Should slang be banned? (see link)

I would only advocate the banning of something if it's usage caused significant and undeniable harm to people other than the user. Slang does not do this. Slang is just part of the evolution of language.
I suppose if someone really wanted to preserve what they saw as the "proper" English language, then slang would seem harmful to them. It's really not that big of a deal though. Still, it wouldn't hurt people to learn when not to use slang, because some people will still judge you when you use it.

While i do like to hear 'correct' English and I do think some slang expressions are lazy, as previously answered, slang has always been part of the language's development and evolution. Yesterday's slang words are today's accepted vocabulary, some are absorbed into the language while others just fall out of use. You can't just ban words from entering the language, this is only dictated by their usefulness. As an example I can't stand the phrase 'dumbed down' but i can't think of a better alternative.

No. These two arguments against banning are valid.

"Language isn't just about communication, there is a strong social, political and emotional charge to it."

"The very nature of English language is its flexibility."

No, I don't agree with slang, but I'm not so intolerant and irrational as to try to completely dismantle such a large part of the human language all over the world.

I think it should be banned in the classroom. Aside from putting a great emphasis on actually ensuring that kids are given a big enough vocabulary to express themselves without slang, teenagers need to learn when it is acceptable and when it isn't (work).

I use slang, but I also know when I can use it, and when it does me no favours at all to use it. If teenagers aren't learning that, then its going to cause them problems later on in life.

I believe that only standard English should be allowed in the classroom and in school papers. Slang should be ignored if used verbally and marked incorrect if written. We must have a standard language base in order to function as a nation. Slang and foreign languages are fine at home or in the street, but not in schools, government or acacdemia. +5

Look at it this way, I'm under the age of 18 and I'm living in the Y Generation. Every kid in my class (excluding myself) uses slang when messaging.
Not only are they causing harm to themselves, they're also causing harm to others.

E.g. If a student or person from another country came to Australia, to my school, they'd experience slang. What if they had hardly any knowledge of the English language? They'd be influenced by "Slang" and think it was Proper English.

We're just casuing everyone harm by keeping slang around.