How Do You Decide It's Cursing?

How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (Full Version)

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uncabeeil -> How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 1:24:36 PM)
The subject of cursing came up in a thread in the Music folder, and it made me wonder, what defines a word or phrase as a curse? Is it the word itself? Is it the context? Is it cultural? Or a combination of things?

LCannon -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 1:52:03 PM)
Potter Stewart(US Supreme Court)regarding pornography said, 'I know it when I see it.' Certainly some expressions carry lasting and deeply held impressions that are not easily dismissed in utterances, criticisms and sarcasms. (First impressions are hard to ignore.) 'word itself? the context? Is it cultural? Or a combination' All four, singly and in combination, for if you(we)have 'explain' our ourselves to justify our 'color' we've lost, at least, our credibility with that audience. Romans 12:3-"For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him."

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 5:45:56 PM)
If you hear the President use it on national TV and it shocks you, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you hear your pastor use it from the pulpit and it shocks you (and/or causes a meeting of deacons or elders afterward), then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you wouldn't use te word in front of your mother, wife, or young daughter, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. I could go on, but I think that's enough to make my point. [;)]

Tinkerbell_ -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 8:00:52 PM)
I was reading a book written in the 1800's ish. The heroine was standing with her lady in waiting and became very frustrated. She said, "I know I shouldn't but I can't help but want to say it!" Lady in waiting said, "Oh my lady! Please! Don't say it!" Heroine: "I can't help it I have to!" LIW: "Oh if you must!" Heroine: "Dang it!" I think it's a cultural thing. shrug

Child4Jesus -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 8:17:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JimboFletch If you hear the President use it on national TV and it shocks you, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you hear your pastor use it from the pulpit and it shocks you (and/or causes a meeting of deacons or elders afterward), then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you wouldn't use te word in front of your mother, wife, or young daughter, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. I could go on, but I think that's enough to make my point.[;)] I disagree with that. There are many words the president could use, a pastor could say, or that I wouldn't use in front of my mom/wife/young daughter that I wouldn't call curse words.

TrustingGod -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 10:06:53 PM)
Words are words - amoral. It is the condition of your heart. I cringe when I hear the "p" word. Our youth pastor uses it in front of the kids and my sisters (Christians) use it. They dont' think it is a curse word. I think it is. Who is right? We are all in the same culture. My son uses it front of his mother but his mother wouldn't use it. I think the "p" word is the same as the "s" word. So, who determines curse word or not? I would say the Holy Spirit [:)] I was shocked the first time I heard my pastor say "when all hell breaks loose" from the pulpit. Made me sit up and listen! [sm=shocked.gif]

DreadPirateRandy -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 10:41:58 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TrustingGod I cringe when I hear the "p" word. Platypus?

Liveloved -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/20/2008 11:57:43 PM)
I'm in agreement with TrustingGod that it really is the heart attitude that matters. That makes any word a potential curse word.

MindySue69 -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 1:41:01 AM)
I heard someone telling her young child not to say "stupid" because that was a bad word. [8\|] I can see saying "Honey, do not call other people names, like 'Stupid,' because that is impolite and not very nice." But to call it a "bad word," akin to other "s" words like "shucks," "shoot," and "sugar" is just uncalled for and over the top.

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 7:39:54 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Child4Jesus quote: ORIGINAL: JimboFletch If you hear the President use it on national TV and it shocks you, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you hear your pastor use it from the pulpit and it shocks you (and/or causes a meeting of deacons or elders afterward), then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you wouldn't use te word in front of your mother, wife, or young daughter, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. I could go on, but I think that's enough to make my point.[;)] I disagree with that. There are many words the president could use, a pastor could say, or that I wouldn't use in front of my mom/wife/young daughter that I wouldn't call curse words. I did not say words that those people could say but words those people could say that would shock or offend most people. It's absurd to say that words are amoral. Words hurt and words can provoke fights and even war! I spent over 9 years as a sailor, whose reputation for cursing is well known, and there are certain words that would shock, offend or upset me to hear come out of the mouth of the President, my pastor, used in front of my mother, wife, or daughter. And, no, I don't use those words because to do so is cursing and unfitting for a believer and disciple of God the Son.

uncabeeil -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 10:12:11 AM)
I posted this because I wondered if anybody else thought like I did, that it's the intent or context. Guess the answer is yes. Thanks for your input.

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 10:47:30 AM)
Sorry, but I can think of half a dozen words that are offensive and, thereby, curse words in any context by anyone. Just the fact that someone would designate something an "x-word" suggests it shouldn't be used at all by a believer.

MindySue69 -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 10:48:39 AM)
Nothing offended my dad.

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 10:51:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MindySue69 Nothing offended my dad. Considering his choices of words, my dad apparently wasn't offended by words either. But he was careful not to use certain ones around preachers and sincere Christians. Apparently, many people no longer have a sense of shame.

MindySue69 -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 10:56:03 AM)
What used to make me wonder was = why did dad talk the way he did around my mom and me - and "watch" his speech when he was around "certain" folks...like your dad he was more careful around some other people. I used to think - why does he talk nicer to people who he supposedly "doesn't care" about?[&:] But you could say anything you wanted in front of him and he didn't care - unless you were to bad mouth chevy's. that was the highest crime you could commit, verbally anyway.[;)]

edgibson -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 11:53:15 AM)
I agree with Jimbo, but only to a point. His criteria would cover about 75% of the commonly held "curse words" but there are several that easily spring to mind that are, for lack of a better term, conditional curse words. For example: were you to be watching the Eukanuba dog show you will hear the b-word, as is a female of the cannis species. And in that context there is nothing wrong with it. It is an accurate and commonly used term in dog circles. It can, however, be misused and become a curse/bad word. There are many other words that are in that category that would fall into the "intention of the user" definition. That being said, I think that with a minor tweaking Jimbo's definition would cover all of them. quote: If you hear a word, either in or out of context, the President use it on national TV and it shocks you, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you hear your pastor use it from the pulpit, either in or out of context, and it shocks you (and/or causes a meeting of deacons or elders afterward), then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. If you wouldn't use te word, either in or out of context, in front of your mother, wife, or young daughter, then I think it's safe to call it a curse word. I could go on, but I think that's enough to make my point.

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 12:46:03 PM)
Ed, I certainly agree that there are words that in context could mean a female dog, an illegitimate son, a donkey, or some other commonplace thing that isn't cursing. But there are some, probably the most commonly heard ones, that are on expletives without any redeeming value that should never be uttered by a believer.

uncabeeil -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 12:57:18 PM)
quote: But there are some, probably the most commonly heard ones, that are on expletives without any redeeming value that should never be uttered by a believer. But who or what determines what these words are? In Great Britain there are people who react to "bloody" the way most Americans react to the f-bomb. Yet the same word has no impact on the average American.

edgibson -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 2:36:53 PM)
Jimbo, I agree wholeheartedly. My point wasn't to cancel yours, but to augment.

edgibson -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 2:40:32 PM)
Another twist..... What about "replacement words" Oh, my gosh. Oh, shoot. Gosh darn it. Everyone knows what word you were going to say, including you. Does the technicality that you didn't say the word you were thinking make it OK?

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 3:30:52 PM)
I've eliminated substitute words too after realizing what I was doing. The most disturbing thing to me is to hear a professing Christian us "JESUS CHRIST" the way a drunken sailor might use profanity to express the same emotion.

Ruthie -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 4:10:26 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JimboFletch I've eliminated substitute words too after realizing what I was doing. The most disturbing thing to me is to hear a professing Christian us "JESUS CHRIST" the way a drunken sailor might use profanity to express the same emotion. I found myself saying the JC thing. I was absolutely horrified at myself. [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] I don't even know how it crept in. Most people don't even consider it swearing. As for the OP, How do I decide what is swearing? The only ones I know are related to bodily functions so I avoid anything of a toilet or bedroom persuasion.

MindySue69 -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/21/2008 6:13:31 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: edgibson Another twist..... What about "replacement words" Oh, my gosh. Oh, shoot. Gosh darn it. Everyone knows what word you were going to say, including you. Does the technicality that you didn't say the word you were thinking make it OK? This is where I draw the line and say "enough." You know what I was going to say? GOSH. That's exactly what I was going to say, I didn't think "GOD" and just say "GOSH" I said "GOSH" because that's what I meant, as a nonsense word completely devoid of any value other than an exclamation of surprise. People say "Good Gravy!" Why? Because it starts with G? No, they say it because it rolls off the tongue and sounds right (It wouldn't sound right if I said "Good Watermelon!"). Some people say "Good NIGHT!" and that's supposed to be better than "Oh my gosh?" Or "Good gosh!?" No, because we ALL KNOW that he REALLY meant Good God, right??????? WRONG! God said not to take HIS NAME in vain - He didn't say we can't exclaim surprise or despair or annoyance with nonsensical phrases and words... And that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. If you think you're sinning by saying "Oh My gosh" then fine - don't say it. But please don't assume that you know what I'm thinking when I say it.

JimboFletch -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/22/2008 8:12:14 AM)
From the dictionary: Gosh: (euphemism) A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm as to be put in place of "god", particularly in fear of saying the Lord's name in vain. Etymology: Euphemism (or minced oath) for god.

MindySue69 -> RE: How Do You Decide It's Cursing? (8/22/2008 8:30:34 AM)
Like I said. I never think about it as anything other than a nonsense word. Someone could take this to an extreme and say that anything uttered after "Oh my __________" is a euphemism for God. For you, it is sin to say it. Then you should not say it - and if we meet in real life, if I say it, you can kindly tell me that you would prefer I not say it. And I'll respect that.

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