BS: offensive words

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Old Vermin
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 09:03 AM

Hmmm. Fell off a windsurfer at Sunsail, Antigua. Trapped ankle. Painful. Twisted to get head above water. Said 'bugger' forcefully.

At tea, a lady from Hawaii approached me and said 'You must be English. I've only ever heard "bugger" said by Hugh Grant.' She seemed amused by the quaintness.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: RangerSteve
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 07:11 AM

A few years back I received a memo at work that stated that, when writing reports, I should avoid phrases like "a blind man", "a bald man", "an Irish woman".... and instead say" a man who is blind", etc. In the first version, the man's blindness is more important than his humanity. I get their point, but it could lead to some clumsy phrasing, especially in folk music: Lemon Jefferson Who Is Blind, The Clay Ramblers Who Are Red, The City Ramblers Who Are New and Lost. And who could forget Jimmy Dean's big hit - John Who is Big and Bad. Or Little Richards "Sally Who is Long and Tall.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: kendall
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 06:47 AM

I'm as open minded as anyone I know, still, I see no good reason to make others uncomfortable. The basic meaning of manners is just that; the art of making others comfortable.
Any smart mouth kid can mouth dirty words or write them (badly) on a sidewalk, but one's vocabulary should expand beyond fuck as they grow up.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 03:28 AM

The definition of a word, is 'a sound or a group of sounds, audibly spoken, that relate an idea'.....NO words do I find 'offensive', but the applications of some words I find stupid...such as what is considered 'politically correct'....get off it...especially if you fancy yourself as a open-minded thinker, and/or writer!!!!


...'and that's all I have to say about that!'...Forrest Gump

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Greg F.
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 12:33 PM

Ooops. that should have been

CLICK HERE

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: kendall
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 12:33 PM

Ak, the two worst ones are, F and C. No two meanings for either.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Greg F.
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 12:27 PM

"Jock" ? & then there's the Scots:

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: artbrooks
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 12:14 PM

"Jock", BTW, also refers to a male athletic supporter - that is, a cup with elastic straps...similar in appearance to thong underwear. This may be entirely US/North American usage.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: akenaton
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 12:02 PM

Well two have been mentioned here Kendal, "nigger" and "gay".

I never use "gay" as it was adopted by homosexual activists for political reasons....unfortunately this also means that the traditional meaning can now rarely be used.

I never use "nigger", but have it on very good authority that people of African extraction commonly use the term to one another in a friendly manner......so I suppose there are at least two meanings, depending on how the words are delivered and who is using them.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 11:56 AM

akenaton: I guess it depends on how the word is used. Some people use it
as an insult, and others don't.

But, across the pond, "jock" has a second meaning. It's used to describe an athlete, and some might find it to be insulting, others don't.

An example of how some people like it:
I had a teacher who was an athlete, and he would proudly say "I'm a jock" all the time.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 11:51 AM

"Call me a dinosaur if you wish but I miss the days when gentlemen refrained from using course language in the company of women. We have lost something valuable." Kendall

I too miss those days and when I got to wondering why and when things changed, I decided it was when women started using the same language.

And it *is* a matter of age- a few weeks ago I was chatting at a bus stop with a man who had grey hair about his temples when another man - 40ish- came by. They knew each other and at one point the younger man used a certain word, and I heard the older man say, Sssh. There's a lady present.

Refreshing, really.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 11:19 AM

Bobad, just in case you haven't been enlightened since your post,
"gas fracking" is a procedure whereby certain subterranean rock formations are fractured ("fracking") by explosives in order to give up the natural gas contained therein.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 08:58 AM

There are certain words that have only one meaning and we know which ones I mean.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 05:32 AM

A Welshman of my acquaintance once took great exception to "Boyo"; but forgave me when I assured him I meant no offence, but had simply picked it up from Max Boyce, himself a professional Welsh comedian, from whom I had got the idea that the Welsh themselves quite liked and welcomed it.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: akenaton
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 04:55 AM

I'm Scottish and I dont find being called a "jock" at all offensive.

Everyone has become over sensitive....just another symptom of our mad addiction to "liberalism".

Hamish Henderson in his great song "The banks o' Sicily" wrote, "nae JOCKS will mourn the kyles o' ye", meaning that none of the Scots soldiers would be sorry to leave the place.

In the parlance of the forces "Jock" was a term of affection for a comrade.

I'm in favour of free speech.....if I offend someone, I'm big enough to take the consequences, without the thought police telling me what I can or cannot say.
A word can mean a hundred different things depending on how it is said.....who can police that?

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Bert
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 02:03 AM

here's another thread

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 10:59 PM

Got ya Bobad.
Sorry.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 10:46 PM

Go ya Bobad.
thanks.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 08:43 PM

Marmite- the most offensive word?


Some years back I went to a show at the R. Hawaiian in Waikiki, performers the Brothers Cazimero. They overheard an Australian guest call them 'brownies'. Mayhem was avoided, but it affected their entire concert.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: bobad
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 08:31 PM

Beer, don't really what "gas fracking" is, just saw it in this thread heading: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=130662&messages=38 and thought it sounded like something nasty.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 07:29 PM

he is member "#1 Peasant", who sort of polarizes the readers....97% against, 2% unsure, and 1% .."who?"

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 07:25 PM

Who, how, what, which, when, or why is Conrad Bladey, that that expression should be offensive?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: michaelr
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 07:13 PM

Any Australians reading this thread? I'm really curious about the usage of "murkies" - or, for that matter, "creamies" as heard in the film "Australia" to describe mixed-race persons.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 07:10 PM

You are right on Kendall. I'll be the first to use a little offensive language with men around but I still watch what I say in front of women. Showing my age I guess.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: kendall
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 04:52 PM

Call me a dinosaur if you wish but I miss the days when gentlemen refrained from using course language in the company of women. We have lost something valuable.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 04:35 PM

I do not believe that words are innocuous. Some are created or used for a reason, and that reason is to intimidate or hurt or insult or prove one person's dominance over another. I think the use of "N." ever is not done by decent people, assuming they are informed and aware, and it is hard to imagine they would not be in this day and age.

I also think that people can go out of their way to be offended by stuff, like not calling things man-hole covers etc. And adopt a stream..that is too much by my reckoning. mg

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 04:17 PM

"Diversity"

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Bainbo
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 03:56 PM

Tim Minchin tries to bring some perspective to the use of offensive words.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 03:52 PM

There is no "I" in team, but there are three "u"'s in "shut the f up."
I think that's funny. That reminds me of something that a friend said
in response to "there is no "i" in team. His response was "yeah, but
there is a 'me'."

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 03:02 PM

When I was a kid in the 60s and 70s we were taught not to use retard or retarded. It was just rude.

now a days, I have noticed that young people use the term "that's retarded" quite a lot as they do "that's so gay." Quite often it means something other than the actual definition or common use meaning.

I just don't know about these yung uns. I find "7 differnt ways of ignernt" or something like "politicians must've drafted/designed that" suffices when I find something is singularly stupid.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 02:36 PM

Sometimes avoiding words that cause offence is a matter of basic good manners. Maybe that's a hard concept for some people to take on board. But sometimes it can be prudent as well.

"What's black and blue and floats in the bay?"

"The last visitor who told a Newfie joke round here."

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 07:39 AM

Re history of words in US given above (Artbrooks 1057) ~~ Coloured ☞ Black ☞ African-American — there are dangers of which one must beware: instance that well-meaning PC reporter who began a question addressed to a famous South African prime minister on his first visit to the United States with the words, "Mr Mandela, as an African-American, what is your opinion of ..."

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 12:51 AM

Frogprince: A few months back one of the group that hangs out in the local doughnut shop most mornings lamented that "It's gotten to where I can't even say nigger anymore". Lest there be any confusion as to his meaning, he is essentially a Klansman without an actual membership card. I wasn't in a frame of mind to bite my tongue that morning. I just told him that I really didn't find the word any more offensive than cocksucker or motherfucker. I think a couple of the other regulars just about fainted from shock.

You're my new hero.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 11:05 PM

I just thought of one.
"Jesus Christ"
Play with this for a while. Not offensive? Well years ago my older brother was caught saying this in fun and got the broom handle across the back by Mum for doing so. Maybe not so offensive today but back in the fifties and early sixties growing up as a R/C it would have been.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 10:55 PM

hahahaha!!
Newfoundlanders of course.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 10:54 PM

POffensive words???

Dick Cheney, fir starters...

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 10:42 PM

So what SHOULD I call that breed of big, hairy, wonderful dogs? Oh, I know! Dachshunds!

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 09:39 PM

Great line Midchuck. Bobad what the heck does "gas fracking" mean? I guess I must be dumb eh!.
Frogprince, good for you.

Spent some time in Newfoundland a few years back and upon arrival I was told that I should not use the term "Newfie" as there is a movement taking place by some that find the word offensive. So I replied by saying, "Holly Fuck, you mean there will be no more Newfie jokes"
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 08:38 PM

Someone has set up a page in Facebook, with no content that is anything special, but a truly wonderful title:

There is no "I" in "team," but there are three "U"s in "Shut the F*** Up!"

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 07:40 PM

Words, in and of themselves, are innocuous. My Webster's Third International (unabridged dictionary) just sits calmly on the self waiting for me to use it.

The context in which the words are used, coupled with folk ideas, that cause the trouble. See, for example, what snopes.com has to say about the word "handicapped."

Banning a word, like banning a book, only makes it more powerful.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 06:54 PM

I have a new book...It's called 'The Way of F**k It' ...although I'd not have the stars in...It's filled with really useful thoughts, along the lines of

"You've been a naughty boy/girl
You've taken things too seriously
Write 20 lines, saying "F**k it!"
to all those things..

I say F**k It! to.....
I say Fuck It! to....."

Etc..etc..and f**king etc..

And..

"You've searched
You've done the therapy
You have all the badges
All this to discover
You were already there....
F**k it!"

:0)

Lizzie, an Ol' Girl who used to be a young girl and who is most definitely STILL a Lady, albeit a F**king Naughty One!

;0)

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 06:37 PM

Irritating isn't really the same as offensive, Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 06:21 PM

"Comprehensive Immigration Reform"

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 06:02 PM

I find "youguys" offensive. As in two (straight) couples out to dinner and the server asking "Can I get youguys something to drink?" And when we move on to offensive phrases I'd like to nominate "sorrybouthat."

David E.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 04:48 PM

The offence lies in the intent, whether that is an intent to insult, or an assumption of some kind of inferiority - but where a word is used frequently enough with an offensive intent, it is liable to convey that offensive intent even where it is not present. That is when it can become advisable to abandon it and use a word that doesn't have those associations.

Of course sooner or later it is liable to pick up those associations, since the people with the intent to offend will still be around degrading the language and the planet. So the caravan has to move on.

Alongside this there is the phenomena of people who seek to find offensive associations in words which do not in fact have such associations - essentially they are playing power games, sometimes with pretty sick motives.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 04:07 PM

'Indian giver', of course, derives from the members of the white culture not understanding that any gift demanded a gift of equal value in return. If a gift was not reciprocated, the gift was reclaimed. This was/is true not just of the American Indians in the 'lower 48' but also of the Alaska natives.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Ed T
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 03:15 PM

I recall the term "indian giver" the was once used in some school texts? I also remember the word "Jap" being taken out of WW2 stories in some school books. Then there is the word Squaw, which many native Americans and Canadians want removed from place names (like in Squaw Mountain).

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 03:15 PM

I ahve been criticised for using "handicapped" as a refernce to a lack of ability. Apparently the formation derives from begging - going "cap in hand".

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: frogprince
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 02:48 PM

A few months back one of the group that hangs out in the local doughnut shop most mornings lamented that "It's gotten to where I can't even say nigger anymore". Lest there be any confusion as to his meaning, he is essentially a Klansman without an actual membership card. I wasn't in a frame of mind to bite my tongue that morning. I just told him that I really didn't find the word any more offensive than cocksucker or motherfucker. I think a couple of the other regulars just about fainted from shock.

Subject: RE: BS: offensive words
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 02:24 PM

I think having over-sensitive, easily-offended sensibilities is itself offensive, to the degree that it inhibits communication by putting people of ordinary good-will on an unnecessary lookout and makes them unduly careful.

Lanuage is alive and can be used for humor, color and vicid communication as easily as it can be used for insult, derogation, or subjugation. The difference is not found in the words used but in the intent and the context thereof.

Pinning offense down to individual words is --in my own personal opinion--a lazy sort of substitute thinking.


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