Bowdlerisation shits me to tears

**Hitcher** · 17th August 2009, 15:57

Something else that is really starting to irritate me in terms of online written communication is Bowdlerisation.

It's a naff American affectation that is extremely irritating.

If people don't want to use words like shit, prick, arse, fuck, cunt, etc, then don't. Replacing the vowels in "offensive" words with * or other punctuation marks is a ludicrously stupid nonsense, because there is an expectation that people have to know the word that has been bowdlerised in order not to be shocked by its censoring.

Simple choices people: use cuss words or don't use cuss words. Please don't fuck with them. They're no less shocking with bits twinked out, but are considerably more stupid.

**The Pastor** · 17th August 2009, 15:59

go p1ss off then.

**Ixion** · 17th August 2009, 16:04

It's not for the benefit of readers. It's to bypass stupid censorship programs that block words deemed offensive by Mrs Grundy. And in some cases, block the entire posting , if too many such naughty words be found.

Remember when Mr Spankme turned on the said feature in vBulletin. What fun we had poking the borax at it.

**Skunk** · 17th August 2009, 16:04

Does ferk instead of fuck count as Bowdlerisation?

Can't be fucked with Google...

**yungatart** · 17th August 2009, 16:06

Another task for BDOTGNZA?
Sheesh, Hitcher...we have enough to do already...

**mynameis** · 17th August 2009, 16:07

Harden the f**k up and grow some f****n balls. It's only the f****n internet

**Hitcher** · 17th August 2009, 16:18

Originally Posted by Ixion

Remember when Mr Spankme turned on the said feature in vBulletin. What fun we had poking the borax at it.

It all comes flooding back. Oh how we larfed!

**kave** · 17th August 2009, 16:42

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Something else that is really starting to irritate me in terms of online written communication is Bowdlerisation.

It's a naff American affectation that is extremely irritating.

If people don't want to use words like shit, prick, arse, fuck, cunt, etc, then don't. Replacing the vowels in "offensive" words with * or other punctuation marks is a ludicrously stupid nonsense, because there is an expectation that people have to know the word that has been bowdlerised in order not to be shocked by its censoring.

Simple choices people: use cuss words or don't use cuss words. Please don't fuck with them. They're no less shocking with bits twinked out, but are considerably more stupid.

I am pretty sure that what you are referring to is not Bowdlerisation as the intended original meaning remains intact. If the entire word is replaced by symbols such as "you are a dirty $%^#$^%" then the name for the string of typographical symbols used to represent an undefined profanity is "grawlix", but once you have enough letters to ensure that a specific profanity is understood (such as f*#k you) then I really have no idea if there is a term to describe this.

**Badjelly** · 17th August 2009, 16:43

Originally Posted by Hitcher

It's a naff American affectation that is extremely irritating.

A naff American affectation? You are ignoring the long history of Bowdlerisation in Europe.
Thomas Bowdler himself was British. The Americans do show a tendency towards excessive delicacy, it is true, but they are neither the originators nor the sole modern practitioners of expurgation.

**Big Dave** · 17th August 2009, 16:44

*^%# you.

**Mully** · 17th August 2009, 16:59

Don't you mean it sh*ts you to tears, Hitcher??

**ManDownUnder** · 17th August 2009, 17:06

I hear you but it also gets around a lot of mail scanning SW that picks up on rude words and ranks emails (or gives points to them I think) and anything above a certain score leads to a slap on the hand for outgoing email, and email pergatory for incoming ones.

It's because the email Police know we can't be trusted with all the words in the dictionary - only those that they deem fit.

**CookMySock** · 17th August 2009, 17:27

I don't think it is about the intended audience or their feelings, nor do I think it is about bypassing some profanity filter.

I think it is basically about the writers' lack of bravery. I see it quite a bit, particularly with some of the more conservative biker women on this site - those who would never swear openly as they stand with their legs apart and swig from their pint bottle of piss, but they do indulge just slightly on KB - maybe just quietly at home in the evening with their glass of wine and a quick check over their shoulder to see who noticed...

I think it's quite grand - a society of polite people slipping quietly in and then out again, of a forbidden territory that is of the swearing, free, drinking, and noisy biker.

I don't think they are every going to openly swear, drink, fuck, ride, and live completely free like a real biker did in the 60s,70s and 80s, but hey they dip their toe in and smile havin' walked a little on the wild side.

Steve

**SARGE** · 17th August 2009, 17:27

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Something else that is really starting to irritate me in terms of online written communication is Bowdlerisation.

It's a naff American affectation that is extremely irritating.

FUCK ME HITCH .. .. is every slaughtering of the Engrish language the Yank's fault??...

you havnt been to fucking Wales/fucking Scotland/ fucking Australia/fucking Canada lately have you?

**Okey Dokey** · 17th August 2009, 17:29

Originally Posted by Badjelly

A naff American affectation? You are ignoring the long history of Bowdlerisation in Europe.
Thomas Bowdler himself was British. The Americans do show a tendency towards excessive delicacy, it is true, but they are neither the originators nor the sole modern practitioners of expurgation.

Good on ya! Blaming the Yanks for every supposed language crime is tiresome and not very original.

EDIT: Sarge just beat me to that...