TECH, please can we have a facility to hide posters who...

[PestoLovelyMonster]

we feel have very offensive names?

I don't want my dcs looking over my shoulders and seeing certain nicknames and asking what they are.

Thank you please

I find cunt offensive when used as a term of abuse, particularly when used by a man, because there's an undertone of contempt for women involved. I don't find it intrinsically offensive as a word in a neutral context.

Im anti cencorship and would hate the idea of swear filters but i don't think it unreasonable for people to not swear in thread titles or posting names.

but in the thread content i see no problem.

Exactly, Professor. And its currency on MN has been brilliant in my mind for weakening the term's association with that awful hostility and contempt. I want the word 'cunt'. It is mine, not some hatefilled man's.

There are other words which have become offensive over the years because they have been used derisively or in an offensive way.

We could all say oh I don't see the problem I'm only using it innocently to describe x,y,z.

When the majority of people know the meaning has shifted and it is generally used in an aggressive/offensive context; you can't be surprised that people will find it offensive.

That's the whole point of swear words. And I do swear btw (in case you think I'm Mary Whitehouse's granddaughter ), but I think if we just use those words in normal convo all the time it is obtuse and where do you go in language when you do want to swear if you do it all the time anyway?

For once I agree with Dafty

( and as much as I adore Anyf*cker) I do think that having a rude word in ones name is a bit, well, gratuitous. It doesn't offend me in particular but I worry for those whom it may put off using the site.

I wouldn't say 'fuck' in the playground, or to my friends really (unless in context of 'fuck off' but that is usually in a humorous way)

I think self moderation is good - I tend to moderate my own use of swearing in posts, anyway...feck, blardy etc. Arse is good though, I wouldn't feel right if I couldn't say 'arse' on here.

I think names need a kind of unwritten rule, while posts can contain appropriately bad language.

I think there are some small steps on the spectrum between "cuntwhacker" and "kittens"

btw -- there was a chat thread a few months ago with unfortunate RL names - one poster had had to call for a Roger Mashitter in a waiting room... Now, it would be vv funny IMO to have that for a posting name, but would you object? Even though it's a real name?

LOLOL

why do you always make me snort, MP?

In answer to the question about letters forming racist terms...

Cunt and Twat refer to genitalia.
Paki is a shortened form of Pakistani, for example

neither is offensive. If I call someone a twat then I am probably being horrible as would be the case if I actually referred to someone as a Paki. In that situation the words become inappropriate to different extents. However, twat is universal. Paki, used in derogatory fashion is aimed at minority groups. That is why it comes under the category 'racism' which ranks higher on the stupidly offensive scale than general name calling.

I like women using the word 'cunt'

However I think there is something unpleasant about normalising violent sexual acts in our volcabulary, and this is something I would prefer not to do

Another vote for cleaner names here.... I have no kids in the vicinity right now, but I still don't want those words leaping off the screen at me. I can take them in a post.. possibly even used one or two.. but in bold? No, just unnecessary imo.

Those who think that it's ok to have the C word as a username, would you be happy talking about said poster to someone face-to-face? In the park? the shop? on a mn meetup?

When said poster goes to the christmas meetup, would you happily look for the person with "c" on their name badge and address them as such in a public place?

I don't like the c word. I don't particularly like seeing it in threads but there's not much I can do about that. I think however that to have it as one's username is pretty offensive.

And fwiw they're not highlighted for me and I don't have my screen switched on (don't need to ) so my ds can't see it, but that's not the point.

Excellent. Was time for a new name anyway

YES, MP, Normalizing it, that is the word I was trying to find. I dont want to see these words and phrases normalized, and especially not if my 7 year old son were to walk in on me, casting a curious glance on my screen. It would turn mumsnetting into a dirty secret.....

And there is nowt wrong with Scunthorpe either.

It does feel rather 1990's to bang on about cunts to be honest.

that's why the Vagina Monologues are past their best...

It's all very well in context but all the time is a bit childish IMO.

PaulDacresCrackWhore was funny for the week, now it is a bit like constantly referring to the miner's strike.

You're right MP, let's just let everything go and then nothing will ever change. That's the way.

But mumsnet is a dirty secret isn't it? I certainly don't want DS to know I've discussed his troubles with strangers (even if I do use chat so the threads die). Ditto DH - I wouldn't want him knowing my posting name, because this is a private space for me.

It's my own personal Fight Club

Yes MP - the crackwhore wasn't funny after a while, but it was a good way of avoiding being quoted - which is still a risk AFAIK.

'now it is a bit like constantly referring to the miner's strike.' ROFL!

Playing devil's advocate here, surely normalising words removes their power and thus their illicit appeal? The c-word appalls me, personally, but I can see the value in returning it to its original status and welcoming it back to the English language - it's not the word itself I have a problem with.

That may not make sense to anyone by the way, I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts...