Inappropriate Language

[Micilin]

I would have thought that contributing to a forum is an intellectual contribution, not a physical one. So, if words you don't like are used because they offend you personally then don't hang around on that internet forum.
Most of the contributors on this forum can express themselves well and some do use words offensively but that is 'the nature of the beast'.
I wouldn't ever confess to my mental afflictions on this forum because I wouldn't want to influence what people said. I would prefer to over-ride them and take some of the things said with a pinch of salt. I do find being insulted on this forum doesn't count because when somebody is 'firing off' it speaks volumes for the contributor.

As you say , it is a forum (and as joe says, it's not real life) .

However, the forum has rules and the onus is on people to abide by them , rather than any resopnsibility to leave being foisted on people who do not like abusive terms being used ( having signed up to the same rules) .

As you say , it says a lot about the poster themselves and their attitude to others but is it wrong to make a stand when you see offensive terms used?

Is it not our responsiblilty to encourage abuse-free exchanges in society as a whole?

Or am I just being naive in thinking that a person with good self esteem, and a sense of belonging to a wider community has no need to be dreogatory to other people because of appearance or disability etc?

 

[skyboy]

I can understand how the term ****** could easily offend someone with a condition. However other than his physical problems I would say that securespark actually seems quite lucid and fairly compos mentis so in effect that particular comment cannot actually be seen to relate to him (and you sir)..

The term ****** has more than one meaning , one medical and another as a derogatory remark against people with a medical condition but equally as a term to describe someone who is not medically a ****** but is just someone who has acted like a fool.

I can understand why these terms could cause offence but there needs to be a term within the emglish language to berate someone who acts stupid.

The term idiot is often used but is also a medical term relating to someone with a low IQ.

I suppose fool is ok but is somehow a bit weak

As a young lad locally we used to berate people with the word 'menner' which was in relation to a local mental institution in the town of 'Menston'

I guess we could look for suggestions for another abusive term to describe someone who has behaved in a way to suggest they hadn't thought things out very well...

any suggestions for a modern alternative...?

How about Blairite?

 

[captaincaveman1]

These sites are taking on the role of the local pubs regards banter and topical discussion in a way but with that is the problem that some people feel safe posting whatever they like because the are not going to get glassed or punched to the ground or have an angry mob chasing them down the road just simply given a ban and then moving to another forum so really theres no way to prevent it.

 

[Micilin]

I can understand how the term ****** could easily offend someone with a condition. However other than his physical problems I would say that securespark actually seems quite lucid and fairly compos mentis so in effect that particular comment cannot actually be seen to relate to him (and you sir)..

The term ****** has more than one meaning , one medical and another as a derogatory remark against people with a medical condition but equally as a term to describe someone who is not medically a ****** but is just someone who has acted like a fool.

I can understand why these terms could cause offence but there needs to be a term within the emglish language to berate someone who acts stupid.

The term idiot is often used but is also a medical term relating to someone with a low IQ.

I suppose fool is ok but is somehow a bit weak

As a young lad locally we used to berate people with the word 'menner' which was in relation to a local mental institution in the town of 'Menston'

I guess we could look for suggestions for another abusive term to describe someone who has behaved in a way to suggest they hadn't thought things out very well...

any suggestions for a modern alternative...?

How about Blairite?

You see, this is the kind of argument I am looking for -

My problem is that using a term that describes a disability as a form of abuse is offensive whether is is directed at me or not.

For example, when I was young,' Spastic' was from a medical term and acceptable but as time went on it became used as a form of abuse.

When directed at someone who did not have a medical condition, then its use implied that there was something 'wrong ' with a section of people.

Society as a whole decided to move on as the language evolved and replaced this term with another, and park the word 'Spastic'.

(I have heard my sons use the term 'spaz' when rowing and asked them what they thoguht it meant etc etc but that's another story. I still hear 'Mongol' being used in another context, but that is mostly generational)

Liikewise '******' is meant to imply that the person on the receiving end has some form of learning difficulty.

If one feels that its okay to use that kind of disablity as a peg to hang one's insults on, then I would say the user has a very limited awareness of the use of language and its effects.

This may be a lack of education or awareness rather than deliberate. So the onus is on the rest of us to make people aware and hope that they have the tools to take it on .

Many people behave stupidly, or do stupid things occasionally. Myself included. However, if I was called a '******' or similar I would not so much feel personally insulted as annoyed that someone was using a group of people's disability in this way .

The test for me is would you use the word in front of a person who you classed as being in that group?

Anyway, thanks for making some decent points, skyboy

 

[Susiejb]

Some very good points there, this discussion has been interesting.
With regard to AssociatedAlarms comment about the language used by imamartian last night. I too think it was extremely offensive, the fact that it was late at night has nothing to do with it, how do we know who accesses the site at any time of day or night.
The fact that we have 'user names' and are afforded anonymity has nothing to do with it...this is a site that is open to everyone, GD is not a private members only facility for the elite few who can say what they like when they like, and while arguments and banter will exist it should surely be governed by the same rules we would all apply in our normal lives.
I don't hide who I am on here I see no need whatsoever to do that because I hope that I will never post anything that I would be ashamed for my friends and family to read.

 

[skyboy]

Well there you have made a very interesting observation.

You are quite right I would never use the term ****** relating to someone if there was someone who was an actuayl retarded in the vicinity.

However since that also means that I would only use the term in relation to other people then it is clear that you are not actually saying thats someone is actually retarded but that they are behaving as if they rae.

As it happens I don't use the term ****** as I find it too offensive to use on anyone and if I am particularly exasperated with someone then 'fing idiot is about as strong as I go...although again idiot is actually a medical term.

 

[joe-90]

There are a few on here that should be banned. Not me though eh?

 

[alumni]

There are a few on here that should be banned. Not me though eh?

There's at least one that was, eh skyboy?

 

[subman101]

There are a few on here that should be banned. Not me though eh?

It would be an idea if everyone else is banned apart from you. Then you could quite happily inhabit your little vainglorious oasis of illusion while the rest of us get on with our lives in the real world

 

[alumni]

There are a few on here that should be banned. Not me though eh?

It would be an idea if everyone else is banned apart from you. Then you could quite happily inhabit your little vainglorious oasis of illusion while the rest of us get on with our lives in the real world

He'd start an argument alone in a phone booth, and it would still be the other guys fault!!

 

[Micilin]

Skyboy,

'idiot' is an interesting example of a term that has evolved.

Although it used to be a medical classification (like cretin , but no longer is used as one) it is no longer linked to a specific medical condition, having been used as a term of abuse.

Having been 'de-linked' from a specific group, it became less offensive and now is a term of abuse, but not one that generally offends a particular group.


In time, teh word '******' may go this way as well. but the process is different to 'idiot' as it is passing through a different culture on its journey to wherever it may end up.

 

[conny]

Let me ask a question. Straight forward, no tricks, simple yes or no answer.

Do any of you use foul language in normal conversation with your wife/husband/partner or in front of your children?

 

[AssociatedAlarms]

I do curse in front of wifey, when you trust someone implicitly you need a release sometimes. I do my utmost not to in front of my children or others and succeed 99.9%. I see no need on an internet forum. There are better ways than swearing. Even calling others a fool or an idiot just shows a lack of intelligence and or the lack of knowledge of the subject at hand.

 

[Susiejb]

No and neither would they to me .

 

[Micilin]

No, and it was never allowed when I was growing up.

although I can match anyone on site......