"John Reimer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > Hello Walter, > >> John Reimer wrote: >> >>> Concerning profanity and swearing. I think many forms of expression >>> should warrant more careful thought. I don't believe profane or >>> irreverant expression has a neutral effect on hearers. We've already >>> seen plenty of evidence of that in here. You may think it's cute and >>> artsy, but I think it does any combination of the following: creates >>> a language barrier, trivializes the original meaning of certain >>> anglo-saxon words, shows general disrespect in communication, >>> demonstrates poor vocabulary, reveals carelessness in thinking of >>> others feelings, etc and on and on. It's like throwing dirt in >>> somebody's face and thinking that's a normal way to interact. We can >>> stamp a "art" sticker on it and call it funny when it is clothed in a >>> comedic role (or any situation really), but this is just as effective >>> as sticking an "ice cream" tab on a pile of manure; there's no way to >>> make it pretty. >>> >> I don't disagree with most of that, except that the language one used >> reflects on the speaker, not the listener. The listener chooses how to >> react to that, and that is the listener's choice. >> > > That's one way to shift responsibility. >
As a listener, I find the suggestion that the speaker is the one in control of my reaction downright insulting. No one's attempting to "shift responsibility" here.
