Son of a Gripe

Grandstander · May 2nd, 2007, 12:57 PM

I was wondering if you might give some consideration to the idea of FanHome growing up a bit and alligning its moral standards with those which prevail in general.

My feeling is that if a word is in common use on television, there is little point to trying to protect FanHome posters from that word.

It used to be that on tv words such as "pregnant" were not even allowed. Now the list has been reduced to the seven most offensive words around and not among those seven are:
ass
B-i-t-c-h
b-a-s-t-a-r-d

The power of those words to shock and offend have evaporated through common deployment and easy familiarity. I don't believe anyone thinks that you are truly cursing when you say that someone "fell on his ass" and I certainly wasn't cursing just a little while ago when I used the word bast...ized" to describe an alteration in a particular dynamic....and discovered that the bas.... part had been censored. That's annoying. Further, bas... and bit.... are legitimate words with legitimate uses that also happen to get employed as in more vulgar terms. If we censor those, why not censor "Dick?"

The toothpaste is out of the tube in terms of those three words and it isn't going back in....they have become acceptable for common use....except on FanHome.

Is there some compelling reason that FanHome must lag behind in this area?

bedir than average · May 2nd, 2007, 06:42 PM

Grandstander, I will review the list we have and see what makes sense to me.

LongtimeBravesFan · May 4th, 2007, 05:59 AM

On the original Baseball Boards, the word "gay" was banned. That created a problem when we had a discussion about Hall of Famer ***lord Perry.

John F · May 5th, 2007, 05:04 PM

Well, this sin't getting us anywhere -- no one is putting up any comments.

Grandstander had originally brought this up with me privately and I had told him that I would have no censor in place if I hadn't been asked to re-invoke the censor after people had noticed the F-bombs and other 4 letter words slipping in.

Grandstander is right htat certain language has slipped past the age of censoring. The word that rhymes with witch had been quite a shocker to hear just 15 years ago and now gets said much more often on broadcast television.

I'd ask members whoa re concerned parents to chime in -- or even the kids on the forum. WHat's your take on this?

TITANFAN · May 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM

I have a take on this.

Just because NETWORK TV puts something on the air doesn't automaticly make it right or acceptable. Had to get that out.

Now as far as what goes as far as Fanhome is concerned comes down to the opinion of one man. The founder. It's his site and he had a vision of something good. I applaude his effort. So much I take my personal time to help uphold his dream. This place is unique to all others. I hope it stays that way.

jim

Dan · May 5th, 2007, 08:25 PM

In a civil discourse, I see no reason for these words to be able to be used here. So...as this place is supposed to be for civil discussions, what exactly is the point of allowing these words? Granted, I think only a small few are actually offended by these words, but I wouldn't let them be used by the reason I stated above.

Nighthawk · May 6th, 2007, 07:52 AM

I agree that the contributors on this board are bright, articulate people and are perfectly capable of communicating their emotions and ideas without profanity. Indeed, such language usually is an indicator of strong, often hostile opinion, and that is certainly a direction we do not want to go in. Re: GS's particular two words, there is an argument that can be made that 'b-a-s-t-a-r-dized' is a word which can be employed fairly safely. However, I can't think off the top of my head of a context in which 'b-i-t-c-h' is necessary or will somehow further discussion in a positive way. I'm a pretty big believer in 'they're only words', but even so I don't use them when my Grandmother is in the room. I think that sentiment is along the line of the position Fanhome is adopting.

Still, the observation that what gets through the filter and what doesn't is arbitrary is a valid one. I think, though, that the unofficial PG-13 generalization is a good place to start even as I am aware that several of the words in question (and some which are worse) do slip into such movies.

MrBill82x · May 7th, 2007, 05:36 PM

B-astard isn't even remotely offensive in my opinion and in my experience. The only time I ever call anyone a "b-stard" in actual conversation is usually a friendly shot at someone, where I clearly don't mean it.

"Dude, I just won Red Sox/Yankee tickets on the radio!"

"Ah, you b-stard..."

B-itch depends on the context.

Calling someone a B-itch is offensive. Phrases like "sonuva b-itch" and "b-itch" used as a verb are not offensive in my opinion.

Rapier · July 4th, 2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Well, this sin't getting us anywhere -- no one is putting up any comments.

Grandstander had originally brought this up with me privately and I had told him that I would have no censor in place if I hadn't been asked to re-invoke the censor after people had noticed the F-bombs and other 4 letter words slipping in.

Grandstander is right htat certain language has slipped past the age of censoring. The word that rhymes with witch had been quite a shocker to hear just 15 years ago and now gets said much more often on broadcast television.

I'd ask members whoa re concerned parents to chime in -- or even the kids on the forum. WHat's your take on this?

Grandstander says there is a lag in this area.

Is there some compelling reason that FanHome must not lag behind in this area?

Is there some sort of race to expand our children's vocabulary to "every word in the book?" Should a 12 year old child's conversation and reading material be flecked with cursing?

I'm am certain English is sufficiently prepared to get its message across without invective.

We don't need cursing on Fan Home.

May 2nd, 2007, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Grandstander Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Northern California Posts: 6,616	Son of a Gripe I was wondering if you might give some consideration to the idea of FanHome growing up a bit and alligning its moral standards with those which prevail in general. My feeling is that if a word is in common use on television, there is little point to trying to protect FanHome posters from that word. It used to be that on tv words such as "pregnant" were not even allowed. Now the list has been reduced to the seven most offensive words around and not among those seven are: ass B-i-t-c-h b-a-s-t-a-r-d The power of those words to shock and offend have evaporated through common deployment and easy familiarity. I don't believe anyone thinks that you are truly cursing when you say that someone "fell on his ass" and I certainly wasn't cursing just a little while ago when I used the word bast...ized" to describe an alteration in a particular dynamic....and discovered that the bas.... part had been censored. That's annoying. Further, bas... and bit.... are legitimate words with legitimate uses that also happen to get employed as in more vulgar terms. If we censor those, why not censor "Dick?" The toothpaste is out of the tube in terms of those three words and it isn't going back in....they have become acceptable for common use....except on FanHome. Is there some compelling reason that FanHome must lag behind in this area?

May 2nd, 2007, 06:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Grandstander, I will review the list we have and see what makes sense to me. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

May 6th, 2007, 07:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
Nighthawk Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,716	I agree that the contributors on this board are bright, articulate people and are perfectly capable of communicating their emotions and ideas without profanity. Indeed, such language usually is an indicator of strong, often hostile opinion, and that is certainly a direction we do not want to go in. Re: GS's particular two words, there is an argument that can be made that 'b-a-s-t-a-r-dized' is a word which can be employed fairly safely. However, I can't think off the top of my head of a context in which 'b-i-t-c-h' is necessary or will somehow further discussion in a positive way. I'm a pretty big believer in 'they're only words', but even so I don't use them when my Grandmother is in the room. I think that sentiment is along the line of the position Fanhome is adopting. Still, the observation that what gets through the filter and what doesn't is arbitrary is a valid one. I think, though, that the unofficial PG-13 generalization is a good place to start even as I am aware that several of the words in question (and some which are worse) do slip into such movies. __________________ "Whenever the word 'fair' features so prominently in legislation, the odds are that it is economically illiterate" -Rich Lowery What am I doing with your tax money? Sustaining the realm according to caprice.

May 4th, 2007, 05:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,655	On the original Baseball Boards, the word "gay" was banned. That created a problem when we had a discussion about Hall of Famer ***lord Perry.

May 5th, 2007, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,510	Well, this sin't getting us anywhere -- no one is putting up any comments. Grandstander had originally brought this up with me privately and I had told him that I would have no censor in place if I hadn't been asked to re-invoke the censor after people had noticed the F-bombs and other 4 letter words slipping in. Grandstander is right htat certain language has slipped past the age of censoring. The word that rhymes with witch had been quite a shocker to hear just 15 years ago and now gets said much more often on broadcast television. I'd ask members whoa re concerned parents to chime in -- or even the kids on the forum. WHat's your take on this?

May 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
TITANFAN Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 365	I have a take on this. Just because NETWORK TV puts something on the air doesn't automaticly make it right or acceptable. Had to get that out. Now as far as what goes as far as Fanhome is concerned comes down to the opinion of one man. The founder. It's his site and he had a vision of something good. I applaude his effort. So much I take my personal time to help uphold his dream. This place is unique to all others. I hope it stays that way. jim

May 5th, 2007, 08:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dan Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 256	In a civil discourse, I see no reason for these words to be able to be used here. So...as this place is supposed to be for civil discussions, what exactly is the point of allowing these words? Granted, I think only a small few are actually offended by these words, but I wouldn't let them be used by the reason I stated above.

May 7th, 2007, 05:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
MrBill82x Rookie Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 11	B-astard isn't even remotely offensive in my opinion and in my experience. The only time I ever call anyone a "b-stard" in actual conversation is usually a friendly shot at someone, where I clearly don't mean it. "Dude, I just won Red Sox/Yankee tickets on the radio!" "Ah, you b-stard..." B-itch depends on the context. Calling someone a B-itch is offensive. Phrases like "sonuva b-itch" and "b-itch" used as a verb are not offensive in my opinion.