Comments | mckay_sheppard: Question about word usage

nightspring in mckay_sheppard

Question about word usage

Jul 03, 2006 17:45

Well, I've found this varies somewhat from fandom to fandom, and since I haven't come across this in SGA fandom yet, so...

Use of "cum" for "come" in a sex scene. How much does it bother you? Do you differentiate between usage, that is, use "cum" for the noun and "come" for the verb? Any input appreciated, thanks!

ETAWhile I appreciate all your ( Read more... )

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alearose July 3 2006, 21:56:20 UTC

Well, as a linguistics buff, both are "vulgar slang", but in the technical use of words, "come" does have the meaning of reaching a particular state or condition, and "cum" is actually Latin for "with", so in my mind at least, reading "cum" is like fingernails down a chalkboard to me. It's something that I think most people gloss right over though when a story is great. ;) I know some of my favorite authors in the past have had their slash pairings "cum" all over the place, and well, they were great writers.

trobadora July 3 2006, 21:58:07 UTC

reading "cum" is like fingernails down a chalkboard to me

Oh my God, yes. For exactly the reasons you name.

_inbetween_ July 3 2006, 22:04:00 UTC

I was chatting the other day and innocently mentioned I had just eaten a sandwich, something like "ham + cream cheese cum horse raddish" and for ages didn't understand their reaction ...

trobadora July 3 2006, 22:07:00 UTC

Oh, how we suffer for using a word the right way!

*giggles helplessly*

alearose July 3 2006, 22:10:28 UTC

LOL! Oh lord, they probably thought you ate a very gross sandwich. You know... cream cheese "cum" and horse radishes. Sorry... I can't help but laugh when people don't understand correct word useage. ;)

blueocean80 July 3 2006, 22:13:30 UTC

Oh yeah. Exactly what you said. But if a writer -good or bad, popular or unknown- use that word, well, that's a little letdown for me, no matter how great the story is.

alearose July 3 2006, 22:42:14 UTC

Guess I should clarify - they were great writers despite "cum". LOL It always irritates the b'jesus out of me to read that word in a sexual context. I do know many readers in another (apparently less Latin-educated) fandom who think that "cum" is the proper word rather than "come". I caught flack in feedback about "why don't you spell cum right?" all the time.

blueocean80 July 3 2006, 23:16:46 UTC

no, no, I got that. I should have phrased my thoughts better or at least formatted the comment in a neater way.

I meant, that 'cum' makes me think of the Latin word too (and that's the part I was agreeing with you) but no matter how good the writer or the story is (and that's the part I disagree with you), if the word cum is used, I tend to, um, roll my eyes. Sure, I can overlook it in case the story is really really *really* good, but ahem I'll always feel like the writer has let me down. Know what I mean?

alearose July 3 2006, 23:21:43 UTC

Yeah, I know what you mean, and I think we're actually saying the same thing. :) Instead of the eye-roll, substitute "shudder" for me. I guess when I read stories, if they don't have me engaged long before we get to the "come vs. cum" issue, I probably don't read that far anyway.

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