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 am resolutely ordinary. I rarely swear in RL and I swear even more rarely on here. But I don't mind at all seeing swearing on MN. It's not allowed on any other forum I'm on and so for me it is a part of the unique culture of MN.

I would mildly prefer not to have swearing in user names, but if other posters feel a great need to do it then it's not high on my list of things to fret about (and MNHQ do tend to ask people nicely if they'd mind changing under those circumstances).

I don't see a connection between moderating swearing and having to go all fluffy-bunny and hold back on proper intellectual debate. People don't swear on Question Time or Newsnight, do they? I would only swear in a conversation in RL if it was in context and I knew it was not going to cause offence to those hearing it, maybe part of a joke or something in appropriate company. I know all sorts of people will read MN threads and a large number will think less of me and my opinion if I swear, also children might read it, MY children might read it, and I just don't see the point.
Less is indeed more. However it doesn't actually upset me, I just tend to ignore posts with lots of swearing.

Absolutely Lissie, completely misses the complexities of religious references in apparently secular British society.

LieIns, I assume that the majority of MN users would not be offended by swearing used in an appropriate context, as the demographic of this forum is slightly more intelligent than the average Briton.

I dont get how its different

Either is massively rude and insulting surely
Either is swearing

Well it is too me.

Any language has thousands of words to choose from why sink to swearing constantly. Seems a waste to me

of course it is. if someone said mohammed, or allah in exasperation, it wouldnt be an issue (and that IS the same as saying jesus christ) saying fucking jesus would be construed as offensive.

I am pretty much the same on here as I am in RL. Swearing included. In RL I swear around other adults in sweary child free situations. If someone is present who dislikes it and I know that, or they say so, I don't swear. Nor to I swear in situations where it is inappropriate.

There are one or two posters on here who I know don't particularly like rough language and I try to make a point not to it on their threads.

I may not be eloquent enough, or witty enough, or intelligent enough for most, but I do try try to be respectful.

oh, and saying Jesus Christ is more of a plea or prayer. not a profanity.

Christianity has a very different place in British society than Islam.
It's part of the fabric of our predominantly secular culture.

like

or, ya know, what timewasting said

"like"

like

Nope, not a problem to me.

It's all about the context. The first thread I saw on here was totally blue but the context, creativity of the swear words and the vitriol levels made tea come out of my nose.

No I dont like it when I hear teens swearing, and I dont like anyone swearing around DS but i will defend to the death freedom of expression in a manner that brings laughter to my otherwise sometimes dull day.

And with that I await the arrival of Fabbychic to articulate her
Opinion of the OP's question.

While Shepherds washed their socks at night, all seated round the tub,
An angel of the Lord came down and gave them a good scrub...

For instance could be construed by some as blasphemy.

Timewasting maybe you won't be offending the majority, but if you are offending 10-15% then why bother? In RL if you were at a PTA meeting or something and most of the people were sweary types, but a few were not, would the sweary ones not try to hold back a bit out of respect?

Like

lieins, but mn isnt a pta meeting. its a night down the pub with your friends. would you expect people to check their language because you find swearing mildly offensive in the pub?

Runs away

Christ on a bike.

Why can't that minority respect the majority's opinion? There's nothing wrong with swearing in context amongst adults.
I don't avoid breastfeeding in public because a minority of idiots find it offensive.

like loike (yorkshire)

Lissie you obviously havent read the threads I have!

Jesus Christ has been used repeatedly as a profanity during the last week alone. In thread titles, in the actual posts.
Over and over again I have seen people post "Oh Jesus Christ" "Jesus Fxxxing Christ" and no one turns a hair.

Its incredably rude and annoying and technically its blasphemy.

If someone said "Allah" or "Fxxxing Allah" in exasperation or as a joke of course that would be insensitive, of course it would be an issue, just as it should be when people swear using the name of Jesus.

The fact that Britain today has a predominantly secular culture does not make it acceptable to take the name of Jesus in vain anymore than it would Allah or any other name. Its ignorant to suggest otherwise.

whats the like thing about?