Time For The Profanity Police?

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:29 pm

This past week seems to have brought out some profanity on the 'Deck in a number of posts. While some have gone back in and softened their rhetoric, other words seem to be flowing into the cracks.

I have no doubt that some people feel that profanity is part of their free speech. Others no doubt, feel troubled by this "upping of the ante" in the written word department.

As young people may no doubt read our postings here, I thought this would be a suitable topic for discussion. Should we be as accountable as other media sources in our use of profanity?

Where is the line, if any, on this 'Deck?

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:32 pm

I'm an admin/moderator on another forum for a different topic of course, but we have profanity filters and our forum rules strictly prohibit profanity to keep the board "family friendly".

People still seem to be able to get their point across and have fun without it so maybe it's something to look at here.

Kenneth Warren · Post by **Kenneth Warren** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:27 pm

Speaking only for myself, I regard the LO as a civic communication channel, signaling in language and image the order symbols and sentiments to which each of us belongs. There is a firm ethical expectation built into the LO project, I believe, which hinges on the personal responsibility that joins our words to our names. For the most part, the ethical expectation and civic signal have allowed for a relatively high standard of speech and self-organization.

My preference is for each of us to exercise common courtesy, decency and self-censorship when making statements on the LO Deck.

Kenneth Warren

Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:37 pm

I am no fan of profanity, but I am actually far more concerned about the amount of deception, hysteria and outright lying on this board. The Deck is becoming increasingly similar to the Insect Board.

Frankly, if I were a candidate for any of the offices I would not post here (except, of course, to promote my endorsements and meetings).

Kenneth Warren · Post by **Kenneth Warren** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:54 pm

Mike:

You are making a broad categorical accusation concerning the veracity of statement on the LO Deck.

Hysteria is one thing for which Freud believed he found a cure. The talking cure for our hysteria may be mophing toward a more economical posting cure.

But can you give me some examples of Ã¢â‚¬Å“outright lying on this board?Ã¢â‚¬Â

Are we not compelled ethically to correct untrue statements in the LO Deck, if we know the truth?

Is the quantity of material being put up more than the community can correct and bring into the light of truth?

Kenneth Warren

Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:35 pm

No, it's not my job to be the "fact police", so I won't be calling anyone out today. Frankly, it's not worth the time and trouble to get into foodfights with people on this board.

Frank Murtaugh · Post by **Frank Murtaugh** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:02 pm

Vulgarity and profanity should not be permitted on Deck. Help show the way to younger readers by maintaining LO's high standards. I find it sad that the question needs to be broached.

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:59 pm

I am on the fence on this subject.. I could roll either way... Let me know what everyone else wants...

Mark Crnolatas · Post by **Mark Crnolatas** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:25 pm

Since day 1, the "lay of the land" on the Deck has been "No Censorship".

I might agree that at times it doesn't seem to belong, but I also think that the no censorship rule has been part of what the Deck is.

So, in my humble opinion, I think we should continue the policy.

Where it might be needed, is like any other freedom. If someone logs in and fills a post with a profane word, like the following, then maybe...the censoship rule should be thought about again.
Example using non-profanity:

duhddugdugdugdugdugdugdudgugdudgudgdudgugdudgdugudgdgdugdugdugdugdudgudgdududgduguddugdugdudgd

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:09 pm

Well I think the issue comes down to how friendly do you want the forum to be for children?

I think there's a big difference between censoring ideas and opinions (as is common place on other Lakewood boards) and censoring profanity for the sake of making this site safe for all ages.

I haven't really noticed it as a big issue. But if it were to become one, I would be ok with profanity being filtered.

Brian Pedaci · Post by **Brian Pedaci** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:30 pm

If someone is swearing gratuitously, maybe it'd be the neighborly thing to do to just make a polite request to tone down the language?

Jim DeVito · Post by **Jim DeVito** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:18 pm

Brian Pedaci wrote:If someone is swearing gratuitously, maybe it'd be the neighborly thing to do to just make a polite request to tone down the language?

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:34 pm

All

The Deck, the paper and the Observer is used in many school classes, as part of Civics, journalism, and other classes. As such it does make me want to deliver a little classier product.

That said, in the end we are framed by our words on the Deck as we are in real life. Our thoughts, actions and words define us, in a very real sense. Many many people have come in flamed out and collapsed at the door of the Observer. Many are now legendary.

The secret is never get to high or too low. The Lakewood Observer, unlike blogs has the ability to self center. As one group of person goes to far one way, the social norm of the board and the city pulls it back. It was not all that long ago I had to go door to door looking for Republicans to take part. Now I hear it is a Republican Deck! I just smile, and as always tell them to write the story and right the perceived wrong.

I still think the only word that is automatically edited on the deck "old-lady" which is automatically changed to "his better half" as a joke between DL and myself. It has been so long I could be wrong.

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:27 am

One story that I heard long ago, that seems to have at least some basis in fact is that "swear words", at least in the English language, originated in 1066 with the Norman Conquest of England.

It appears that speaking the Anglo-Saxon language was discouraged, or outright forbidden in Merre Olde England back then.

So Anglo-Saxon words, in particular, describing certain bodily functions went to the bottom of the proverbial word barrel.

The French word for evacuating one's bowels?

defecate- perfectly acceptable these days, right?

The Anglo-Saxon? a four-letter word beginning with "s".

The French word for, well you know what, and again acceptable; fornicate.

The Anglo-Saxon word? A four-letter expression beginning with "f".

This would probably be a fascinating study for anyone so inclined.

I, for one, having a speech problem that improved with an amazing and (I believe) utterly miraculous surgical procedure a few years ago, decided that I could not honor my God, (who in my opinion, helped the speech situation to get better), by expressions of profanity.

For profanity to come from my mouth after that surgery giving me articulate speech, would for me, be a disgraceful thing.

Although I will confess that in times of stress, I've let a word or two slip, I make a concerted effort never to swear again.

Jim's right. We are indeed framed by these written words. It's a solid reminder that whatever we say or write, can in truth, never be taken back.

My grandmother said it best, I think, by the way.

An apology is a lie. If you said it, you meant it.

She also said that a person using profanity could not be taken seriously, because they had neither the vocabulary, nor the temperament for civil discourse.

I think that's a pretty good summation too. At least it makes sense to me.

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:43 pm

"T-h-e_l-i-t-t-l-e_w-o-m-a-n" is the only phrase that is presently censored.

If you type it in a reply the dashes (without the dashes and underscores) and preview it, you'll see what the phrase changes to. We thought it was funny.

I've been heartened that even in the midst of heated discourse, posters remain pretty civil.