Who else is fed up with swearing on MN?

[ByJingoes]

I have been trying to have this discussion on another thread, but don't want to hijack it further.

I am thoroughly sick of excessive swearing on MN. I am sick of encountering posters with sweary names (not least because I have to hide MN as soon as the children come into the room).

MNHQ, could you please look at this again? Every time I mention this on threads, I am told that I have a cat's bum face (which is immensely irritating) and to eff off to Nethuns - yet I loathe the huggy/kissy/hunny stuff, and detest moderation. We are all adults and don't need to be censored. However, part of being an adult surely means having some consideration for other people too?

Here is Justine in May 2005:

"Hi all,
We've had a few complaints about obscene language on the boards. Our policy on this is that we would appreciate it if people would keep foul and abusive language to a minimum and that if you feel it necessary to swear to make your point then use asterisks please [...] we don't want to be over-prudish about this - we're not talking minor offenses here - and sometimes (parking attendant, gp receptionist annecdotes etc etc) we agree that nothing else but a swear word will do but it's a fair point that lots of members look at mumsnet with kids who may be early readers at their side and as the saying goes... less is more sometimes, so if you could use your discretion it would be much appreciated.

Ta very much."

That seems eminently sensible - but MN seems to have somehow slithered into a site for sweary people only.

Am I the only person who is utterly fed up with it?

I read this really interesting article which pretty much sums up what I think.

I you Velvet

now like that you fuckers

Like

In answer to the OP, I agree insofar as thread titles and posting names are convened. I think swearing shouldn't be used in either of those. As for in a these... Fine. Swear as much as you like. I often do.

Why, if people don't object to swearing, is it seen as objectionable in thread titles or posters' names? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!

BIWI

I don't object to swearing in names. I don't really like swearing in titles so much.
It just looks a bit shouty to me to be honest. Same as the competetive swearing threads. I don't tend to join them, don't really like them.

I like a good well dropped profanity. I am just a bit less keen on 'look at me I am swearing'
And I think it is reasonably easy to know where the greatest amount of swearing will be (aibu, chat, bfing/ffing ) and a poster who wants to swerve most of it can do so. If it is all over active convos it gives the whole site a slightly different tone.

I don't like to swear at people who don't like it is all really. The shouty 'we fucking swear so fucking fuck the fuck off' just leaves me a bit cold.
But if they are here then they have to accept that they will encounter it. Bitching about it annoys me

I don't care about any of it.

Swaear don't swear blah blah.

Feed the world, man.

Wanker.

I think if you're thoroughly sickened by it and are sick of encountering sweary names you are very much in the minority.

When the swearing on here is aimed at or about another poster I don't like it but it doesn't make me want to hide it. The same goes for sweary titles which suggest that some DH/MIL/SIL is in for a stabbing from the OP, - not keen on those and I don't bother reading them.

If it's done in fun about an inanimate object then I don't see it as offensive in the least e.g. 'what the actual fuck has happened to my toaster?' - all ok with me.

MN has good and bad parts, I generally like it the way it is though.

When the swearing on here is aimed at or about another poster I don't like it

unless of course said poster totally deserves it

"Why, if people don't object to swearing, is it seen as objectionable in thread titles or posters' names? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!"

It makes perfect sense.
If you have a sweary posting name, every single thing you say includes a swear word. Which is unnecessary and too "in your face".
Swearing in a thread title is like standing in a shopping centre and shouting CUNT at the top of your voice. Again, unnecessary and too in your face. These leap out far more than a swearword contained in normal text.

An occasional swearword slipped into a normal conversation/post is another thing entirely. I would never advocate a swear filter or ban for posts.

It is about consideration for others and a bit of balance. No different from not putting "Santa doesn't exist" in a thread title.

TethHearseEnd, thanks for that. It was my much loved Gran's favourite expression, though I doubt that she had the faintest idea about its origins. She died last week, so I am using it at the moment in honour of her.

"Well, if you find swearing offensive, and Mumsnet is too sweary, then maybe Mumsnet isnt the right forum for you."

So what is the right forum? It's certainly not Nethuns (see above). Is MN only for people who want a swear-fest? If so, that's sad, as there's much about MN that's great. It just seems that every single thread I look at (and I tend to avoid AIBU, bf/ff, private/state etc) descends into swearing and in jokes.

It feels a bit like going to a massive toddlers' tea party. One toddler says 'poo-poo head' and gets a laugh, so all the others join in, not realising that it has long since gone stale and boring.

Feeeed the Worrrrrrrrrrrlllllllllllllllllllllllllddddddddddddddd

Let them know it's Christmas time

Or at least elevenses.

But I am not sure what your point is?

If I found a forum a little like a toddlers tea party then I would stop using it.

I wouldn't tell anyone to leave but I am just bemused.

But OP you're saying 'I want to play here with you lot, but you lot must change your ways'

It's not going to happen.

poo poo head.

taking MN out of the equation for a minute... I don't object to swearing but that doesn't mean I would go to a meeting with the headmistress and tell her to fuck off. I wouldn't use any swearword at all when talking to my mother. I certainly wouldn't have a conversation with the Tesco delivery driver and ask them what the fuck they fucking thought they were doing substituting my organic apple juice for a cunting fruit shoot.

Does that make no sense at all either: that I don't find swearing objectionable but have occasions and places where I wouldn't use swearwords?

i don't know why someone would want to post on MN or even read it if they don't like swearing. Why not go somewhere with swear word filters?

I have several things I would like to change, it that's all right.

No - I'm saying that everyone needs to be a bit more considerate if MN really is to be something other than a marginal site for sweary parents.

I agree about the in jokes, I really hate that. So quichey and a bit horrid.

what constance and paggy said.

And once again: where is this mythical place where you can have funny and intelligent conversations when you're supposed to be working, without it ending up with someone calling somebody else a c* 'just for a larf'?

Mumsnet

By Sweary Parents,
For Sweary Parents..