Members views on this point of delicacy.

Discussion in 'Historiography' started by bamboo43, Nov 19, 2011.

  1. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Personally I'd probably star out some letters, especially if your website is hosted by a U.S. ISP.
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    To quote Wellington: Publish and be damned!
     
  3. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    To quote Za: And be damned you will! :D
     
  4. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    Yes, I would agree to that decision. You dont want to
    lose potential sales and audience. Asterixing the IGGER
    would show that you have sought to show awareness
    of present sensibilities without changing the written word.

    You've simply 'redacted' some alphabetic information ;)

    best of luck with the project!


    Personally I'd probably star out some letters, especially if your website is hosted by a U.S. ISP.
     
  5. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I'd post in entirety.
    Context is surely all; It's a contemporary account, written under contemporary mores.

    (For what it's worth, 22 threads on here mention the word, US host, never been an issue. )
     
  6. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Aside from all the PC BS out there I would post it in full. And don't warn about the word used, advise that the diary is a "completely accurate reproduction of the original".
    I read a soldiers diary recently that discussed the liberation of POW camps, and the soldier writing the diary was speechless when he looked up and saw his first negro, an American soldier. I think that puts the issue into the context of the times.

    Wayne
     
  7. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    US hosts won't care, unless it's kiddie porn or some other illegal content they can't be bothered.
    With all the Rap artist sites out there posting their lyrics I'm sure the word is used more than once. Good old free speech.

    (For what it's worth, 22 threads on here mention the word, US host, never been an issue. )
     
  8. keithinuk

    keithinuk Junior Member

    Very interesting, the diary we are working on has the reference more than one time to the W hut and one use of the N word, it has the same meaning.
    Its hard to say what way to go with it.
     
  9. Groundhugger

    Groundhugger Senior Member

    For what its worth I would use the 'aterisk' option , example N****R let people use their own imagination to interpret its meaning . the same way you'd use it if other 'naughty' words were used , as theres always a chance the Vicar , Aunty or your dear old Mum would pick it up to read .
     
  10. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Post what you damned well please in that regard.

    We cannot change history, only report it as accurately as possible. If someone gets upset because a long deceased person used a word that is now taboo in polite company, so be it. They're going to get upset about something, anyway.

    As far getting in trouble with the net nannies, there are no PC laws prohibiting the use such words in the US, where this forum is hosted. Some locales would try to make you think their enlightened ways are law, but that is not factual, either.

    Now look at y'all, going and getting me all stirred up over that political correctness nonsense.
     
  11. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    No laws against it but hosts like free blogging sites have terms and conditions and often take a zero tolerance towards content they deem offensive or could harm their reputation. Accounts can be shut down at will. Paid hosting company's tend not to be so sensitive for obvious reasons. Placing asterisks in the word isn't revisionist or changing the content but, as said earlier, does show sensitivity to your audience.
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    A massive thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this thread.

    I have decided on leaving the text as is, with the view that the use of the language even then was not used against anyone personally or with any malice.

    I have stated my position thus, without mention of any particular phrase, sentence or words:

    "I have left the following account as the author presented it in 1943. This is to ensure authenticity and retain the full context of his words as and when he wrote them".
     
    canuck likes this.
  13. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Never, never, never be a niggard with historical truth, never.
     
  14. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    No laws against it but hosts like free blogging sites have terms and conditions and often take a zero tolerance towards content they deem offensive or could harm their reputation. Accounts can be shut down at will. Paid hosting company's tend not to be so sensitive for obvious reasons. Placing asterisks in the word isn't revisionist or changing the content but, as said earlier, does show sensitivity to your audience.

    Trust me, I know the owner of this forum quite well. I don't think that the accurate, non-PC reporting of historical events is going to ruffle a single one of his feathers.
     
  15. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

  16. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Never, never, never be a niggard with historical truth, never.
    Is that a pun? :D
     
  17. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Trust me, I know the owner of this forum quite well. I don't think that the accurate, non-PC reporting of historical events is going to ruffle a single one of his feathers.

    I'm not saying it would, we're not talking about this forum. Usually a forum owner uses a third party hosting company anyway. However, as I said, paid hosting isn't so much of a problem but potentially more problematical with say a large corporation that supplies effectively anonymous free hosting to web sites and bloggers or an ISP that throws free web space into their Internet access package.
     
  18. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Is that a pun? :D

    A pun? Being of a non-native-Ingleesh origin I am ipso facto unable of complex syntactical constructions :D

    Third rail

    Washingtonpost.com: D.C. Mayor Acted 'Hastily,' Will Rehire Aide

    Covered already link

    Julian Bond, then chairman of the NAACP, deplored the offense that had been taken at Howard's use of the word. "You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding", he said. "David Howard should not have quit. Mayor Williams should bring him back — and order dictionaries issued to all staff who need them."[4]

    My bold.
     
  19. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    I had an ipso facto one time. Had to go the doctor and get it lanced. It hurt like the dickens.
     
    Za Rodinu likes this.
  20. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    ... And what a place to have the conversation in the middle of the Embankment pedestrian bridge on a sunny Sunday morning, it must of looked like a scene from 'Spooks'!! Bagsy I am the Russian agent!:D

    Comerrrade Fogden, stop waving that umbrrrrella round, you make me nerrvski...
     

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