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As an Australian I realise that there are many different countries and cultures involved in this forum
However, it's very evident that the majority of members are from the USA. And of course I do not have a problem with this 
However, I have noticed that I was 'censoring' my own posts so as not to offend anyone with my Australian use and acceptability of some words
Can anyone help out here. What words are 'no nos'? 
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of 
..... What was I saying???? 
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What you say wouldn't offend me > I enjoy you as a musician.
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You are speaking to Americans. Our society has made it so that;
Breathing offends somebody.
If your hair grows, someone will be offended.
If you blink, yes-sir, you have just offended somebody
If you think for yourself, again, banned.
Don't mention a single gender in any form --> offended.
Cant mention marriage or joint domicile... offend.
Babies or abortion ---> banned.
Race or religion --> racist/hate monger --> offend
Mention Guns --> OMG mortal sin
Fly a US flag in public --> you are "one of those" - again, offend
Mention religion ---> hater, see US Flag - offend
If you want to be lead by a ring in your nose --> well now, pull up a chair. You will be in a vast herd of the general populous --> but you can't question the "authority".
That about does it. I am sure I offended people talking about what offends people.
"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader
OUI
I can't think of any words that would offend me that I haven't heard before. Every couple of years my daughter goes to Australia for 3 months to stay wth friends and come back speaking Australian and eating Vegemite.
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Well clearly,,, and maybe only,,, George Carlin's List of 7, lmao,,, seems as though abbreviations may not be so offensive,,, who the [bleep] knows anymore.
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I don't really know as there are any words that are "no nos" here. Maybe Pierre can clarify on that.
Myself, I just try to keep in mind that not all of our members are adults, so I try to avoid obscenities or references encouraging drug, alcohol or tobacco use.
Most everyone here has always seemed pretty polite, no matter what country or culture they are from, so if there have been any problems, I guess I didn't notice them.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Obviously not a 'real' Ozzie if you are afraid of offending someone, haha
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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TerryT said
Obviously not a 'real' Ozzie if you are afraid of offending someone, haha
A good point 
The trouble is that I 'am' a 'real' Aussie. At times we can be quite frank in our speach and pragmatic in our thought.
And there is the problem that we sometimes have different meanings for some words for example. To, 'kick some one in the fanny' to an American would mean to kick them in the backside. Using the Aussie meaning this would a no no.
And, like most 'real' Australians, I don't mind offending people in general. But we don't like to offend 'friends' 
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
OMG! what an interesting topic! Can't say anything, because of 
, but ...
I have no idea of those expressions 
They should teach those in schools! 
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With my Aussie mates, you know when they really are your mate when they start offending properly.
But I know what you mean in this thread, what is perfectly acceptable in some cultures can be a real 'no-no' in others, and we usually find out the hard way, which is, and which isn't acceptable. Especially when speaking in a foreign language!!
Hey Naska, if they were taught in schools the temptation to use it might just be too much for some teenagers
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
Interesting topic. I have the same conversation with my 16 year old who says that if someone is offended by something he says, it's their problem. Not true, I say. If in Great Britian, I would not say anything about a "shag" I wanted to have, or talk about something being "bloody". In popular US culture it would be offensive to use the F. word mostly. But it's true that you can't hardly say anything anymore without offending someone. In the Northcoutry woods here in the mountains of New York, for example, you shouldn't really say anything about killing trees or ruining nature, for example we had a huge public debate about Wal-Mart coming to town. The nearest Wal Mart is 60 miles away. They tried to come here and buy land to build a supercenter. Nothing doing.. the locals bought up the land and refused to sell. Also stealing someone's freshly-shot deer is a major crime, as evidenced by our local paper recently (www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com).
Mt. Fidder
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I think on this forum people will give you the benefit of doubt and ask you to clarify your point before taking offense.
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Ferret-
Chances are that we will do what we do with Terry and his Brit-speak...
Scratch our heads and pretend we understood you.
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TerryT said
With my Aussie mates, you know when they really are your mate when they start offending properly.
But I know what you mean in this thread, what is perfectly acceptable in some cultures can be a real 'no-no' in others, and we usually find out the hard way, which is, and which isn't acceptable. Especially when speaking in a foreign language!!
Hey Naska, if they were taught in schools the temptation to use it might just be too much for some teenagers
Another very good point. It shows the difference between friends and mates 
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
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Lot's of great points above. Some people will get offended by just about anything your write. However, we are not that fragile here. I doubt you will offend anyone here...
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I would think vulgarity and cussing would be a show stopper.
Watch your language and don't write anything you would be ashamed of your kid or mother seeing.
Pretty simple and straight forward.
It is... after all... a family site.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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cdennyb said
I would think vulgarity and cussing would be a show stopper.
Watch your language and don't write anything you would be ashamed of your kid or mother seeing.
Pretty simple and straight forward.
It is... after all... a family site.
Very true 
However, there is still the cultural aspect. I woud never intentionally be vulgar on the forum but some words just don't sit we'll with all.
For an example, I will use the 'great Australian adjective' to describe something. If you don't want to read it, put you fingers in you ears now
OK, my viola is 'bloody' big. In casual conversation this use of the word 'bloody is quite acceptable. However, in some cultures, it would seem rude.
How would it be viewed in the USA?
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
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Bloody is fine in this sense because we've heard it used by plenty of English speaking cultures. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Bloody is fine in this sense because we've heard it used by plenty of English speaking cultures.
I remember in high school we had a lovely girl from England as an exchange student. For all her British propriety, we all thought she had a filthy mouth, for all the language she used - albeit always in the most unassuming and polite way. Those words just didn't have the same level of connotation to her as they do in the 'States, so she didn't think anything of dropping them on us in polite conversation.
A few of us, wanting her to feel more "at home" started throwing in British-isms into our own slang around her quickly discovered that cultural ignorance and offensiveness is a capricious two-way street. You'd think I'd suggested trysting with her sainted grandmother, the looks I got from her back then.
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@ Tyberius,
Your post really made me laugh! Thanks.
"I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie."
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