Swearing
EDs: South Australian Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond has banned swearing in Liberal party meetings. Here she explains why.
I am somewhat surprised at the level of interest in my anti-swearing stance.
It’s not that I’m a prude – I don’t expect that people will never swear. Indeed, I’ve been know to utter the odd expletive myself. But in the workplace and especially in my workplace the Parliament, I take the view that it is inappropriate.
People behave better online than in real life, moderating their language, respecting the views of others and being selective in their choice of invective.
That’s my conclusion after completing what I am claiming is the first definitive study on the language of building workers in a confined space, otherwise known as an online discussion board.
Thinking ourselves prudent, we decided to vet online messages of support for Ark Tribe, the Adelaide building worker facing jail for refusing to answer questions to the Building Commission , before we posted them online.
Continue reading "In cyberspace everyone can hear you swear" »
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AW says:
I agree with Brian, I chat a lot online, mainly on MSN. I chat with a group of people from around the country (inc NZ), and I have to say that I re-read everything before I post, so that things can’t be taken the wrong way. But when it comes… Read more »
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Brian says:
Personally, I’m not surprised that people swear less online. I’ve got a couple of theories regarding it: 1) When you swear in person, it’s normally something which flows. Rarely do I think ‘Hmm, let’s swear’ - normally I’m not even aware I’m speaking until I get ‘Gee, that hurts like… Read more »
Ask any marketing professional in the world today what they believe is the most potent asset in communications and they will tell you, authenticity – and if you don’t have it, then fake it.
Watching the Prime Minister singing at the community cabinet meeting in Brisbane last week reminded me of another performer with whom Kevin Rudd has more in common than he would like to admit.
In Eddie Murphy’s film, Coming to America, Randy Watson took the stage at the Jackson Heights School Hall to perform “The Greatest Love of All”.
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Matt says:
That video was hilarious to watch. I could really imagine Kevin Rudd up on stage singing those lyrics. He really is a self obsessed self imposed celebrity. Absolutely classic. But nothing is funnier than seeing Ruddites flood an online article. Especially when they start getting all grumpy about Kevin Rudd… Read more »
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paul says:
“John Howard has been accused of many things, but being a phoney was never one of them.” People so out of touch with reality are rarely phoneys - they don’t realise that they are nerds of a level that noone would wish to concoct if not for humorous effect. Both… Read more »
There are two types of people in the world: people who think there are two types of people in the world, and those of us who think it’s even dumber than the zodiac to divide people arbitrarily into just two irreconcilable camps.
However, the one issue which fits this never-the-twain-shall-meet division is swearing.
People either dislike swearing to the point of loathing it - hello Mum - or are perfectly comfortable with it, swear frequently themselves, find it amusing or edifying when other people use swear words to make their point.
Continue reading "Robert Hughes and the dying art of swearing" »
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Reg says:
The master of the well placed swear-word. Lewis Black. http://vodpod.com/watch/493347-lewis-black-explains-religion Read more »
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Matt Thompson says:
Well, Kurt Vonnegut’s army protagonist in “Hocus Pocus” said swearing just gives people permission to stop listening. But then Vonnegut also drew his arsehole in his books. Read more »
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