Anyone wonder what happened to Darth

[evince]

Words are just words, but I agree with the element of discipline, specifically self-discipline, being important to a stable society. Some words, mostly depending upon usage, should be frowned upon.

Only if they offend people



It’s not the words themselves


I don’t use words that insult people when I don’t want to insult people


It’s all in who you are speaking to

[evince]

When I’m talking to young people I’ll slip a few mild ones in

Depending on the reaction I will continue or not



It’s a cultural sign that I understand their age group and experience

They often get a big kick out of it

[Cypress]

I miss Bill too. I hope he's well.

He was a good contributor. One of the minority of posters who could think intelligently, could form his own original thoughts and insights, and express them in well written prose.

You can tell there are a lot of posters here who can only parrot what they heard some pundit or rightwing media personality say. They have not cultivated the education or mental acuity to deliberate and reason their way to their own insights, and express their own original thoughts in a meaningful way.

[Cypress]

Words are just words, but I agree with the element of discipline, specifically self-discipline, being important to a stable society. Some words, mostly depending upon usage, should be frowned upon.

I don't think anyone should be expected to be a Saint.

But I actually can say that I do not remember my father ever saying fuck, shit, bitch, cunt, or any word in that genre.

That is self discipline.

[Doc Dutch]

Only if they offend people



It’s not the words themselves


I don’t use words that insult people when I don’t want to insult people


It’s all in who you are speaking to

That goes to intent. Is wop a bad word? No, it's the sound a helicopter makes. wop-wop-wop.....unless it's an Italian helicopter then it goes woppa-woppa-woppa.

What is completely hypocritical is to limit people's vocabulary by their race, culture or other factor of birth.

[Doc Dutch]

I don't think anyone should be expected to be a Saint.

But I actually say that I do not remember my father ever saying fuck, shit, bitch, cunt, or any word in that genre.

Generations vary. Blame George Carlin.

[ThatOwlWoman]

I don't think anyone should be expected to be a Saint.

But I actually can say that I do not remember my father ever saying fuck, shit, bitch, cunt, or any word in that genre.

That is self discipline.

My dad once said "Damn it" when the dog ate his sandwich, and my mother about swooned.

[Cypress]

My dad once said "Damn it" when the dog ate his sandwich, and my mother about swooned.

My mother said that cursing is lazy. It is totally superfluous to meaningful communication, and English is such a rich language there are plenty of words to add color, emphasis, or texture to a sentence.

[Cypress]

Generations vary. Blame George Carlin.

For some reason Andrew Dice Clay got huge for about 12 months back when I was in high school. And I don't think he was even particularly funny, he just shocked people with his language.

[Doc Dutch]

For some reason Andrew Dice Clay got huge for about 12 months back when I was in high school. And I don't think he was even particularly funny, he just shocked people with his language.

With Dice I think it was mostly the faux macho sexism. He was pretty funny within his narrow range. I liked Bill Hicks better. He cursed, but it was more natural, not forced or for shock...unless he was deliberately trying to shock at that point. LOL

[Frank Apisa]

I still think decorum and proper language count for something.

I don't think we should have a society where no one raises an eyebrow if a ten year old kid is saying cunt or cock sucker.

And the more that adults are openly foul mouthed in public, the more kids are going to see that as the model to follow.

We will have to agree to disagree on this. This is an issue I have written essay on for three + decades. "Foul language" is merely language that we have agreed on as being foul. All we have to do is to say that NO LANGUAGE is foul...and the issue of foul language in public is solved.

What if we had agreed that "darn" or "pifft" or "shucks" were the major foul language words?

They would be.

And for what reason...except an almost foolish designation that need not be made.

Think about this a bit more.

[Frank Apisa]

My mother said that cursing is lazy. It is totally superfluous to meaningful communication, and English is such a rich language there are plenty of words to add color, emphasis, or texture to a sentence.

True.

But nothing works as well as "fuck."

And make no mistake about it...it is used at the highest levels. There is a reason for all the bleeping when politicians are taped and do not know they are being taped. There was a moment when I hit my thumb with a hammer while trying to drive in a small brad. It hurt. And I remember yelling, "Fuck!" My guess is the Pope would have yelled that same thing if it had been his thumb.

[Cypress]

True.

But nothing works as well as "fuck."

And make no mistake about it...it is used at the highest levels. There is a reason for all the bleeping when politicians are taped and do not know they are being taped. There was a moment when I hit my thumb with a hammer while trying to drive in a small brad. It hurt. And I remember yelling, "Fuck!" My guess is the Pope would have yelled that same thing if it had been his thumb.

I am no Saint. I have been known to drop the F bomb in the heat of the moment

[Doc Dutch]

I am no Saint. I have been known to drop the F bomb in the heat of the moment

I use it a lot when I bark my shin working around the house and yard.

[Cypress]

We will have to agree to disagree on this. This is an issue I have written essay on for three + decades. "Foul language" is merely language that we have agreed on as being foul. All we have to do is to say that NO LANGUAGE is foul...and the issue of foul language in public is solved.

What if we had agreed that "darn" or "pifft" or "shucks" were the major foul language words?

They would be.

And for what reason...except an almost foolish designation that need not be made.

Think about this a bit more.

I guess as long as we live in collective human communities, there will always be social conventions that are not backed up by scientific laws or derived through deductions of pure logic.

There's really no logical reason we can't just go to work or church naked.