the asterisk: the fig leaf of prose modesty
Seriously weird coverage of Big Brother over at the Times which seems unable or unwilling to publish the word "nigger,"
Are they concerned that people will be offended by seeing it in print, or concerned that people will think they're insensitive for using it? Why the not-that-discreet-at-all veil of discretion? Is it insensitive to even use the word to talk about racism?
Maybe I'm missing something, but "bad words" - or the attitudes they express and support - don't go away because we insert asterisks everywh*re.
4 comments:
"Why the not-that-discrete-at-all veil of discretion?"
Have you mixed up your discrete with your discreet? Or is it me failing to understand your comment?
It's the first one. Doh. Now fixed.
(Swoops in on rope to point out that asterisk != asterix, the cartoon character, and swoops off while wailing "stand back, I know typography!".)
One of my shorter posts and still crammed full of errors.
Fixed that, too.
Thanks. :)
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