Would Philip Larkin's
"This Be The Verse"
be permitted on today's WOL?

There are two instances of what I hold to be gratuitously offensive language within two of the three stanzas.

Does having a University degree / qualification, or having an otherwise privileged education / upbringing or being a "famous" personality have any bearing on what is permitted, for example on WOL?

I've found any amount of swearing is OK here, it all goes by unnoticed, except the N word. I must say this irritates me as of course you can use the N word to good effect in support of good causes or, as so many people I know do, use it to refer to themselves- meaning dispossessed, exploited poor victims of fucking shitty bastards.

Thanks for your response Adam.

A recent development on WOL demonstrates that some swearing does NOT go by unnoticed.

However, I suppose we need to define the word "swearing".
The most colourful language I ever heard my dad utter was "blood and sand" when he smacked his thumb with a hammer!
If I'd told my mum "it's bloody raining" I would have got a smacked earhole.

I share your frustration surrounding the N and similar words, and I would never dream of using them in a derogoratory way. I've always maintained that it's the intention of the speaker which counts.