3 ms·
Ask HN: Why do people add * over letters in offensive words?
To be polite for the readers or to fool the system and be able to publish the post?
Like "f*k".
- toombowoombo 4y agoThose are just my two understandings of this pattern of behaviour. I'm open to other understandings, the idea is still in progress.
- orionion 4y agoIt may come from "G*d" Why Write "G‑d" Instead of "G-o-d"? https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/486809/jewish/Why-Write-Gd-Instead-of-G-o-d.htm https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/486809/jewish...
- mrtomservo 4y agoYou might be interested in the history of grawlix: https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2457 https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2457 Related: The earliest typographically-bleeped f-word? http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003253.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003253.h...
- WheelsAtLarge 4y agoPeople just feel more comfortable with the blocked letters. Friggin, F*** you, S, C word and on and on do not trigger the same brain area as the complete swear words even though we understand what people are trying to say. In many cases, using swear words will trigger violence or shock, maybe both. Yet, the pseudo-word will trigger added interest in the subject. My question is why? Why do we feel more comfortable with the Pseudo-word? When it comes down to it, they mean the same.
- bombcar 4y agoIt’s the type version of bleeping on the radio. I usually do it when I’m softening the works (in person it’d be clear I’m being a bit sarcastic and not actually frothing angry). When it’s not a swear it’s often an old tumblr or even older method for preventing search/notification.
- MH15 4y agoIt's childish and those who do so should stop.