Guy Alcala wrote in
:

Krztalizer wrote:


I'd have to disagree: if there is no doubt what the word is, how are
anyone's presumably tender sensibilities being protected?


Because there are youngsters that visit newsgroups as well as us old
pharts - personally, I'd rather not be the one to add select words to
their vocabulary. Will they learn them? Most certainly. Hopefully,
not from me.

Gordon, how many youngsters would you say visit this newsgroup? Aside
from the occasional adolescent, who usually doesn't stick around very
long and who has undoubtedly long-since learned these words (as they
usually resort to them when their wild claims are demolished by the
regulars)? I'd say very few, and if they're mature enough to find
this newsgroup and understand the conversations, then they've been
exposed to far more swearing and adult language in their culture than
either you or I likely were at a similar age. I grew up watching
"Leave it to Beaver" re-runs, not the "Simpsons" or "South Park," and
there weren't any 'gangsta rappers on the radio (and no MTV) either.
No TV beer commercials featuring dogs biting men in the genitals, no
ads for Viagra, Levitra, or incontinence products, no Jerry Springer,
etc. etc.

I believe that's called "the dumbing-down of society",that when the public
accepts some previously untolerated behavior,that it gradually becomes more
acceptable for more previously-untolerated behavior.

IOW,the line not to be crossed keeps changing downwards,as people become
used to it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net