The C-bomb

[ampheebian]

It may surprise some of you, that I have an extremely dirty mouth. I also am a free upholder of the Steven Fry school of thought, saying that those with potty mouths generally are, in fact, the enthusiasts of language - in that they understand the art of language play and words. It can also be noted that since moving in with me, one of my

Comments

[secondslater]

I'll say first I personally don't find any of those words offensive. They have a place and a purpose, but that isn't always clear.

I have to disagree with you on one level. I don't believe the 'educated' are necessarily the ones who use the words because they understand the art of language play and words to quote you. That's a bit elitist isn't it? Do you mean that the 'common, less educated masses' have no idea what they're saying or how to use words for effect? I reckon it comes down to something else, that 'swear words' are a part of language, and always have been. I mean 'fuck' is a word derived from Dutch or German and has been in common use since the 15th C. I think that often they're used to shock, or to say to another person 'I can use these words with impunity', or to stratify society

[ampheebian]

Oh no, don't mean to be elitist at all - and rereading, yes it does sound so. Of course a lot of people swear and from different backgrounds, I guess it just is a question as to what purpose it's used, and for what reason. But generally speaking, in the company of lots of people (not just close friends or work colleagues or people that are in accepted circles) if you look at the more versed in the art of swearing, it is often people who are contra to the portrait that the 'nay-sayers' against swearers would paint. That's all

[secondslater]

I reckon it can become a form of laziness, and language deserves more. If all you can do as a come back to someone is swear at them, I think that limits language, and that's what I meant. For me, the person who best showed how it could be used to great effect was Winston Churchill, that sort of witty repartee. I reckon that's what it's more about than using words for their shock value alone. But swearing has its place and can be very effective! I reckon overuse can blunt its edge tho'. And language takes a while to change but it is atm. Whether 'educators' like it or not, txt spk for eg, is here to stay :)

[ampheebian]

Oh yeah, I agree with that - when all you hear is 'fuck this, fuck that, fuck the fucking fuckers with their fucking fuckety fuck' that's hardly witty or clever - but then there are people who do use things for the sound of words or for whatever... it's like, I was once listening to a song and turned and said to the person next to me 'I love a chick who knows how to say the word -fuck-' and they had no idea what I was talking about, but you could tell that that musician loved every sound and what inherently the force behind the word meant - s'where I'm coming from at least.

Least l33t speak went more or less out with the trash except for a few hangers on...