Lord Herbert wrote on Jun 22
nd, 2016 at 1:42pm:
Brian Ross wrote on Jun 22
nd, 2016 at 12:54pm:
So, you'd accept any swear word, Herbie? You have no taboos? Words you were taught were too naughty for polite conversation? Mmm?
It's not quite as simple as you are suggesting. Firstly let's assume everyone here is adult enough to put limits on their use of ugly words.
If the filter is here because a tiny percentage have no control over their language - then I totally disagree with a filter. These cretins should simply be expelled from this forum as too immature be a member of it.
I also believe there are those rare occasions when even the worst of the nasty words seems right and fitting even to the most restrained among us.
If you treat people like small children, then they will take that as a cue to behave like small children.
Shortly after WWII in the US, a program was started to reduce anger in young Negroes in the big city ghettoes.
The juvenile courts sent them to a certain catholic priest in one of the southern States where he was in charge of the barracks and the training regimen there.
One of the exercises he had them perform was designed to reduce latent hostility and aggression due to poor self-image.
It was counter-intuitive.
He would line up two rows of 10 boys facing each other, and then in turn, each row would hurl every sort of racist and other kind of abuse at the 'passive-recipient' row of Negro boys.
Maybe 5 minutes from one row, and then it was the other group's turn.
After several weeks of this, the words became almost meaningly, and the power vested in them had almost entirely dissipated with endless repetition.
The moral of the story: "Suck it up and learn to deal with it without taxing your emotions".
(Aquascoot will be along shortly to conclude this lecture and to ask for donations to help with our Outreach service that finds homes for feral brumbies).
I think you mean that the "words became almost meaningless", rather than "meaningful", Herbie.
Desensitising works for some people. However, for others, it works in reverse, making people more sensitive towards nasty words.
Personally, there isn't much that makes my hair curl. Ten years in the Army saw to that. Most Australians have heard it all before, at least once, if not more often.
I once worked for a Government department and we bought a new email filter appliance ("computer" to the lay person like you). I was tasked with implementing it to stop spam and I noticed that the filter included "bad language" options. I asked my boss whether we should turn them on. He suggested that would be a good idea. I shrugged my shoulders and followed instructions. All email ceased flowing in and out of the Department's servers within 48 hours and we received complaints that no one was getting any email. It seems that Australians routinely, even in official communications utilise much more robust language than our American cousins across the pond. I turned the filters off and email started to flow again.
Even so, I shy away from using some words because I find them upsetting because I know how they upset my friends. I was taught to never use the "c" word. I was taught to never use the "f" word. I was taught to never call a person a derogatory name, such as the "n" word or "a" word, Herbie. As a consequence I never do. I might occasionally use the "f" word but I'll never use the "c" word.
I'm just interested if you consider any words "taboo", Herbie. Do you?
As for the expulsion of the expletive users, I have little problem with that, after they have been warned. If the fail to comply with the warning then they can be out on their arses for all I care.
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