A New Blow for Freedom of Speech?

Except, in some cases, that latter part simply isn't true. For a few, it can be a very cathartic experience.

Stress is a great motivator for it, too.

The Roman Empire survived not by brute force, but through the introduction of a model of civil society based upon codified attempts to produce something like a benevolent rights-based approach to governance.

Overall, however, if you are attempting to demonstrate that human history is replete with examples of brutality, and even apparently "successful" ones, you needn't bother: I am already convinced. That such behaviour has at times "succeeded" in making one person or group dominant over another is not at issue: the real question is how one defines "success."

It is defined by the victors . . .

Pep ( . . . every time.)

Hmmmm . . .

One of the arguments sometimes made for the role playing of antisocial behaviour in SL is that it provides an outlet that isn't available in RL, precisely because it would tear our culture apart.

As for catharsis, I get off on kicking my desk, or occasionally headbutting it.

No, it grew by force . . .

Pep ( . . . and fell when it got soft and gave in to the pleas of the conquered weaklings to share in their civilisation.)

I find "anti-social" behaviour (I would call it something different) in sl great practice for the real thing.

Pep (What works in sl on people that you don't have a physical insight into, works even better when you can see in their eyes the way that they are allowing their emotions to get the better of their common sense, assuming they have some.)

Yes, it DID grow by force. But Imperial Rome survived almost 400 years in large measure because it DID invite subject peoples to be stakeholders (to use an icky modern corporate phrase) in the society that it established.

400 years is one hell of a long time. Compare that to the longevity of your Mongols, Tartars, Huns, etc. Tamerlane built one hell of a pyramid of skulls, but it had probably crumbled into dust within months.

And you would accept their logic? "This is right, and true, because I say so?" This doesn't much sound like you, Pep.

And THAT is precisely what most worries me.

Fixed it for ya!

Pep (Again.)

*sigh*

This is a photo from a Japanese fashion magazine. As you can see, the infamous F word hardly means the same thing to all people. In our society it's become a crutch for those of limited vocabulary, and it's now so overused as to have no real meaning at all. In other cultures it has become a way to be cool.

Being offended by those who overuse this or any other word ad naseum is a whole other game though. Morality may be the basis of the whole social contract but it's not the trademark of one who thinks for themselves. You can also chose not to play the game.

LoL WTF

It's not even a recommendation for it in civilised society - only in a society where thuggery is the norm.

Holy cow. Read the last couple of pages and thought maybe the names had been Swedish Chef'd. It seems like Scylla was channeling Pep on a good (best behaved) day, Pep was channeling LL on a status quo day and it would be a good idea for me to exit very quietly

Yeah, agreed. That's why I suggested it depended on how one defined "success."


Hey!!! If you are just going to be mean . . . !

Right. Not wrong. Right.

You don't see you're being a tyrant, forcing people to be subjected to obscenities? Like I said: SL is a big place and if someone wants their SL experience to belong to a certain threshold then who is anyone to argue or force another on them.

The problem is, it's folks like you who think you're the only ones who are subject to that condition.

You can have your sodom and gomorrah. no one is complaining it has to exist. You can have your truckstop chat all you want. I live in NYC and this is my escape from it. I don't give a hang what you say and what you do. It's your choice. But you have no right to subject people to it who don't consent to it and are in places which accommodate THEIR culture and THEIR lifestyle and THEIR sensibilities.

Respect works both ways.

Yup I was egging him on the whole time in email. I was saying, "Pummel her! And when you're done, knock down that Phil and take his roast beef sandwich! I'm feeling peckish!"

I'll skip the knocking down but if you don't mind

It's ok, I managed without Plus he makes a crap lackey. Although now every time I have a Pastrami baguette with extra mustard I will think of that ole Phil from the forum.

The problem is you can't segregate those who use the F word as part of everyday language from those who don't by culture and lifestyle, especially in SL. If you are in a public place and you hear it that proves my point. Do they not have the right to be there and speak in the manner they are accustomed? Why make the choice to be offended by it in the first place?

I get annoyed by people using excessive gestures in shopping areas and have found the mute button very helpful. At no point do I feel they don't have the right to play their gestures, my disapproval is simply my opinion.

The only thing intolerable is intolerance.

In most businesses, staffed by adults, the employee handbook would still prohibit one from having a profanity-laden screensaver message on the company computer, or posting a naked picture of oneself at the desk.

That is why Linden Lab has the policy on PG Profiles, trying to keep Second Life somewhat business-safe for the companies and universities that Linden Lab is trying to pull in to help pay the bills.

The argument that "If you don't like it, don't read it" is non-sensical since one does not know what the Profile says until one opens it up.

A Profile is not your locked apartment or private IM. They exist to be public. That is their purpose. You may lock people from your land, there is no lock for the Profiles. If you want to express yourself with all the profanity you want, there is no reason why that absolutely must be in your Profile and nowhere else.

That's all very well but the OP complained that he couldn't use that word in his profile, but there are rules about profiles and using that word breaks them.

People can choose the sort of places where they prefer to be. In RL, if I'm in a place that I dislike because of the degree of bad language that's commonplace there, I won't go back. I don't insist that they stop it because that's up to the place's owner, and not up to me. It's the same in SL, but there are places etc. where bad language isn't allowed. This forum is one place and profiles are another. I think that PG land is another, and maybe anywhere that's public is too - I'm not sure about that.

As my dad always said; "Don't say that f***ing s**t around my kid!" =^-^=

Anyway... I don't frigg'n cuss. Doesn't bother me when someone wants to. But, I must say, I don't like it when it's in a direct IM to me. (>_<

That said... PG is PG for PG's sake. I personally believe that PG land is the greatest violation to the grid since the advent of SL. (=_=)

You checked your freedoms at the door when you agreed to TOS. (^_^)y

I am sorry Jig, I just can't see you going up to the Queen and saying "how the f*ck are you".