Re: OT Survey: Profanity Threshold.

John wrote:


> I know where you're coming from Bob, but I've seen so many changes, that I
> consider negative, in my lifetime that it's difficult to be optimistic.
> When you have people responding such, "Those are part of my everyday
> vernacular...." It's surprising and depressing. Yes, I use a few (very few)
> of those phrases when I have a temper tantrum or hit my thumb with the
> hammer, but in general conversation I don't use any of them. I did a hitch
> in the Marine Corps, bounced around six states in my life and have worked in
> many scenarios, and have heard everything imaginable, but do not find the
> need to use that type of language to express myself.

John:

In decades past, as a direct result my hippie lifestyle, I've spent
about 10 years of my life in various jails, county camps, and prisons,
both State and Federal. So like you, I'm not unfamiliar with the use of
profanity.
I occasionally, pretty rare actually, use a few choice curse words when
something in the shop happens that's extremely damaging and
destructive. But I made a personal choice years ago to not use
profanity in my online conversations and I've pretty much adhered to
that decision.

>
> I wonder if the person who feels "Those are part of my everyday
> vernacular..." talks that way to his wife, his nine-year old daughter, his
> mother, or the lady at the checkstand? If so, very sad! I guess I'm just
> too old to appreciate most of the "values" of the generation that followed
> mine. Most of the people who agree with me will consider our culture to be
> getting very course. The people who agree with most of your respondents
> won't consider it course at all, it's just normal. That's the difference in
> us.

I'd have to agree with you that civility in modern society seems to be
eroding. It appears to be much worse online than in real life, probably
because most people have the opportunity to express themselves online in
ways that they couldn't in a face to face situation without incurring
unpleasant consequences.
The anonymity of usenet allows Walter Mity types to act out fantasy
personas that they never could in normal circumstances.

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob
.

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