[mojo2]

Can someone explain WHY bad words offend them???

For example;

If Shxt = Feces

If Shxt = Excrement

If Shxt = Poo Poo

If Shxt = Doo Doo

If Shxt = Doody

And if all of the words above represent a bodily function that is crucial to our continued existence and over which we have no control, like breathing and our heart beating, then how can this activity described by the or that which is produced by the act be an offensive word???

The only thing I can figure is that over the years people just seemed to agree to banish certain words to the "bad" category and we just pretty much all seem to go along with it.

It's like we NEED some words to be bad words. Is it because we NEED a way to insult each other or to show ourselves a certain kind of individual? Do we NEED bad words to show ourselves as being higher minded than others?

BAD words.

I admit sometimes I think less of someone using CRUDE language. But I try to resist reacting that way.

Sometimes I get angry at someone or something and let out a few BAD words but then I realize I may be setting a poor example for those who look at me to see how "Christian" I am.

I don't think using BAD words makes one bad. I don't think using only GOOD words makes one good, necessarilly.

Maybe this is just one of those silly, stupid human tricks that defy a rational explanation and you just go along with the majority.

I mean what's the payoff for doing otherwise?

You're not going to change this thing. But I think there should be no prejudice against ANY words. They are ALL valid and I defy anyone to prove that any word has greater or lesser inherent merit or standing than another.

[MM-o4]

to make to good ones feel better

MM

[His Dudeness]

I ****ing LOVE saying bad words! **** yeah!!!!

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally Posted by mojo2

Can someone explain WHY bad words offend them???

For example;

If Shxt = Feces

If Shxt = Excrement

If Shxt = Poo Poo

If Shxt = Doo Doo

If Shxt = Doody

The Germans don't seem to mind any of those things

[loki74]

lol... watch the episode called "it hits the fan" of South Park.. season 5 i think.

Basically the curse words loose their effect if used too often. I dont think that the word "sh!t" has any less merit or standing, but having words that are "bad" help express greater frustration or seriousness. ie, "oh poop!" will be taken much less seriously than "oh sh!t!"

with that i shall conclude: "awww meecrob!!"

[RGB]

awww meecrob!!

Say "earmuffs!" before lashing out like that!

[buggsuperstar]

Originally Posted by loki74

with that i shall conclude: "awww meecrob!!"

how dare you marklaar this marklaar with that kind of marklaar!

[loki74]

Originally Posted by buggsuperstar

how dare you marklaar this marklaar with that kind of marklaar!

classic!

[analogika]

What really gets me is that in those conservative circles where swearing is a crime, saying "shoot" or "shite" or "dadgum" or "friggin'" is somehow acceptable, as though it made any difference whatsoever in intent or content...

[wdlove]

I just always thought it was better to use proper English. The use of words is a sign of character and intelligence.

[tooki]

Originally Posted by mojo2

And if all of the words above represent a bodily function that is crucial to our continued existence and over which we have no control, like breathing and our heart beating...

I like to think of myself as having some control over this particular function, thank you very much! I've graduated out of diapers!

tooki

[scaught]

Originally Posted by wdlove

I just always thought it was better to use proper English. The use of words is a sign of character and intelligence.

well ya.

But I challenge you to find a work that FEELS as good to say as f*ck.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by analogika

What really gets me is that in those conservative circles where swearing is a crime, saying "shoot" or "shite" or "dadgum" or "friggin'" is somehow acceptable, as though it made any difference whatsoever in intent or content...

We agree.



Although an LDS frind of mine did say this past week that he is also offended by the use of 'freakin' as a substitute for the other. If I knew for certain that he had enough imagination (and his son wasn't nearby) I'd ask him the difference between the words, "freakin," 'F-ing' and 'intercourse.'

Although he did kinda answer that one too when he said if it offends YOU, then it is offensive.

Hmmm, lots of room there for a mischievous pseudo-intellect to play in, around and through.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by tooki

I like to think of myself as having some control over this particular function, thank you very much! I've graduated out of diapers!

tooki

There's not enough recognition these days for the great accomplishment potty training represents.

Thanks for the reminder!



Btw, if you ever choose to run for office that will be prominently noted. The LAST thing people want is a poopy politician!

[SVass]

Originally Posted by analogika

What really gets me is that in those conservative circles where swearing is a crime, saying "shoot" or "shite" or "dadgum" or "friggin'" is somehow acceptable, as though it made any difference whatsoever in intent or content...

Please to differentiate between swearing (taking the Lord's name in vain) and using "dirty" words. Religious "Christians" object to the former and ? object to the latter. sam

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by SVass

Please to differentiate between swearing (taking the Lord's name in vain) and using "dirty" words. Religious "Christians" object to the former and ? object to the latter. sam

"...the Lord will not hold him guitless who taketh His name in vain..."

BTW, when I was a squad leader my squad didn't seem to snap to it when I told them to do something unless I said "Gxx Daxxit!" This changed in time, but as I'm a shy and soft spoken guy some people mistake that for lack of will or weakness. Why that was the ONLY swear/bad word that produced such results? I'm sure they figured that since I was crazy enough to risk being chewed out by God HIMSELF, that I was a crazy man and they had better obey a crazy man who was in charge of them.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by mojo2

...unless I said "Gxx Daxxit!"

How on earth did you manage to pronounce it?

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by scaught

well ya.

But I challenge you to find a work that FEELS as good to say as f*ck.

B*llocks. Bite it off with a good (or even a bad) British accent, and it works wonders.

[Chuckit]

I think it has something to do with class distinctions. Many of the words that we now think of as "bad" (e.g. "sh*t," "f*ck," "c*nt") are old English words that go back to our Germanic roots. But English developed some serious Latin envy, and it was considered much classier to use newly imported Latin words like "feces," "copulate" and "vagina" than to use the more native terms. Since most of the rest are religious terms like "damn," I suspect the Church had a lot to do with it.

[scaught]

Originally Posted by Millennium

B*llocks. Bite it off with a good (or even a bad) British accent, and it works wonders.

nah. with f*ck, you have the nice fffffffffffff followed with a hard K sound plosive. bollocks just doesn't offer me that.

[ReggieX]

Aw, smurf it up your smurf, you smufing smurf head!

[greenamp]

f*ck is the best word in the english language. I think we need a special holiday dedicated to it's greatness.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by greenamp

f*ck is the best word in the english language. I think we need a special holiday dedicated to it's greatness.

F*ck Day???

[MacNStein]

Originally Posted by Person Man

F*ck Day???

no, that's Saturday around here. In the morning, evening, night...

[greenamp]

Originally Posted by Person Man

F*ck Day???

[nonhuman]

Probably all originated in blasphemy. So bad word were bad because you'd get smited (smitten?) from above if you said them. Seems like a good reason not to say certain words to me. Obviously, however, the whole vengeful gods thing is no longer the motivation for keeping (some of) these words out of circulation (for most people).

[ghporter]

Western culture, and particularly Anglo-American culture has a problem with bodily functions and reproduction. And it gets worse when folks don't know the formal terms for what they're uncomfortable with. In a recent health class, we had to gather together in groups (on the first or second day of class!) and come up with all the sexually related slang terms we could. It certainly broke the ice well enough for us to talk about sexuality in more formal terms! And I learned a lot of new words, too. The trouble is that almost all of those words are either demeaning or derogatory in some way, and the ones that aren't are silly.

Ever notice how many "bad" words are simple references to a) the excretory functions of urination (or micturation if you like) and defecation, b) the results of "a", c) sexual organs, or d) the use (or misuse) of "c". Yes, we have a real problem: we are 100% fascinated with sex and bodily functions, but are ashamed to talk about them.

Victor Buono wrote a little poem which is appropriate here:

Euphanisms give me a headache
They give me psychological gas
Euphanisms bore me, and to be blunt
They're really a pain in the po po

Yes indeed we have a problem!

But nonhuman has a very good point about the non-sex and bodily function "bad" words. You could get into real trouble in some places by expletiving the wrong expletive. Still can today, depending on where you are.

I find the good old Anglo-Saxon monosylables useful in informal and private situations, but I tend to avoid using them as expletives. I have always believed that one should save expletives for only the very worst situations, and stay with standard English for the rest of the time. Having a large vocabulary and a fairly good command of its use is very helpful here. It meant that when one student in particular pushed all of my buttons at the same time, the worst I did was raise my voice (quite a lot) and tell him to shut up, I was in charge. (Military training class-you can do that when you ARE in charge.)

[macaddict0001]

The same thing that is wrong with nudity. Absolutely nothing it is just arbitrarily instilled into the young population while it will believe anything.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by macaddict0001

The same thing that is wrong with nudity. Absolutely nothing it is just arbitrarily instilled into the young population while it will believe anything.

Actually it is developmentally appropriate, common, and normal for a pre-teen to become extremely modest when he or she begins to "change" in puberty. The problem is what parents do about the attitude. If they encourage the modesty, the kid becomes more modest, and usually believes there's a reason to hide his or her body-parents that encourage this extra modest attitude don't necessarily know that they are doing this, but they tend to make their kids ashamed of their bodies.

If the parents encourage their kids to be happy with the fact that they are maturing, and while it is perhaps embarassing to be "different" from the other kids while you are growing, it is natural, the kid gets the idea that being modest is a useful way to deal with the discomfort of growing differently from others, not that there is something wrong with their body. It's all about attitude.

[sminch]

i spent two years in japan where i could sweat like a sailor cos no one could understand me (which can be amusing, such as the time i heard nine inch nails' "closer" playing over the stereo in the body shop), and am now working in an office where everyone is remarkably foul mouthed. this causes huge problems when i visit my in-laws who freak out if you say "bugger" or "damn". i understand that this is because using naughty words stops you getting into heaven. i wish i was joking.

it would seem that i am going straight to hell.

which i find quite interesting seeing as my mother is a priest (anglican) and she has been known to swear quite expressively. she says i'm safe from satan, thank fv<k.

sminch

[loki74]

Originally Posted by sminch

i spent two years in japan

kuso!! ( I think that means "sh*t." could be wrong.)

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by loki74

kuso!! ( I think that means "sh*t." could be wrong.)

It's translated in various ways, generally into the translator chosen low-grade curse of the moment. Not sure of the actual translation, but it's probably one of those words that just doesn't translate well.

[Chuckit]

It literally means "sh-t." As slang, though, it isn't necessarily equivalent to its English counterpart. For instance, "kusoatsui" would probably be translated as "really ****ing hot" rather than "sh-t hot."

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by Oisín

How on earth did you manage to pronounce it?

"Gxx Daxxit?"

Gicks Dacksit, of course, silly!

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by Millennium

B*llocks. Bite it off with a good (or even a bad) British accent, and it works wonders.

Well, what if I and everyone in the world decided to deny you (and everyone) the use of the word "bollocks" in polite company by agreeing that "bollocks" is and will forever be a BAD word?

Me thinks it's silly, the idea of BAD words.

And even sillier is the earnest energy some people devote to maintaining this arbitrary nonsense.

[khufuu]

Originally Posted by wdlove

I just always thought it was better to use proper English. The use of words is a sign of character and intelligence.

That's why, when you swear, you need to do so very creatively. It shows your intelligence.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by greenamp

For the best example of a humorous post followed by a string of three consecutive fine responses within the same thread for the month of July 2005, I nominate:

Today 11:07 AM
greenamp: f*ck is the best word in the english language. I think we need a special holiday dedicated to it's greatness.

Today 12:14 PM
Person Man: F*ck Day???

Today 12:23 PM
MacNStein : no, that's Saturday around here. In the morning, evening, night...

Today 12:24 PM
greenamp:

Congratulations gentlemen (or ladies)! Remember there are no losers and the true honor is in being nominated.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by macaddict0001

The same thing that is wrong with nudity. Absolutely nothing it is just arbitrarily instilled into the young population while it will believe anything.

Interesting you bring that up, so to speak.

As a new LDS convert I have found these past few weeks that I really MUST avoid provocative visual stimulation as the failure to do so makes it really difficult to maintain my vow of chastity until marriage.

In the BC (before conversion) days it was no problem at all and I couldn'[t IMAGINE why anyone would object to visual displays of nudity unless they were just an old or even a young prudish fuddy duddy.

But now I understand how EVIL!!! nudity is. (lol jk)

However, I realize there's a chore I need to take care of before I forget.

I Tivo'ed the fine indie film, "Security, Colorado" from the Sundance Channel yesterday and after seeing the brief scene where actress Karen Felber disrobes before her bathroom mirror there's a very brief but very delicious few moments where her 'gifts' are there for the audience to, well, ponder. ahem.

I'm going to erase the recording completely.

Why?

Because I can't stop thinking about that scene, I'm serious about my promise and because temptation walks in through the door left open.

It hurts just thinking about the waste.

Oh well.

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by mojo2

Well, what if I and everyone in the world decided to deny you (and everyone) the use of the word "bollocks" in polite company by agreeing that "bollocks" is and will forever be a BAD word?

I mentioned the British accent for a reason: last I checked, it actually is considered a swear word (albeit a relatively mild one) over there. The same is true 'bloody', which will occasionally get the same star-out treatment you see over more universal (at least as far as applies to the English language) swear words.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by khufuu

That's why, when you swear, you need to do so very creatively. It shows your intelligence.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Millennium

I mentioned the British accent for a reason: last I checked, it actually is considered a swear word (albeit a relatively mild one) over there. The same is true 'bloody', which will occasionally get the same star-out treatment you see over more universal (at least as far as applies to the English language) swear words.

So what do you call a bloody nose on one of those boards? A ****** nose?

[deej5871]

Originally Posted by Millennium

I mentioned the British accent for a reason: last I checked, it actually is considered a swear word (albeit a relatively mild one) over there. The same is true 'bloody', which will occasionally get the same star-out treatment you see over more universal (at least as far as applies to the English language) swear words.

Where does bugger go? Is it as bad as f*ck or is it more of a damn or ass?

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by mojo2

Me thinks it's silly, the idea of BAD words.

Absolutely.

However, without the 'taboo' surrounding them, would they serve the same purpose as if they were accepted? I say not, and other words would rise up to take their place.

[Chuckit]

I think they would serve the same purpose if they were accepted. This is why people come up with "acceptable" words that serve the same purpose.

[Fonzie]

I don't like the idea of not being able to say what's on your mind even if it does contain a so-called bad word. Whatever happened to the term 'freedom of expression' ? Here where I live we like to call things for what they are. We often say sourass or **** - if need be.

edit. i'm glad to see that ass is not censured

[vexborg]

Originally Posted by deej5871

Where does bugger go? Is it as bad as f*ck or is it more of a damn or ass?

I would put bugger in the same (mild) catagory as crap, damn or ass.

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

The Germans don't seem to mind any of those things

In Japan they take special pills to stop it smelling.

Then they eat it.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

In Japan they take special pills to stop it smelling.

Then they eat it.

Are you saying the Japanese take pills to prevent their poo poo from having an odor or a bad aroma and that these Japanese also eat their own excrement?

Or is your post just a sly way of slamming the Chinese' traditional antagonist?

[olePigeon]

Mee Krob

[loki74]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Mee Krob

Youre supposed to learn from other's mistakes!!

Originally Posted by RGB

Quote:
awww meecrob!!

Say "earmuffs!" before lashing out like that!