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> (N.B. The word “fuck” appears multiple times in this post. I recommend that the reader temporarily not consider “fuck” as profanity, as it isn’t used that way

> (N.B. The word “fuck” appears multiple times in this post. I recommend that the reader temporarily not consider “fuck” as profanity, as it isn’t used that way here.) How sad is it that a serious article for grownups has to put a disclaimer about a fucking word so that some flakes don't get offended? It's truly a sad state of affairs.

the_duke 10y ago
Fuck that.
mike-cardwell 10y ago
It would be a sad state of affairs if he did in fact have to do that. He didn't though. Completely unnecessary.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
kibwen 10y ago
How sad is it that grownups jump to conclusions and construct strawmen in order to complain about imaginary complaining? When you write about Brainfuck on your personal blog it's entirely reasonable to put a disclaimer up top for the benefit of laymen (including hiring managers) who are googling your name.
- LeoNatan25 10y ago
  Doesn't that prove my point? If a hiring manager is offended so much by a word used in a programming language's name, that they would not consider you for a job - that is sad! And is it really a company you would want to work in? At what point is money not they only incentive, and you say "fuck this company culture bullshit, I want to feel free to use any word I want, and I would still be judged on the merits of my work and achievements, not the words I use"?
  - kibwen 10y ago
    Indeed, we could commiserate all day regarding the boneheaded sexual repression of prevailing American culture, but how is that topic at all relevant or productive in the context of this blog post, and (more importantly) why in god's name is it the highest-rated comment in this thread?
    - coldtea 10y ago
      >and (more importantly) why in god's name is it the highest-rated comment in this thread? Because it hit a nerve?
- coldtea 10y ago
  >How sad is it that grownups jump to conclusions and construct strawmen in order to complain about imaginary complaining? It would only be imaginary/strawmen if the author (and us all) hadn't already seen the same complaining in hundreds of articles... As it is, it's merely pre-emptive...
  - kibwen 10y ago
    Can you please link an example of a complaining comment in any of those hundreds of articles?
    - coldtea 10y ago
      I've seen tons of those over the decade or so on HN. But just off of the top of my he^H^H a quick google search: "I'm all for cursing in private conversation with friends and such when it's appropriate - but why do people continue to think it's acceptable in public examples of work? Will this go on someone's resume like this? What will an employer think?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12460640 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12460640 "Reading through the comments I am glad I am not the only one who finds over the top profanity upsetting. Yes , the author is free to make his/her point any way they want to. and No, not everyone who thinks that this profanity is undue is a prude. and I dont think it is fair to make a culture or age characterization based on a user's response. Extreme or sometimes, any profanity changes the tone of the article. that alone is a good reason to avoid over the top proclamations. IMO the author comes across as loud and noisy , and not strong and forceful. Just like a stand up comedian, who says 'fuck' for every joke." "potty mouth." (and numerous other comments focusing on the use of "fuck" in the post) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5694173 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5694173 "Was it really necessary to drop an F bomb to ask this question?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11122711 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11122711
lomnakkus 10y ago
I'm just wondering if there are senses in which "fuck" isn't profane. I mean, it could be used to mean actual copulation, but AFAIK it's still considered slang/vulgar/profane even in that (original?) usage (even if the act may not be), so...?!? Anyway, as to the meta-point -- personally, I think it's fine to warn people of upcoming profanity, but it seems to fall kind of flat here. I mean, using the "fuck" in a warning about using the word "fuck" seems to sort of defeat the point of a warning. (Unless of course the writer is himself making a meta-point that I'm not seeing.)
espadrine 10y ago
Why would you be offended by that disclaimer? If you don't care about the disclaimer, it isn't for you, and you can ignore it freely. You can complain that expiration dates on food should be removed, but using that to complain that people complain too easily is hypocritical.
mbostleman 10y ago
Who says he has to? I wouldn't.
ajross 10y ago
No sadder than a world where people consider a bland nod to the existence of arbitrary aesthetics worth complaining about on HN. People are different. A big part of the job of "not being an asshole" is recognizing this fact.
abiox 10y ago
i wonder if this post demonstrates a sort of nihilism.

the_duke 10y ago

Fuck that.

mike-cardwell 10y ago

It would be a sad state of affairs if he did in fact have to do that. He didn't though. Completely unnecessary.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

kibwen 10y ago

How sad is it that grownups jump to conclusions and construct strawmen in order to complain about imaginary complaining? When you write about Brainfuck on your personal blog it's entirely reasonable to put a disclaimer up top for the benefit of laymen (including hiring managers) who are googling your name.

LeoNatan25 10y ago
Doesn't that prove my point? If a hiring manager is offended so much by a word used in a programming language's name, that they would not consider you for a job - that is sad! And is it really a company you would want to work in? At what point is money not they only incentive, and you say "fuck this company culture bullshit, I want to feel free to use any word I want, and I would still be judged on the merits of my work and achievements, not the words I use"?
- kibwen 10y ago
  Indeed, we could commiserate all day regarding the boneheaded sexual repression of prevailing American culture, but how is that topic at all relevant or productive in the context of this blog post, and (more importantly) why in god's name is it the highest-rated comment in this thread?
  - coldtea 10y ago
    >and (more importantly) why in god's name is it the highest-rated comment in this thread? Because it hit a nerve?
coldtea 10y ago
>How sad is it that grownups jump to conclusions and construct strawmen in order to complain about imaginary complaining? It would only be imaginary/strawmen if the author (and us all) hadn't already seen the same complaining in hundreds of articles... As it is, it's merely pre-emptive...
- kibwen 10y ago
  Can you please link an example of a complaining comment in any of those hundreds of articles?
  - coldtea 10y ago
    I've seen tons of those over the decade or so on HN. But just off of the top of my he^H^H a quick google search: "I'm all for cursing in private conversation with friends and such when it's appropriate - but why do people continue to think it's acceptable in public examples of work? Will this go on someone's resume like this? What will an employer think?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12460640 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12460640 "Reading through the comments I am glad I am not the only one who finds over the top profanity upsetting. Yes , the author is free to make his/her point any way they want to. and No, not everyone who thinks that this profanity is undue is a prude. and I dont think it is fair to make a culture or age characterization based on a user's response. Extreme or sometimes, any profanity changes the tone of the article. that alone is a good reason to avoid over the top proclamations. IMO the author comes across as loud and noisy , and not strong and forceful. Just like a stand up comedian, who says 'fuck' for every joke." "potty mouth." (and numerous other comments focusing on the use of "fuck" in the post) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5694173 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5694173 "Was it really necessary to drop an F bomb to ask this question?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11122711 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11122711

lomnakkus 10y ago

I'm just wondering if there are senses in which "fuck" isn't profane. I mean, it could be used to mean actual copulation, but AFAIK it's still considered slang/vulgar/profane even in that (original?) usage (even if the act may not be), so...?!? Anyway, as to the meta-point -- personally, I think it's fine to warn people of upcoming profanity, but it seems to fall kind of flat here. I mean, using the "fuck" in a warning about using the word "fuck" seems to sort of defeat the point of a warning. (Unless of course the writer is himself making a meta-point that I'm not seeing.)

espadrine 10y ago

Why would you be offended by that disclaimer? If you don't care about the disclaimer, it isn't for you, and you can ignore it freely. You can complain that expiration dates on food should be removed, but using that to complain that people complain too easily is hypocritical.

mbostleman 10y ago

Who says he has to? I wouldn't.

ajross 10y ago

No sadder than a world where people consider a bland nod to the existence of arbitrary aesthetics worth complaining about on HN. People are different. A big part of the job of "not being an asshole" is recognizing this fact.

abiox 10y ago

i wonder if this post demonstrates a sort of nihilism.