On Tue, 27 Jul 2004, Roger Merchberger wrote:
> Rumor has it that Ed Kelleher may have mentioned these words:
> >At 07:16 PM 7/26/2004, you wrote:
> >>What stupid fucking creatures. Good thing too. If they actually had any
> >>sort of intelligence they could take over the world.
> >
> >This is the 3rd time you've used the F word recently......
>
> [snip]
>
> Are the list archives working? I haven't checked - but if they are, give
> 'em a quick check - this issue usually comes up once a year or so, and you
> will see that Sellam in the past (and quite probably will be in the future,
> if I'm given a bit of latitude to /assume/ here...) has been completely
> unswayed by arguments posited to him to modify his particular (preferred?
> ;-) usage of the American language.
>
> <MODE="DevilsAdvocate">
>
> My question is this:
>
> If you were offended enough by the word to use a euphemism in your response
> (and a bible quote as well), why didn't you star it out or otherwise mangle
> it in the reply above? ;^>
>
> </MODE>
The whole discussion is ridiculous, if not entirely futile. Even if you
were to star out one or certain letters, people still know what word
you're referring to. So in effect, you're still using the word, because
the understanding is there, and the actual word still pops into the
reader's head and sends them into whatever apoplexy (or not) that they
are prone to when stumbling across such words.
Some people will argue that these sorts of words are only to be used in
certain circumstances. Like they hold some super special value...like
perhaps, they are sacred? What? I thought those words were profane?
Sacred or profane? Which is it!? I say they are neither and both. God
or Gawd or who the hell ever gave us free will, and He gave us these words
to use and a mouth to emit them, god damn it! So I'm going to make full
use of the Gifts that God Gave Me!
When will this entirely way too priggish society we live in get over
itself already? One of the most enlightening moments I've had in recent
years was when Hans Franke was visiting a few years back. We were
watching some show on TV (probably on Comedy Central) where some swear
words were bleeped out. I, of course, having been raised in this
obnoxiously Puritanical society, did not flinch. But Hans was like,
"What!?" He was befuddled. Over what I did not know. I thought maybe
he didn't understand the joke that was said. No, no, he understood the
joke just fine. He was shocked--shocked!--that the curse word was
bleeped! This distinctly American practice had been lampooned on German
television, and he thought it was just the Germans poking fun at the
uptight Americans. He was astonished that the practice was real and
alive in the 21st century!
I am too!
Grow up already! You're an adult now. Mom will not be washing your mouth
out with soap. You can really say these words! Really!
Rejoice!
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
Received on Tue Jul 27 2004 - 11:52:20 BST