Debate about "bad words"

[Maleficent13]

Inspired by the recent threads about "crap" and "heck".

I am interested to know why people consider "hell" a "bad word", but "heck" is not. They both refer to the same thing, and are used in the same way. The same with "darn"/"damn" and "crap"/"****". So why is the first word in each pairing acceptable, but the second is not?

IMO, words only have the power we give to them. The meanings of darn and damn are identical. So if you believe damn is worse than darn, please tell me why.

 

[alabamaalan]

Because one is the more socially acceptable form and the other is generally considered an obscenity.

Shall I refer to ladies as gals?

And while there would be reprecussions to my child saying "screw it", I think that saying something else that means "the exact same thing" would be much, much worse.

 

[Maleficent13]

I refer to ladies as "chickie-boos" most of the time.

But to me, there's no difference between "screw it" and the alternative. The intent is the same there. Generally, the vocal inflections are exactly the same as well. There is no mistaking the meaning. I would reprimand my kid exactly the same for saying either one (assuming they knew what they were saying and not just mimicking someone).

 

[alabamaalan]

I have to disagree and will leave it at that.

Words have levels of meaning and intensity, and I think that most people view it the same way.

Even if their meanings are similar, meaning is found not only in the one who says the word, but in how it is interpreted.

If 90% of the people think that one is stronger than the other, then it is.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by alabamaalan
If 90% of the people think that one is stronger than the other, then it is.

I agree with you there. I think my question is, why do 90% of the people think that one is stronger than the other?

 

[Rajah]

At least to me, it's because one actually *has* a meaning, and the other is just a meaningless word that is substituted in place of the one that *has* the meaning.

It's like that one episode of Recess, where TJ gets in trouble for using his made-up word of "Whomps". It has no meaning, it's just used in situations where some others *would* use a bad word.

In your example of heck/hell...

Hell has a specific meaning. You can ask any Christian what "hell" is/means, and they'll be able to answer at least with something.

Tell me what "heck" is? Aside from a word used in place of "hell"?

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I totally follow Maleficent13's thinking. I think it's bizarre how we've assigned "bad" words to the English language. A word is a word. To me, it's the meaning conveyed that is bad or good. Any insulting or hurtful word is outlawed in my home, but the words commonly referred to as "bad" in a non-insulting context is perfectly ok in my opinion.

I want to add that I totally reject arguments commonly used where people insist that users of the so-called bad words lack the vocabulary to better express themselves. I completely disagree with that. All words in the English language have a place, and sometimes the "f' word is appropriate to a given situation. I'm sorry, but yelling out "oh fudge" when you fall and break your ankle just doesn't have the same meaning as screaming out "F***!"

The only time I buy the "lack of vocabulary" argument is when one uses the SAME words over and over again. There are lots of words that many of the non-swearing DISers allow their children to use regularly fall in that category. How many of you, for example, allow your children to call something they don't like "gay" fifty times a day? Tell me, seriously...is it better to make repeated negative references to an entire population than to say "damn" twice a week?

Bad words...what a rediculous concept. I wonder who the first person was to decide, "hey, "damn" is a bad word!" If you really think about it, it's just plain nuts. I wish people would chose their battles with their kids more carefully...perhaps punish your kids for using hurtful and insutling language instead of going nuts because they say damn or hell.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I always taught my children that anything that even sounds close to the profane version is prohibited...

i.e., shoot, darn, heck, flock, anything...

I figured once they got into a habit like that I would have no recourse against it. They actually obliged.

 

[caitycaity]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Inspired by the recent threads about "crap" and "heck".

I am interested to know why people consider "hell" a "bad word", but "heck" is not. They both refer to the same thing, and are used in the same way. The same with "darn"/"damn" and "crap"/"****". So why is the first word in each pairing acceptable, but the second is not?

IMO, words only have the power we give to them. The meanings of darn and damn are identical. So if you believe damn is worse than darn, please tell me why.

good luck with this one. awhile back i posted that i didn't understand people who didn't like to say jesus, but would say jeez. i showed several sources that said jeez is a shortened form of jesus. the vast majority of people who responded said that they either 1) didn't believe me or 2) didn't care.

 

[Crankyshank]

You can turn any word into a curse or swear just by the way you say it.

Dakota Lynn, ITA

and I'm not offended to be called a "gal" unless your tone is derragatory when you use it

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Well, now I'm worried I've been saying "geezeOfreakinpete' for years. It's my favorite thing to say when I'm startled, upset or irritated. I consider it a non cuss word cuss word if you get my meaning. It's not intended to offend anyone, it's my way of letting off steam without saying something actually ugly. I never thought it meant anything about Jesus or anybody else, except maybe some generic Pete.

 

[NMAmy]

Originally posted by Dakota_Lynn

. How many of you, for example, allow your children to call something they don't like "gay" fifty times a day?

Actually, I don't care what else dd says but this is one that I get really angry with her about. I remind her of our family friends who are gay and explain that we do NOT say this. I have to explain that it would hurt their feelings to hear her say this.

I'm not a stickler on the bad words thing but I refuse to allow her to speak this way about any group of people.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I don't care about profanity really, they are just words. I DO care about racial/or personal inept words (gay, the N word, things of that nature... I hate the "C" word that some males use towards females) but as far as the F word, damn, hell, all those, they don't bother me.

 

[sweet angel]

Originally posted by tiggerwannabe
I always taught my children that anything that even sounds close to the profane version is prohibited...

i.e., shoot, darn, heck, flock, anything...

I figured once they got into a habit like that I would have no recourse against it. They actually obliged.

So what do they say instead? Rats?

 

[TheBellhop]

What *I* would like to know is how words became bad? I mean did someone say F u * * doesn't sound nice so we'll say it's a bad word? You know what I mean...?

 

[Beauty]

Honestly there isn't a difference per say, but there IS a difference in how society perceives the word.

 

[gr8tpanther]

Originally posted by TheBellhop
What *I* would like to know is how words became bad? I mean did someone say F u * * doesn't sound nice so we'll say it's a bad word? You know what I mean...?

YES, this is a question I would like the answer to!!!!

And so what? They are words... there are more important things to worry about in this world than "bad" WORDS!

 

[Froggyswife]

I don't think that Hell is a "bad word" just a bad place. I don't think that damn is a "bad word" as long as you don't put the lord's name in front of it. There are variables about language. In French there are no "bad words" just one that conveys all "bad words" that the French use. ZUT covers it all in French. I don't like to hear "bad words" and I will not let my dd's get into the habit of using "bad words" and they will get into the habit. I have discovered that once let go teens do tend to use these words in every sentence. That is not acceptable to me it DOES show that they can't come up with any other vocabulary to use in the place of the "bad words". As for racially discriminatory words they are in my book the "Worst words" because they convey hatred for a certain group of people. These are the ingredients that start wars. We are all human beings and that should be adjective enough to describe anyone.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

So what do they say instead? Rats?

~Actually~ aw man! is probably their most used phrase...
they seem to articulate their thoughts better by asking questions instead of throwing out statements.

and F*** originated as a 17th/18th century moral statement-
the issue was "for (having) unlawful carnal knowledge"