Here is a truth about Howard County: it is full of decent, God-fearing, meaningful people who move through life wanting to make a great life for themselves and their families, and just generally be happy.
Here is another truth about Howard County: it is also chock full of human refuse. First off, most (but not all) sign spinners. It is not honorable work for anyone. I pity the fools. Next, people like the fine soul in a Dodge Ram pickup who cut me off as I signaled a lane change today on Snowden River Parkway, then had the fine humanity to flash me the bird and call me several obscenities as I moved back in my lane, allowing him to go past me at easily 10 miles over the speed limit.
Here's another truth: we in Howard County are not all saints. We are in fact, all sinners. We may all (or most) strive for moral improvement through going to worship, being spiritual, or just by being a good person.
So, ya know what? We are all flawed people. And the sentiment, let the person who is without flaws truly be the person to judge others is known in several of the world's major religions. And a large part of spirtual traditions.
Where I'm going with this is that there appears to be a self-appointed "Ministry of Taste" in our county, and specifically the blogosphere. There seem to be a couple of bloggers who just want to call blogs out on the carpet when they're not all being nicey-nice. And who's less nicey-nice than good ol' MM? Especially since the Gestapo Ken site went dark.
I don't think these are people who just want to get more readership for their blogs; I do think these people get all consternated when, Heavens to Betsy, I spell out what the F in Howard F'ing County means. Or when I use the F, D, or A words to express myself. Oh, my stars, our entire quality of life in Howard County is all ashambles! Let me look out my front door, fret about it, and write about nothing.
And recently, the Ministry of Taste has been working to wash the mouths (or rather, fingers) of certain blog commenters with soap. Now, I love it when the deviants, has-beens, and never-wases from explorehoward wander into the blogosphere and deal with those of us who can talk without slobbering and whose knuckles don't hit the ground. And yes, they act like assholes more often than they should. (OMG, did he just say that??! That ruffian!!!) But, I defend their right to be such. I just treat them like any other good heckler, I rough them up give them a swift kick in the rear and send them back out to the cesspool where they belong.
And frankly, to paraphrase Allen Iverson, "we're talking about COMMENTS". How about letting the blog's author censor the posts of his/her commenters, thank you very much? On behalf of the blogoverse, 'preciate it! Seriously, though, who tells people what to do with their OWN blog??? Mama Mia!!!
Not that I really sweat my use of profanity, but looking back over my own posts, it's rare. And it's used for effect. Such is my choice; you don't have to like it, or even live with it. Don't read the blog any more if you're that all hung up about it. After all, it's you with the problem, not me.
Oh, and incidentally, perhaps the most famous routine in the history of comedy is about profanity. So put that in your pothole and roll it out.
Me, I'll just go on considering all people as equal, no matter their color, age, religion, salary, what day they worship (if they do), physical ability, education level and what gender(s) they sleep with, if at all. My hangup is that I consider everyone a target for critique and criticism. You, on the other hand, will keep on judging.
So NOW who's not practicing civility?
