Foul language

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algebe's picture
Foul language

Theist posters on this site, especially the character currently known as FIG, frequently complain about the use of strong language by other participants. I think this really a way of deflecting the discussion away from the obvious nonsense in their posts.

But maybe they have a point. Profanity and obscenity are important to our well-being. They have been proven to relieve pain and improve physical performance. Mark Twain said, “Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.”

If we use these words all the time, their power is diminished. If I say "fuck" when I hit the wrong key while typing, what can I say when I cut my thumb off with a circular saw? The power of bad language comes from the shock factor. If we use them all the time, they're no longer shocking. So we either need to ration our use of fuck, shit, etc., or invent some new words with even greater shock value.

"Smeg" gained some currency after the writers of the the British comedy sci-fi series "Red Dwarf" used it as a swear word from the future. Any suggestions for other new obscenities?

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the...

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Sushisnake's picture
Fink. It's a noun, an oldie,

Fink. It's a noun, an oldie, but a goodie. It sounds vile, but it isn't.

chimp3's picture
Cussing is verbal seasoning.

Cussing is verbal seasoning. Speech should be spiced according to the situation. Mild to spicy.

I don't like the use of cunt as an insult. I find cunts to be beautiful!

mykcob4's picture
I never use the "C" word

I never use the "C" word (cute)!

ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐʏ's picture
"A rather gruesome website

"A rather gruesome website records the final utterances of fatal air-crash pilots, captured on the black box flight recorder.

I'd be interested to know what they are. Having looked at several such recordings in the past, my impression is that most appear professional and calm. They don't sound like people that are about to die; and I don't recall anyone swearing.

mykcob4's picture
I've been around people that

I've been around people that have died and almost all of them use profanity. It doesn't matter the race, the religion, the nationality, the sex, gender or sexual orientation, the age, they all cuss when they die.

Tin-Man's picture
@John Re: Fatal aircraft

@John Re: Fatal aircraft crashes

That IS something of a fascination, but - oddly enough - it is not too particularly complicated to comprehend. Although I never quite made it to a full license (Expensive and time consuming. Both time and money eventually ran out.), I have logged many hours of flying small aircraft. And the one thing that is relentlessly pounded into the heads of all potential pilots is "FLY THE AIRCRAFT." No matter the situation, no matter what is happening inside or outside the aircraft, if you are the pilot you FLY THE AIRCRAFT. Period. Along with that, flying is an incredibly technical endeavor. It requires an amazing amount of attention to detail and procedures, and it requires one to be clear, concise, brief, and professional when using radio communications. A keen sense of situational awareness is also a big plus, obviously. On top of all of that, flying is potentially dangerous. No way around that. And any pilot worth a damn is very much aware of that fact, and he/she accepts it as part of the program. Goes with the territory. And keep in mind this is simply with those like myself who just liked puttering around in the sky for the fun of it. I actually had my engine go to shit on me once during a flight. It was my second solo flight, and I had just taken off and was at roughly 1700 feet when my engine suddenly sounded like it blew up, and it shook the whole plane. (Uh-oh.) Now I'm looking at the propeller and counting each turn it slowly makes. lol Yet it never once occurred to me to cuss, or be scared, or to panic. (Oh, did I mention the only thing below me at that point was a crowded downtown area, a busy interstate, and a large railway yard?) Anyway, because of my training, I simply got on the radio and notified the tower, while at the same time gingerly getting the plane turned around as the tower cleared the runway and all other air traffic for me. Got back on the ground with only moderate trouble (had a tailwind which kept me floating a bit before touchdown). Once back at the hanger we discovered the engine had spit out a spark plug. Go figure. Actually had a good laugh about it with the instructor and the mechanics.

So, now, let's look at commercial pilots who have literally thousands of flight hours logged in a wide variety of aircraft, and have likely been involved in just about any type of air emergency one could encounter and survive. Those guys (mostly) are the textbook definition of professional. And because of that, it is engrained in them to remain calm and keep their cool and focus on flying that aircraft no matter what. Therefore, the majority of those guys will remain as cool as a block of ice and continue to try to save that aircraft up until the very moment it hits the ground. Basically, no time for cussing. LOL

Old man shouts at clouds's picture
@ TM @John Re: Fatal aircraft

@ TM @John Re: Fatal aircraft crashes

Having been in the presence of death in several scenarios over the years, the more training the less 'surprised' by the whole affair the recipient seems to be.
Particularly true of professional military with extreme combat experience.
The least prepared, it seemed to me were the deeply religious and the idealists who died screaming and pleading for mercy from their god and the presence their mums. Not prepared at all, totally not what I expected when I was reporting this stuff. I expected the opposite. That the religious would be calm and ready for bliss at the final moment and the trained and professional would finally break and plead for the mercy that never came. Hollywood's lovely lies. But that is experience for you. It is a great teacher. I wish that I hadn't lived those experiences, but they stripped me to my whipcords and made me flesh out again with new respect and perspectives.

Tin-Man's picture
@Old Man

@Old Man

Yeah, experience has a lot to do with it. Prior mental preparation goes a long way, too., even for those who may not have much or any experience with "close calls."

Sushisnake's picture
My son was in the ADF and

My son was in the ADF and served in Afghanistan. He reckoned all that repetitive training was a bit of an eye roll, a bit " FFS! I get it! Enough.already! Jeez!" until hours AFTER he'd been in combat and the light bulb moment came: "Ah! So THAT'S what it was for, so thinking stopped and training took over."

On a much less scale, first aid training is repeated annually for the same reason - you don't react, you respond on autopilot.

MCDennis's picture
Fuck I hate profanity

Fuck I hate profanity

Sky Pilot's picture
Yahweh.

Yahweh.

Sky Pilot's picture
Allah.

Allah.

Aposteriori unum's picture
Maybe one day calling someone

Maybe one day calling someone a Christian will be like using a racial epithet, or it will be synonymous with things like: cocksucker or son of a bitch.

I feel a short story coming on....

Sheldon's picture
"If I say "fuck" when I hit

"If I say "fuck" when I hit the wrong key while typing, what can I say when I cut my thumb off with a circular saw? "

Fiddledeedee, that will require a tetanus booster.

Sapporo's picture
If eternal damnation does not

If eternal damnation does not offend you, but a bit of swearing does, you have a warped sensibility.

I think it is perfectly valid however to criticise use of swearing if it is especially excessive and unnecessary for the point that is being made.

Randomhero1982's picture
I have to admit, I think we

I have to admit, I think we Brits are grandmasters of profanity and can frequently be relied upon to not only use it when circumstance dictates but of also making new ones up...

I've been a fan of many from 'bollocks' to 'you muppet'.

Sheldon's picture
One of my favourites is beaut

One of my favourites is beaut, it's definitely a Welsh colloquialism, used to denigrate of course, but never fails to raise a smile. If someone is particularly irksome then it is perfectly acceptable to refer to them as a complete fucking beaut. I was smiling typing it. I also like tool, as in what a tool. Again the word fucking can be added if one wants to express a little more ire.

I'm a fan of vituperations generally speaking, but agree they can be overdone and used inappropriately. Part of the fun is learning when they are used to best effect.

Tin-Man's picture
I don't give a flea-bitten

I don't give a flea-bitten rabbit's tail what your silly string mongoos hat thinks about jack sprat. If I had wanted your fudge-packing opinion I would have stuck my hand up your over-blown silo and moved your cheese infested pie hole like a ventriloquist dummy.

mykcob4's picture
My favorite saying is, "I don

My favorite saying is, "I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut"!

Tin-Man's picture
@Myk

@Myk

True. That is a good one. lol However, I think the purpose is to make this a PG-rated area. So, how about trying, "I don't give a flying fooglehorn at a rolling donut." (And please don't ask me what a fooglehorn is. I have no fooglehorning clue.)

mykcob4's picture
I know what a flugelhorn is.

I know what a flugelhorn is. I've played flugelhorn. Chuck Mangoni is famous for playing his flugelhorn.

Tin-Man's picture
@Myk

@Myk

Aw, man! I love listening to Chuck! But I thought he played trumpet.

mykcob4's picture
I am not interested in "PG".

I am not interested in "PG".
I think there should be NO restriction on speech other than trolling and spamming.
One of the reasons I cuss is to express free speech as much as possible. I don't care if it desensitizes the effect. What people don't understand is that you have every right to cuss. Once you start saying one can't express themselves freely you are effectively editing speech and therefore thought.
I could give a good fuck if anyone is "offended". That is their problem.
One of the reasons I started the 'Fuck god, Fuck jesus' thread was to prove to "faith in god" that I will not tolerate being intimidated or restricted in my speech or choice of words.
So, it is clear that I am going to have to cuss, even more, be even more vulgar to impress upon those that want to limit speech that they will not do so to me. If people's panties get twisted, GOOD! If their ears start burning, FINE! Fuck Em'! I am going to say what I want to say!

mickron88's picture
FUCK YEAH...!!!

FUCK YEAH...!!!

Sheldon's picture
Ahfuckingmen to that...

Ahfuckingmen to that...

Tin-Man's picture
That's why we love you so

That's why we love you so much, Myk. *Big Smile*

Randomhero1982's picture
It's now very common to hear

It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what." - Stephen Fry

Grinseed's picture
Cluck cluck cluck.

Cluck cluck cluck.
Buk buk bacor.
Anyone offended?
Swear words are covered by the issue of someone being offended.
If I swear for whatever reason and you are offended thats your problem.
I love just how words have that sort of power but it remains to us to interpret them and their effect on us, either to respond rationally as well as emotionally, like with poetry or song lyrics etc

Swearing is good.

mickron88's picture
they're too sensitive to do

they're too sensitive to do it, or they think they'll end up in hell if they'll do it...

fucking lame though..just fucking lame...

Tin-Man's picture
@Grinseed

@Grinseed

I have you know, sir, I am terribly offended. The "cluck cluck cluck" was bad enough on its own, but you really went way overboard with the "buk buk bacor." Have you no shred of common decency, man?

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