Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 08:25:26 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: M re: "damn"
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2009090609595239@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
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> So when i speak or write in English i look for something similar to
> intensify the sentence. But i have learn that in many case it's not
> acceptable. It's pretty funny that in all movie the F word is use with
> so many variant.... It's like you have found a place to use it legally.
"Intensify" is a good word choice. Peppering one's speech with swear
words does add emphasis, feeling, and indeed, intensity. Overuse becomes
tedious. One strong swear word used in the right place, at the right time,
can be very dramatic. A creative string of swear words, when expressed
with conviction to express deep feeling or elicit laughter can be a work
of art.
It is true that swear words can be found in films and music frequently.
They tend to appear more rarely in "polite" conversation, and it is seldom
considered appropriate to use such words in conversation with or around
children, although each family sets its own rules for internal use.
The movie ratings system used in this country is intended, among other
things, to keep children from hearing such words or seeing things the
current community standards on the average do not deem appropriate. I can
also provide useful information to adults to help them avoid such films if
they are offended or made uncomfortable by things that other adults are
not bothered by, or may even actively seek out.
I reckon that this list is meant to be "G" rated, as in for a general
audience, because there are no ticket takers or ushers keeping the kids
out, and because any list of 800 people is bound to reach a number of
adults here who find swear language or certain topics inappropriate,
coarse, and offensive. I feel that if one chooses to offend others, it
should be done with deliberation and full awareness of one's motives, and
never done lightly.
Awareness of boundaries and self-censoring are adult attributes, and good
a writer can always get their point across without being obnoxious.
Me, I take great pleasure hearing or reading well-crafted usage of
shockingly foul language. But when writing to this list I know that 800
pairs of eyes might be reading my words, and I only know a few of these
people. I have no idea who they are, what ages they are, their
upbringings, what they consider appropriate words, so I try to remember
this before pitching in an intensification word. It doesn't always work --
the boundaries are not clear-cut, but I do what I can.
I endeavor to keep my word usage acceptable for 98% of the readers I have
pictured in my head. Of the remaining two percent -- the easily angered,
the condemning, the smut-seekers, those who find salacious images in
Disney cartoons -- well, like mildew, they are hopeless and will always be
with us.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
On 9/6/2009 6:55 AM Benny boy wrote:
> It's a big continent, some different culture at some point. Here where
> i live (Quebec), we speak French and in general we swear a lot, mostly
> religious words of course. Those words (EX: Tabernacle) would probably
> make a few of you laugh but here, it's common and acceptable in some
> ways.
>
> If you stand beside me in my shop for a day you will have learn them
> all and you will say them without perfect French pronunciation at the
> end of the day, if I don't use them more than 500 time a day I'm lying.
>
>
>
> So when i speak or write in English i look for something similar to
> intensify the sentence. But i have learn that in many case it's not
> acceptable. It's pretty funny that in all movie the F word is use with
> so many variant.... It's like you have found a place to use it legally.
>
>
>
> Ben http://www.benplace.com/
>
> On Fri, 4 Sep 2009 19:56:46 -0400, David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear Volks -- I'm a little squirmy about "damn." There are people
>> around (me included actually) who take cursing seriously, and that
>> really stands for "May God condemn him/her/it to eternal torment"
>> which is a pretty serious thing. It's bad theology -- we don't
>> believe God works that way -- but that's beside the point. I'm going
>> to have to rule it out of order, because if it makes me squirm a bit
>> I'm surely not the only one. Dam' or darn or dang or damnation or
>> other such are fine, it's clear that it's either just an intensifier
>> or definitely a play curse. I'd rather not see dammit though, and
>> definitely nothing with a G attached.
>>
>> As an aside, I have a certain sentimental fondness for "Well shoot
>> fire ( I can say it sort of the way she did, but I can't spell it.
>> Sort like faaar with a little bit of i mixed in) and save matches!"
>> An oldish (must have been at least 40) head nurse I once served under
>> used to say it from time to time. It was so funny that I didn't
>> make the connection for a long time. Feel free.
>>
>> Thanks much, David
>
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