Why this policies on flaming and swearing?

**Reverend Joe** · 09-14-2005, 03:05

Originally Posted by Papewaio

There is a time and place for everything.

And yes I can swear like a miner in the right circumstances. But I avoid swearing in front of children, grandparents, ministers of religon etc.

So... don't swear at clergymen? Ooooooh boy...

I need to go write some letters...

(By the way, my grandparents swear badly. They swear more than I do. It's wierd.)

**Beirut** · 09-14-2005, 03:13

As I've mentioned to several posters in the Frontroom, there are about a billion sites that let you express the most insane and vulgar comments. If you feel the need to say **** ***, then go to any one of them and party on.

This site is for the people who do not swear. (Or at least try not to.) If there are limitless sites that allow swearing, why can't there be one that doesn't?

Well, this is the one. Welcome to it.

**Soulforged** · 09-14-2005, 05:50

Originally Posted by Beirut

As I've mentioned to several posters in the Frontroom, there are about a billion sites that let you express the most insane and vulgar comments. If you feel the need to say **** ***, then go to any one of them and party on.

This is not about the place it's about freedom, but I understood the point from the beggining. The problem is not in extent to the internet, that's mostly an unregulated space, i'm refering to society in itself, why is swearing wrong? Why is it considered childish? Do everyone thinks that they are best because they talk with finesse? Is really the best way to express yourself with fine words, when in fact the swearing gets to everybody, from the most educated people to the more ignorant, from one gringo to a chinese. Again i ask this outside the forum subject. The ultimate question will be: Do you let your morality (if any) get on the way you relate to people or do you let for the same porpouse enter the finesse of your vocabulary? Do you think that swearing most be censured or that it should be allowed in any given place?

This site is for the people who do not swear. (Or at least try not to.) If there are limitless sites that allow swearing, why can't there be one that doesn't?

Well in fact many of the sites that i've seen keep the same policies. I only encountered that kind of freedom in latin american forums.

**Papewaio** · 09-14-2005, 06:11

If swearing didn't offend it wouldn't be swearing now would it?

**Soulforged** · 09-14-2005, 06:19

Originally Posted by Papewaio

If swearing didn't offend it wouldn't be swearing now would it?

Well you've a point there, but maybe it's a problem of translation. Does the english language use that word to simbolize the insult towards another person or could it be used to the air or to a third person that is not in the scenario? Even so I don't believe in sentimentalism. Even penal (criminal) cases in my country tend to beging from swearing, i think that the same happens in all western culture, so this restricts freedom a lot. Let's have in mind that many of this criminal cases end on conviction, wich might be prison. But beyond that does limiting the use of vulgar vocabulary acomplishes anything at all? I think that only the physical or patrimonial damage should be the only one protected by society.

**Papewaio** · 09-14-2005, 06:42

No I disagree as a lot of fights start with words and escalate out of control with a heated exchange.

The only reason for swearing is to deride, insult or embarrass another individual in a confrontational scenario.

Swearing when say someone hits a finger with a hammer or a football to the groin is understandable...and it is often used in situations involving sweat... labour, sports and sex.

**Del Arroyo** · 09-14-2005, 08:03

The Spanish language in general has a very relaxed attitude towards swearing and it only becomes serious when directed at other people. In my opinion, this approach is much less hypocritical.

In English (and possibly other north-european languages, who knows) the attitude seems to be sure, swear as much as you want, as bad as you want, at whoever you want, whenever you want, just not in public, because that would be, um, somehow, wrong.

In English people will tense up and start tuttering at the mere mention of certain words. In Spanish, as long as you don't tell anyone to go bugger their mother, you're cool. It seems to me that these people have their priorities straight

DA

**Beirut** · 09-14-2005, 12:00

Originally Posted by Soulforged

This is not about the place it's about freedom,

One man's freedom in another man's anarchy. Besides, this is not a "free" forum. It is a privately run site with rules. You have the freedom to join and follow the rules or to go elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Soulforged

The ultimate question will be: Do you let your morality (if any) get on the way you relate to people or do you let for the same porpouse enter the finesse of your vocabulary? Do you think that swearing most be censured or that it should be allowed in any given place?

Call it morality or simply conventional wisdom. I swear like ten sailors at work. Doesn't bother me or the guys. I do not swear in front of the clients, nor do I say "would you like some ******* cereal for breakfast?" to my kids. It's simply inappropriate. Why? Because conventional wisdom says that swearing in front of little kids is wrong. Along with farting in crowded elevators and burping at funerals. Doesn't hurt anyone, just bad manners.

Originally Posted by Soulforged

Well in fact many of the sites that i've seen keep the same policies. I only encountered that kind of freedom in latin american forums.

Freedom, or lack of regulation?

**English assassin** · 09-14-2005, 12:27

Because conventional wisdom says that ... is wrong. Along with farting in crowded elevators

Wait, this is wrong? Hell.

What if you stare accusingly at the person next to you?

**econ21** · 09-14-2005, 13:00

A particular problem with swearing on the internet is the absence of body language, tone of voice etc all the stuff you rely on in face to face contact to understand communication. We just see the cold hard text[1]. It's hard enough to avoid over-reacting when faced with a strong view expressed without swearing; if it were laced with expletives, it would be almost impossible.

[1]Hence the frequent use of smillies as softeners by Org staff.

**Soulforged** · 09-15-2005, 00:55

Originally Posted by Beirut

Freedom, or lack of regulation?

Well lack of regulation, when it's rationally applicable, like in an space for discussion, wheter it's a forum in the internet or your house, makes it more free. This terms of rationallity are applied all along the law, like for example your first emendment or my article 17 of the Constitution.