"bad" words, I fail to understand

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babybird
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18 Nov 2011, 2:29 pm

people seem to think it's funny because I say "Oh blow" where they would say "Oh sh*t" or "f**k".

safffron
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18 Nov 2011, 2:43 pm

pete1061 wrote:

safffron wrote:

It's not usually the word itself that bothers me, but the energy behind the word. Test the F-word when used as playful slang as opposed to it being used in anger or disdain.

I guess some people just like in this happy little "positive" world and can't deal with the slightest bit of "negative" energy.

Also different regions of the US have slightly different cultures. I grew up around the New York culture where such language is part of everyday life, it bothers relatively few people.

I AM a New Yorker, f**kwad.

You were saying?

Last edited by safffron on 18 Nov 2011, 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

SammichEater
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18 Nov 2011, 2:46 pm

F**k this thread.

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Tequila
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18 Nov 2011, 2:47 pm

It really does depend on context for a lot of swearwords. With very strict people saying "bloody" might be seen as inappropriate yet in other company people let the four-letter words fly with abandon.

Avoid using racial epithets though.

OliveOilMom
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18 Nov 2011, 3:28 pm

Some things that can sound perfectly nice can be insults depending on where you live. Where I live, "Bless your heart" is an insult, but it's said very sweetly. Calling someones hairstyle or outfit "precious", unless it's a child, is an insult.

Frances

shrox
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18 Nov 2011, 3:50 pm

Most curse words have a verbal sharpness to them as well.

pete1061
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18 Nov 2011, 5:22 pm

safffron wrote:

pete1061 wrote:

safffron wrote:

It's not usually the word itself that bothers me, but the energy behind the word. Test the F-word when used as playful slang as opposed to it being used in anger or disdain.

I AM a New Yorker, f**kwad.

You were saying?

They should put a sign on the George Washington bridge, heading into the city that says:
"Welcome to New York...
...what the F**k are you lookin at?! !"

Ria1989
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18 Nov 2011, 5:43 pm

OliveOilMom wrote:

I can see the precious one, but is the bless your heart one only an insult in a specific context and sarcastic tone? Or do people avoid it all costs no matter how it is said. It makes me wonder if every time I've heard it, it was an insult.

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Tequila
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18 Nov 2011, 7:02 pm

OliveOilMom wrote:

Calling someones hairstyle or outfit "precious", unless it's a child, is an insult.

I would say that certainly can be insulting depending on the context. Calling someone "precious" is often insulting.

Ria1989
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18 Nov 2011, 10:06 pm

Besides in lotr movies.

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Teredia
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19 Nov 2011, 1:57 am

OliveOilMom wrote:

Originally, a long time ago, certain curse words were words that country people, or lower class or uneducated people used to describe what those words describe. The gentry did not want to be mistaken for the lower class, so those words became taboo with them, and that caught on just like everything else that gentry did, said or thought. Some words, like "damn" were orginally meant as a curse, so they became words not to use. I have no idea why people get upset with someone exclaiming "Hell!" but I do understand why telling someone to go to hell would be offensive.

Hope this helps.

Frances

Theres actually said to be a book "The book of curses" that is under lock and key by the US President.
also its only in English that Hell is a bad word, because Hell in German means Light. E.G: Light Blue: Hell Blau.

readingbetweenlines
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19 Nov 2011, 5:15 pm

Tequila wrote:

pete1061 wrote:

Also different regions of the US have slightly different cultures. I grew up around the New York culture where such language is part of everyday life, it bothers relatively few people.

The same applies with the vulval C-word in much of Scotland too.

Heehee, I was going to bring that up.

I recommend James Kelman's "How late it was, how late". Caused a huge row when it won the Booker prize. The term is really just another word for "guy" in that discourse. An amazing book.

Anyway, back to topic, I swear quite a bit but always try to do so less as I think it betrays a limited vocabulary.

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raisedbyignorance
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19 Nov 2011, 6:08 pm

What I don't get is why curse words are even banned/censored in the WrongPlanet forums. Curse words are basic vocabulary for the typical aspie, so this really does not make any sense to me. Curse words are bad, yet we have an open forum mainly devoted to people with suicidal thoughts? I'm just saying that as an example.

readingbetweenlines
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19 Nov 2011, 6:17 pm

raisedbyignorance wrote:

It's a fair question.

Even without swear words there is quite a bit of plainly offensive stuff on the forum (a lot of it , it seems, about the availability of South East Asian women). Just imagine what the forum would be like if swearing was allowed. It would be verbal diarrhoea.

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pete1061
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19 Nov 2011, 7:38 pm

readingbetweenlines wrote:

...snip...

Anyway, back to topic, I swear quite a bit but always try to do so less as I think it betrays a limited vocabulary.

I find that to be an unfair judgement of people who swear.
It's more a reflection of someone coming from a different sub-culture, that's all.

And, even IF someone has a more limited vocabulary, why should they be looked down upon?
Verbal skill is not everything. Though someone may have a limited vocabulary, they might have a complete understanding of higher dimensional geometry and never get lost no matter what city they are in.

Non users of strong expletives frequently take is arrogant position like they are somehow better because they don't use the word F**K.

pastafarian
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20 Nov 2011, 3:39 am

readingbetweenlines wrote:

Tequila wrote:

pete1061 wrote:

Also different regions of the US have slightly different cultures. I grew up around the New York culture where such language is part of everyday life, it bothers relatively few people.

The same applies with the vulval C-word in much of Scotland too.

As a girl, I get confused with that one. Its so dual purpose. Its such a fantastically powerful word for describing bankers, politicians, estate agents etc. I keep it for when I really despise the actions of others as its still so powerful. But then I also think its a beautifully animal sexy word for vagina. I don't mind people using it to describe the bankers, as long as we reclaim it from the solely negative use, as a word to describe the most wonderful part of human anatomy.

Lots of words can be dual purpose like c***. (I put my own stars in then at least Im not being censored by a programme.)

bollocks=bad,
the (dogs) bollocks=good.

I shouldn't be sensitive about female genitals being used to describe despicable people. Calling someone a cock or nob-end is not insulting to cocks and nob-ends, is it? Cock can be such a friendly word but then has something about it shape and sound that can describe stupidity and foolishness.

Ain't English amazin?

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