From: Asmus Freytag (asmusf@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Sun Mar 28 2004 - 18:26:46 EST
>Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 15:26:12 -0800
>To: "Philippe Verdy" <verdy_p@wanadoo.fr>
>From: Asmus Freytag <asmusf@ix.netcom.com>
>Subject: Re: [OT] proscribed words... (was:What is the principle?)
>
>At 02:46 PM 3/28/2004, Philippe Verdy wrote:
>>From: "Asmus Freytag" <asmusf@ix.netcom.com>
>> > >Does this list really exist? Seriously, there's no word that can be
>>proscribed,
>> > >because they are not themselves infamous.
>> >
>> > I guess Phillippe, you are not aware of that peculiar American
>> tradition of
>> > taboo words, being more used to the European practice of banning certain
>>ideas.
>>
>>No I was not aware of it. For me it looks very strange that such taboo words
>>exist still today, but even more intrigating that this list exists in US
>>laws...
>>Suppose that some sexully related words are "taboo", does it mean that one
>>cannot discuss of it with respect for the people with whom you're discussing
>>using these words?
>>Censorship is really a thing of the past here, and we can discuss of
>>absolutely
>>everything, and even listen FM radio programs using all sorts of words.
>>This is
>>acceptable because this leaves places for others, who may feel offensed,
>>to just
>>listen for other programs.
>>
>>As long as you won't force others to hear them, notably children that
>>should be
>>protected, I don't know today any such taboo words here in France, at least
>>officially. I don't say that no taboos exists, but they are more generally
>>related to difficult social or family acceptance, or difficulties to
>>discuss of
>>personnal subjects with others. This is not a question of laws but of
>>personal
>>development and personnal capacity to communicate.
>
>All societies have taboos in one form or other. What's peculiar about the
>US is
>the juxtaposition of a very strong first amendment with such a
>well-defined list
>of individual words. proscribed in many public contexts. Many European
>countries
>have their own taboos (of a different kind), and a different degree of or
>legal
>framework for freedom of expression.
>
>Such cultural differentiation is what you'd expect. It's easy to pick out one
>element of a complex system and ridicule it. However, unless the differences
>between two cultures are considerable, it's hard to come to an unbiased
>ranking.
>
>A./
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