Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Private Messages - censored?

monica, already been done, in a most amusing format:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

As a military veteran I can (and often do) swear like a sailor - but am able to restrain myself when posting on the internet. We have a broad spectrum of folks participating in PW - and we should behave accordingly - which includes avoiding profanities and being civil to each other. So what's the big deal????

I totally agree. It's mind-boggling.

-J

I wouldn't have minded as much (maybe not at all) if it had been announced and explained rather than having it take us by surprise.

Yes, I'd vote for more transparent communication from the moderators to the masses in general-- simple, clear statements about software changes, permanent and temporary bans, that sort of thing. But... their site, their rules. No problem with that.

-J

Understood.

I felt the same way recently when our health insurance plan (for which I pay an arm and leg every month) stopped covering "massage" in conjunction with chiropractic services - and didn't bother to notify us in advance. What a pain !!

I was being sarcastic with my earlier post, FYI, and just as we should respect those who preach "proper and clean writing", we should respect the choice of those who like to express themselves in a different manner. It's a two way street.

Besides, there's no good word to substitute "[censored]!!!" when you happen to be particularly ticked off about something. And why should anyone take offense to that is beyond me. They're words, they're not directed AT anybody.

Plus, if I say "[censored] you" it can be just as offensive as being able to type the word itself. Moreover, it can even be MORE offensive because you don't exactly know what I wrote, but I'm sure you can let your imagination run wild... I honestly don't see the big deal; after all most of it is in good humour - a concept lost on some people.

You can click on 'Quote' for any post you want to see the actual curse words on. For instance, click 'Quote' on Angie's post and you can read what she wrote verbatim.

Angelina, I just discovered something about the forum censoring software. It only applies to how it's viewed. If I want to know exactly what you said I just quote a reply and it will be there in the editing pane. Your words do not actually get changed in the archive, just how it's viewed in the forum. So I can truthfully respond I'd love to, but the age difference would be awkward.

Heck! I discovered that myself before when I quoted a post by Pogo.

And if people want to see what I really typed for that first word up there (where it says "heck"), all they have to do is look.....

That's exactly how I feel about the other side of the argument. The world isn't going to end because someone can't say **** in a PM on an internet forum.

Isn't it really more about what is "appropriate" for a forum in which 12 and 13 year olds sometimes participate ??

Not just 12 and 13 year olds but people in general who find such language offensive.

Just for the record i couldn't care less, but i try to save using bad language for my friends who also don't care and avoid using in front of people who do.

True.

That's actually a more interesting subject than might meet the eye.

First of all I imagine you'd say the same thing about using it in their speaking too.
So let's talk about the whole thing.....

Maybe this will be taking what you said too literally, but you're implying that the only reason to do or not do something in communication is for "effectiveness." How about for expressing oneself, and for the feeling that you get from expressing it a certain way? (and avoiding the stifling effect of being inhibited from expressing a feeling)? I would suggest that this is also a strong reason for ways of communicating. We might disagree on how large a portion that should be, but if you disagree that it's any portion, IMO you would be mistaken.

Once we acknowledge that this reason is also in there, to any extent, the subject becomes up for grabs.

P.S. For what it's worth, in "The King's Speech," the ability to let loose with obscenities was portrayed as being important (or at least not irrelevant) to his getting over his problem -- and I agree with that, although this can be taken to simplistic extremes -- and, by extension, we might say that in general, overly inhibiting such communication isn't good for the human condition. Sure, lines need to be drawn. But IMO it doesn't make it to say flat-out that there's no good reason for such expressiveness.

LOL It is true... This way people will notice swearing even more because they will be curious and quote passages to know what the word was...

It's a great subject. If we're talking about 'communication' and getting meaning across, then I'd say slang can say more in one word than an author can elegantly write in a few sentences.

That said, this is a public forum.

I agree with Mr. Haddock, in that I really have nothing against foul language, but I reserve my use of it for when I'm alone or with someone who I know will not be offended by it and who can understand the spirit in which I'm using it. I'm also happy to not see it on internet forums (fora?) because there already is too much drama and uncivil behavior, and foul language especially without benefit of any non-verbal cues, only tends to fan the flames.

While we're on the subject of language, THANK YOU for getting this phrase correct. It's one of my pet peeves.