Swearing, nicknames etc

[JustineMumsnet]

Afternoon Mumsnetters,

There's been a bit of discussion about offensive nicknames. We do allow swearing on MN, as you know - it's a site for grown-ups, not for children - but as our overriding aim is to make folks' lives easier and many Mumsnetters object to the use of the c-word, in particular, we think it would be best if folks didn't use it in their nicknames. Using it as a nickname effectively means you are using it not for effect but for every post. We all recognise the need to say cunting sainsburys every now and then but all the time is a bit much, we think.

As we say in our Talk Rules and Netiquette:

"It's not our policy to delete swearwords but we do draw the line at obscenity, so, if you're not sure which side of the line your swearword of choice may fall, it might be best not to use it."

Cheers.

Well, actually, Slub, I agree with you - it can make them look moronic. But I still don't agree that it's a reason to ban the use of the words. Not my concern if another poster looks moronic!

And in any case, the argument that said posters using such words is 'not funny' is not why it was suggested in the first place.

Assume 'dogged' was the word you were searching for?

There are plenty of posters who are able to make themselves look, quite frankly, moronic without the benefit of swearwords. It's just another form of expression.

Hasn't been banned though -- just a reminder of the pre-existing obcenity advice. Doubt a name would be disallowed unless it hung around for a while and attracted a lot of controversy.

LOLOL at MP's link and its REVIEWS!!

I don't think the word should be banned in general posts. I don't much like seeing it endlessly being cycled up to the top of active convos but I can absolutely understand why this particularly nickname being bandied about all over the shop could set people's teeth on edge.

What I find most offensive is this 'fuck you' attitude: I like it and you can all shove off to netmums if you don't. Not a very pleasant attitude is it?

It's a shame that mnhq has had to do this thread and folk couldn't think and self moderate a little more.

Well yes - and I've never expressed that view either. Self-moderation is a great idea and always to be encouraged.

It's not often I say this but I agree with Nancy66

so i cant change to pishyfishymalodorouscuntflaps if i so wished

as long as i can swear i fucking love liberal use of profanities

I have no problem whatsoever with the language and content inside a thread. Titles and nicknames OTOH are like going into a crowded public place and shouting it at the top of your voice. Unnecessary in my c-ing opinion.

That's got a nice ring to it scottishmummy

Do you think my new name will be allowed?

will there now be a wee rebellion and flurry of cunt names

Now see there's a silver lining - the number of posters who have found themselves agreeing with another poster who they previously thought was their exact opposite.....

As someone mentioned - don't think MN are actually censoring.....

Oh how terribly drole CF

more s.

rofl at "No piers morgan"

totally agree with slubber

I actually think this whole argument of trying to 'defend the right to shout swear words about the place' sounds like something a bunch of 17yr-olds would discuss in the park around a bottle of white lightning.

get a grip people, this is a community, and in civilized communities, the tendency is not to throw offensive words about the place, especially when a large proportion of the people have expressed a wish not to be subjected to it.

Unless you are a teenager, of course, which some people on here seem to be today.

If you read the OP from MN, it is not about banning all swearwords, just removing them from names, as this is just too in your face for some people and means they crop up on the most innocent of threads, which is totally inappropriate and unnecessary.

This whole 'who is to say what is offensive' and 'where will it end' argument is just so lame. It is very easy - you use language in your name that you would find acceptable in any other real-life civilized social situation where you were among a diverse group of people who you don't know very well. Would you use the C word then?? No. Unless you are dog rough, of course.

It's one thing to use it in the context of a post or a thread, when it may be expected or predicted, but because of people rebelling and changing their names to contain obscenities, I have been faced with the C-word on several threads this afternoon about children's parties, breast feeding, and other such nice, clean parenting issues that I visit this site for.

It is soooooo inappropriate, and if you can't see that, then you are clearly more on the level of those teenagers in the park.

rant over.

LOL at namechanges.say cunt if you mean cunt not twee whoopsie i swore C**nt or other can you guess i am saying cunt abbreviations

ps i dont like the cunt word,but dislike the other edits too

or droll as I don't have circonflex.

But what about people who specifically went for poster names to discourage lazy journos cruising the site? As we keep being told, we're posting in public, but why can't we make it less likely that an Ahola would pick up on our threads?

See, we would not be where we are today on this one, if some juvenile attention seeking posters where not being crass and obtuse and insisted on keeping on with a posting name that people found offensive.

Like I said in my very first post on the issue, AnyFucker and QueenofFuckingEverything were inspired names, and CuntWhacker just stupid. Or summat like that.

"This whole 'who is to say what is offensive' and 'where will it end' argument is just so lame. It is very easy - you use language in your name that you would find acceptable in any other real-life civilized social situation where you were among a diverse group of people who you don't know very well. Would you use the C word then?? No. Unless you are dog rough, of course."

But, actually, this IS a different sort of community. It is a virtual one, where the rules are different. The anonymity is liberating. Many of the people on here, including myself, would not say half of the things they do in real life, nor be as engaging or interesting or funny as we find them here. The reason is precisely because the lack of social censorship allows that freedom.

I find the rather nasty labelling of others (teenagers in the park) rather offensive myself, but I don't suppose such complex ideas will be on the banned list, as BIWI points out.

I agree Quint. Love AF and QoFE but the last one is just a bit.....erm....much.

Tell you what, let's all just go back to 2004 when everyone was witty and no-one would've dreamt of being offensive shall we?

so what is to happen to those who have a swear word in their name?

and will this ban be on all swear words or just the C word?

and will it cover such words as Arsenal or Scunthorpe?

Using a swear word as a shield against the DM is about as effective as using a teaspoon to fight off a kraken.

You want to post sensitive stuff then namechange, that is the best protection we have got.