Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:30:13 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Friday mod discussion - language
In-Reply-To: <8362318C-8896-4D63-A40D-0D3BEE891BC0@dragonhome.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
---- Rowan Tipton <uther@dragonhome.org> wrote:
> Dave,
>
> I think that's a bad argument. Suppose you said you were uncomfortable with your grandkids being exposed
> to talk about beer. Would that mean that I could not talk about beer on the list? Or maybe you didn't want you
> grandkids to know about men cooking because you felt it was women's work? I have known folks who had
> both of those ideas but their beliefs do not and should not affect my behavior... within the bounds of what is
> polite. I would never knowingly use language that you didn't approve of around your kids. But that is my
> choice and would never support a G-rated language for that reason.
>
> Don't misunderstand me. I am fine with the G-rated language rule, I'm just not fine with parents/grandparents
> expecting me to modify my (legal) behavior to meet the standards they want for their kids. I am a parent and a grandparent so I really do understand the impulse to protect one's kids, I just don't think it's a good impulse in
> this case.
Rowan, I disagree that it is a bad argument. I disagree that your analogies are legitimate. In the one case we are talking about language that is disrespectful of other people. One of the persons who wanted to open the list up to profanity mentioned the F-word as appropriate, and seemed to think we were just a bunch of old out of touch geezers for not considering it so. The word, though commonly used in other ways, is often used to denigrate others, and just grates on the sensibilities of many reasonable people. Speaking of which beer one prefers, or of the pleasures of a good beer is quite different. I must say however, that if I found the list serving as a place where drunkenness and other loutish behavior became favored and promoted, I would have to either attempt to persuade the list to refrain in some way, or withdraw from participation.
But, under current rules, a post simply on the subject of beer would be legitimate for Friday only. That is more lenient than many lists, where off topic posts are simply off limits.
I appreciate your position, but I respectfully disagree. If I want to read the list with my grandson on my knee, and not be offended or have to counsel him about language and politeness every time I do so, I should be able to do so. After all, we are polite company.
mcneely
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