AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area What constitutes profanity?

Personally I think only "ass" qualifies from that list. The rest (hosed, screwed, butt, darn) are "acceptable alternative" words for the curse words the person is thinking but trying not to say! Jesus & JC shouldn't even be on the list unless it is a religious school it was said at (then who knows what the rules are)! JMO

I have a different take on profanity than most. I have no problem with my kids using ANY words - however, the context in which they say them is the important thing. Words, phrases or statements that convey hatred or intolerance towards others are not allowed. Rudeness and disrespect are not tolerated. It's kinda complicated, but my kids get it, as we've always practiced it. They clearly know the difference between "bad" words and "impolite" words. "It's effin' cold out" is merely impolite. "Fag", on the otherhand, is bad, rude, hateful and simply unacceptable. Profanity, to me, is more about how things are said, rather than what is said.

hi law, anybody that knows me certainly knows that I have my own set of profane language that gets more colourful (including gestures) when I add alcohol and stir?

However, when it comes to school rules I would say that I feel that all of the words that were on the written list would not be acceptable in my book.

I am not a complete prude, but when it comes to my kids I feel that they should do as I say, not as I do. Yes this is definitely a hypocritical way of looking at things, BUT, I am the rule maker. When you move out on your own, make your own money, pay your own bills and can afford to live by your own rules then Good For You.... but until that time the rules are made for a reason. When we are in certain situations such as school or the work place, and we are subjected to the wants, needs, cares,like and dislikes of others we have to learn more tolerance, more respect for other cultures, religions, belief systems etc.

My kids are always trying on the "my friend such and such is allowed to this or that or stay up later etc." My canned response is that families and establishments all have different rules and regulations.


If you don't like and accept the school rules then you might want to consider 2 option, changing the rules or changing schools.

I believe my children must abide by the school rules, even if they live by a different set of rules at home. For example, one of my daughters goes to an all girls Roman Catholic school. We are not Roman Catholic but when she is required to attend mass, so be it!

Anyway, you asked for an opinion - there it is.

Thanks guys - this is a bit closer to what I'm looking for.

If a kid said, "I hate this damn class" would you consider that to be using profanity? What if he said, "I hate this darn class" is that use of profanity? What makes the difference?

it is difficult, many good responses here. but law specifically said that the attitude is not to be considered. so, we must judge it as if it were written, not spoken, correct?

thus, the "it's not what you said but how you said it" my mom & i (et al) use does not apply.

i think i agree that "ass" esp if "hole" is with it is profane, but not the other words. JC means little to me, i am not christian, and believe in separation of church & state, or school in this case.

so....

Law
I was former VPHR for an international call center company. the issue of what is profane actually had enormous impact on a great number of FCC regulations. As a result, i have spend countless hours defending, researching, and going to actual trials regarding the issue of profanity used (in this case in the workplace). All work was on east coast US and Canada.

With lots and lots of great legal minds, we were not able to defend our position as an employer why the person should be terminated, because we did not clearly, nor could we clearly outline was, and what was not, profanity.

i should think the argument you would consider making is not one of whether the word was profanity, but rather, if your client would have had a reasonable opportunity to NOT use profanity given the clearly vague rule at the school. If the school is not able to clearly define what is and is not, then how can the child be expected to know what is and is not a violation.

basically, this is how i got my MFing ass kicked all over the courts for firing someone for the use of profanity. :-)

What's the difference between "damn" and "darn"? Conveys the same message.
If the kid said "this class is bitchin", however, that is different than "the teacher is a bitch". No?

(what's gonna get beeped here???)

Has the school defined any conduct standard that includes unacceptable language?

Well on your list of possible words used, I think its the inference that is profane if any of those words were used, because all of the words are colloquial synonyms for words that are generally perceived to be on the list of 7 profane words that were the issue of the FCC brouhaha way back when Carlin did his piece on the subject. Certainly none of the "7 profane" words would be tolerated in school, so perhaps because there really isn't an arguably genial or non-profane intent behind the use of the words you provided, the school's ambiguous rule as to profanity is based upon the inference, not the spelling or "root word" so to speak. Interesting topic, hope the kid doesn't end up hosed and that you can save his sorry little ass...

Depending on how and to whom he used the words, maybe his sorry little ass shouldn't be saved...