4 ms·

Off topic, but such a crass title makes me instantly disinterested in whatever the article has to say, even if I'm likely to agree with its content. Is this re

Off topic, but such a crass title makes me instantly disinterested in whatever the article has to say, even if I'm likely to agree with its content. Is this really the new normal for websites ?

test1235 9y ago
Agreed. Immaturity isn't something to strive for, or be proud of. It's something I've seen far too much of in recent years of politics.
- andybak 9y ago
  I'm British and I think that swearing enriches language when used judiciously. Also - expressing emotion and anger is valuable when the situation calls for it. Personally I would have considered something stronger than 'turd' in this case. Oh. Here's Hitchens saying "Fuck" a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO129-RfhVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO129-RfhVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1fmWVECUI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1fmWVECUI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_dgqy6l4k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_dgqy6l4k
  - user982 9y ago
    Hitchens was inexhaustibly eloquent and grandiloquent; his skill at using expletives for emphasis in service to his message reflected his mastery of the language. Gawker (and all of its puerile clickbait spawn) is no Chris Hitchens.
  - secfirstmd 9y ago
    I'm Irish and I agree. Think of some great comedians, especially Scots, like Billy Connolly and Frankie Boyle - who use a good swear word very well.
  - cat199 9y ago
    So.. article title - good or not? I agree with your point, and still also with OP.
  - jerf 9y ago
    "I'm British and I think that swearing enriches language when used judiciously." It does. But "My political opponents are [swear word]" is not judicious. (Or profanity if you prefer; most Americans would not call "turd" a swear word but it is obviously merely a more genteel way of calling someone a shit, it is a low-grade profanity.) It's very common and hardly new. It may even be tactically or strategically sound for some desired goals. But it's not judicious, having the same root as judge, being similar to magisterial. Dignified, mature magistrates do not say "People who disagree with me are poo poo heads." If they are inclined to fling insults, they usually use a much higher grade. See, for instance: http://allowe.com/laughs/book/When%20Insults%20Had%20Class.htm http://allowe.com/laughs/book/When%20Insults%20Had%20Class.h...
  - peteretep 9y ago
    Cunts would work much better than turds, which just seems juvenile.
- gens 9y ago
  And here i thought that being "mature" is about taking responsibility for your actions, thinking about others instead of only yourself, looking at the bigger picture and maybe even making sacrifices for it, even being the "bigger man" when the situation calls for it. But no, being "mature" is about being politically correct. Fuck that, i'l stay a child kthnxbye.
monochromatic 9y ago
Gizmodo is awful.
pharrlax 9y ago
It's Gawker. Crass is their whole shtick.
salesguy222 9y ago
There is no nobility in being reserved anymore. Furthermore, the way these lawmakers treat us is the only crass thing occuring.
panzer_wyrm 9y ago
The american dictionary and willingness to go into profanities changed charmingly in the last year. I have no idea why. Cute!
psyc 9y ago
I found it delightful, and would like to see more of it.
_pmf_ 9y ago
To be fair, I expected something about The Zuck.
BEEdwards 9y ago
Turds isn't even crass. Maybe it's an American thing, but I honestly didn't notice anything odd about the headline until you complained.
blackbagboys 9y ago
The contempt these politicians have for you and their willingness to trample all over you in the service of the uber-wealthy and powerful is unlimited. Why should they be afforded any respect at all?
- alpeb 9y ago
  Because whenever they go low you should always stay high.
jordan801 9y ago
Seems like sloppy high school newspaper style journalism. "Turds", really?
jackhack 9y ago
sadly, I think shock-value is becoming the new norm for much of our culture. A goal of Hacker News is to avoid this though.

Off topic, but such a crass title makes me instantly disinterested in whatever the article has to say, even if I'm likely to agree with its content. Is this really the new normal for websites ?

test1235 9y ago

Agreed. Immaturity isn't something to strive for, or be proud of. It's something I've seen far too much of in recent years of politics.

andybak 9y ago
I'm British and I think that swearing enriches language when used judiciously. Also - expressing emotion and anger is valuable when the situation calls for it. Personally I would have considered something stronger than 'turd' in this case. Oh. Here's Hitchens saying "Fuck" a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO129-RfhVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO129-RfhVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1fmWVECUI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1fmWVECUI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_dgqy6l4k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_dgqy6l4k
- user982 9y ago
  Hitchens was inexhaustibly eloquent and grandiloquent; his skill at using expletives for emphasis in service to his message reflected his mastery of the language. Gawker (and all of its puerile clickbait spawn) is no Chris Hitchens.
- secfirstmd 9y ago
  I'm Irish and I agree. Think of some great comedians, especially Scots, like Billy Connolly and Frankie Boyle - who use a good swear word very well.
- cat199 9y ago
  So.. article title - good or not? I agree with your point, and still also with OP.
- jerf 9y ago
  "I'm British and I think that swearing enriches language when used judiciously." It does. But "My political opponents are [swear word]" is not judicious. (Or profanity if you prefer; most Americans would not call "turd" a swear word but it is obviously merely a more genteel way of calling someone a shit, it is a low-grade profanity.) It's very common and hardly new. It may even be tactically or strategically sound for some desired goals. But it's not judicious, having the same root as judge, being similar to magisterial. Dignified, mature magistrates do not say "People who disagree with me are poo poo heads." If they are inclined to fling insults, they usually use a much higher grade. See, for instance: http://allowe.com/laughs/book/When%20Insults%20Had%20Class.htm http://allowe.com/laughs/book/When%20Insults%20Had%20Class.h...
- peteretep 9y ago
  Cunts would work much better than turds, which just seems juvenile.
gens 9y ago
And here i thought that being "mature" is about taking responsibility for your actions, thinking about others instead of only yourself, looking at the bigger picture and maybe even making sacrifices for it, even being the "bigger man" when the situation calls for it. But no, being "mature" is about being politically correct. Fuck that, i'l stay a child kthnxbye.

monochromatic 9y ago

Gizmodo is awful.

pharrlax 9y ago

It's Gawker. Crass is their whole shtick.

salesguy222 9y ago

There is no nobility in being reserved anymore. Furthermore, the way these lawmakers treat us is the only crass thing occuring.

panzer_wyrm 9y ago

The american dictionary and willingness to go into profanities changed charmingly in the last year. I have no idea why. Cute!

psyc 9y ago

I found it delightful, and would like to see more of it.

_pmf_ 9y ago

To be fair, I expected something about The Zuck.

BEEdwards 9y ago

Turds isn't even crass. Maybe it's an American thing, but I honestly didn't notice anything odd about the headline until you complained.

blackbagboys 9y ago

The contempt these politicians have for you and their willingness to trample all over you in the service of the uber-wealthy and powerful is unlimited. Why should they be afforded any respect at all?

alpeb 9y ago
Because whenever they go low you should always stay high.

jordan801 9y ago

Seems like sloppy high school newspaper style journalism. "Turds", really?

jackhack 9y ago

sadly, I think shock-value is becoming the new norm for much of our culture. A goal of Hacker News is to avoid this though.