Profanity

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:16 am

Are we still using profanity as a means of expression in society today?

If so is it used sparingly, saved for meaningful punctuation?

*u** for instance can be a useful tool if used properly, but if it falls out of your mouth every other syllable it loses value.

Mother ********r? Anyone still throwing this one around?

S*** might be saved for under your breath, like maybe after stubbing your toe or stepping on a dead bird.

*u**y?

C***S*****?

How colorful are we?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:26 am

My wife and I were talking about this earlier today. One of the things about me is I lack discretion and boundaries socially. In fact, often time I do the most inappropriate thing with in the context of the event. IOW I don't make sexual advances or open my fly, but at time I will tell a dirty or off color story or joke, just for the hell of it. And language, no boundaries at all, though lately I've been more aware and discrete by choice. But in the past, if it crossed my mind - it came out my mouth.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:29 am

Ive conditioned people around me to not hold me responsible since I myself really have no clue as to what may fall out of my mouth.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:20 pm

Nomad;1266103 wrote: Ive conditioned people around me to not hold me responsible since I myself really have no clue as to what may fall out of my mouth.

Or end up on your computer screen!!:yh_rotfl

Swearing - it has it's uses, a little goes a long way.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:24 pm

I was always told that people resorted to swearing because they wernt intelligent enough to use a better word, Personally sometimes you just have to but only at the right time and once lol....Dramatic and effective....However I absolutely hate that C word with a passion...I say s*it alot:o

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:27 pm

Chezzie;1266135 wrote: I was always told that people resorted to swearing because they wernt intelligent enough to use a better word, Personally sometimes you just have to but only at the right time and once lol....Dramatic and effective....However I absolutely hate that C word with a passion...I say s*it alot:o

The c word gets you a slap in my presence!! Hate it.

Had to stop saying sh1t when my daughter was little so I started using 'shavings' instead, can be said with feeling, it's not rude and if picked up by a small person there's no problem!

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:44 pm

Sometime just saying the "F" word makes it all better. :yh_rotfl

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:50 pm

Nomad;1266090 wrote: Are we still using profanity as a means of expression in society today?

If so is it used sparingly, saved for meaningful punctuation?

*u** for instance can be a useful tool if used properly, but if it falls out of your mouth every other syllable it loses value.

Mother ********r? Anyone still throwing this one around?

S*** might be saved for under your breath, like maybe after stubbing your toe or stepping on a dead bird.

*u**y?

C***S*****?

How colorful are we?

Wash your mouth out!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:07 pm

Words are words. They get loaded with meaning depending on a lot of things, culture, context, target audience, intention.

Using one expression too often debases the coinage, shows lack of language ability

Using an expression in the wrong context and offending where offense was not intended shows lack of judgment and language ability

High impact words need to be kept in reserve for high impact effect.

AND - it is easy to be totally offensive without using a single swear word.

------------------

Ahhh the C word... COFFEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yaaarrrgg · Post by **yaaarrrgg** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:10 pm

I always wondered how some words came to be known as "bad." Can we think some more up? Is there some standards committee that publishes a new list every year? From what I can tell, the words came from different cultures. Apparently listeners were prejudiced against the other culture and, ultimately, their language. So, IMO the root of profanity is bigotry (which means the offended listeners are more crude than the speakers).

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:30 pm

Nomad;1266090 wrote: Are we still using profanity as a means of expression in society today?If so is it used sparingly, saved for meaningful punctuation?

*u** for instance can be a useful tool if used properly, but if it falls out of your mouth every other syllable it loses value.

Mother ********r? Anyone still throwing this one around?

S*** might be saved for under your breath, like maybe after stubbing your toe or stepping on a dead bird.

*u**y?

C***S*****?

How colorful are we?

****in' A

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:44 pm

I know I drop the "F" bomb way to much when my biker friend makes a comment about my language

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:24 pm

AussiePam;1266146 wrote: Words are words. They get loaded with meaning depending on a lot of things, culture, context, target audience, intention.

Using one expression too often debases the coinage, shows lack of language ability

Using an expression in the wrong context and offending where offense was not intended shows lack of judgment and language ability

High impact words need to be kept in reserve for high impact effect.

AND - it is easy to be totally offensive without using a single swear word.

------------------

Ahhh the C word... COFFEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AussiePam makes a good point. If you are known to cuss regularly, your utterences have little effect on others. They ignore you or walk away.

I believe any word can be a "cuss" word if it used to hurt another person.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:29 pm

yaaarrrgg;1266175 wrote: I always wondered how some words came to be known as "bad." Can we think some more up? Is there some standards committee that publishes a new list every year? From what I can tell, the words came from different cultures. Apparently listeners were prejudiced against the other culture and, ultimately, their language. So, IMO the root of profanity is bigotry (which means the offended listeners are more crude than the speakers).

Not too sure about that. The major swear words come from the Anglo-Saxon - not too many people know that culture to be prejudiced against it.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:20 pm

minks;1266182 wrote: I know I drop the "F" bomb way to much when my biker friend makes a comment about my language

biker friend?

where?

got a pic?:yh_rotfl

me use the F word? dah!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:27 pm

Odie;1266218 wrote: biker friend?

where?

got a pic?:yh_rotfl

me use the F word? dah!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl
hahahahahaha bad girl somewhere on FG there is prolly a pic of him from a few years ago ahahaha

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:31 pm

I have a friend. She's beautiful both inside and out. The thing is, she has the worst potty mouth I've ever heard. She doesn't care who is around, young or old. She cannot make it through a sentence without using the "F" word at least twice. It makes me crazy. I have no clue how she holds a job working with the public.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:40 pm

minks;1266220 wrote: hahahahahaha bad girl somewhere on FG there is prolly a pic of him from a few years ago ahahaha

hehe, I will check and see.

I seldom use the f word, as I think it sounds disgusting from a woman.

The C word?

K.Snyder · Post by **K.Snyder** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:15 pm

Bryn Mawr;1266208 wrote: Not too sure about that. The major swear words come from the Anglo-Saxon - not too many people know that culture to be prejudiced against it.

Perhaps people are offended by how one says something as opposed to what they actually say.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:10 pm

I have good friend that never uses profanity as most of us know it and instead will say things like Horse Pucky, Holy Moly, Oh Shoot, Jeez, Golly Gee Whiz, Drat, Ding Dang, Piddle.

yaaarrrgg · Post by **yaaarrrgg** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:39 pm

Bryn Mawr;1266208 wrote: Not too sure about that. The major swear words come from the Anglo-Saxon - not too many people know that culture to be prejudiced against it.

That's a good point. I wondered if could have originated on boundaries of "low" and "high" culture (possibly even within the same group, at least in the listener's mind). Perhaps one person or group was viewed as dirty, and by connection, their words or phrases became known as "dirty words."

K.Snyder · Post by **K.Snyder** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:04 am

yaaarrrgg;1266342 wrote: That's a good point. I wondered if could have originated on boundaries of "low" and "high" culture (possibly even within the same group, at least in the listener's mind). Perhaps one person or group was viewed as dirty, and by connection, their words or phrases became known as "dirty words."

Change the word "dirty" with "murderers"?

yaaarrrgg · Post by **yaaarrrgg** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 9:25 am

K.Snyder;1266352 wrote: Change the word "dirty" with "murderers"?

That's possible. It wouldn't surprise me though if the inventors were perfectly fine individuals, and were looked down on for no good reason. Maybe they didn't have enough money for the listener's taste.