|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 5:30:16 PM
|
|
|
ffbruce
Posts: 271
Joined: 10/14/2008
Status: offline
|
Note to moderators: If this is inappropriate, you're welcome to delete it. Or if it's in the wrong place, please move it. Thanks!
Last night, after our Light Night program at the church, I asked one of our high schoolers how his hand was doing. He's a football player, and got it busted up pretty bad & recently had surgery. When I asked how his hand felt, he simply said, "It hurts like h**l." He was not trying to be crude, or a jerk. And it's obvious that he doesn't view that as any kind of swear word or curse word.
So I've been thinking...
Some swear/curse words are no brainers. The use of the names of God and Jesus, in vain, are wrong beyond question. And I'd add to that the Mother Of All Swear Words - the one that begins with F.
But beyond that, I've found over the years that a LOT of people do not see the words I consider "dirty" or "swearing" as that at all. Admittedly, I grew up in a very "language conservative" Christian home. So maybe I am overly sensitive to words that really aren't a problem.
Below are the meanings of some words I've always thought of as swear/curse words - or at the least, inappropriate.
- The other word for manure.
- The other word for your rear end.
- The other word for urine.
- The opposite of Heaven.
- That thing that holds back water, but with an "n" added.
- The other word for a female dog.
I think you all know what I mean.
Are any of these words, or others like them, acceptable to you folks? Unacceptable?
And what do you do if people, in your presence, are using them - but don't see them as inappropriate?
Again, I don't want to be offensive in any way! But I've been thinking a lot about this today, and wondering where people stand on these kind of words, and why.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 5:42:01 PM
|
|
|
pryze
Posts: 39
Joined: 10/22/2008
Status: offline
|
I dont nessacarily believe all marginal swear words should be taken as heavily as those knock down wall words( You know what they are no examples) but i believe there is an importance in growing to be more like christ in all ways especially in our language...GOD has given us a large brain, though it can not concieve or handle all the mysteries of GOD it is able to replace a few words with more creative and descriptive ones. I understand if you just accidently drove a nail thru your finger or something, bit your tounge, or forgot to pick up the kids after work,,,,but lets not give the devil a foothold in anything we do so that even our language surrenders to the lord JESUS CHRIST
_____________________________
visit my blog at...
www.youngpryze.blogspot.com
Grace and Peace
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 5:55:58 PM
|
|
|
ffbruce
Posts: 271
Joined: 10/14/2008
Status: offline
|
Thank you, Pryze.
Ephesians 4:29 has always kind of stuck with me too. (Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.)
It probably runs concurrent to the question that should be asked in many situations. It's not what I can get by with, but what I can do that will be helpful and encouraging and good.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 6:22:24 PM
|
|
|
RamiRedeemed
Posts: 2628
Joined: 10/13/2008
Status: offline
|
I think it might be a younger person thing to find those words acceptable? Personally I try not to use them only because what is not offensive to me is offensive to other people. Of course the F bomb is different, as its crude. But the other ones you posted, to me, are not proper but are not 'cuss' words.
_____________________________
Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
-------------------------------
ramireconciled.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 6:40:20 PM
|
|
|
1love1God1way
Posts: 2478
Joined: 5/16/2005
Status: offline
|
I think it's mostly about heart and the intent behind the word that makes the difference.
I can use the same word, but in two different attitudes, and they have very different effects.
Of course, in the wrong attitude, a less "crude" word is equally as bad, IMO.
_____________________________
love.ben
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 7:44:49 PM
|
|
|
mvic
Posts: 1795
Joined: 1/17/2008
Status: offline
|
And then of course there is culture (or lack of it). In Britain for instance "the one that begins with F" is used all the time on TV, books and the theatre. Especially for comic effect.
Swearing seems more acceptable here - and if you complain. Guess what? You're the one in the wrong.
Sad, isn't it?
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 7:51:19 PM
|
|
|
ffbruce
Posts: 271
Joined: 10/14/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
And then of course there is culture (or lack of it). In Britain for instance "the one that begins with F" is used all the time on TV, books and the theatre. Especially for comic effect.
Swearing seems more acceptable here - and if you complain. Guess what? You're the one in the wrong.
Sad, isn't it?
Hey - so you're "on the other side of the pond."
A question...
Years and years ago, I had a buddy from England. He said that saying "bloody" is - in England - virtually the same as using "the F word".
Is that even close to true, or was he just messin' with me?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 7:59:38 PM
|
|
|
mvic
Posts: 1795
Joined: 1/17/2008
Status: offline
|
Sadly it's true. That particular word, as well as the F word, and words like God, Jesus, etc... are often heard in conversations on Radio and TV soap programs or comedy programs. Sometimes, if it is before 9.00pm the word is bleeped out by a computer sound as it is "pre-watershed" and therefore children might hear it. After 9.00pm it seems swearing is OK.
Only today, I was viewing a comedy quiz program with comedians answering questions and one of them used the F word. He got a laugh and applause from the studio audience.
Now, assuming I wrote in and complained. At best my letter would be ignored. Or else, if my letter was aired it would be portrayed as me being over sensitive. It was after all - after 9.00pm !!!
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 8:25:26 PM
|
|
|
ffbruce
Posts: 271
Joined: 10/14/2008
Status: offline
|
Thanks for the response MVIC.
It indeed is sad when people arrogantly and loudly spout of profanities, with a kind of "in your face" attitude.
What ever happened to basic decency and/or good behavior - regardless of whether a person is Christian or not?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 9:15:04 PM
|
|
|
Withani
Posts: 281
Joined: 10/20/2007
From: Midwest
Status: offline
|
Interesting subject, and one I've seen discussed here before. I have always been very conservative in my vocabulary and do not, by choice, say any swear words or offensive words. As some others have said, I don't find that language very appropriate for Christians to be using. Very often, when I hear someone speaking with every other word being the F--- word, I think they are showing their lack of creativity or vocabulary. Can't they think of any other words to use besides that one? Do they have such a limited vocabulary that an offensive word has to be used 5 times in a sentence? Or do they think they will be more convincing to the listener if they stick in a bunch of swear words? I believe it's mostly a habit - one that's hard to break, I'm afraid.
I work for a manufacturing company in customer service. It is not unusual to get cussed at by customers, and I find this extremely hard to take. But I do the best I can and try to ignore the offensive language. We do have a policy that if a customer is using bad language and won't calm down, we are allowed to hang up on them. I have done that only once in nine years. After listening to the "F" word as he complained about a late order, I couldn't take any more and hung up. When he called back, he asked for my supervisor, who backed me up that this is our policy. His argument was that he had only said the "F" word, not "F--- You" which I guess was okay to say if you don't put "you" after it. Go figure. 
As far as others around me (like co-workers) using bad language, I don't make a big deal of it. I'd just get laughed at. Most people accept me as I am, and know where I stand. In fact, I have had a co-worker say they admire me for not losing control of my tongue. That is the situation where we, as Christians, can explain why we live our lives as we do.
_____________________________
"TO GOD BE THE GLORY!"
Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 9:31:01 PM
|
|
|
SonInMe1
Posts: 3164
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
|
If you don't swear around people they tend not to swear around you.
You cannot force your morality upon others. People define themselves in many ways and their speach is one way. Asking people not to swear around you...is selfish and shows a lack of charactor in you.
However, I would have no problem saying something to a person who swears in public when there are women or children present.
While some have been raised in more...protective...enviroments, I was raised on a family farm, with two...emotionally expressive?....parents. I betcha I can "enlighten" you to a few words you've never heard before.
That doesn't make it right of course but, not everyone grew up in an Ivory Tower.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 9:47:15 PM
|
|
|
MyCatSmokey2006
Posts: 3160
Status: offline
|
Personally, I'm bothered by MY OWN cussing habit of using those terms mentioned in the OP, especially when I get angry or upset. I'm asking God to help me clean up my language, but it's a hard habit to break when you've done it most of your life.
What bothers me is when family members, even Christian ones, use the cuss word that rhymes with a place that holds back water with God in front of it. This really bothers me because they're not just cussing, they're cursing my Heavenly Father. I'm praying for them to be saved and for my Christian family members to stop using that particular term, along with the other ones listed in the OP.
_____________________________
Melissa
<---Smokey
Tribute to a Good Friend (Blog Entry)
MY CAT POST
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 9:59:58 PM
|
|
|
catfighter
Posts: 102
Joined: 10/17/2008
Status: offline
|
What do you folks exclaim when you're alone and you stub your toe really badly?
What I exclaim would get me banned from a Harley motorcycle riders message board. 
Then again, one of my favorite TV shows of all time was Deadwood. Foul language doesn't offend me in the least.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/23/2008 11:08:52 PM
|
|
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3417
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: SonInMe1
If you don't swear around people they tend not to swear around you.
True. It's all a matter of personal habits. It is not my habit to use language like that, so when I get angry, when I hit my thumb with a hammer, when someone nearly hits my car, what I am used to saying is what will be said.
When I get angry, I just state my opinion clearly with common words. When I hit my thumb iwth a hammer, I say, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Simple as that. When someone nearly hits my car, I call upon my G-d, Who is my ever-present help in the time of trouble.
Now, admittedly, I have been a believer for 45 years (yeah, I'm as old as dirt), so my mouth had better be cleaned up by now! I should be practiced at thinking on Him and calling upon Him. If this is not the case, I would question my own salvation.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 12:09:44 AM
|
|
|
Prairiehiker
Posts: 3264
Status: offline
|
I say things like freaking out, or darn or suck (even my pastor uses this one) or the c one that means manure, lol. I say them often, and in my circle of friends, they are normal words with no malice, or is not crude. They are normal slang words among my Christian friends. So, I see no reason to remove them. Language evolves. Meaning changes over time. And impact changes as well. I don't believe using these words are what the bible mean when it said "let no unwholesome talk........".
_____________________________
Wishing for a Steelers/Eagles superbowl.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 12:51:31 AM
|
|
|
OneJohn410
Posts: 1515
Joined: 6/1/2008
Status: online
|
I too thought like Kuku when reading the subject line, that the 'pseudo-cursing was what was going to be talked about. I don't use the words you referred to much- and have even been told that 'I know you don't curse much, so excuse my language, but...' and off they go. It's easier to do when you are not a very talkative person. Some folks, why, they live for the sound of the human voice... theirs, someone else's, just don't put them anywhere and say please be quiet for a half hour. They'll zoom for the restroom, or the exit.
Just top of my head thought here, the worst thing about words considered profanity is that they can invoke anger in those who hear them. That means if a teen hears an adult let it rip with a good dosing on his or her perceived situation, and who's to blame, then that teen has all those words to carry around with them. So if the teen tries to get all hip with the oldsters by talking like that to one of them, he or she could quite possibly be placing themself in danger. Where I live, there's already been a killing over a commonly liked girlfriend. When today's youth see how their older peers work out anger and frustration, and try applying that to their own situation, coupled with alcohol, prehaps, or drugs, or firearms... well, society has helped paint a poor way of resolving conflict.
Society couples those words with anger, with the way things are resolved, and that their use might guarantee violence and aggression. Teens go into situations using that recipe, and expecting violence and being ready to use deadly force. I don't think if everyone ceased cursing tomorrow it would all go away. I don't think the substitute marginal words are very impressive, either. There's some low-down names given to people in the Bible, but no talk that I know of involving the words you refer to. Living a life that is not a stumbling block to others knowing God... that's what I'm looking to do. Those words don't help me do that, so I try not to use them, especially in company.
_____________________________
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. -Romans 15:4 (NIV)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 2:30:02 AM
|
|
|
catfighter
Posts: 102
Joined: 10/17/2008
Status: offline
|
I have 3 dogs all over 100 lbs. I have more euphemisms for poop then Eskimos have for snow.
Is the exclamation "Holy <vulgar word for poop>!" blasphemy? I sure as <place of eternal damnation> hope not.
What makes the more vulgar word for poop more vulgar anyway? Is the colloquial past tense (spelled with an "a" instead of an "i") also vulgar?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 8:09:23 AM
|
|
|
car2ner
Posts: 3024
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: just north of Florida
Status: offline
|
Hanging around military and hanging around entertainers, hearing swearing is something I've gotten used to. It is too easy to get a cheap laugh with cussing. I have had a director who encouraged us to not use vulgarisms for the cheap laugh, that we were much more creative and clever than that.
Some cuss words, over time, have become more socially acceptable. I have one rule; be aware of your audience. You will be judged by your words so how do you want the listeners to think about you? I, personally, would rather sound conservative and use the bleep worthy words seldom.
IMHO, it is the intent of the words more than the words. Some folks can say the nastiest things using the sweetest words. This is an election year. Snarkiness abounds with the most flowery speech.
BTW< add me to the unimpressed when someones says, "I don't swear, darn it". I admit that they are trying to be polite but they need to be aware that these words are a watered down cuss, none the less.
_____________________________
http://www.car2ner.2ya.com
"May your days be long and your hardships few".
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 9:16:27 AM
|
|
|
raivyne
Posts: 1010
Joined: 8/28/2008
Status: offline
|
I don't swear since I became a Christian, but I've often wondered (since I was a child in fact)... who decided these particular words were "swear" words? I mean the bible doesn't list the eff word specifically that I'm aware of... I've always wondered who decided particular words were swear words.
I've pondered this a lot and I'm sort of forced to conclude that these particular words became used frequently, by more and more people in a given area, with the wrong emotions behind them and were therefore thought of as "swear words". The "b" word and the "a" word weren't exactly swear words originally (I dont' think anyway). They had actual meaning in normal conversation. There are several words that are thought of by vitually everyone in the area you hail from to be "swear words". The example of the word "bloody" in Britain is perfect... here its not even considered a swear word, but there its one of the worst.
This all leads me to believe that the words themselves are arbitrary, its the intent behind them.
_____________________________
P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens
What if God is asking us for a sign?
Knowledge is proud; wisdom is humble.
Patiently waiting for my KSA
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 10:27:37 AM
|
|
|
Jhud
Posts: 7627
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Lake Wobegon
Status: offline
|
quote:
What do you folks exclaim when you're alone and you stub your toe really badly?
I had a friend who would often exclaim, "Praise the Lord!".
One time he growled it after slamming his finger in something, and I gave him a sideways glance and said, "You may have said the words, but we all know what you meant!"
_____________________________
Jack
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
- C.S. Lewis
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 11:03:44 AM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 6162
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: raivyne
I don't swear since I became a Christian, but I've often wondered (since I was a child in fact)... who decided these particular words were "swear" words? I mean the bible doesn't list the eff word specifically that I'm aware of... I've always wondered who decided particular words were swear words.
IIRC the words we have now didn't even exist back then.
The history of "swear words" is much later on, round about the Middle Ages. In Britain at that time, the difference between the rich and poor was extreme. Only the very rich were educated, and could read and write. So what happened is that the ordinary, uneducated, men in the street developed their own words for things, their own language even. These words, this "earthy" language, was looked down on by the rich and educated, and so basically it became a matter of snobbery not to use the language of the "common man".
If you read the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived from 1343-1400 and is called "the Father of English Literature", you are likely to see these words peppered around, because they were part of the usual (colloquial) way of talking. They weren't offensive, but considered "bad language" because they were the language of the poor and uneducated.
All the supposed "modern day" "swear" words originated then, in Mediaeval times.
quote:
The example of the word "bloody" in Britain is perfect... here its not even considered a swear word, but there its one of the worst.
Actually, I'm a Brit, and I can assure you that it definitely isn't considered that bad at all! Might have been at one time, but not now (or for most if not all of my lifetime).
_____________________________
"Manda is right"
mvic, January 2009
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Marginal Swear Words - 10/24/2008 12:51:24 PM
|
|
|
Mrs.X
Posts: 2947
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
Status: offline
|
quote:
Are any of these words, or others like them, acceptable to you folks? Unacceptable?
Nope, I don't use them. Or, their substitutes like heck, shoot, ****, darn or son-of-a-gun.
quote:
And what do you do if people, in your presence, are using them - but don't see them as inappropriate?
I don't allow people to say G-- D--- in my home (I always let them know if it slips out), but everything else, I don't really care as long as my kids don't hear them.
ETA: You know what's interesting. The person who made the censors on this site doesn't allow cr.ap, but they allow shoot and darn.....same difference! Cuss word substitute.
_____________________________
-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
