Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:14 pm**

Vraith wrote:how interesting. I'd guess that in the states right now, and for a while, the C word is second only to the N word for offensiveness, and not by much.
But pretty much everyone I know and grew up with uses the F word [and flavorful variations] as often as comma, period, and exclamation point combined except in the most rigid/formal circumstances.

I suppose it's what you're used to, and how you are brought up, and I don't mean that in a derogatory sense. I never, ever, heard my father swear. My mother used to call me a little bu**er, but one day I looked it up in the dictionary and showed her; she never called me it again. I never heard the F word at school, or at college that I can remember - this was 60s and 70s when there was absolutely no swearing on the television, and people were more restrained - stiff upper lip and all that.

Now I find that there is also an "N" and a "W" word! What have I been missing out on all these years? On second thoughts, don't tell me.

On another tack, a friend of mine in the 60s had the LP of Hair, and there was one song that stuck in my mind. I would go around singing it. Then someone explained to me what the words meant. I had no idea - thought they were made up as I'd never heard them before

Don't think I'll quote it here

Posted: **Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:48 pm**

Effaeldm wrote: Made-up word like non-swearing ones used for substitutes? Well, that's better at least, and some I've heard are funny on their own)

I don't like swearing for anger though, it seems to me that staying cool and calm and trying to find a way out is usually better, even if nothing can be done already, calmly thinking out what to do with this and how to behave later feels better to me. I usually use and appreciate the use of such words on a specific purpose, like when I answered to Ananda's post, explaining which words those could be.

I agree with the 'usually better', but it can be satisfying when venting about a frustrating situation, or something that makes you angry. My opinion, anyway.

Murrin wrote:You know I never quite get the made-up-swear-word-on-TV thing. Particularly in the cases of words like frell and frack, the word is so neatly swapped, and so very clearly demonstrated to have exactly the same meaning as the substitute word (used in every equivalent context), that they may as well never have swapped it at all, and I'm surprised the censors let it slide on a technicality (reacting not to the meaning, but to the specific word, which seems a bass-ackwards way of censoring).

That's true too, and I have thought of that. I think, for me, it's harder to take it seriously. There was one series that I read that featured one of the least-imaginative swear words ever invented (one letter was omitted, but it was pronounced the same way), and I was careful for the week or so I had it running through my head.

What I really don't get is 'bleeping' things out, or censoring them in other fashions. Most times, you're going to know what was really said. My mind fills it in automatically. How does changing it to $^$%$ make it less offensive?

Edited to clarify what I was trying to say.

Posted: **Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:58 pm**

Iolanthe wrote: Don't think I'll quote it here

No need...funniest song in any musical ever!

Posted: **Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:57 pm**

Iolanthe wrote:...
Now I find that there is also an "N" and a "W" word! What have I been missing out on all these years? On second thoughts, don't tell me.
...

The "W" one is no swearing at all, that spoiler is likely to be in style and leave people guessing) The "N" one doesn't mean something non-modest, it's one you likely know, it more or less means Afro-american, but is considered an offensive way to say so.

Iolanthe wrote:...
On another tack, a friend of mine in the 60s had the LP of Hair, and there was one song that stuck in my mind. I would go around singing it. Then someone explained to me what the words meant. I had no idea - thought they were made up as I'd never heard them before Don't think I'll quote it here

Vraith wrote:
Iolanthe wrote: Don't think I'll quote it here
No need...funniest song in any musical ever!

I fail to see which of the songs you could pick without knowing any words like that, though perhaps that's me) And then there are a few to pick from) Was it the Sodomy one?

Sorus wrote:...
What I really don't get is 'bleeping' things out, or censoring them in other fashions. Most times, you're going to know what was really said. My mind fills it in automatically. How does changing it to $^$%$ make it less offensive?
...

Theoretically, makes the kids not hear them in the first place, practically, helps the kids get an interest in them.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:25 am**

Effaeldm wrote: I fail to see which of the songs you could pick without knowing any words like that, though perhaps that's me) And then there are a few to pick from) Was it the Sodomy one?

Well, I was making an assumption that it was "the sodomy one"....but not without reason, the statements said wordS, none of the other songs are chock full of shocking words. And if you want to see funny, imagine a special performance for the hearing impaired and the sign interpreters for that one. Hysterical, truly hysterical [and really happened].

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:25 am**

Confession: I swear a lot.

I didn't used to say the f-word, but it pops out fairly often these days.

Yeah, the n-word is the derogatory form of Negro. The s-word is about defecation.

Interestingly, the word slut is considered an insult more so than a swear word. Some young women, over the past few years, have even staged "slut walks", in which they march through the city wearing revealing clothing, in protest of the still-too-common idea that women who get raped while wearing a miniskirt were asking for it.

I cannot do the c-word (which you guessed correctly, Effy). That, to me, is worse than the f-word.

And for the rest of the list, I give you...the master.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZZ82tp5es

(I can't believe I'm linking to YouTube videos tonight. WTF, man?

)

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:59 am**

aliantha wrote:I cannot do the c-word (which you guessed correctly, Effy). That, to me, is worse than the f-word.

Better not go to the uk then.

they say that word for every occasion.

For me, cussing can be interesting and appropriate, but, like anything else, can be overdone.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:37 am**

Hahaha, I swear a lot. An awful lot. It doesn't show up often when I write, but when I speak...well, let's just say Iolanthe and Menolly would be wincing and squirming like crazy.

--A

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:11 am**

Stereotypically the only thing Finns can utter. Otherwise we're supposed to be mute. =3

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:29 am**

Effaeldm wrote:I fail to see which of the songs you could pick without knowing any words like that, though perhaps that's me) And then there are a few to pick from) Was it the Sodomy one?

Yes, I was 16 at the time, and I swear

I had never heard any of the words before. I can only remember the first two now anyway.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:43 am**

Avatar wrote:Hahaha, I swear a lot. An awful lot. It doesn't show up often when I write, but when I speak...well, let's just say Iolanthe and Menolly would be wincing and squirming like crazy.

--A

Same here. I drop the occasional swear on here, but nowhere near as much as I do in conversation. I'm not one of those people who seems resolute on cramming as many curses into every sentence as possible. I've just got kind of a natural flow of profanity.

And I think the F-word is great, one of the most versatile words there is. Also kudos to Ali. I clicked on your link going "please be Carlin, please be Carlin, please be Carlin" and it was!

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:51 am**

Effaeldm wrote: But I'm afraid there are many people who have problems learning one language remotely properly.

Why don't we use "it" as the gender definition for everyone?

Still, those of us who live in countries that like to juggle with more than one official language must cope somehow...

Something like that (replacing he/she with it) is actually the norm in the specific dialect I use in everyday blatherings (and which feels and sounds rather different from the official written Finnish). You hardly ever hear people saying f. ex. "hän menee" (he/she goes) or "he menevät" (they go). Instead, these become mangled into "se menee" (it goes) or "ne menee" (they--as in objects/neuter--go). In some other dialects, the case is different (Savo: hyö meniöö / he/she goes).

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:10 pm**

Ananda, thanks for the warning about the UK.

I didn't notice it when we were in London, but that was almost ten years ago, plus I had the kids with me, so maybe people refrained....

Cambo wrote:Also kudos to Ali. I clicked on your link going "please be Carlin, please be Carlin, please be Carlin" and it was!

I did say it was the master.

I'd forgotten that he'd updated the list. The last line brought Magickmaker into the room to find out what I was laughing at.

I drove her out again after I dissolved into giggles over a Steve Martin tweet, which said:

SPOILER ALERT: Escherichia coli.

She got it; she just didn't understand why I thought it was so funny.

Maybe you had to be there...

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:19 pm**

aliantha wrote:Ananda, thanks for the warning about the UK. I didn't notice it when we were in London, but that was almost ten years ago, plus I had the kids with me, so maybe people refrained....

There's a common habit in english dialects of men referring to each other (as banter rather than maliciously) as an "[adjective] c***". It's probably difficult for people not familiar with it to understand: the point, and the emphasis, often lies in the adjective, and not the noun. It's just an idiom where the use of the word c*** isn't thought about at all. Most frequently the adjective is something like daft/stupid, a lighthearted mocking-insult kind of statement.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:31 pm**

In NZ, calling someone a "good c***" means you think they are a cool person. Usually for guys.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:59 pm**

there's a u.s. military uniform hat that was historically called a "C*** Cap." [not without reason, if you've seen one] The term was starting to be frowned upon when I was in. I suspect it's strictly locker-room talk by now, if at all.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:33 pm**

my language use whilst at work (at the prison) would make a sailor blush.

add the odd long rant - and entirely innapropriate non-pc words. i sound like the entire cast of Deadwood at times.

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:46 pm**

Given your work environment, Sarge, you are forgiven

I have a niece who is a prison officer. I had to turn her messages off on my FB page!

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:00 pm**

Iolanthe wrote:Given your work environment, Sarge, you are forgiven I have a niece who is a prison officer. I had to turn her messages off on my FB page!

that is funny. i have had coworkers who get upset with my language. i have suggested they work at Wendy's...

Posted: **Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:37 pm**

Wendy's what?

Kevin's Watch

sorry, but you can't be my BFF anymore