Please Do Not Evade the Automatic Censors.

I have never thought that the use of profanity demonstrates a "lack of an argument."

I think profanity demonstrates the culture in which one grows up, and the level of passion one feels about the subject being argued, and thats about it.

If an "argument" was nothing but a string of profanity, sure, I would say that is a clear indication of a lack of ability to formulate a better one.

But if someone is arguing and adds a "bull followed by #" here, and a "damn it" there, that does not lower the quality of their argument in my eyes, it merely tells me that this person is heated about this, that it matters to them enough to make them have an emotional reaction to the issue and not just a cold and clearly reasoned one.

I find knowing not only what a person thinks about an issue, but also what they feel about it a benefit. It is clearer communication than when someone is pretending to be all proper and seething inside, so much so that with no outlet for their emotional response their own feelings overwhelm their ability to listen to reason at all.

I am not arguing against the argument put forward by the mods as to "why this must be the case so that people can use ATS on computers that have filtering in place." I can see why they want to make sure that as many people as possible can hit their website.

I am just arguing against the argument that only the intellectually challenged use profanity in argument at all.

I respect ATS' desire to avoid sensure from the "bots" that could result in lowering traffic, but I'm not sure how many of those lost "customers" would be worth worrying about in the first place.
I remain confused about your stance.
On the one hand you don't want us to either really swear or pseudo-swear with symbols; etc. but you do provide a gizmo that automatically replaces some words with a # symbol.
At one point I thought you were saying you preferred we actually type out the curse and let your thingy take care of it, but then I've seen people get warnings for doing so.
I don't understand.
This all seems a bit much considering what passes the sensors on tv and in the movies these days. Like you're trying a bit too hard, IMHO
Anyway a clarification would be appreciated; otherwise we're all going to continue doing something different regarding the use of colourful or colloquial language.

Oh nice. I didnt even know that you had thoose things.

Although censory on this web site seems like a double standard.
Lol well I just remembered a website I belonged to that was growing and we had to debate about censorship so I guess that its a nessasary EVIL

Censorship is such a loaded word IMHO. The owners of the site have created and inacted what amounts to basic standards of decorum here. Its the adherance to these standards of docorum and conduct that have made ATS what it is.

Profanity add nothing to a true debate and is never needed in civil discource.

Recently I was involved in a bit of a scuffle over a thread where the OP wrote: GOD DAM (excuse me all, but, gotta ask)...

I find it offensive and in my minds eye it's a pathetic attempt at beating the censor.

I was told by more than one person this was NOT a breach of the rules.

Pretty cheap shot if it isn't - in my opinion.

The poster most obviously meant the *GD* word and in fact goes on in another post (off topic I might add) to explain in detail that the *GD* word was exactly what he meant.

So - what's the Ruleing on this one?

Thankers!

peace

Test.

goddamn

Edit: Nope, that's not a censored word.

[edit on 18-1-2009 by intrepid]

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