Mark, very well said. You might also include that it's not just a particular word or words that can offend, but even how ordinary words are used, what context they are used in.
On 8/15/05, Mark A Kruger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My .02 on the language issue.... > > In my view what qualifies as objectionable language varies from person to > person, but the level of objectionableness should NOT be determined by the > person doing the "saying" but by the person required to listen. It takes so > very little to be civil... why not just accommodate everyone. In most cases > swearing and foul language is an attempt to bully and shock - or a > substitute for thoughtful articulation. > > If you, as another human being, say to me, "I find that word offensive." > Then I find it pretty easy to say, "that's cool - I won't use it anymore > where you are forced to hear it." Seems like a pretty easy compromise to me. > In fact, I find this effort so trifling that I suspect folks that rise up in > defense of their "right to hurl the f-bomb" are probably unwilling to give > ground in any situation. This smacks of an attitude that puts personal > freedoms and rights above personal responsibility, engaged community and > civility. > > This list hosts folks of all different persuasions, faiths, nationalities > and backgrounds. It seems to me to be the minimum effort to simply not use > profanity - or at the very least to respond with respect and contrition when > someone takes offense. It's not as if writing to the list is the same as > shooting off your mouth and saying something offensive due to indiscretion. > You have to actually think about what you are typing. Why offend people on > purpose? Does it help explain your CF problem or it's solution? Does it > encourage anyone - or even constructively criticize? I'm not a prude > either - I just find it without merit... useless. Why turn people off? > What's the point exactly? I have yet to hear a compelling argument. > > Mostly, folks just comment on how "unreasonable" people are who get > offended - which is just an attempt to enforce the lowest common denominator > in the group dynamic. We are a long way from high school folks. We are all > old enough to know that the world is a lot bigger than our little slice of > it - and the more we learn the more we realize how little we actually know. > There's no reason why, on a list as divers as this, a higher standard should > not prevail. > > -mk > > Mark A. Kruger, CFG, MCSE > www.cfwebtools.com > www.necfug.com > http://mkruger.cfwebtools.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:215123 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
