WHAT MAKES A WORD A 'BAD' WORD?????

[bruisersbaby]

Bruiser and I were out this evening, trying to find the comet that was supposed to be in the western sky. No luck, but I started a conversation about bad words and why they are bad. I know that 'dam' is a structure to hold water back, but if someone uses that spelling in a sentence in the 'bad word' sense, is it still a bad word??? I know that da-um is used as a bad word (especially in our part of the country), but what is the difference between the two? There is also sh*t, and other words that I won't go into, but how did these words become 'bad words'? I guess trying to find a comet brings up strange conversation. Hope this doesn't offend anyone, but it's just for discussion to see what your ideas may be.

 

[farmerjim]

Interesting Subject

I, too, have pondered our society's wayward take on words and what is bad to say. There's hundreds of words for poop, turds, crap, but Please, PLEASE, don't say sh*t. The younger kids where I work absolutely wear out the "F" word. Again, several words come to mind, some clinical, that all mean the same thing, but because of my upbringing, I cringe. I always laughed at one of my favorite comedians, George Carlin, who had some of the same takes on words as I do, but he was much more descriptive. Caulk it up as the World we live in. Strange but very true. I wonder if other countries have the same things in their languages. Interesting!!!??? I haven't studied anything religion wise, but human nature never seems to bore me and always surprises me. Thanks for your take, Roger and for the question.

farmerjim
Jim Dumey

 

[boborgera]

Frankly my dear, I don't give a Dam!!,
And when that was said the whole country went.:yikes:

 

[Chupaca]

Bad..!!

I would have to say it is not what makes a word a bad word but who..the words we thought were bad are now normal and the words we used all the time are now bad..go figure..!!:roflblack:

 

[Arr MiHardies]

One example for a modern term; "Oh Snap!"... huh? Why is this not considered a bad word now? Its used in the exact same context and has the exact same meanings as many other foul words, yet somehow isn't a bad word? I just don't get it. Maybe its just a matter of time before someone gets tired of hearing it out of their kids all the time, then it becomes a bad word for them and just spreads from there.

 

[Jeriatric]

It all depends on how it tilts the scales of the hearer and who initially balanced their scales.

 

[SllimG]

I remember getting into trouble for saying " well, that sucks". Now I hear kids saying it in front of their parents and no one thinks twice.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727

 

[revjvegas]

What makes a word ''bad''?

The content in which it is used.

 

[effgjamis]

I can recall of a word I used and My Father gave me a whipping. I then pursued to show my Father it was not a bad word, he disagreed until I went out into his tool box and showed him a BASTARD file. And that really p..d him off and left me alone for a few days.. Never did get an apology.

 

[Bob Denman]

Context...
Words aren't bad; only man can make them FEEL that way... :shocked:

 

[DR Buck]

George Carlin had a good handle on bad words.

WARNING --- Not for the timid or weak at heart.

 

[otter28169]

Not a strange conversation

Bruiser and I were out this evening, trying to find the comet that was supposed to be in the western sky. No luck, but I started a conversation about bad words and why they are bad. I know that 'dam' is a structure to hold water back, but if someone uses that spelling in a sentence in the 'bad word' sense, is it still a bad word??? I know that da-um is used as a bad word (especially in our part of the country), but what is the difference between the two? There is also sh*t, and other words that I won't go into, but how did these words become 'bad words'? I guess trying to find a comet brings up strange conversation. Hope this doesn't offend anyone, but it's just for discussion to see what your ideas may be.

In my house there are adult words such as sh%t, a@#, and the f-word. These words are not bad, but we believe that only people who work for a living should be able to use them.
Bad words are words that should absolutely never be used because of their connotation. Things like: racial slurs, retarded (unless talking about an ignition), and the C-word. It may seem like splitting hairs to most people. As a carpenter I have had to use the son-of-a-bi#$% tool at least a few dozen times in my shop, and yes it does make my fingers feel better.

Just sayin'.....................

 

[Bob Denman]

George Carlin had a good handle on bad words.

Yes he did! :thumbup:

Thanks for the video of him "calling it as he saw it"

 

[bruisersbaby]

What makes a word ''bad''?

The content in which it is used.

:agree: This is what Bruiser and I believe, also. I know the "F" word is in everyday language now, but I cannot stand to hear it, especially from young people. As someone here mentioned - the 'r' word, when spoken to mean stupid or idiot, makes us very angry. Having a special needs daughter, and in the community of special needs kids/adults, this is very disrespectful and we'll be the first to tell the person. There are words that have two meanings, and again, it's all in the context of which it is used.

The English language, from what I have heard, is one of the hardest languages to learn, due to these double-meanings.

 

[dave01]

Words are not bad until...............................................The ADMINS say they are.
And I thought you all knew this.

 

[grumpybob]

One example for a modern term; "Oh Snap!"... huh? Why is this not considered a bad word now? Its used in the exact same context and has the exact same meanings as many other foul words, yet somehow isn't a bad word? I just don't get it. Maybe its just a matter of time before someone gets tired of hearing it out of their kids all the time, then it becomes a bad word for them and just spreads from there.

Thought I had heard more than my share of bad words, but I have never heard "oh Snap" in my life time. Have no Idea on this one.

Society or one''s perception makes a word or anything bad to themselves. Say any word in a group and you might just get many different meanings. not all bad or all good.

Myself I'm hard of hearing so people can call me bad names and I won't know it. Spell a good word wrong in an e-mail, turns out to be a bad word and spell check lets it go. Done that before.

 

[bruiser]

I slipped a few weeks ago and used the F bomb while driving. You should have seen the look on her face. I don't use that word much at all, especially since I retired from the USAF. There is a "saying" I picked up in the years we have lived here. Instead of "look at that GD thing" it's "look at that John Brown thing". Or "John Brown, I do reckon". I don't know where this originated, and I've asked but no one can give me an answer. I do not use GD or JC. And instead of damn I use dang. Instead of "s%$t happens" I use "compost happens". We do agree that it's all in the context. As far as language is concerned BB has made me a better man. She's still working on the other stuff.

I've not heard of "oh snap" either. I have heard of "damned skippy" though. :hun:

 

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

What Fathers Do

I can recall of a word I used and My Father gave me a whipping. I then pursued to show my Father it was not a bad word, he disagreed until I went out into his tool box and showed him a BASTARD file. And that really p..d him off and left me alone for a few days.. Never did get an apology.

This reminds me of the time, I think I was about 7 or 8, when I used the F* word in front of my father. :yikes: His angry response, "Do you know what that means?" .... Um "no," I said. At which point he launched into a literal description of the word .... my parents were pretty progressive, so the "birds and bees" talk had already taken place. I remember feeling very embarrassed and red in the face!

Curiously, I got to turn this around in my early 20's when working as a cook at an orphanage. One little lady, also about 7 or 8, at the time had a real "mouth" on her and tended to cuss at anybody that posed a challenge to her. During an afternoon snack time, she got upset because we hadn't put enough of the "right kind" of fruit out to suit her needs and popped the F* bomb at me. :yikes: My somewhat angry response, "Do you know what that means?" .... Um, "no," she said. At which point I launched into a literal description of the word. Clearly, she felt embarrassed and got red in the face! She never cussed in my presence again ... though I know she did to several other staff members.

Interesting what life brings .... Ann

 

[boborgera]

I can't describe what a bad word is , But I'll know it when i hear it.,
Especially if that word is directed at me. I remember once in Nam i ran into some Soldier's from New Zealand,
and asked them when i heard their accent, 'Are you guys from ''England''??
They thought that was a Bad Word. nojoke

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Hang out with some middle- or high-schoolers and you'll hear "Oh, snap."

Way before my time it was not polite to speak of a woman's "legs." One spoke of her "limbs" instead. Times change.

I don't know just how to define the criteria, but I am concerned about the coursening of language in what should be "polite company."