Feigned indignation and false maryterdom complex

[Brian37]

Insults rarely contribute anything to a discussion

"Atheist" is a word, and is viewed as an insult to many theists, so wrong again.

You view an insult as merely being a word, but it isn't one word, it can be a person's perception that an idea or something that goes against their social norms can "insult" them.

I have pointed out in many cultures in many religions arranged marriages are a social norm. If that girl refuses to marry the man that that family picked for them, they don't have to say "fuck you I am not going to marry them". Just saying "I am not going to marry them" is viewed as an insult on the honor of the family.

So insults are not mere words, they can be concepts or ideas that threaten someones social norms.

If we banned cussing in every context we would not have great comedians like George Carlin,

I do not object to arguments of context as to when and where cussing is appropriate. I do object to any solution that uses "never". Not just on the issue of words, but anything in life. Nothing in life is black or white or either/or.

Words in general can only be a choice and context issue.

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Foul language is everywhere. Use carefully, it makes one compelling.

Used carelessly, and you become quite boorish.

Are you a boor?

Or are you dealing with such?

Positive answers to either or both means something's wrong. The latter only because boors don't change even if you use vitriol.

I know -- I arrived on this forum roughly three years ago. Boy was I an offensive young atheist looking for a challenge. I like to imagine I've mellowed out, but most days I end up typing an angry response, pausing, and closing the tab without submitting.

Why?

Because "You're a monstrous idiot for X,Y,Z and a fucking moron" doesn't work as well as "X,Y,Z are inconsistent and wrong. Your argument is weak".

One becomes a contest of personalities, the other, an observation. Harder to fight the latter, while the former is easier to react to -- perhaps because we are emotional beings.

Not sure what your use of the word "boor" is supposed to mean, but I do agree that we are emotional beings. But what does that have to do with cussing? And what is wrong with having emotions?

If you are trying to advise me to "mellow out" again, that is a comfort issue. Since you are not me and I am not you it can only be a comfort issue.

ANOTHER example and WITHOUT cussing.

I prefer people don't say "bless you to me". But I would have absolutely no right to demand people never say it within my earshot. And sometimes my friends do it to tease me because they know I am an atheist, should I get offended even then?

People have the right not to cuss and if they don't want to no one should force them to. But no one has the right to tell me not to outside the mods and rules of this board.

And with the ignore option it makes this entire discussion absurd.