guys - let’s take a serious look at this

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   gentlemen - 
it has come to my attention through a few members that we have a serious problem, one that is directly affecting the growth and participation on this board. the problem can be summed up in the words of one of them members:

 My 13-year-old daughter is taking an avid interest in the outdoors, but it is difficult for her to navigate around BSB when she has to read posts where grown men swear like sailors on shore leave in Shanghai.

another member was more direct:

 My 10 year old nephew likes to read the forums with me, and I find the language too offensive for a 10 yr old at baitshopboyz....I hear that language at work, and I don't want to read it when I get home.

a third fellow appealed for some intellectual high ground:

 Men who presume to own firearms, and also exercise the self-discipline needed to load and shoot them accurately, should be able to make their case without resorting to vulgarities and childish name-calling.

now, BSB has always been a place where folks could freely discuss issues and engage in strong debates about their opinions. i am a firm believer in the concept that free discussion encourages the best environment to learn, and i would do nothing that would inhibit that. BSB members have always felt comfortable in saying what is on their minds without having to look over their shoulder for a "hall monitor." the overriding philosophy has always been "toughen up, buttercup," and i believe that if a person cannot handle a strong challenge to his opinion, then perhaps his position deserve a second, introspective look. i have always viewed any repression of such a free environment to be censorship, except in the most extreme, obvious cases.
having said all that, i cannot really disagree with the above comments, and will go a step further and admit that in many cases, i have been one of the worst offenders. as the father of four boys (three of them teenagers), this got me to thinking about the example that is being set and the lost opportunities to help new or younger outdoorsmen and women; i believe it would be a real shame if we lost good members and good mentors and especially good future outdoorsmen and women because of some salty language or petty arguments.
with that in mind, i have a series of proposals to make and ask that all members consider them seriously.
1  the forum software has a "language filter" that can take "certain words" and turn them into asterisks or whatever. anyone reading the post would obviously get the gist of what the poster is trying to say, but at the same time, would not have to have the offensive words staring them in the face.
2  in a forum such as ours, and especially with the world situation being what it is, there is always going to be some discussion of politics, religion and other "untouchables," and arguments are going to crop up. what i ask is that these be confined to the BSB roll call, which is probably where they belong anyway. also, if a member is going to post anything that might be deemed offensive, please include in the subject line a warning or "rating" (pg-13, r etc.).
finally, we might all take a serious look at the concept of the "front porch discussion," which is of course along the same lines as the "campfire discussion:"

[we are] a loose-structured, tight-knit group of folks from all over the world who have adopted a casual 'front porch get-together' climate for discussions.  If you've never participated in a front porch meeting before, here's the way it usually works.  Generally, at the start, serious topics are discussed in depth and at length with many varying opinions, pro and con, thrown out for whatever they are worth....
With any front porch gathering, there's always assorted types of folks from 'very verbal' to 'quiet and reserved', and so it is with the BBQ List.  Some posters you like, some you respect, some you tolerate, some you wish would go away and some you hardly even know are there.  The single most important thing gluing the front porch session together is that everybody stepping up on the porch is there because they have something in common and want to be there. Listening, learning, participating and tolerating who and what you don't like is what it's all about. These are the things that make the front porch meeting work.  So, come on up and grab a chair.
As with any [discussion group], there are certain courtesies to which all subscribers should adhere.
1  We are all friends here.  There should be no posts that are insulting or degrading to any members....
2  When someone does post an insulting or degrading message, it's best just to ignore it.  What often happens is that the post is responded to and a flame war...ensues. This...does nothing but make people mad and hurt feelings....
3  There are women and kids [here], so all posts should be respectful of that audience.
4  Remember, we're here to have some fun and to share information....

this all makes sense to me, and i ask you all to give it some serious consideration and invite everyone to discuss this issue so that we can give it some sincere vetting and come up with a solution. 
i, for one, do not like the idea of losing members over something that we can fix so easily, especially when the offended members make a good case, which is the whole point of free and open discussions. this does not in any way mean that members need to worry about people looking over their shoulder and come down on them if they slip and post something "wrong," and it certainly doesn't mean that a new era of censorship is upon us; however, i don't think it's unreasonable, especially in an environment where we want to preserve our outdoor traditions for future members, to ask that folks exercise some common courtesy and manners.
thanks to all for reading this and taking it seriously; i look forward to the discussion and invite all members to air their feelings on this.
ron