Whoever oversees this site, please stop the posting of those who choose to blaspheme the Lord and use filthy language. To those who choose the gutter, please depart from this site.

-- Daryl Bittner (rushmore@dailypost.com), March 07, 1999

Answers

Daryl,

I sympathize with your opinion of the "troll" postings, but I suspect that you may be new to the forum if you haven't seen them before. For better or worse, this is not a "moderated" forum -- which means that people can post things without having them first cleared by a filter or "censor". I scan as many of the messages as possible, two or three times a day, and I delete the threads that are obscene or excessively offensive. Unfortunately, it does mean that offensive threads can survive on the forum for a few hours before I get to them -- and if I miss something, you're welcome to email me to let me know that it needs my attention.

Some of the people on the forum have some strong opinons about Y2K, which is understandable; and they may occasionally use a four-letter word that you might find objectionable. I try to be as tolerant as I can about such things, because I think it's important for people to be as open as possible about expressing their opinions. It's like a huge cocktail party, with some of the guests slightly inebriated; sometimes they say things that you wouldn't want repeated in front of your children. (Of course, your children can always turn on the TV and listen to talking heads discussing their opinion of Monica's sex life!)

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), March 07, 1999.

Well said Ed! A couple glasses of wine, a thread that just sends you to the moon, emotions run rampant and you start expressing yourself in terms that may not be the right words, but they do get the point across. There's a difference between using a four letter word, and some of filth that has been posted here. But your last sentence says it all, I have a hard time explaining what oral sex is to my nieces.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), March 07, 1999.

thanks, Ed. I rather suspected you were working on what I liked to describe as kitchen table rules. that is, the subjects and language would conform to acceptable at the kitchen table on pinochle or cribage night, with the usual number of empty brown botles, etc.

Chuck, a foggy eyed night driver

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), March 07, 1999.

Ed,

Just wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for a job well done!

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 08, 1999.

Ed, Since I know that you will check back to see what we respond, I would like to express my appreciation for the ability to speak as I see fit (within reason). We are allowed to offend as many people as we want with our opinions but not our language....and that's as it should be in the USA. I do not agree with a lot of what I read here but very seldom am I offended by it. Public profanity only exhibits the person's lack of self control and - have you noticed?- is being prosecuted in various places now.

Daryl, I realize that you feel offended by what you read here. Go to some of the other sites and you will see far worse--some of it uttered in the name of the Lord. When Ed chooses to censor the postings before they are put on the site, I for one will have to go somewhere else because the flavor of this site and it's characters will be forever ruined. Go over to Rev. Chris' site, it stays pretty clean and they do discuss y2k but only with biblical overtones. I am an adult--I do not need a dose of religion with my facts.

-- Lobo (Hiding@woods.com), March 08, 1999.

Dear Daryl,

The trolls who post such garbage WANT to shock and offend you. The more you protest, the more they'll spew it out. I know it's very difficult, but please just ignore them.

Hello, Ed,

As one who uses a naughty word (or thought) now and then, I appreciate your tolerance level and your recognition of the fact that some of us find low-level cusswords inoffensive, and don't suffer coronaries at the rare four-letter type. (Except when it's used troll-fashion.) When the North forum censor kicked back my post with the word "hell" in it, I thought it highly amusing but parental in the extreme. When it kicked back someone's post who was trying to explain about sucking the air out of something, I got uneasy. Your cocktail party analogy is on point and, although I'm not allowed high-sugar alcohol any more, I can get pretty high over here at Yourdonlair (apologies to Cory). (I'm the tall, big woman, topped by a mop of wild gray hair, in the far corner, with the club soda and twist, chuckling over something Greybear just said. It sounded like, "Got soap?")

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 08, 1999.

I just had a chat with the Lord, and s/he suggested to me that s/he has a very lax attitude when it comes to language. Being party to everyone's thoughts has desentizied her/him over the years to the crudities of human expirence. S/he is infinitly forgiving.

PS This was just meant as a gentle ribbing to those who anthropomorphize God. Please don't be *too* offended. :)

-- Alison Tieman (fearzone@home.com), March 08, 1999.

Daryl,

In case you are wondering where Pastor Chris' site is, it can be found at:

Pastor Chris Y2K Forum

-- Louise (~~~~~@~~~~.~~~), March 08, 1999.