is entirely personal and sometimes cutural (Americans being WAY more sensitive to "cussing" than we are) and prhaps Irish people like me including it rather more in our everyday speech. Perhaps it's that that makes it appear so non offensive to me, but be assured I'll try to curb it as it offends you and stick to swearing at the loon in rhyming slang since that seems to be ok :)

[THECORBYLOON]

nox, if you swear AT me in any manner, rhyming or no, then I will report it. Again I ask you to read the post, I did not call ANY INDIVIDUAL a "merchant banker"

[noxlumos]

Loon, but you did use rhyming slang to make a sweary word and since I'm oh so shocked I should really report it, but hey guess what I'm not such a tragic little ducking funt as you :)

[THECORBYLOON]

If you want to use Spoonerisms, do it properly.

[noxlumos]

Another order oh tragic one?

[THECORBYLOON]

It was not an order, only advice.

[curiosity]

I was born in 63, we don't swear in our everyday language, and I've never heard my 14 & 15 yearolds swear, but I've seen them use asterixs on MSN and maybe they swear amongst friends. I swear when I have a particular point to make, or when I'm stressed & tired, but this is usually at inanimate objects or myself my partner does the same and so do my colleagues & siblings. I just want to say that in the right context I find swear words passionate, I would also like to add, that many words directed at people or used in texts on this site offend me far more than the F word.

[fee-is-me]

At the risk of sounding like a creep, i believe AB ED does a cracking job and i know many peole feel the same.

Continually saying that she cannot 'be bothered' to enforce the Site Rules is becoming tiresome.

[THECORBYLOON]

fee-is-me,and curiosity one of the rules clearly states that posts should not be offensive and they can be reported for being profane. I

Maybe if ABE said why they were allowed to appear unedited, that would be informative to all.

[jno]

for what it's worth fee-is-me, I think the Editor does an excellent job too - except in this one instance. If profanity is to be allowed, drop the 'ban'. Laws that are enforced only when it suits the authorities to do so are a bad thing.

[drestie]

Sorry to jump into this argument so late, but I would just like to add that I agree with jno about the rules, and I made this point months ago (in relation to chat, not profanity). If this site has rules that everyone has to sign in order to become a member, and if breach of such rules are reportable and bannable offenses, then the rules should be enforced consistently. I am not making any judgement about whether such rules should exist or not; I am simply saying that if you enforce a rule in one instance, you should enforce it in all instances. How can you expect people to follow your rules if you do not enforce them consistently? Ed- please choose your rules, make them crystal clear to everyone here, and stick to them. Is that really so difficult?

[Kay]

Noxlumus. Please dont be sarcastic to those of us who are in agreeance with each other about the use of the profane language on AB. I would bet my boots on other AB users taking offence. As jno and TCB say,rules should be adhered to until or unless the Ed changes them. As for you naming TCB a " Loon" dont you think thats abusive? I certainly do,he has'nt afterall disrepected you. I would think an apology is in order ,dont you on reflection?

[fee-is-me]

Is it just me...............?

Who is TCB...?

And why is it abusive to shorten THECORBYLOON to 'Loon'...?

[Kay]

fee-is-me. As you know TCB is THECORYBLOON and yes I shortened his name as do other users. Have you never noticed the AB ED shortened to ABE? No queries on that one. As for using the word LOON I honestly think it was a cheap jibe as noxlumas could have easily chosen TCB,or his full name or even Cory. Come on fee-is me surely you know Loon is a nickname for Lunatic. There's just no need for nastiness.