Subject:
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Re: Language slipping?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Wed, 22 Dec 1999 19:45:38 GMT
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Viewed:
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406 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, James Brown writes:
> Obscene is one of a number of slippery words that are contextually defined.
> In most english speaking countries, for example, bodily waste is refered to by
> multiple terms, some "obscene", some not. It generally depends on the context
> for most of them, but the obvious (common, 4 letter) one is almost invariably
> "obscene", as it is defined so by the (common) social context as such.
> Generally speaking, when something is being refered to in the crudest terms
> available, it is considered "obscene"
>
> Meriam Webster has an excellent definition of obscene that applies to the
> debate at hand (def. b):"containing or being language regarded as taboo in
> polite usage"
>
> Which was why I started this whole thing in the first place - I found the
> language at Lugnet was starting to slide from "polite usage"
Well, how about another AFOL acronym- CRAPP- obviously NOT "polite usage."
I think that it is a convention thing- defined by the community- in this case,
however, since LUGNET is worldwide, I guess the standards are Todd's. So I
would tender a Lugnet definition of obscene- a word is obscene on LUGNET if
Todd says it is.
> I am also a staunch supporter of polite (and creative) degredation in
> opposition to crude language. Which is to say "Were you perhaps dropped on
> your head as a child?" is far more interesting than "Stupid!" I like british
> humour, too. ;)
Me too. I especially find Benny Hill to be a master of subtlety ;)
Chris
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Language slipping?
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| (...) Obscene is one of a number of slippery words that are contextually defined. In most english speaking countries, for example, bodily waste is refered to by multiple terms, some "obscene", some not. It generally depends on the context for most (...) (25 years ago, 22-Dec-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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