From: mloy@iupui.edu (Mark Loy) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan,alt.fan.grrm Subject: Re: [TAN] Speaking of GRRM, Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 10:24:29 -0500 In article , jbroeks@cs.vu.nl wrote: > The Great Gray Skwid wrote: > > > As I mentioned elsewhere, and I mean no offense by this, this isn't > > the society you live in. This is a society with self created standards > > of what is and isn't appropriate. Cursing appropriately, for > > emphasis, has been deemed such here. > > Sorry, I don't believe that. This may be tight virtual community with a > couple of rules of its own, but such basic mores as mutual respect are > always derived from the social contexts of its participants. Since these > contexts are quite diverse it follows that the perception of rudeness is > in the eye of the beholder and not "an accepted standard". IMHO you > cannot swear and then, if someone feels offended, claim that he > shouldn't be because "it is accepted here". He was offended, whether you > intended it or not, and you should respond to that appropriately. I don't think that you're looking at this correctly. Consider that you knowingly walk into a biker bar to enjoy the ambiance/have a cold brew. You are going to hear some profanity in that establishment. I know. But try not to be too amazed. The patrons of said establishment have deemed it appropriate within the context of their gathering place. Therefore you can't be offended when someone does what is perfectly acceptable. Oh, you can but that just means you're in the wrong fuckin' place--with emphasis on Wrong Fuckin' Place. Now consider that you knowingly walk into the nightmarish Hell that is a Mormon youth get-togeth...er, uh the uh refined religious civility and grace that is a gathering of devout Mormon youths. You would be, and rightly so, extremely offended to hear these young people say something like, "Yo, motherfucker! You get your dick wet with that skank heathen ho you been scopin' out at the laudromat? I did. Here, I'll let you smell my fuckin' finger if you blow me, brother Samuel." Context, you see. We all learn, as part of our indoctrination into civilized society, what behaviours are appropriate where. At Grandma's for Christmas you don't shout out, "Pass me the fuckin' rice puddin', Big Mommazooka! Whoa, Granny...keep them low-ridin' tits out the god damned mashed taters, could ya?"--or maybe you do, some families do actually swear on a regular basis. Then again you don't walk into an enlisted man's club frequented by US Navy Seals brandishing various religious pamphlets and attempt to get these individuals to see the light. That's what Skwid is talking about. Here, on rasfwrj, we've deemed profanity to be, with moderation, of course, an intricate part of our communication. Fuckin' A, I say! You see? I cursed. I'm a curser. I curse. But I don't curse all the time and I don't curse when I take my mom out for Mother's Day dinner. That kind of thing. ML (Unless she's wearing something *really* hot! Oh, yeah! Momma's got a fuckin' brand new bag!!)