Acceptable language

[Robin Orton]

I tried twice last night to compose a response to recent comments, but on both occasions lost the text at the last moment. Can Dark Forces be at work? (Only joking - I think!)

First of all, don’t you worry either, lambchops. I’ve never dreamt of ‘demanding or expecting’ anything on this thread. And, Admin, I’ve no intention of storming off in a strop, whatever the outcome of this discussion.

My initial question was not directed at Admin in particular, because, as I’ve said before, I’m not suggesting that the current moderation policy (for which I assume he or she is responsible) should be changed in any way. It was aimed rather primarily towards forum users. I suppose I was inviting them to consider, when typing in their postings, whether what they were proposing to say might cause unintended pain to other users, and to remind them in that context of some particular Christian sensitivities. This need only constrain ‘spontaneous’ contributions to the extent that good manners constrains us all (I assume) in the way we argue face to face with people we don’t know very well. Courtesy does not necessarily imply blandness.

Of course, I accept that to argue freely and forcefully always carries the risk of unintentionally saying something which offends someone’s particular and personal sensitivities. That has to be lived with. But I don’t buy the argument that there’s no way of predicting what expressions are likely to be offensive to particular groups. That’s why there are certain words and phrases we avoid when talking to or about, for example, disabled people, gay people, women, Muslims, Jews and members of particular ethnic groups. (If, on this forum, we didn’t, I’m sure the moderator would, rightly, be down on us like a ton of bricks.)

All I’m doing is inviting a degree of corresponding consideration of potential Christian sensibilities. I concede however that the fact that nobody has posted here explicitly endorsing my misgivings, suggests that the issue, so far at any rate as this forum is concerned, may be rather more theoretical than real. (So I don’t mind myself if the argument stops here.)

Finally, in response to Admin’s theological concerns, I’m not arguing (not here, anyway!) that non-Christians should in any way feel bound by all or any of the Ten Commandments, or that there are not in any case differences between Christians as to how they should be interpreted today. I quoted from the text of the third commandment (for Roman Catholics and Lutherans, the second) only to illustrate the background to the Christian distaste for swearing.

[lambchops]

no worries, you've not demanded or expected anything, which i reckon is great.

[ALIB]

The use of the word 'Christ' does not offend me, but i cannot profess to being religious. I hear much more distasteful words shouted in public and i suppose it all comes down to context.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYkbqzWVHZI

Fortunately, Christians seem to be a tolerant lot, so I don't see a Fatwa being issued anytime soon.