If a moderator told you that you could not, take it up with them in PMs.

Otherwise, no one told you that you couldn't. We were just offering our opinion on the subject. Most of us explained why we felt that way on the other thread.

I know a lot of younger people use it, but that is a very narrow cross section of people (and by extension , a narrow section of this board).

You are going to get people with differing opinions wherever you go. If you want to keep using it, and a moderator hasn't said no, go ahead. You need to be aware though, that it drives many of us crazy and take that into account.