I hope more schools adopt this policy. For those of us who attend college games, being subjected to this language is nothing short of appalling. There are ways to show one’s support for a team without using profanity. Unfortunately this is a reflection of how the use of language continues to deteriorate in our society.

Susan, at 8:55 am EDT on September 13, 2006

Speech Cops and Language Sanitizers

Lordy, lordy what a sniveling bunch of Victorian prudes have we at Boston University!

I hope the B.U. students completely ignore and scorn those witless do-gooders, continue their raucous cheering from the stands, and say whatever they damn well please at all sporting events.

The September 2006 issue of *The Atlantic* contains a fine review of Erica Jong’s latest book by Cristina Nehring who comments at length on Jong’s famous “zipless fuck.”

And in last week’s *New Yorker* (p. 140,) we learn about a Mississsippi doctor who publicly advised Vice President Cheney when he visited the area “to go fuck himself.”

When the priggish language cops at B.U. finish with their sanctimonious academic nanny-work, perhaps they can try persuading some high brow literary magazines to follow their lead.

Not!

Chuck, at 9:15 am EDT on September 13, 2006

Morality choices

So, Chuck, because one person does something lacking in good taste, that makes it ok for everyone else?? Do you base your morality choices on the choices others make?? If so, I feel sorry for you and your lack of character. It is not prudish to stand up for civilized behavior. I wish more people in this country stood up for family values! As it is, we can hardly bring our children anywhere or let them watch any TV — all because of the behavior that is permitted under the guise of “freedom of expression".

Sandra, at 10:46 am EDT on September 13, 2006

BU’s other probelms

Are there any plans at BU to make BU students act more mature and less like bimbos on the Green line. Seriously, they make everyone think that BU is just one big party.

Larry, at 10:46 am EDT on September 13, 2006

Sandra and Chuck on morality

Chuck, Maybe Sandra is joking. As an academic, I am sure that Sandra understands the importance of defining terms. Unfortunately, we will have to await another post to see if, in fact, she is joking or whether she is using terms without definitions, which is unacceptable in academe, and, quite frankly, in any civilized country.

I am curious as to how Sandra concludes that you have a lack of character. It isn’t as if she knows much about your personal life, or even about your propensity to do anything besides make posts on the internet: none of which really say anything about your character.

Of course, Sandra would need to explain what she means by “family values.” People (including myself) have justified all sorts of things with that phrase. But, perhaps she can explain which “family” value requires a set of rules restricting expression, because this is what she is arguing for. (Sandra does not make the argument that people with such values do not swear, she only makes the argument that restricting speech is necessary to implement an unnamed family value.)

In my family, letting kids watch any TV was considered to show a lack of any kind of value. For that reason I consider it gauche for anyone to make any television reference. But others think it is acceptable to discuss television shows with others.

Strangely, Sandra’s point about “civilized behavior” doesn’t make that much sense. Despite the fact that sports are largely a waste of time and talking about them shows a lack of breeding, they are, in themselves, a facet of civilization. The games start and end according to rules. The players play according to a set of rules (even in hockey). Equipment is limited. Indeed, the foul-mouthed fans are generally not allowed on the field of play, and they generally refrain from even trying to play. Human flesh is rarely eaten in the stands. This seems quite civilized to me. I wonder if Sandra thinks that Rock-and-Roll Rollerderby is uncivilized ?

Larry, at 12:20 pm EDT on September 13, 2006

Oh, for crying out loud...

What a bunch of prissy wankers in these comments. I admire the school spirit of my fellow Terriers, and am inspired by the creative rhyming of the York chant. Fuck BC, indeed.

Larry, you’re right, we do have a bit of an image problem, but I don’t think it’s as bad as the partying reputations of some universities of comparable size with bigger frat/sorority populations (BU’s is quite small) and football programs (which we don’t have).

stinky, graduate student at Boston University, at 1:15 pm EDT on September 13, 2006

This exchange neatly illustrates the civic inadequacy of American higher education. It is obvious that the language BU students use is inappropriate in public; calling on someone to define terms before they object to it is an egregious misuse of an academic strategy.

Douglas Lewis, at 2:45 pm EDT on September 13, 2006

Collective Behavior...

....Just say “no.”

Or just say, “Fuck no!” depending on where you are from.

kgotthardt, at 8:35 pm EDT on September 13, 2006