[BC] Our discourse is getting coarser

[Jeff Carter]

I'd like to second the sentiment of thanks for the venue.  Personally, I prefer to be identified with my comments due to a pesky thing called the courage of my convictions.

There is a drift in language because our culture has decided to dispense with the last vestiges of Victorianism, among other things.  For the generation before mine, the issue was dealt with by doing one thing and saying another.  Larry Craig is a poster child for that mindset, but by no means the only one.  My generation and the generation after me has decided to dispense with the pretense, and the pretense was all that remained for most of the 20th century.

We are now firmly in the 21st, and it remains up to the individuals involved to decide to join the mainstream, or to withdraw.  The moderator likely has other things to do than play Miss Manners to a bunch of grown-ups, regardless of how earnestly some of us may pine for the 1950's.

Jeff/KD4RBG

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 11:14 AM, Reader <reader at oldradio.com> wrote:
>Barry,

>First, a thank you for all you do in keep this list going and
>a great resource for all of us.  While I would prefer you
>not identify me publicly, to keep the corporate watchdogs
>at bay, I do look forward to reading the list each day.

>That said, it seems that there is a drift in terms of
>language. You do ask us to be professional in tone, but
>lately I am seeing more posts with language like
>"suck, damn, crap, ass, etc."

>There is no need to be crude to express one's viewpoint.
>Is there anything you can do to restore the "friendlier"
>BC list that we have had in the past?

>thanks