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End the Ricochet Code of Conduct!
For the past few years, whenever I’ve made a pitch for new members, I’ve always included something along the lines of this:
The internet is a swamp. The “comments” on most webpages are disgusting nonsense. We’re different. We have standards:
No crazy talk, no insults, and — especially — no foul language.
The last one is hard for me during podcasts, because my day-to-day language is (I’m not proud to say) a little on the salty side. The old adage is, those who resort to profanity do so because they have small vocabularies.
Now, though, comes word that it may be the opposite. From Shortlist:
A new study published in the Language Sciences journal, which saw participants say as many swearwords as they could think of in 60 seconds, then name as many animals as possible in the same amount of time, found that the most verbal dexterity was associated with those who cussed the most.
….psychologists Kristin and Timothy Jay conceded that being foul-mouthed doesn’t equate to being uneducated, but rather the opposite:
‘Unfortunately, when it comes to taboo language, it is a common assumption that people who swear frequently are lazy, do not have an adequate vocabulary, lack education, or simply cannot control themselves,’ they wrote.
‘The overall finding of this set of studies, that taboo fluency is positively correlated with other measures of verbal fluency, undermines the [normal] view of swearing. Speakers who use taboo words understand their general expressive content as well as nuanced distinctions that must be drawn to use slurs appropriately,’ they added.
Whaddya know? I’m a [expletive] genius!
That said, I don’t feel like a genius when I use words in speech that we don’t allow here. I feel like a dumb[expletive]. Which is why, despite this new study, we’re keeping the Code of Conduct.
Published in General
LOL. “Too dumb to curse” certainly isn’t a good place to be.
I wonder if the shrinks looked at the effect on the mind of having to restrain oneself?
Much like art under monarchs, I doubt it would have any but a salutary effect.
When I read the news reports about this, I concluded that the study really showed that people who have a bigger vocabulary… have a bigger vocabulary, whether they are using profanity or names of animals. (The study refers to it as the “fluency-is-fluency hypothesis.”)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seemed as though the researchers were not actually looking at how people cuss in normal conversation, but rather seeing how many swear words, or kinds of animals, a test subject could think of in 60 seconds.
More like Boggle, really?
I don’t usually use “swear words” when I’m talking, but I bet I could come up with a lot in 60 seconds.
Oops-sorry, I transgressed! Used “H-E-double chopsticks” in title yesterday…does this also apply to “H-E-double chopsticksU-V-A”?
Do they still curse in the military?
I’ll also add that the news stories were couched in a way to make it seem like if you add “[CoC]” to every other word you say, you will sound like a [CoC]in’ genius.
Which, as we know here in the land of civilized conversation, is not so.
And what about the spittoon?
Do you know this cheese? So tasty!
Tease.
The CoC could use some updating. Stad started a post about a month ago asking a serious question that got closed down as conspiracy theory. I don’t think he deserved it,
Certainly. The Code of Conduct is far, far from perfect, and its implementation is somewhat arbitrary and intermittent… I love limited government, but erraticism is not the same thing.
I agree about the conspiracy theory thing. There are a few on here that seem to want to throw the conspiracy flag a little too often. It is almost like they are acting in concert.
<snicker, giggle, snort>
I saw that study reported in one of the British papers yesterday. The study isn’t worth the f’n paper it’s written on. ;)
effin
I am pro freedom and capitalism. May be users should be allowed to use expletives but be charged by the word: $10 for first word in a week, $8 for second, $6 for third. Or pre-purchase a package of 10 words for $40. Lifetime privileges for $1,000.
It’s twleve o’clock somewhere, I tells ya…
I am not proposing this become an Alex Jones annex.
Given the propensity of the current administration to operate outside the law there are things that are happening that merit discussion that just 10 years ago were unthinkable. I thought Stad asked a fair question.
Then we can have another thread about the abusive donor class.
Can you tell us what it was? I missed it.
Sounds fun!
I don’t remember the exact topic, but it seemed like something about Obama, executive orders or marshall law, and the next election or something like that.
I concede it may be out there and conspiracy theory is sometimes like pornography, hard to define, but instantly recognizable. I just thought the PTB were a little hasty to shut it down.
I grew my vocabulary working 33 years in the oil field. You not only have to learn a new language to work on a rig, but you also pick up many “nuanced distinctions”.
That is putting it veeerrryyyy diplomatically.
It’s never too early to take to the drink. I prefer a little Kalua in my coffee.
skip ahead to 1:40
I spent twenty years in the military as an enlisted man. Believe me, I can speak obscenity like a native. Every good NCO knows that truly effective employment of obscenity is an art and a science and is time, place, and context specific. That’s why I never post or read comments or posts on any other site than Ricochet. They are all just amateurs. Now, the people who post on Ricochet – they understand the art and the science and the context. That’s why I am a member!
I used to swear like…well like the oil field worker I was. I think the F word should be considered dead. It has no meaning anymore. I would prefer not to hear swearing in my life, but even the use of another swear word would be refreshing.
Maybe the study is correct, that people who swear are smarter. Then please use those smarts and throw some different words into your speech.
Which sentence has more impact, “The F-N vegans want to stop me from eating bacon”, or “The cauliflower farting vegans want to stop me from eating bacon”? The first has little impact, the second will bring a chuckle to most people’s lips.
If you want to make an impact when you speak, clean up your language.
It seems this study endorses the CoC — the more capacity for cussing goes with more capacity for choosing better words.
I think the primetime rule should apply. If you hear a word on broadcast television you’re in the clear. Not cable, but broadcast.