When a public figure uses a word that the media consider profane, the print media (digital and paper) loves the asterisk.
Serious question... is writing "bullsh·t" somehow less profane than replacing the asterisk with an "i"? How about "b······t"?
I scarcely see the difference. Can someone help?
Louis CK does an awesome take on this. "You are making me say it - in my head!"
NSFW words...
Bob Costas talking about people grabbing Bob Costas.
I find it funny when someone replace a good ol' fashioned swear word with one of those 'churched up' swear words. Both are cussing. Frickin is a cuss word. So is all the other replacement words,even the blaspheme-esque "Jimney Cricket" is cussing. Just own it and use the actual words, or just choose not to use it any cuss words at all. Unless it's in a terrible Will Ferrell movie, I usually laugh at those.
EvanR wrote: When a public figure uses a word that the media consider profane, the print media (digital and paper) loves the asterisk. Serious question... is writing "bullsh·t" somehow less profane than replacing the asterisk with an "i"? How about "b······t"? I scarcely see the difference. Can someone help?
We've collectively decided somehow that putting some asterisks in the words makes it all OK. It's like a magic spell that won't work if you mess up one part of it 
berkeley the FCC
it's to appease the censors. We have come a long way since you were not allowed see Barbara Eden's Navel in I dream of Jeannie.
While I do not want to hear every curse word in the book during the news or even during a show, I think it is silly that a small group of people can decide what I can and cannot hear
RossD wrote: I find it funny when someone replace a good ol' fashioned swear word with one of those 'churched up' swear words. Both are cussing. Frickin is a cuss word. So is all the other replacement words,even the blaspheme-esque "Jimney Cricket" is cussing. Just own it and use the actual words, or just choose not to use it any cuss words at all. Unless it's in a terrible Will Ferrell movie, I usually laugh at those.
What if i honestly prefer "frick" and "berk" and "jerkweed"?
Okay, I get why TV is different. You're sitting in the living room watching CNN and somebody says something profane just as your kid is walking through the room. I get why you don't want that to happen.
Print/online media is different. If your child is old enough (and cares enough) to read the Wall Street Journal or CNN.COM, I think they're old enough to read profanity.
Rufledt wrote:RossD wrote: I find it funny when someone replace a good ol' fashioned swear word with one of those 'churched up' swear words. Both are cussing. Frickin is a cuss word. So is all the other replacement words,even the blaspheme-esque "Jimney Cricket" is cussing. Just own it and use the actual words, or just choose not to use it any cuss words at all. Unless it's in a terrible Will Ferrell movie, I usually laugh at those.What if i honestly prefer "frick" and "berk" and "jerkweed"?
As long as you understand that you're still swearing, I guess I'll give it a pass.
I liken it to my Grandma saying "oh shoot". Yes, we all know what Grandma meant, but we also recognize that grandma isn't the kind of lady who would actually curse. Ever.
I think that's what you're seeing in a lot of print media. They acknowledge that these words are spoken in relation to the news, but they're not the type of publication that will print them. I think it's fine.
Quoting a swear word is one thing, the asterisks are fine by me. Writers using swear words in their subject matter, just marginalizes their media for me. If you lack the intelligence to get your point across without resorting to the crass language of swear words, you aren't worth reading.
I, on the other hand swear like a berkeleying sailor.
And when my grandmother said "Oh Shoot." You damn well better make sure she didn't have a gun handy. There is a fair chance she was not swearing.
Toyman01 wrote: Quoting a swear word is one thing, the asterisks are fine by me. Writers using swear words in their subject matter, just marginalizes their media for me. If you lack the intelligence to get your point across without resorting to the crass language of swear words, you aren't worth reading.
Amen, brother. Vulgarity and profanity are the signs of an incomplete thought process.
As for myself, I enjoy the humor in words such as "dangnabit!".
The asterisk is our attempt at maintaining a polite society. But sometimes you just gotta say f**k it.
BTW, if you like words, it's fun to think about the distinction between profanity, obscenity and vulgarity. Toyman and I find vulgarity tiring. Obscenity is what we're really discussing here. And all the best French Canadian swearwords are profanities 
Somewhat related (I think), but does anyone here watch the show Fantomworks on Velocity? Not sure if I am just now noticing it, or if they are trying to "spice things up", but it seems to me like that shop owner swears a whole lot more on camera than last season. Why ??? Just makes me cringe when my daughter is sitting in the same room and yet another (bot always bleeped out) tirade is launched.
I had to ask a student to stop using "frack." It's a cuss word from Battlestar Galactica. Probably didn't think I knew it. Haha.
There are no bad words, only bad intentions. ~George Carlin
vwcorvette wrote: I had to ask a student to stop using "frack." It's a cuss word from Battlestar Galactica. Probably didn't think I knew it. Haha.
It makes the topic and propaganda around hydro fracking so much more entertaining
Nothing gets the point across like an honest "berkeley you".
Keith Tanner wrote:Toyman01 wrote: Quoting a swear word is one thing, the asterisks are fine by me. Writers using swear words in their subject matter, just marginalizes their media for me. If you lack the intelligence to get your point across without resorting to the crass language of swear words, you aren't worth reading.Amen, brother. Vulgarity and profanity are the signs of an incomplete thought process. As for myself, I enjoy the humor in words such as "dangnabit!".
Agreed. Which is why I'm rather disappointed in GRMS for using them. For some years now, in almost every issue, there is at least one profanity or vulgarity. Sometimes it doesn't even work right in the sentence it's in, almost as if it was simply dropped in for no purpose other than to be there. Sorta like cursing in a movie just to get it bumped up to a more lucrative rating.
If it's a decision by GRMS to appeal to a particular demographic or to increase sales, well, I wish them the best. Though I know of three people who have dropped their subscriptions because of their decision to include profanity and vulgarities. It's also been a discussion point among fans more than once.
Keith Tanner wrote:Toyman01 wrote: Quoting a swear word is one thing, the asterisks are fine by me. Writers using swear words in their subject matter, just marginalizes their media for me. If you lack the intelligence to get your point across without resorting to the crass language of swear words, you aren't worth reading.Amen, brother. Vulgarity and profanity are the signs of an incomplete thought process. As for myself, I enjoy the humor in words such as "dangnabit!".
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015-12-17/study-people-who-swear-more-are-smarter-have-larger-vocabulary
Incorrect you berkeleying morons
I actually find myself using 'Berk' in exchange for it's autocorrected swear word in real life conversation. Not because I don't like swearing (I love swearing), but just because I love the forum correction, haha.
"Profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."
Mark Twain
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