Ok thank you all very much. Firstly my main problem with the swearing is in articles. Blogs and groups are not as important to the wider community outside of minti and blogs especially are for peoples individual thoughts so let them get out thier venting in their if that is really what they want to do. Articles are a different story though, in my opinion these should be wriiten with decorum, as has been said before these can be googled and read by anyone.

As for 13s and over hearing bad language at school and on the streets, my 10 year old hears it at school I am not naive. That does not mean that it is right and should be encouraged, it doesn't mean that we should just ignore it because it happens everywhere. I for one want my children to know that it is wrong and that it really sounds disgusting to hear anybody using foul language.

Also I don't want you all thinking I have never said a swear word in my life because I have DA has been witness to this here in a blog in a private group on minti LOL. I just don't think it has a place in articles on minti. I don't think it should have a place anywhere really I know at any job I have had bad language is not accepted, not even at the pubs do patrons like to hear bad language comming from the staff. I just wish that some people didn't accept swearing as a normal everyday thing because in reality it is not. I think it is disrespectful.

 Lexi xxx

In public view, deliberate foul language should be kept to a minimum, in my opinion. This is because although minti is a parenting site and is targetted at adults, there is nothing stopping children viewing the publicaly viewable pages of minti on the internet, as it gets past even the heaviest filters used by parents and schools.

This being said, what one person finds offensive, another does not, and it is largely cultural as to who finds what offensive. I'm not just talking about differing nationalities either, but differing sub-cultures as well.

For example; someone raised with an excessively polite background may find the word crap offensive, whereas many people consider crap as just a politer way of saying sh!t, and some don't take offense to either word and simply can't spell faeces. Most people do find words like f**k and c**t offensive no matter where they are from or how they were raised, so words like that should definately be avoided as they have no other meaning or purpose other than to be offensive.

When a word is used in it's correct polite context (eg: referring to a male fowl as a cock) then the word can not be considered rude, as it's context is correct and it can be found in any dictionary. The same goes for calling a female dog a bitch. However, to refer to people using these words is offensive and probably should be avoided.

As for the names of body parts, many people think that the word penis is offensive and should not be used, instead substituting it for any number of other terms, such as doodle, person, privates, and others too many to name. I actually find this word substitution to be very offensive myself. I use the correct anatomical terms and I refuse to confuse my children or anyone else by using silly little pet names for a body part. I doodle on paper, I am a person, and I'm pretty sure the armed forces would not be particularly impressed with anyone referring to their lower-ranking men and women as that!!! BTW, for the girls, the correct term for the external area is vulva which is covered by two sections of skin called labia - neither of which has anything to do with small furry animals!

In private groups, if the members of the group are okay about it, swearing should not be an issue. Either everyone is okay with it or they aren't, they use it or they don't, and it's up to the members within that group to decide what is and isn't acceptable.

As for advice articles on minti, I agree that I have seen many that I've let ride, but that have bugged me a little with the swearing. If someone was to write "I was called a ... " that is fine in my opinion because the author is quoting or stating what others said to or about them - it's just a hard cold fact. However, I have grown very tired of reading "she was a ... " or "she acted like a ... " because that is just degrading another person, and there are far better ways to word our disapproval of someone.

Using text lingo to swear (eg: FFS, FIIK, OMFG) is okay by me as it isn't actually swearing directly but instead using a code to express the same, just as some would write ****. My personal favourite when really wanting to let rip in public is <insert expletive here> because then it's left up to the reader to fill in the blanks as to what they think I might have said and thus it is only as offensive as the mind of the reader.

I don't appreciate swearing.

I"m from the old school, I  DON'T like swearing at all, especially not on a parenting site or anywhere for that matter...I just don't see a need for it.

Janice xxx

I dont care for bad language on this site its not here for that, if one does it in there blog I guess that is up to then you just choose weather you read it or not.

this site is not for chn BUT there is a blog group set up for chn and if I let mine go on it I will get him into it and watch when he is on the computer.  

Mind if I ask what foul language you are referring to?  Personally, I haven't encountered foul or excessive bad language on here, and certainly not anything that has caused me to be offended, as Minti seems to have a very good (sometimes too good   )  monitoring policy on what words are acceptable and what are not.  If a word shows up that may be construed as profanity or offensive, the article is generally checked by Minti admin who will censor it before it is posted.

I don't believe in constant use of bad language, but Minti IS for adults and is supposed to be somewhere parents and carers can express themselves with other adults.

Having said that, if someone has had a bad day, writes an article or comment and happens to say something they shouldn't, then I think as adults, we should try and understand the level of their frustration has made them feel the need to vent a bit.

Like one writer said - kids hear far worse language in their school playgrounds these days.  Not that that makes it okay, but it is a fact of life.  I guess it is a parents' job to teach them that just because they hear bad language doesn't make it correct.  I had someone swear at me in an argument a couple of years ago and in front of my kids, so I said "Oh, what university did you learn to speak like that in?"  He shut his mouth very quickly and my kids got a giggle out of it.

I don't find anyone on here intentionally posts comments to cause offense.  The reality of life is that no one can ever make ALL the people happy ALL the time. 

Oops I replied and demonstrated bad language... My apologies to anyone who can see it!

I have to admit that seeing words like '^*%&%(' and '@$&*&%^*' etc in advice really does put me off... The english language has such a large array of words to choose from, surely if an author is serious about expressing themselves and their opinion they would take the time to do so in a more appropriate manner.

There are have been a few public personal blogs appearing with common swearing in them too... Each unto their own; however I think there is a time and a place for it and in my opinion a parenting website isn't one of them.

For me swearing is a last resort, it doesn't promote a positive reaction, it demonstrates a loss of control and appears as if there has either been a lack of thought or intelligence. 

Well, I don't really like it, but it depends on the context.  Everyone slips now and then, but when you are thinking and writing a piece for the web I would have thought you could find other words to use - or use symbols to get across your message.  In a blog I'd ignore the odd word or two, but if it was a regular inclusion I just wouldn't read that person's blog.  In an article I really don't think it is appropriate and I would mark it down for that reason.

minti isnt for children its for parents. the over 13 rule is there i assume because ppl can be parents at 13/ 14 so therefore are welcome on the site to join in as a PARENT not a child.

if you are a parent im sure you have heard most of the words anyway.... most articles on here are not suitable for children and this ISNT a child or FAMILY site! so if you dont like think its appropriate dont bring your child here its that easy.

in saying that no i dont think its nesesary to swear in articles.

I have not come across any bad language as of  yet my kids no more swear words than i do and even have other ways to say the bearch is B**** and other great words like them. At the moment it is about kids saying you are worth nothing and you are adopted, you are a retard.They have come home with poems mum and dad sitting in a boat one goes toot the other goes R***R***. You wish jelly fish, bring it on tampon. from my 8 year old. Have you watched movies lately they swear all the way through it, ps2 games have swearing every second word.  Another member was right  you cannot protect kids 24/7 the big wide world is getting harder and educated about adult issues in prep or they have older siblings  . There are children that swear all day in my sons prep group now he mimics it teachers cant do anything so the other kids think it is alright. I think all we can do is ignore the bad words not make a big deal and eventually if they dont get a reaction it should thats what the teachers have said.

I agree with you fully. I don't like bad language, it's inconsiderate.  Even if my 14 year old hears it at school it not allowed to speak it around me and hopefully it will become his value as unacceptable.  I would never deliberately expose my children to bad language and I would appolize to them if it happened by accident, as I would not want them thinking that I thought it was ok. 

My thoughts on this is advice articles there is really no need for foul language unless as Arna said it is used in context. But really in someones blog i don't find it a problem because if i didn't like it then i wouldn't read that persons blog. A blog is for peoples thoughts and feelings so if they wanted to swear in bold capital letters i couldn't care less.

Juzzy xoxox

I think 'foul language' isn't suitable to be spoken anywhere. I know that it seems to be the norm these days, and maybe I am a little old fashioned. But I really don't see the point of that sort of language. And don't believe it has a place on minti.

I was raised hearing bad language all my life, not that that is a good thing, but it has desensitised me to it and i don't even really notice it when I'm reading. And sometimes when Im blogging and Im annoyed I just type what is in my head not worrying aboyt censoring it for people.

Im not going to change who I am or how I speak, I try to keep it clean and if I do let one slip I have simply done it without noticeing cos normally ill write fcuk or f**k but you know when your heated and wanna just vent theres not always time to censor every swear word.

As for 13 yr olds.. they hear swearing at school, in the street at the shops, you cant censor life?

xoxo

To me, advice articles are one of the things that parents are looking for when they join minti, and they are wanting advice that is presented a little more professionally.  I know that a more professional article shows to me that the member has knowledge about the subject. 

Bad or offensive language brings that professionalism that other parents are looking for down and it could be turning potential members away as they may feel that minti is a site that encourages such language.

Realistically, there is no need to use this kind of language, unless it is used as a quote like in an abuse article where someone has been called a name their whole life.  In that situation where it is a quote, it is more acceptable though I'm sure it could still be avoided.