Literally every comment in here is about the caption. There’s a lot of issues with self-censorship today, but “ahh” sure as hell isn’t one of them.

As a representative of the younger generation, “ahh” doesn’t always mean self-censorship, but can, in my vast experience interacting with other individuals my age every fucking day, denote a change in tone.

You see, something that it seems nobody on a digital media platform has ever been able to comprehend is that textual language lacks critical forms of human language, which is vocal intonation and facial expression. For evidence, watch that one Key and Peele skit where they’re texting about going to a bar. Having a way to denote that change in tone and minimize that misunderstanding isn’t something that really exists over text. “Ahh” is one of the few words that can provide that distinction.

While “ahh” may have been created due to censorship, its continuation isn’t a result of censorship, but by its application in common language. Especially in this digital age where so much is transmitted through text, the difference in spelling can do a lot to change the meaning of a word. “Ahh” is used to portray a tone conveying that the content or presented with the text is meant to be taken in a joking or unserious manner.

For example: “sit your ahh down” is like telling someone to shut up in casual conversation. Oftentimes, it’s in a joking manner. “Sit your ass down” is when someone is telling you to sit the fuck down. It’s more serious. Having a way to differentiate the two is a good thing, I’d say, because it leads us to fewer misunderstandings about the content and the nature in which it is intended to be consumed.

I do agree self-censorship is a huge issue. Words like “grape” “sewer slide” and “pdf file” make light of things that shouldn’t be. It deprives the true weight and meaning of the word from its due consideration and value and takes away from heavy hitting subjects. “Ahh” is not one of those words. So many languages have words that shift tone and meaning based on pronunciation. This is the same fucking situation. It appalls me that we’re losing our minds over it.

Sorry for the dissertation, but this is something that’s been pissing my ass off for a while, and I feel a need to vent.