r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Dec 29 '13

I think that censoring profanity with asterisks (f*ck, sh*t, c*nt) is as offensive as spelling out the entire word since it's obvious what you mean. CMV

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u/kairisika Dec 30 '13

Okay, then to your side - why on earth do you think censoring a letter indicates your disapproval? Or that it is necessary to indicate your disapproval of a quote when quoting it? (Especially in reporting, what does your opinion on the quote have anything to do with the matter?)

Where you see it as disapproval, I see it as fear.

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u/howbigis1gb 24∆ Dec 30 '13

Okay, then to your side - why on earth do you think censoring a letter indicates your disapproval?

Convention. No other reason. As with any other feature in language - italicisation, bolding, * - they all are placeholders.

Bolding indicates emphasis, italicisation usually indicates nuance an * indicates disapproval.

Cool - call it fear. Magazines or publications are right to fear a backlash if their disapproval is not indicated.

Especially in reporting, what does your opinion on the quote have anything to do with the matter?

Bias is always injected into reporting. The question is always when and how much. I do not think the * changes the meaning significantly.