I reckon that when we open our mouths in the company of others we can quickly assess those around us and select our word choice accordingly before speaking. I often find myself making course adjustments based on the reactions of others. Online, though, it's difficult to know when someone has read something that offends or annoys them. So "G" rated language seems the safest subset of the language to use. That said, I have had feedback from some who have been offended about the silliest darn things. (Ooh, look: he said "darn," which is another way of saying "d__n!") W.C. Fields resorted to "mother of pearl!" "Godfrey Daniel!," and "drat" in place of harsher expletives. This got him past the bluestockings of the time, but savvier folk knew what he was saying. He was not so easily tyrannized by Mrs. Grundy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Grundy>. But he had talent. Not all of us can make the same claim. -- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) Bend, OR KG6RCR |
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