I realize asking makes me sound like the world's only 28-year-old codger, but is "What the F***" (WTF) really something we need to envoke in subject lines?

What do you suggest for a suitable replacement, grampa?

There's a simple solution. Just don't use it, son! Learn to get your point across without the vulgarity.

Since you asked, as an example, in this thread: WTF? Fugitive @ Amazon, I would have said something like "Question about Fugitive @ Amazon" or "Amazon raising prices of already placed orders for Fugitgive SE?!?" rather than using WTF.

Another example: WTF........What is the Price of Rocky SE???. That poster could have easily left the WTF off and simply titled his post "What is the Price of Rocky SE???".

I just did a search of all forums, and found 61 threads (not counting this one) with WTF in the subject. One of the threads that came up was titled simply "WTF?!?". Granted that was an Other post, but still. I don't think it belongs in any thread titles.

(BTW: the 2 examples I posted were both posted today, and the "WTF?!?" thread was posted about 3 weeks ago. It seems the problem has been getting bigger lately.)

It amazes me that people find time to worry about this sort of thing.

For what it's worth, I agree with noelcross in this one. It just really isn't appropriate in topic lines, just as smiley faces and other HTML is not appropriate in topic lines.

DVD Talk has a no profanity policy (see Legal Info - this link can be found at the bottom of every page). Whether it's abbreviated or used with symbols, it's still profanity. See this thread that Geoff posted in the Other Forum.

If the problem persists, please notify the appropriate moderator(s).

Whats wrong with "What the Fart"?

BFD :)

If you can't find anything more original to say than WTF.....
 

I usually avoid these topics because the message is going to be as trite as the thread title!

I agree and almost posted about this myself earlier today. I would think the WTF? phrase would only be acceptable in threads asking why Lucas hasn't released Star Wars yet. ;)

It amazes me that the other people find time to worry about the fact that people worry about this sort of thing. ;)

I have no problem with it, but we have to have these kind of rules because we have to many anal, thin skinned, easily offended members.

The whole point of WTF, SMB (and DMY ;) ) etc is that you're not swearing, but can still express the sentiment. I fell it should be allowed, as technically children (and the weak-hearted adults among us) wouldn't understand it anyway. And if they do understand what the offensive words in question mean, then the damage is already done, and saying WTF, SMB etc in your post will not change the fact.

My 2c.


PS I suspect the noelgross is being ironic. After all he/she used 'WTF' in the title too. Think about it...

Re-read this thread again. Nobody is complaining about the use of WTF in the threads themselves. This thread is about those letters appearing in thread titles. Because this is a family forum, it has relatively strict rules in regards to thread titles, more strict than in the threads themselves.

Let me clarify that I am not offended by WTF being used in the subject, nor am I thin-skinned, but I feel that points can be made without using terms/abbreviations like that.

Some people just aren't gettin enough matey, they just aren't gettin enough :)

37 swear words. 15 bodily functions. 12 major, 4 minor organs. 8 bleeped out expletives. Recommended :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It amazes me that other people find time to worry about the fact that .... *falls asleep* *Snores* ;)

Yeah, those seem like suitable replacements to me too, or just using ??? instead. WTF isn't neccesary at all, really. What's up with that? is equally effective, I think.

I can't believe that some people are trying to tell me what I think "WTF" should stand for. "WTF" can stand for anything you want. No one knows what the original poster means by these letters. It's up to the reader to determine what the letters stand for.

Oh yeah, a little hint for you, I know this sounds crazy but you have the power to choose not to be offended by groups of letters that make a sound. I know we were all taught in school that these words are "bad" but they're really not. They're just groups of letters like any other word on this page.

Do you really believe that this isn't about someone seeing "WTF" as being offensive? If some threads popped up that said "You know what?" instead of "WTF", no one would have started a Is "You know what?" really necessary in subject lines? thread.

By the way, if it's not offensive, then WTF do people care what someone puts at the beginning of their subject lines?

[Edited by Bust on 04-26-01 at 01:18 PM]

I think it's easy to overlook the impact of people using WTF in subject lines. It may not be a big deal to some of you but it does add to an overall tone of negativity on the forum. I changed the WTF's to Wazzup With.

Now the forum is one big Budweiser commercial. :D

People are actually offended by WTF? You're kidding! That's incredible! It's simply an expression of surprised disbelief, and couldn't possibly be any more removed from the original "intercourse" meaning of the last word.

My opinion of DVDTalk as a whole has just dropped more than a few notches.

Mwoody,

Yep... some people are offended by What The F----

Even if you abreviate it, it's still What The F----

Removed as it may be, the "F" word still has deep rooted associations as an "offensive" word. From the OED:

Used profanely in imprecations and exclamations as the coarsest equivalent of "Damn"

and since a lot of people (especially Americans, ahem ;) ) seem to think "damn" is pretty offensive, then surely a profane, coarse equivalent of it is even more offensive? And what does "damn" mean?

Used profanely (chiefly in optative, and often with no subject expressed) in imprecations and exclamations, expressing emphatic objurgation or reprehension of a person or thing, or sometimes merely an outburst of irritation or impatience

So "the F word" is just a profane version of a profane version of "Gee, that's irritating!"

Ergo, "WTF" could just as easily be served by the phrase "Really, Really Irritating!" But then, that would involve actually typing hings out, and of course, we know that Internet users can't possibly write a full expression out when an abbreviation will do :rolleyes:

So what sound does WTF make? :)

not if I'm telling a story about when I WTF (went to Footlocker).

What's The Frequency?

White Thong Frolics

So THAT'S what it means. Not World Trade Foundation -smile-

<b>Kenneth</b>

Just use the abbreviation RRI, itl catch on
;)


Thanks for addressing this, I was starting to bother me as well.

Let's just let this go and chalk up one more to the PC police.

You took the words right out of my mouth ...

IMO, WTF is SOP in the OF. BFD.

Nobody here seems to be suggesting that the use of WTF in a post should be banned, just WTF in the thread title. Not a big deal to me, although somtimes WTF in the title is used rather humerously. Most times, however, it's just superfluous.

Really? ;)

This <i>is</i> supposed to be a relatively family-oriented site, <b>Lurker1999</b>.

- David Stein

How do you figure that?

This has been discussed before, and I thought it was common knowledge. Admittedly, I can't find mention of it in either the user agreement or any of <b>gkleinman</b>'s recent posts.

Mods, can you tell me whether I'm remembering correctly or I've just completely lost my mind? Thanks.

The reasons given in the past for why this is a family-oriented site are 1) there's no age restriction in the signup form and Geoff is loath to put a "You must be over 18 to enter this site" warning up anywhere, and 2) Geoff doesn't want it adult-oriented (and neither do many of its members.)

The effects of the policy are noted in the clear prohibition on profanity and posting of nude photos, both of which <i>are</i>, of course, in the user agreement.

- David Stein