You know we have acronyms to help new MNer's, well can we have this as well?

[sorkycake]

Further to a recent post about the term "bf mafia" being one of the phrases frowned upon, it occurred to me that there might be other phrases or terms which get people riled immediately, or which people take the hump with.
Sometimes it's not necessarily obvious to new posters or those of us who haven't seen past squabbles/debates that offence could be caused. Yes the offence can be corrected in the thread, but that can be a little embarrassing can it not?
Is it possible to compile a list of terms which MN'ers can agree would be preferable not to use?
I understand that we can say what we like on a forum (well not strictly true) but it might help avoid some awkwardness. Just a thought

I have realised the reason I object to this is because I like being able to post "fuck" on this site.

Quite what that says about me...

Well how would you define what was considered offensive? What is offensive to one person is not to another. We would end up with a list as long as your arm (whoops a person with no arms might take offence at me saying that)

I think it is a bad idea personally

Me too Hunker

Oh, and I do get cross from time to time that FFS is not included in the acronym list

No - bad idea. Sorry.

Who decides what's in and what's out?

It's not as simple as saying the users decide 'cos we've seen the sort of arguments that broke out over culturally different uses of words.

WHat might be more useful is some guidance somewhere on how to gently advise a poster that an expression they've used could be offensive... a set of words to cut and paste from somewhere.

Or perhaps a smiley which you use to say - sorry but I find that word 'X' [offensivicon)

The trouble is that people don't respond in a measured manner but generally with a personal attack, rarely considering that the poster may have used a term inignorance, or not excuising it in any case. And then the point that the [poster was trying to make gets lost in the flack.

FFS is on the acronym list CD.

ooh so it is!

Thanks I'm sure it wasn't last time I looked

You know what really helped me when i was in this place

The thought that my craving for a fag was all a big con

It's not like it actually does anything for you is it? Why is it that there are 3000 words for getting drunk, pissed, arseholed etc but not ONE for the effect that smoking has on you (ooh I'm gonna go out and get really nicotined tonight doesn't really sound right does it?)

And that is because....it doesn't DO ANYTHING! All it does is stop you craving a fag. So it it one big con really.

so break the cycle and hey presto (hopefully)

whoops wrong thread!!

Awful idea, censorship, control, revolting

Surely instead of telling people (newbies) what will or may cause offence, it would be better to have a little note reminding people who have been here longer and should know better that jumping on a new user for using a phrase that may be common place for them is rude and bullying.

Personally, I find socialism ofensive. Can we ban it?

Oh FGS we need our predjudices to make us feel superior. But seriously giving newbies hints on how to behave around here is patronising. You either know how to behave or if you don't you learn pretty quickly. It is the same in real life.

Excuse me, the appropriate phrase is FFS, not FGS. I mean, if you are going to bring religeon into....

Seriously, I agree, there are some social graces you expect people to show up with and not give to be guided into... although I do realise not everyone seems to display them at all times. But, this is PC gone mad.