No, ponders, I'm taking issue with the tawdry use of asterisks in vulgar words or profanities. You know d***ed well know what I mean.
No, I'm not pro-vulgar language. That's not cool. But Mark Twain had his own opinion on it.
My reason for objecting to the tawdry use of the inoffensive asterisk in this context is that it includes this little punctuation mark in with linguistic squalor. And the user very coyly tries to have it both ways: by using a profane word, and not owning up to the fact that the bad word was used. You see, using "d*mn" or "sh*t" does not hide the fact of the word's usage any more than wearing pasties and a g-string covers the fact of someone's nudity.
When should vulgar or profane words definitely be used? When they're part of a direct quotation, period. To do otherwise is to falsify the facts. In short, if you don't want to include the word or words, leave the quote out!
And I need to comment on word filters on web sites. Having part of a foul word asterisked out while still leaving the impression of what the word was is total b******t!* Everyone knows what was really meant. And sometimes the word filter filters out words that are not vulgar, like the University of South Carolina's sports teams.**/***
As long as I sounded off on this little ole asterisk so sorely abused, I want to gripe about on-line articles with unnecessary vulgarities in the titles. Here's one of those; don't let the link fool you:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/01/things-to-stop-caring-about-in-2015_n_6390470.html
This comes from trying to be too cool for flyover country. Is this part of the hipster syndrome?
*I am kidding, seriously.
**Well maybe it's profane in Clemson.
***Some people may also cast a lewd interpretation on the sports nickname of the other USC. If you do, you are naughty!
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Today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.
Asterisks don't bother me.
ReplyDeleteThe forum that goes with the local Tee Dee (Times-Daily) does that. Yes, even with the Game****s
ReplyDeleteThe safe thing is not to allude as well as use those words.
ReplyDeleteThe Huffington Post has lapses in taste sometimes.
ReplyDeletewow. the huff post title did surprise me.
ReplyDeletei will use the asterisk to 'nullify' a swear word, sometimes. i also use a$$. :)
Angel, you never cease to amaze me with the topics you come up with. I've never given much thought to the ***, but then I don't normally use words where I'd have to "bleep" something out. The Post title is unnecessary.
ReplyDelete"And the British kept a commin!"
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to ride along these side trips with you. Always interesting
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3
It was hard to figure out the asterisk comments with all the asterisks in the post.
ReplyDeleteI'll think of the USC Rubbers in the future.
ReplyDeleteThose seven words must be the most frightening words in the world!
ReplyDelete" ... using "d*mn" or "sh*t" does not hide the fact of the word's usage any more than wearing pasties and a g-string covers the fact of someone's nudity." Boy, I wish I'd come up with that!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, gentle readers!
ReplyDelete