just to point this out:
In light of recent events, I’d like to drop a reminder about using acceptable language when using the forums. Basically, this means no profanity whether overt or implied, even words that are common in everyday conversation these days. Doing things like using a "$" in place of an "S" in a particular word also does not elevate the profane to the world of the acceptable.
Posts that contain profanity will be deleted or edited to purge the offending bits. Users who repeatedly violate the standards will be barred from the site. This may seem excessively strict, but we want to protect this forum's polite, friendly, constructive tone.
The real issue is the tone that swearing imparts to the discourse. When it becomes an unconscious part of one's vocabulary, it basically makes one look, well, illiterate, as if you are merely using the words as placeholders for words that would actually say something comprehensible to your listeners/readers.
Once swearing becomes a habitual part of somebody's vocabulary, it too becomes meaningless. When you keep that language in reserve for extraordinary situations, as when something really bad happens, then you get some psychological release from using them.
Anyway, the point is that people make their assessments of our intelligence by how we talk. And the language we use in print--including electronic print--makes an even more lasting impression on others. I don't know about everybody else, but if people think I'm more intelligent than I really am, I'm not going to do anything that'll change their minds!
So lets keep things civil and keep the discourse clean.
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Michael Ellis
Advertising Sales Consultant
FineScale Modeler