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Survey Results

Is profanity acceptable in code?

Survey period: 19 May 2023 to 22 May 2023

If a bear swears in the forest and no one hears...

OptionVotes% 
Absolutely.99.47
In moderation, if the situation calls for it66.32
For code associated with my company, no. Otherwise sure.66.32
For internal, not public or client accessible code, sure88.42
Depends. I can't make a call.44.21
Not a great idea4042.11
Absolutely not.2223.16



 
GeneralDepends on the company Pin
Erik Burd22-May-23 7:47
professionalErik Burd22-May-23 7:47 
GeneralRe: Depends on the company Pin
Provident Ecopolitan Bagalur20-Jul-23 21:26
Provident Ecopolitan Bagalur20-Jul-23 21:26 
GeneralProfanity Pin
srjacob22-May-23 4:27
srjacob22-May-23 4:27 
GeneralSide issue... Pin
charlieg21-May-23 0:50
charlieg21-May-23 0:50 
GeneralNot swearing Pin
honey the codewitch20-May-23 3:38
mvahoney the codewitch20-May-23 3:38 
GeneralRe: Not swearing Pin
Nelek21-May-23 2:43
protectorNelek21-May-23 2:43 
GeneralNope Pin
Bruno van Dooren19-May-23 20:20
mvaBruno van Dooren19-May-23 20:20 
GeneralRe: Nope Pin
Nelek21-May-23 2:41
protectorNelek21-May-23 2:41 
GeneralIt is not a good idea Pin
Nelek19-May-23 9:37
protectorNelek19-May-23 9:37 
GeneralAlmost ten years ago now... Pin
PIEBALDconsult19-May-23 8:11
mvePIEBALDconsult19-May-23 8:11 
GeneralRe: Almost ten years ago now... Pin
charlieg21-May-23 2:09
charlieg21-May-23 2:09 
GeneralWhat is "profanity"? Pin
trønderen19-May-23 7:25
trønderen19-May-23 7:25 
The question makes it seem like we are binary oriented people: Either it is profanity or it is not. True or false.

One of my relatives once reacted with horror to learn that a process was "aborted". He had nothing against "killing" a process ...

Some is tongue-in-cheek humor: I once wrote an object factory, a General Object Dispenser, or GOD, creating all the objects in this software world. There were people finding that inappropriate.

A surprisingly large lot of people think that terms such as "Geee!" or "I'll be ..." has nothing to do with religion or calling for the actions of a deity. (There are lots of other such terms.) Are they acceptable?

Another time I wrote an infinite loop as 'while (!WW3)' (after declaring WW3 false). Even that was provocative to some people, although more people questioned my definition of WW3 as a constant false.

There is a thick and fuzzy borderline between humor and profanity. Maybe we should ban humor from code as well. Lots of my humor is other's profanity.

Of course you have to draw the line somewhere.
Such as here: ___________________________________________________________________
GeneralRe: What is "profanity"? Pin
charlieg21-May-23 2:14
charlieg21-May-23 2:14 
GeneralRe: What is "profanity"? Pin
GKP199212-Jun-23 22:30
professionalGKP199212-Jun-23 22:30 

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