Conversely, plenty of people would contend that refraining from profanity is a mark of maturity.
2) Can you think of an example where some kind of language is offensive to you but not to someone else? If so, I hope you'd be able to relate to people you disagree with on this issue instead of denigrating them.
3) If a 5-year-old was in this forum, would you be more disapproving of profanity for their sake?
2) I cannot. I can be offended by things people say, but language itself is not offensive.
3) No, it's not my responsibility to censor myself to support archaic beliefs about other people's children.
2) Functionally, this seems like a distinction without a difference. If you disagree, please elaborate as I'd like to understand more.
3) In other words, swearing is a moral issue, and your moral code is superior?
For what it's worth, I agree with you to a certain extent - people need to learn to not be offended at the slightest thing. Thick skins are good, because controlling how you react to the world around you is generally way better than trying to control the world around you. And you'll hopefully note that I never said that the site should be banned for profanity or something like that - just that I prefer not to visit such a site.
I don't think this is a zero-sum game. If I know that someone might be offended by something I say, I can make the choice to modify my rhetoric to accommodate them, or keep my speech the same because I believe that offending someone else is worth what I have to say. How that plays out practically will be different in different situations.
2) take the word "fuck" for example. I don't find it offensive in the least. It's a fascinatingly versatile word. If someone stubs their toe, and shouts "fuck", I am not offended. If someone looks me in the eye, points their finger, and says, "fuck you", I am offended. The word is the same, the context is different. The offense seems therefore to be derived from the context, not from the word.
3) No, again back to point #1. The presence of someone's offspring, in no way can or should obligate me to follow their moral values. Asking me to refrain from swearing because of delicate children's ears is someone imposing their moral code to determine my behavior.
I 100% agree with your last 2 paragraphs. I alter my language depending on context, anyone with a modicum of social skills does that. I was just responding to your original individual bullet points.
To add a little levity, I recommend everyone watch the YouTube video about the versatility of "fuck"[1]. Of course, please use headphones in order to not offend anyone around you. (sorry, had to be slightly tongue in cheek there -- hope you don't mind me poking a little fun)
2) I guess if someone said something racist. (but then it would be more the racism that I find offensive and not really the words that they used)
3) No I wouldn't. I wouldn't give a shit if people of any age, including 0-5 year olds heard offensive language. They probably heard all of those words already. The only difference is that they will make a big deal about it, because their parents/teachers told them it was a 'naughty' word. There is no need to make a big deal about it, and that was what my point was.
And there's a difference between being offended by swear words and welcoming them in a corporate environment..