[BC] Our discourse is getting coarser

[Cowboy]

On Friday 12 February 2010 12:46 pm, Jeff Carter wrote:
>  There *was* a cultural agreement that an arbitrary list of words would not 
>  be used.  That cultural agreement has been suspended.

 No.
 There has been forever a modicum of respect that certain topics
 are not acceptable in polite company, regardless of the words chosen.
 It's less about the "seven dirty words" and all about respect.

 We agree that among some, respect for others has indeed, been "suspended"
 as you say, and we are ALL the worse for it.

>  One may wish for a  
>  return to what one perceives as a simpler and more civilized time, but what 
>  some find more civilized I personally find disingenuous at best.  I prefer 
>  to deal with people who say what they mean.    

 And I prefer people who respect one another, regardless of how they
 may express anything, although how they express is about always an
 indicator of the degree of respect.

 No matter who you are, you do not address Her Majesty as "Liz" even
 though there are no "seven dirty words" in doing so.
 The offense is much, MUCH worse.  

>  To keep this on-topic for the Broadcasting list, surely you'll agree that 
>  it's somewhat Kafka-esque to enter into a serious discussion about denying 
>  the use of certain words on the basis of polite company when the words in 
>  question are used on the air *every single day*.   

 No.
 I will not.

 That broadcast has denegrated into the gutter in pursuit of cheap thrills
 is ( to me ) absolutely no excuse to use such language in church, temple,
 or Barry's living room.

>  On the topic of respect, I fully respect the right of anyone to stop 
>  reading anything they find distressing.  I draw the line at silently 
>  allowing that person to muzzle free speech.   Respect works both ways.   

 HOWEVER, this list is privately owned, and operated, purely through
 Barry's generosity.
 It is NOT a "public" list per se.
 Drawing the line at drawing the line for Barry to decide what is
 acceptable on HIS list is not respect, but decries a decided lack thereof.

 A request has been made by the list owner to behave as ladies and gentlemen.
 Whether you or I agree with that or not, it's HIS list.
 I will comply, out of respect for Barry if not the entire list contingent.

 If you believe it's a muzzling of your right to free speech ( which does not
 exist outside the borders of the USA anyway, ( though the list does ) and
 does not exist in my living room beyond my good graces either, or Barry's
 list beyond HIS good graces ) then you are certainly free ( as in speech ) to
 unsub and find another list.
 No such request has been made of anybody, as of yet.

-- 
Cowboy