Ron: hoisted on the pitard of my own verbage. Well done, sir. For the record I really didn't intend this thread to wander off as it has--and mea culpa for listing MG among my "characters" on Mudcat. Just came to mind. I was really more interested in my observation of language...uh..."customs" here. To that end...

Maybe at least those of you who subscribe to Lenny Bruce's defense of the profane will agree that common usage diminishes the impact of the word (?). Again, I'm really not trying to be condescending here...not the point. I take part in a couple of other forums (and no, they ain't for hoity-toity holy rollers or something) where anyone using such language is edited (yes, CENSORED!!!) and gently warned at least a couple of times (usually by "mods" and PM's-maybe on a thread) to cease and desist. If they don't, their membership is terminated. Obviously, that ISN'T the case here, so I chuckle sometimes when I read some of the outrage over censorship here. Seems to me it's pretty free-wheelin'.

If this is coming off as whining, or complaining, it isn't meant to. I simply stated my personal preferece to avoid it when possible, especially when I write. However, yas are all free to do as ya please-free speech and all that. It was just an "observation" from a relative new-comer. Guess I whacked the hornets' nest, eh? I'll be more circumspect in the future. We can move on, if ya like...