bad language

That said, I'd also get irritated if people cluttered their speech with unnecessary words. But that applies to things like "like" and "you know" as much as the f word.

Yes, it bloody was, tegan!

A few posts up/down.... that should be irritation, not irritating. I guess people guessed.

I'm relieved that bloody's OK...I think that's the only semi-swear word I've used on here.

Well I thought it bloomin' was tegan

Very early on in GN history there was a robust thread about the euphemistically called four-letter words (something tells me I've got that wrong and it's not a euphemism; never mind). I remain in touch (not on GN) with one of the people who objected the most strongly to strong language even though I argued like blazes against him at the time. So clearly our difference of attitude towards the use of certain words didn't make a jot of difference. [warmgransnetglow emoticon]

I remember that thread well bags

At least this isn't one of those sites where posts are censored before they're displayed - years ago I was one one where you couldn't even refer to chicken breasts without 'br**sts' being substituted.

Elegran Regardless of the vocabulary used, how often do nuns discuss copulation?

interesting, thanks for you comments, always remember our english teacher saying yonks ago similar to harrigran the dictionary is full of other words and swearing is form of laziness, just seems on unecessary on a forum but of course that is just my opinion.

have to admit to swearing quite a bit when rattled with dear OH AND others just hate to see it in print and never think it is necessary as said above.

Thanks ladies sorry if rattled anyone.

Puzzled rather than rattled, celeb. Swearing is used so seldom on GN it's hardly noticeable. No harm in giving the subject an airing now and then though.

just puzzled it is not deleted like most Forums really Bags.

I don't think you rattled anyone Celeb.
I have to admit to frequent verbal use of b*gg*r, bl**dy, sh*t and even s*d, but I don't like to hear the F-word or the C-word spoken out loud.
I know that in medieval times the usage was different, but I think that the increasing use of these particular words by young men in recent years is a symptom of increasing misogyny in our society, which has manifested itself in a very ugly way this week in the internet abuse of Prof Mary Beard, as discussed on the other thread.

celeb have you ever looked at Mumsnet? If they deleted our swear words they'd have to delete theirs - there wouldn't be much of some posts left!

your right ana

Why should anything be deleted. We're all grown ups.....aren't we?

just a question of standards rather than being grown ups merlotgran, just the reverse if we feel need for expletives could not agree more jaineainsworth but I must stress each to his own.

What offends some does not others we are all different.

The fact that I'm not offended by the very occasional appearance of the f word on here does not mean I lack standards, celebgran.

When people say "offended", I often wonder if what they really mean is that something makes then feel uncomfortable. I've read plenty of stuff on Gransnet that makes me uncomfortable, and plenty of stuff I dislike. As grown ups I think we ought to be able to deal with a bit of discomfort without feeling the need for censorship. #freespeechandfreely

And celeb has it spot on when she says that what offends some doesn't offend others. So, there lies the rub – who decides what is or isn't offensive? Better to leave things open and free.

Besides, there isn't a swearing problem on GN.

Worried now that I may have used it, good chance that I have at some point.

I'm not offended by swearing, but simply bored with it. There's so much of it around that it just washes over me. English is a wonderful language with a huge and rich vocabulary - why not make full use of it rather than fall back on the same few obscenities to convey anger, frustration or irritation?

I often think 'ffs' in my head, seldom actually say it except when 'venting' and even then usually when I'm alone in a room.

Because I do use it so infrequently it certainly has an impact on anyone within earshot.

The 'c' word, used as an insult, is extremely offensive to me but I have used it once in a scrabble game after giving an 'extreme sweary word' warning!

I remember being barred from posting 'cock-a-leekie' soup on Martins Money Tips recipe section. Somehow 'male hen & leek' soup does not have the same ring to it