I just spent 10 minutes cleaning up the language in a thread.

It is much easier to delete a thread than it is to individually edit each post.

First, please watch your own language. I do not have a problem with it. However, many of our members do and we do have underage members.

Second, if the OP has unacceptable language in the subject, go to advanced edit to change the subject of your post. Then when anyone quotes your post, the edited subject line will be propagated. If there is unacceptable language in a post, do not quote it or edit the quote.

This will protect your threads and posts from being deleted. I (nor any of the other mods) want to spend our time editing words. More often the thread will just be deleted. I do not want that to happen AND I do not want to have the software act as your "nanny."

Peace,
dave

Neither do I, but...
Besides that, I believe it gives the forum a bad image, especially to newcomers.
Someone might get the ({hopefully}wrong) impression some of our members are a bunch of kids from 4chan.

thanks dave! im glad someone is actually doing something about this problem now.

was gonna rep you for it but i appearantly havent spread enough around since the last time i repped you...

Yes again sorry for that topic...

Thanks Dave for all you do to help keep this a good place to be

Personally I disagree with this but... *shrugs* LPF is providing a service to me, least i can do is respect its rules...
To clarify, am i allowed to say "arse" or "bloody"? Those are some of my favourite words atm, i'd be a little reluctant to give them up. Sorry if any of my previous posts violated this rule, i just didn't know what the general opinion was to bad language was on the forum, so i assumed it was alright as long as it wasn't discriminative or actually used for offending anyone.

@anselm: I agree with you to some extent, if there are threads saying "Oh f*** the crap quality of this useless peice of sh*t..." etc. or use of "the N-word" but otherwise i think there are things we could reduce that would have a bigger effect on how the forum appears to newcomers. And besides, it wouldn't usually be like that. But i think in some situations it's justified. For complaining it's totally unnecessary but let's say you just busted an expensive laser, or something exploded on you?

...idk... Just giving my opinion. I'll abide by the rule now it's been set.

arse and bloody aren't really that bad, I don't have a problem with those, but when F*** is used every 2nd word, it looses it's meaning and just makes the place look like a mess.

I don't have a problem with bad language unless it is excessive, but I also know it makes the forum seem crass and is inappropriate for youngsters. I like the fact that Dave cleaned it up instead of deleting the thread. Lets all try to keep the cussing to a minimum.

There are times when you really want to express outrage, but it tends to set the tone for "rowdy" behaviour more than accomplish anything.

When I speak with friends, I cuss like a drunken sailor. I even cuss when I lecture.

I worked in construction for 13 years before I went back to school. Expletives are part of my life.

However, when I type to post, I (mostly) proofread my posts before hitting "submit." Even if one slips through my original typing, it gets replaced or edited before posting

The moderators cannot catch them all. We ALL have to keep our eyes open for such things.

The "report post" button () is your friend too

Peace,
dave

^ I see what you mean. You can't be too careful. We will be watching.........

I do believe that I've worked for this guy on a gov't contract or two...

Thanks for all your hard work Dave

Any time I hear the subject of excessive swearing come up, I always remember this classic scene with Steve martin. Probably the only guy that can say the F word that many times and still be funny.

Thanks Dave. AWESOME SITE!!

@rpaloalto: Rofl! This amuses me because this is the second time i've seen a thread posted by a mod addressing something and that very something be violated in the same thread. Keep up the good work LPF!

If you don't mind a suggestion, I would strongly suggest that you not edit any posts made within your Trades Feedback & Dispute Resolution forum. Once you do, you become legally a co-author of the entire thread, and if litigation were to result from what is said in a thread of that nature, YOU would wind up being a co-defendant in a lawsuit.

I'm assuming you have already consulted with an attorney running a message board site of this nature, though, but just wanted to remind you of this potential pitfall.

^^^ very good point-worthy of keeping in mind IMO

I'm glad to hear someone made it back to school after working so long, defiantly gives me hope.

I KNOW I need to go to school, but the money....

As to not threadjack, is F#$k really any better than the real deal? I mean it's not like we don't know what you mean. I know I've done it before, but is it really necessary to use or allude to such language?

No it is not, mostly because neither really have any power beyond our own perceptions. They are the same thing. However, those perceptions are what drive the tensions associated with the word. We have to live with those tensions. Part of the moderators' job is to reduce that tension so we can focus on the topic.

Peace,
dave

Thanks again Dave for all you do, however, I have seen one from the Las Vegas area that needs a bar of soap crammed in mouth!

The mods cannot catch everything. I do not believe that ANYONE could read all of the posts here. If you see a problem post, please click on the "report post" button () to let us know.

Peace,
dave

the f-bomb can be great. but power of the word, in my opinion is actually saying it LoL. in text it looks trashy.... So yeah. i'm with dave on this.

The problem with the F bomb is that if it's used to much in a post it loses it's power anyway.

I personally have to agree with Dave here too.

My thought is that there are over 170,000 words in the English language. If you can't express your 'elegant distaste' for something without the usage of cussing, then you need to learn some new words. I RARELY swear in real life, partially because I feel I can emphasize a point without the need to, but because there's no room for it in my profession. You can still make the exact same emphasis without the word, but most people can't be bothered to find an appropriate substitute for the online world.

That being said, when upset, sometimes it feels better to let it out but again, this is the online world. It's interesting how the language has become such a part of many peoples online vernacular.

I guess the only side note I can suggest is that some folks have english as a second/third/fourth language and the swear words don't carry the same weight, which is why they get tossed around so freely. Obviously some non-native English speakers understand, however I do find that when one learns a new language it's the swear words one will learn first to try and 'fit in' or be seen as more fluent in daily language.


Anyway, I digress - point is I think an appropriate emphasis can be made without the need to swear, particularly with an online forum but that's just my opinion.

ugh. please don't go overboard with this. I don't like posts that use profanity every other word either but I loathe forums that take it to the opposite extreme even more.