Curfews

[formerly known as hf]

Of the Americans I have worked with (five of them) - all of them have been fat and arrogant.
Would it be right for me to say, from knowing those few, that all Americans are fat and arrogant?

Definately, based on your sample, you have enough evidence to support the hypothesis that 100% of Americans are arrogant and fat. It's the scientific method in action: you observe the world around you and make conclusions based upon those observations.

:)

The same scientific methods that the blind men with the elephant used...

[Schme]

No, it's put more offensively. Swear words have one purpose and one alone: to offend. That's why they're considered impolite.

I'm afraid that you're wrong, my friend. They're not meant only to offend. That's entirely untrue. If I say to my friend, "Hey man, fu.ck the Prime Minister." is that meant to offend him? Is it meant to offend the Prime Minister? The Prime Minister? He doesn't know I said that, and probably wouldn't care if he did. No, what that would be said for is to express my feelings on the Prime Minister.

If I say "I don't give a damn about this new law.", is it meant to be offensive? To who? The law? No, it means I don't care. Same deal.

"Stupidass potholes!" Who am I trying to insult?

If you're offended by something that wasn't meant at all to offend you, all I can say is tough luck, buddy.

Let me tell you something. When I was five, I went into a temple. When you go into a temple, you're supposed to take off you're shoes. I had my shoes on. The guy says to me "Hey son, take of your shoes." I said "Sorry." and took off my shoes. "Don't worry about it." He said.

See, you take of your shoes as a sign of respect to the gods in their holy place, because your shoes got dirt on them, right? Wearing shoes in the temple is disrespectful. But did people all go crazy? No. Why would you be insulted by something that's not meant to insult you.

That's just rediculous, man.

I only know a few people who can use swear words for emphasize and not sound rude or ignorant, and none of them do it in type.

Well, that's people you know. Good for them.

And if you think I sound rude, well, that's not my fault. I'm not being rude. If you're offended by unoffensive things, well, there's not much anyone can do for you.

"She was f***ing mad" holds no more value then "very mad" or "extremely mad" or "incredibly mad".

I disagree. And even if it didn't, would it have less? You've got to think context to, man.

And anyways, this really has nothing to do with anything, and if you guys are offended, all I can say is too bad. I don’t mean to be rude in saying that, but if you feel insulted by something not meant to insult you, I can help that.

For reference, Schme, previous censorship on the forums have been lifted - there is no need to intersperse any words with punctuation.

Really? Praise be! No one told me.

Thanks for letting me know. I had no idea. When did that happen?

Nalaris: How, from knowing the few Mexicans you do know, can you start generalising about all Mexicans.

True enough.

Ok, now you're starting to get on my nerves.

notsure 1/2 American (so does that make me just fat or just arrogant?)

Listen, he's using scientific method. Anyone intellegent and with a television can tell you that that is not truth, alright. I doesn't work here.

Anyone can see that. Why don't you say something about it if it upsets you anyway?

If you're just going to right "You're getting on my nerves." why bother? It proves nothing and is no defense. What's the point of just writting that, man? If it annoys you and you know it's untrue, refute it.

[Solfius]

Ok, now you're starting to get on my nerves.

notsure 1/2 American (so does that make me just fat or just arrogant?)

It means we can't conclude anything because there were only proper Americans in HFs study

[Nixit]

I would disagree. They can be to offend, but that's the improper (and more common) way of using them, in my opinion. Like Schme said, they can be used to emphasize a point more strongly.

I only know a few people who can use swear words for emphasize and not sound rude or ignorant, and none of them do it in type. "She was f***ing mad" holds no more value then "very mad" or "extremely mad" or "incredibly mad". We have plenty of words that can be used for emphasis. Why take ones that have much cruder meaning and are considered offensive and make them mean the same thing.

Regardless of their effectiveness, swear words' sole purpose is not to offend. Incredibly is not nearly as strong as F***ing, and unless you are a person who constantly uses swear words almost as second nature (which is stupid I agree), one will most likely be more shocked/moved by the person using the swear word. Yeah, some people will be offended, but that's their problem.

[formerly known as hf]

For reference, Schme, previous censorship on the forums have been lifted - there is no need to intersperse any words with punctuation.

Really? Praise be! No one told me.

Thanks for letting me know. I had no idea. When did that happen?

I didn't even realise there was a censorship until a couple of weeks ago. When I did, I asked for it to be dropped, the power that be agreed, it was changed.

[Stan]

Using foul language in type is the lazy way to shock and make a point and it typically has no lasting value.

In speech its used to offend or intimidate as well as shock. I tend to use words those words in speech more often than I should, but its usually when I'm tired or trying to make a point by expenpending the least amount of energy as possible. In my opinion its the sign of a lazy mind or an impatient person. Its especially ignorant when conducting business and is a great way to introduce a white elephant in the room.

[Nalaris]

For reference, Schme, previous censorship on the forums have been lifted - there is no need to intersperse any words with punctuation.



Nalaris: How, from knowing the few Mexicans you do know, can you start generalising about all Mexicans.

Of the Americans I have worked with (five of them) - all of them have been fat and arrogant.
Would it be right for me to say, from knowing those few, that all Americans are fat and arrogant?

I was only referring to the mexicans in my area. The Americans in your area would appear to be fat and arrogant in general. Boo hoo for them. I do not claim to know everything about the mexicans in my area, this is just the general conclusion I've drawn from what I've experienced. I know too little about this subject to draw any true conclusion, and I'm aware of that.

[Stan]

Oh yeah, I know a bunch of fat arrogant Americans, too.

[Schme]

Thanks for letting me know. I had no idea. When did that happen?

I didn't even realise there was a censorship until a couple of weeks ago. When I did, I asked for it to be dropped, the power that be agreed, it was changed.[/quote]

That's crazy! I asked them to do that as soon as they started it. I suppose it was just a phase or something.

Using foul language in type is the lazy way to shock and make a point and it typically has no lasting value.

I disagree.

In speech its used to offend or intimidate as well as shock.

Yes it is. But not in the context that I used it. I thought that that was rather obvious.

I tend to use words those words in speech more often than I should, but its usually when I'm tired or trying to make a point by expenpending the least amount of energy as possible.

Sounds unfortunate. I am not like you in that respect, however.

In my opinion its the sign of a lazy mind or an impatient person. Its especially ignorant when conducting business and is a great way to introduce a white elephant in the room.

I can't say that I agree. Espicially seeing as it cannot be ignorant, as the words have no specific subject to which they are exclusivly applied. If I were to say a screwdriver was for laying brick, it would be ignorant that I thought so. But if I were to say that damn screwdrivers are for laying bricks, it is not a description of the screwdriver or of anything else, at least not in a way that can be considered ignorant or intellegent. It is simply an expression of my attitude towards screwdrivers. You see what I mean?

notsure 1/2 American (so does that make me just fat or just arrogant?)

And you can't be one half of a nationality. It doesn't work that way.

I do not claim to know everything about the mexicans in my area, this is just the general conclusion I've drawn from what I've experienced. I know too little about this subject to draw any true conclusion, and I'm aware of that.

Yes, he's made that very clear. You guys are talking as if he's claiming to know everything about everything ever or something, which he is not at all doing.

[notsure]

Why can't you have 1/2 of a nationality? Two homes, two parents of different countries, 2 passports. Simple.

notsure

[Schme]

It doesn't make you half American. If makes you an American and something else. But you can't be a half citizen.

[Nixit]

Unless it's 1/2 native American.

[Schme]

I suppose so. But it's not really the same. First Nations status are more based on race than on membership in state.

So, not really.

[Nalaris]

Alright, I'm going to break this down very simply. Using swear words will offend people. I don't care what you think about them, or whether or not you intend to offend with them, anytime I see a swear word I subcounciously get two impressions, which are almost always correct:

1. This person is a moron incapable of expressing his opinion without being profane and vulgar. How pathetic.

2. If someone's going to swear constantly in this conversation, it'll encourage me to swear, and then I'll be a total hypocrite, so I should probably leave.

[Schme]

Listen man, any reasonable person would not be offended by something innofensive, and if they are, I don't care. One can't go through life trying to please every single person.

If you want to talk offensive, then we should turn to your calling me a moron. That would be considered offensive, as you are directly insulting me rather than just making a point. That's the difference.

I can't say I really care if you're upset, man. I don't mean to offend in saying that, it's just that it's foolish to be offended by something not meaning to offend you. It's like being personally offended by someone being gay. It makes no sense. Nothing I can do if that's how you choose to be. Again, no disrespect intended.