From: Jef Allbright (jef@jefallbright.net)
Date: Fri Dec 13 2002 - 17:36:49 MST
Olga Bourlin wrote:
> From: "Jef Allbright" <jef@jefallbright.net>
>
>> I wish I had time to do a write-up on the related concept of
>> "victimless crime".
>
> Oh, oh. I used those words recently, and I want to make certain
> they're not misunderstood. "Victimless crime" in my post was tied to
> "profanity" ...
There are many examples of "victimless crimes" and on a strongly libertarian
list one can expect a strong defense of such.
Profanity in itself can be useful for clearly expressing certain feelings.
And as Olga pointed, very few of us on this list are likely to think there's
a god who can be offended by our choice of words.
As I tell my kids, it's not the words that are bad, but the attitude behind
them can be harmful. Some may argue on the basis that it's childish to
value civility, and that real grownups are rough and tough and say it how it
is, and revel in the pure energy of the exchange. In my opinion this
accelerates regression to the mean, or worse, and *we all* are poorer for
it.
- Jef
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