AAARRRGH, my reality!

[Flint]

I was reading a dwellar laying into another dwellar with obscene profanities, and it didn't bother me. As an adult, I realize that sometimes you use that manner of speech (I myself curse like a sailor) in real life; then, if you are being honest on the internet, you'd use that same manner of speech, right?

But, actually, probably not. Because most places, I think, are probably moderated for "offensive" language, right? I mean, I came here because I had been on AG, which has no law and order whatsoever, and SteveBsjb told me there was another great unmoderated board over here.

But, is this the internet that most people get to experience, or are they living in an extension of the sanitized, politically correct world we all walk around in, with fake smiles and minty breath?

Is it possible that the internet could someday have the life regulated out of it? I had a flash-forward of us as old fogeys, telling the youth about how you used to be able to say anything you wanted on the internet. It rang true because I've heard this kind of thing before, about how "We just did it that way, and nobody thought anything about it, and nobody got hurt, but it ain't like that anymore."

Or have we turned a corner in our cultural evolution where the information in our heads has a conduit to flood outward upon the Earth and carve new pathways, eroding right through the stratified layers that were set down in the olden, unenlightened times? That doesn't ring true, because #1 we always think we are the modern, civilized, better people than we used to be and #2 we never are.

Man, I just can't get any work done today.

[lookout123]

i'll promise not to swear at TW like that anymore if you'll promise not to hurt my brain with posts like this anymore.

[DanaC]

There's a fad at the moment on one of the game forums I frequent, for dealing out infractions for hate speech. This has started to get a little silly with some over enthusiastic moderators and people are getting infractions for calling people faggots.

Now...the guy who posted recruitment posts for his neo-nazi gaming guild with thinly disguised names like Histler, i can understand somewhat. I can even understand it if someone was calling a gay man faggot in a really nasty way, or advocating a policy of banning faggots. But this is just kids calling each other faggot. Ffs.

[lookout123]

I belong to an Arsenal forum and an industry forum. neither is very active, IMO, because the moderation and rules are pretty heavy. I don't get it - it's the internet. I like our rules here - don't be a completely overthetop annoyance and you can stick around and play.

[Griff]

Fire is cleansing.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Flint

I was reading a dwellar laying into another dwellar with obscene profanities, and it didn't bother me. As an adult, I realize that sometimes you use that manner of speech (I myself curse like a sailor) in real life; then, if you are being honest on the internet, you'd use that same manner of speech, right?

But, actually, probably not. Because most places, I think, are probably moderated for "offensive" language, right? I mean, I came here because I had been on AG, which has no law and order whatsoever, and SteveBsjb told me there was another great unmoderated board over here.

But, is this the internet that most people get to experience, or are they living in an extension of the sanitized, politically correct world we all walk around in, with fake smiles and minty breath?

Is it possible that the internet could someday have the life regulated out of it? I had a flash-forward of us as old fogeys, telling the youth about how you used to be able to say anything you wanted on the internet. It rang true because I've heard this kind of thing before, about how "We just did it that way, and nobody thought anything about it, and nobody got hurt, but it ain't like that anymore."

Or have we turned a corner in our cultural evolution where the information in our heads has a conduit to flood outward upon the Earth and carve new pathways, eroding right through the stratified layers that were set down in the olden, unenlightened times? That doesn't ring true, because #1 we always think we are the modern, civilized, better people than we used to be and #2 we never are.

Man, I just can't get any work done today.

I was going to reduce your quote to be more specific in my response, but I have changed my mind.

"Honest"? I bet we have different understandings of that term. Because I think 'Honest" is what you are. Even if that means saying one thing and meaning another, even if that means lying. '"Honestly", you're a liar.' (note double quotes, please, I'm not attacking you). We can't know everything beforehand. I think we're "honestly" composed of all our actions and words (and inactions...).

Perhaps you meant something like, if I swear like a sailor in real life, and I don't swear like a sailor on teh cellar, I'm being dishonest. If you meant something like that, I'd have to disagree again. I monitor my language all the time; I'm responsible for my language all the time. Even when (*sigh* especially when) I say stuff I later regret. Still responsible. And I believe it is still honest (whatever that means) when I say something I later wish to retract. I make mistakes all the time.

And another thing, I am conscious of what I say (almost) all the time. That often means holding my tongue. Would you consider that dishonest? That I forgo saying something I'm thinking? My expressions on the cellar are a pretty good match--wait--better--my expressions here are consistent with how I communicate in real life. Is that the honesty you're thinking about?

I sometimes lose my temper. I sometimes speak in anger. I don't like it when either of those things happen. I like a clever remark. I like being grateful. I like it when I feel like I understand something, including the thoughts and ideas of other people.

I'm rambling, sorry.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Griff

Fire is cleansing.

Thanks for that, unabomber.

[sweetwater]

Weird: I just read about The Clbuttic Mistake from a link at Dave Barry's blog today. Although I am uncomfortable reading profanities and character attacks at the forums I visit, more because it seems disrespectful to innocent bystander/byreaders and looks ignorant than because of the use of such language, I much prefer unmoderated boards and hope they remain the standard for the 'net.

[Undertoad]

STAN: And besides, too much use of a dirty word takes away from its... impact. We believe in free speech and all that, but... keeping a few words taboo just adds to the fun of English.

[Undertoad]

And so it goes. I want to be part of the population that holds no word as a "curse", that believes that words are all fair game and have their place in the language.

And yet, when I hear J's daughter saying I fucking can't fucking go to the fucking thing tonight because my fucking car has a fucking somethingorother, I know that she's kind of lost the impact of it in her teenage need to set herself apart. She might as well just say fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck fuckity fuck fuck fuck, because that will have the same impact.

But if she said I can't go to the thing tonight, because my fucking car..., that would put the entire emphasis on the car and it would be meaningful.

[DanaC]

't ain't always about impact though, with swearing. Sometimes it's more about the release of expletives. It's almost therapeutic.

[monster]

Originally Posted by DanaC

't ain't always about impact though, with swearing. Sometimes it's more about the release of expletives. It's almost therapeutic.

hear, fucking hear

[Juniper]

UT, that's what I was gonna say when I read the first post. I don't mind swearing when it's used in an appropriate context for an understandable reason. It annoys me when people use it just for the hell of it, just to be doing it, just 'cause they can.

I don't use profanities that much, but when I need to, I like to be able to use at least mild ones. Like up there in that last paragraph, for the hell of it. Some people would freak about that. Like my daughter. If I say, "don't be a smart-ass" she has a hizzy fit; I'm supposed to say "smart aleck" but that isn't what I mean. I mean smart-ass!!!

But to go back to the question - no, I don't think the Internet will be regulated like that. I think SOME places will be, as they are now. Just like real life.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

But if she said [i]I can't go to the thing tonight, because my fucking car...

What if she'd said, "My car is dead, and that means I can't go the thing tonight, and I was really hoping for a good fucking?"

[DanaC]

Hahahahahahaha. Oh that made me laugh.