Humble American cussing ?

[aes74]

OK,

I hope I dont offend anyone with this one...

I watch BBC America now and then, and they use the sh** word a lot. Is that considered a full blown swear word in the UK, or just a "not-so-nice" word?

 

[Minniespal]

Personally I would class it as a not so nice word. I would use this word at home if I did something foolish. I wouldn't use it in company but for me it is ok to use at home.

 

[UKDEB]

Same here. Swearing in general seems to have become much more acceptable. I never heard my parents swear, but I certainly do (albeit only when I know I'm accepted warts 'n' all). Sh** falls into the 'not-so-nice', but not totally offensive category.

That then opens up the whole debate of why some swear words are more acceptable than others. I don't get it. Except, maybe, on religious grounds. My Grandfather, for example, was OK with bugger, but not bloody (By My Lady - a reference to the Virgin Mary). We were always scolded for "Oh my God".

 

[pokemon_master]

I personally feel the S word is slightly going too far, but I our house the P word is used a lot more than the more exceptable (at least, over here it is) C word.

I also don't prefer using ****s; kiddies may wonder what the missing letters are.

 

[aes74]

Very interesting!

The S word is bleeped out here on tv. The C word is so bad here, you never hear it unless someone is trying to be super offensive. It's probably *the* worst word here.
I'm from a proper southern family, so it's not considered very ladylike or classy to use anything other than the usual hells or damns.

I always thought it was humorous that "fanny" is not a nice word in the UK. Here it's like a silly way to say your bottom. Like a term your grandma or kindergarten teacher would use.

It's funny how you can have the same language but be stumped by what someone from another English speaking country says. I've had someone say "boot" (trunk) or "***" (cig) or something and just stared at them blankly until I figured out what they were saying. I live in Fl, near Anna Maria Island, so we get a lot of foreign visitors and lots of different interesting translations.

 

[aes74]

I tried to write "f*g" up above and it wouldn't even let it post! So I guess you can see that's not a nice word here!

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

I tried to write "f*g" up above and it wouldn't even let it post! So I guess you can see that's not a nice word here!

I find that the most offensive. The times I can be innocently walking down the street and hear that (from men, I think its really ignorant to say this in front of a lady and for women to say it is just appalling) and if its in a film too many times I switch off.

 

[Kilted_Yank]

I spent 8 years in the Marines (U.S. Marines) and I have heard no end of swearing in my time... and have done no small amount of it myself... but I try to keep it under control. I do, however, use a fair amount of er... colo(u)rful language while I am working to make sure my trainees know that I am in earnest about certain things.

I too, am a subscriber to BBC America, and find it interesting, but not shocking, the things that can be said in UK television... I guess I don't shock that easily.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

What sort of progs are on BBC America?

 

[aes74]

Um, usually a smattering of
cash in the attic
ed vs spencer (yuck)
hex
footballers wives (too much like our daytime soaps for me, I think it's kind of silly)
catherine tate show
benny hill
and movies like sharpes honor, spaced, etc.
whose line is it anyway?

I think it's interesting watching the channel because you can see such differences in our media. Our "stars" have to be so perfect, perfect bodies, hair, teeth, etc. I am amazed when I watch BBC America how average the characters are. Even on a "glamorous" show like Footballer's Wives. I just watched a documentary hosted by Fiona Shaw the other day on British art, and I couldn't get over how shiny and unmade up her face was. And how truly awful the gallery owners' teeth were. Over here an actress would drop dead and be made fun of if she were less than botoxed perfection. It's sad really, on our part. Lots of debate over here on how that contributes to young girls' images, etc. Of course you have to realize L.A., Hollywood, and NYC are completely different from the rest of the country. Mostly the only overplumped lips will be in California. Everywhere else in the states you would just be laughed at. So there are normal people here!