cussing, cursing, and swearing, oh my!

[Paladin D]

Consider that "cuss" words are indeed real words that have other purposes, examples include:


- [b]D*mn*[/b], refering to hell.

- [b]B**ch[/b] is a female dog.

- The other b word, [b]b**st*rd[/b] is a son born by parents who aren't married.

- Even the word [b]j*ck*ss[/b] is another way of calling someone a "fool" (or refering to a male donkey). I saw this same word in a classic [b][i]Looney Tunes[/b][/i] cartoon, Elmer Fudd's face turned into a lollipop and the word [b]j*ck*ss[/b] appeared, when he ran off a cliff chasing Buggs Bunny.

- [b]D**k[/b], a name.


I do not advocate the use of such words in someone's daily vocabulary, but the point I'm trying to make is this: "cuss words" are simply words that have been transformed to be used in a degrading matter.

If this is the case, why are words like [b]darnit[/b], [b]shoot[/b], [b]fudge[/b], and etc, aren't considered cuss words? Afterall, they are used in the same fashion as the previous words. Society (and the local culture) decide which words are obscene, and which others aren't. If I visited a country where the word [b]"cook"[/b] is a slang word and is obscene, yet in the United States it isn't, am I cussing?

But one thing is for sure, using the Lord's name in vain is a [b]sin[/b], no matter where you are.

[toledo_jesus]

I maintain that jackass isn't a cuss word precisely because I saw it in Looney Toons.

I don't swear though. I find it indicative of poor vocabulary.

I like to say Blast it, or By jingo.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='Oct 5 2005, 08:06 PM']I don't swear though.  I find it indicative of poor vocabulary.
[right][snapback]747695[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

It's annoying seeing punk teenagers drop the F-bomb, believing they're some hot shot when their parents aren't around. Yet again, it's awfully hilarious in certain "comedic" situations.

[b]Blast it[/b], and [b]By jingo[/b] are not indicative of poor vocabulary?

I believe it's the [b]excessive[/b] usage which makes it a sign of such.

Edited October 6, 2005 by Paladin D

[philothea]

FWIW, I decided to avoid profanity when I was about thirteen. Same time I decided not to chew gum. Neither seemed ladylike.

I still refuse to give the Puritans or the FCC or my grandmother the power to decide for me which words are "bad." I don't see why, say, one word for feces is obscene, and another isn't. One may be more or less appropriate in certain contexts, but they're still just words to communicate with.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='philothea' date='Oct 5 2005, 08:15 PM']FWIW, I decided to avoid profanity when I was about thirteen.  Same time I decided not to chew gum.  Neither seemed ladylike.

I still refuse to give the Puritans or the FCC or my grandmother the power to decide for me which words are "bad."  I don't see why, say, one word for feces is obscene, and another isn't.  One may be more or less appropriate in certain contexts, but they're still just words to communicate with.
[right][snapback]747703[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

The word "gay" used to refer to happiness, now it's used to refer to homosexuals, and as another way of calling someone lame.

There is no universal, concrete, "canon" of cuss words. Such words are subject to society, and culture, in that particular historical period.

[Nicole8223]

I think we have to recognize the weight certain words carry, and while we may not agree with some carrying more weight than others, that is the way it is, and so we should use respectful language.

[MC Just]

well i heard that the f word means this: "Fornicating under consent of the King"
i guess it used to be a sign on certain rooms in english castles. so it makes no sense when people use the f word anyways, it shouldnt
even be considered a "bad word".

Edited October 6, 2005 by MC Just

[philothea]

[quote name='MC Just' date='Oct 5 2005, 08:05 PM']well i heard that the f word means this: "Fornicating under consent of the King"
i guess it used to be a sign on certain rooms in english castles. so it makes no sense when people use the f word anyways, it shouldnt
even be considered a "bad word".
[right][snapback]747768[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
There was a small town in Missouri I that my husband and I visited. They used that F word as the all purpose noun/verb/adjective.

Or so I hear. There were only men in the town (they said their women all left them, go figure) and when they spoke to me they realized it wouldn't be apropriate, so they just sort of muttered and stammered. Only my husband got to hear the one-word vocabulary in its full wonder.

[jasJis]

McJust,
I believe you heard wrong. It's "Fornicating Under Carnal Knowledge" which meant having sex that was illicit, such as having sex with a King's servant, servant's having sex when they weren't married, rape, incest, adultry, etc. It was a crime.

Personally, I have a horrid vocab. 20+ years in the construction industry is conducive to more colorful language than a drunken sailor might use. Plus the constant aggravation, pressure, and common usage by almost everyone. It's a bad habit to get into, and a difficult one to stop. I don't talk like that at home, but it's difficult to not curse at work. I don't say J-C or Jimminy Crickets, or anything close. I can use the F-bomb with ease and can relate to the small town of men...

[Cow of Shame]

It's interesting...the prevalence of what words are used, depending upon the times.

Before, profanity, or using sacred words in an irreverent manner, was considered the worst sorts of offence. Take the British "Bloody hell" as an example. This is referring to the blood of Christ, and was considered very taboo. With our culture, this sort of thing is no longer shocking as it once was. We're modern, forward-thinkers who are no longer bogged down in superstition & arcane beliefs. heh
In order to be shocking, we must now be vulgar. We turn towards biology...relations between a man & a woman (f-word), woman's genitalia (c**t), etc...and use it in a derogatory manner.

[Proud2BCatholic139]

For me, in my eyes, it is sinful.

I heard a story one time...

It was about two men. One who is a terrific Catholic, goes to Mass reguarly, and so forth.
Another man, fair-wheathered Catholic....and so on.
The first man swore a lot.
The other man didn't. Not even once.
Both men died at the same time.
Who do you think has a greater chance to get to Heaven?????

It was the fair weathered Catholic.

For me, swearing is a sin against God. I know, I fall and I sometimes swear, but for the sake of our up-coming generations, let us try to prevent this language.

Hell is still referenced as a place.
A place I never want to go.

AMEN!

[Mickey's_Girl]

Regarding origins of the "f" word: it's not an acronym. All those stories are legends (there's also the one about Puritans putting it on a tombstone "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"). If you look it up in the dictionary (if your dictionary has it) you'll see that it's been in use in some form or another for at least a thousand years; they aren't positive about the original language, but my dictionary listed a couple of possibilities.

In fact, nearly all of our "cuss words" are very, very old and their origins go way back. I find it interesting that we've been using the same words (or their modern equivalents) since prior to AD 900.

I agree that a lot of what constitutes "bad" words is cultural and contextual. Aussies would know that "rooting for the team" might not be an appropriate behavior, whereas Americans see nothing off-color about it.

MG