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Author Topic:   How should one interpret foul language?
Woodsy
Member (Idle past 3373 days)
Posts: 301
From: Burlington, Canada
Joined: 08-30-2006


Message 1 of 87 (403038)
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


I find I have an aversion to foul language. It is mainly esthetic, I suppose, but my reaction is to consider the speaker a jerk. I find it particularly irritating when it comes from folk who prate about morality.
English has lots of adjectives and adverbs, so there is no need for foul language when one wants to make a strong point.
Fortunately, this is not often a problem on this discussion board. It's quite a treat to read here after visiting other boards.
What do others think about this? Is it proper to object when it happens?
Edited by Woodsy, : grammar check

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LinearAq
Member (Idle past 4675 days)
Posts: 598
From: Pocomoke City, MD
Joined: 11-03-2004


Message 2 of 87 (403041)
05-31-2007 3:34 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


What makes it....
...foul language?
What is the difference between these statements that makes one more objectionable than the others? Please pardon the use of potentially foul words.
"Your thesis is a bunch of fecal matter!!"
"Your thesis is a bunch of crap!!"
"Your thesis is a bunch of shit!!"
These words seem to be providing the same picture of the professor's assessment of the paper in question. Why is it that a particular word usage changes the value of the third evaluation to be more strongly negative than the first two?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Woodsy, posted 05-31-2007 3:16 PM Woodsy has replied

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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 87 (403045)
05-31-2007 3:50 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


I find I have an aversion to foul language. It is mainly esthetic
That's lame, having an aversion to foul language for esthetic reasons. Whoopty-do.
but my reaction is to consider the speaker a jerk.
That is an unneccessary reaction. But if you want to judge people by the words they type, or the color of their skin, or whatever, then you have every right to do so.
Fortunately, this is not often a problem on this discussion board.
I usually don't type foul language that much. Lately I've been pissy though. And now that your putting a spotlight on one of your buttons, its going to be harder for me to NOT push it
It's quite a treat to read here after visiting other boards.
You're right there!
There's a lot of shitty boards out there and this one is kick-ass
What do others think about this? Is it proper to object when it happens?
NO! Just ignore it.

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Woodsy
Member (Idle past 3373 days)
Posts: 301
From: Burlington, Canada
Joined: 08-30-2006


Message 4 of 87 (403051)
05-31-2007 4:27 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by LinearAq
05-31-2007 3:34 PM


Re: What makes it....
Why is it that a particular word usage changes the value of the third evaluation to be more strongly negative than the first two?
Interesting question. I heard a program on the radio the other day that said something about how, in English, french-derived words are used for formal occasions and anglo-saxon words for vulgar ones. If the prof had said "Your thesis is a bunch of ordure.", it might have sounded almost elegant.

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Heathen
Member (Idle past 1283 days)
Posts: 1067
From: Brizzle
Joined: 09-20-2005


Message 5 of 87 (403059)
05-31-2007 4:55 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


A "Swear" word is just that, a word, a descriptive word, a word which adds emphasis to another word.
how on earth can you find it offensive?
is it because it may have a sexual reference? in which case do you find the medical term equally offensive?

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 6 of 87 (403062)
05-31-2007 5:06 PM


I've always wondered why it's ok for us to say "heck" and "shoot" and "darn" around children even though they essentially mean the same thing as "hell" and "shit" and "damn".


We are BOG. Resistance is voltage over current.
Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

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purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3457 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 7 of 87 (403064)
05-31-2007 5:19 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


Colorful Metaphors
I find colorful metaphors hard on the ears when overused or used incorrectly.
They always sound offensive to me when aimed in anger.
Whether you tell someone you find it offensive or not depends on the situation, IMO.
If it's your friend or family, why not?
If it's a stranger, why bother? Freedom of speech and all.
If it's the work environment, maybe.
As a secretary, when someone calls to vent with colorful metaphors; I send them to the boss.
It's probably his fault anyway.

"Peshat is what I say and derash is what you say." --Nehama Leibowitz

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Coragyps
Member (Idle past 734 days)
Posts: 5553
From: Snyder, Texas, USA
Joined: 11-12-2002


Message 8 of 87 (403066)
05-31-2007 5:41 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Taz
05-31-2007 5:06 PM


I've always wondered why it's ok for us to say "heck" and "shoot" and "darn" around children even though they essentially mean the same thing as "hell" and "shit" and "damn".
I had a sixth-grade teacher, Mrs West (wife of Rev. North East West), who told us that those bowlderized words were just as bad as the real ones.....

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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1466 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 9 of 87 (403069)
05-31-2007 5:51 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


I find I have an aversion to foul language. It is mainly esthetic, I suppose, but my reaction is to consider the speaker a jerk.
I would suggest that you have a maturity problem, then. Not everybody agrees on what constitutes "foul language."
And focusing on the words, rather than on the meaning, is an immature way to approach language. I would suggest that there's a reason that they call it "adult language", and why running off to tattle on someone who used a bad word is behavior that we associate with children.
English has lots of adjectives and adverbs, so there is no need for foul language when one wants to make a strong point.
Some of those adjectives and adverbs are what you call "foul", though, so I don't understand from what basis you would pretend to be the arbiter of appropriate language. Is it so hard to imagine that many of us might have a different idea about what constitutes "foul language" than you do? That some of the words you dislike - so much so that you would immediately leap to judgment about the speaker - aren't such a big deal to those of us who outgrew sniggling at dirty words in the 7th grade?
Indeed, there really are no replacements for profanity. Bowdlerized Shakespeare just isn't the same. And there's really no substitute for what precisely is communicated when you tell someone to go fuck themselves.

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Replies to this message:
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nator
Member (Idle past 2169 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 10 of 87 (403077)
05-31-2007 6:42 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


quote:
What do others think about this?
I like profanity.
I have a great vocabulary and I was reading beyond the 12th grade level in the 6th grade, but I often curse like a sailor.
There's just no substitute for a good, adult curse word when you've just hurt yourself, for example.
They are supposed to be shocking, and provide a lot of great emphasis and force to one's speech if used well.
I rarely use them here, though.
quote:
Is it proper to object when it happens?
Fuck if I know.

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susan8800 
Inactive Member


Message 11 of 87 (403085)
05-31-2007 7:42 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Woodsy
05-31-2007 3:16 PM


Hello all.
You are absolutely right in thinking that cursing is inappropriate.
It is used by savages who lack the ability to speak eloquently.
Your aesthetics-influenced dislike of hearing it shows a general propensity to knowledge, and proper conduct.
It is also an immoral act as it shows not the action of a thoughtful human being, but of a thoughtless dolt.
Thank you,
Susan
Edited by susan8800, : No reason given.

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susan8800 
Inactive Member


Message 12 of 87 (403086)
05-31-2007 7:47 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by New Cat's Eye
05-31-2007 3:50 PM


That is an unneccessary reaction. But if you want to judge people by the words they type, or the color of their skin, or whatever, then you have every right to do so.
The words of an individual reflect the thoughts of that person. If they cannot form sentences and speak correctly than there is no reason for them to speak.
In many cases all we have are the words of individuals, that is what we must base our judgments on.
NO! Just ignore it.
We can't ignore it, we must tell them to please spend their time educating themselves... Their argument/opinion is most likely irrelevant if there are any ideas involved.
Edited by susan8800, : No reason given.

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susan8800 
Inactive Member


Message 13 of 87 (403087)
05-31-2007 7:49 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by nator
05-31-2007 6:42 PM


You should try to refrain from using foul language.
"Speak with soundness of speech" (simplified)
-Titus 2:6, The Bible
There's just no substitute for a good, adult curse word when you've just hurt yourself, for example.
They are supposed to be shocking, and provide a lot of great emphasis and force to one's speech if used well.
You must practice self-control in life or else you are just an unthinking animal.
Edited by susan8800, : No reason given.
Edited by susan8800, : No reason given.

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susan8800 
Inactive Member


Message 14 of 87 (403088)
05-31-2007 7:53 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by crashfrog
05-31-2007 5:51 PM


Indeed, there really are no replacements for profanity. Bowdlerized Shakespeare just isn't the same. And there's really no substitute for what precisely is communicated when you tell someone to go fuck themselves.
Your interactions with others should not include your favorite little phrase. Self Control, Self Control.

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iano
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 15 of 87 (403089)
05-31-2007 7:54 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by susan8800
05-31-2007 7:49 PM


You address your words to a known unbeliever and say she should give a shit?
Could you rationalise? From anyones perspective?
Q: Are you a Catholic?

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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