BS: Cursing

Subject: BS: Cursing
From: mack/misophist
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:22 AM

Cursing is a topic that comes up fairly often in the BS section. There are several differing opinions on the subject.

When I was a boy, I cussed because it was forbidden. In the Navy, I did it because it was almost required. Later, I did because every one else did. After a while, it occurred to me that cursing is a kind of emotional punctuation. When I cursed continually I sounded to myself like a third rate Nigerian scam letter; all caps and cluttered with exclamation marks. The satisfaction I used to find in cursing wasn't there any more. So I stopped. More or less. Today when I curse, people notice. It means something.

Do you have a personal policy on cursing? If so, how did you arrive at it?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:28 AM

I believe the theory about emotional punctuation......

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:31 AM

150 YEARS AGO, WORDS IN THE VERNACULAR CONSIDERED FILTHY, PROFANE or CUSSING WERE.

    * CONFOUND IT
    * HANG IT
    * DOG-GONE
    * GOL-DANG
    * GOSH-DARN
    * DAD-BURNED
    * BLASTED
    * DANG- IT
    * HOLY MOLEY

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:32 AM

DAD-GUMMIT!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:37 AM

Fuck it- if people want to swear(curse), who really gives a flying fuck? Saying fuck is like saying lo9ve.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:22 AM

Mommy, he said it again!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:29 AM

I don't mind it at all, and I will use it amongst the closest of friends, but in a wider circle I tend to side-step it, just to avoid offending others. Unless I am really insesed, which is rare.

What annoys me is the gratuitous use of words like "f**k", not as emotional punctuation, but as "filler" - as you sometimes find among the less educated. There I am not offended, just pissed off at the abuse of the language.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Cluin
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:42 AM

Fuckin'-ay!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:52 AM

I find that it is more interesting not to swear at times and also uses up a lot of spare words eg "go forth and multiply" for "f**k" off or "I liken you to the outward manifestation of female genitalia" instead of "c**t".

There seem to be certain sections of the community to whom the F word is totally meaningless in a good old Anglo-Saxon way and it becomes neither swearing nor punctuation. Not that they would know what punctuation is anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:54 AM

ooooooh, I'm tellin'!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Pied Piper
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:00 AM

I'm just a fucking erudite bastard.

PP

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Sweetfia
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:46 AM

I'm not too sure what all the fuss is about, but I know my teachers don't like it. I don't usually mean to swear in places like class or in front of people who may judge me as being less intellectual because i swear, but i do it that often, even if it's just words like 'bloody' or 'git', i just sort of say it without realising. None of my friends mind me swearing which is all i'm really bothered about but i think that's just be they are used to it now!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Sweetfia
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:48 AM

Oh f**k!

Sorry, was a million miles away when i wrote that...the last 'be' should read 'because'.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:59 AM

This calls for a little pedantry:

People are typically confused about the exact meanings of "swearing", "cursing", "vulgarity", "sacrilege", and the like, and consequently refer to them interchangeably with the words "swearing" and "cursing".

"Swearing" is calling upon the deity (or some substitute) to witness the truth of what one says or promises. Thus, "So help me, God, it's true!" The Bible doesn't prohibit swearing; it's "false swearing" that's wrong--in other words, perjury, calling on God to verify what one knows is a lie.

"Cursing" is in effect placing a sentence of some bad future on someone or something: "Go to Hell!", or "May all your children have big noses!", or that wonderful (supposed) Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times!"

"Sacrilege" (not 'sacrelige', or 'sacreligious'; see below) means in effect stealing sacred objects, at root, and by extension, in some way using what is sacred for a base or irreligious purpose. The etymology here is "sacri", meaning sacred, and "lego", to take--to steal sacred objects. The word "sacrilege", in other words, is not based on "religion" or "religious", as some confused spellers seem to think.

The F-word, discussed above, is none of these, but is a vulgarity, as are shit, crap, and so forth. They are merely disapproved of because in our culture "refined" or educated people don't throw them around, and their use marks one as a member of "the great unwashed", so to speak.

Always glad to clear up some concepts.

Yours truly, the wandering pedant,
Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:08 AM

So how many people here have actually taught their young children (if and when they were young) to use the kind of expletives they have on here????. I don't personally find it necessary to use that sort of language but of course it is up to the individual. I dislike hearing kids using the language , particularly teenagers on the Street and more particularly if it is directed at me or one of my friends/family.
Perhaps I am a little outdated but I prefer fresh conversation with plain speaking people...and there are many who still manage without expletives.
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:47 AM

Dave, that was great! :-) Personally I don't like cursing. In my experience vulgarity usually indicates weak ideas, feeble minds, poor social skills, emotional imbalances or any combination thereof. So I do try to avoid it.

Being in certain company / situations tends to bring it on, though ... and hey, there's no substitute for a f***ing good emotional vent sometimes, either.

Cursing can be socially quite effective too - kind of like dropping a bomb - as long as it's reserved for those very rare and oh-so-special moments. If not, it loses that riveting "shock power" real quick. And no one really listens to you anymore.

At least I don't. I know which 'Catters curse regularly, and I usually find myself just skipping their posts, for example. Too bad, because sometimes they DO have something worthwhile to share!

daylia

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:23 PM

Yes, I usually use it for those "bomb" moments myself. For when you need to grab people's attention...

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:27 PM

I confine my use of F**K to driving. Nixon it appears confined it to the Oval Office. Does that make him one of the great unwashed, Dave. And me too for that matter?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 12:36 PM

as my daddy used to say, "Got dandruff and someofit itches"

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:03 PM

Can anyone remember where "fuckashitpiss" came from?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:05 PM

That's a nice one Bill... I always liked the one-word "Sumbitch!" version too.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:20 PM

I had to tone down my language when I moved to England - what passed for normal punctuation with the word "fuck" in Belfast seemed to shock a lot of people in Bristol, although maybe I'm just working in a genteel environment... Nothing like shouting "bollixing arse biscuits!" when the computer fucks up yet again ("fucks up" is a technical term, not a vulgarity).

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:24 PM

Knew a fellow named Aldo years back. (He had pulled all but one of his own teeth with a pair of plyers according to his wife. Just thought I'd mention that. Oh yeah, after a bottle of vodka.) Anyway, he would say, "Son uh muh bitch" when it struck his fancy as it often did. He was a bartender-cook at a small hotel in the Catskills where I often went to play pool. Aldo and I got to know each other the course of three summers and I decided that the day had come to teach him how to say it properly. I left that afternoon after a dozen beers with him (winning all but two games of pool)and a few hours of teaching--well, that son uh mah bitch got me saying it his way and I have been ever since. I expect Aldo has passed on now, but please know if you read this Aldo, that when I get pissed I use your magic phrasing.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:41 PM

Uncouth language can sometimes be creative, even delightful.

I remember my high school basketball coach, a former US Marine drill sergeant, would sometimes get apoplectic and come out with some stuff that made us laugh, involuntarily, at the *worst* possible time (i.e., when he most wanted to be taken seriously).

I can't think of a *great* example of his most creative expletive-coinage, but I do remember him telling us how badly he wanted us to beat a successful and upwardly-mobile coaching rival of his, calling the guy a "rat-bastard." None of us had ever heard the term before, so we all cracked up in his face, making him even more enraged.

(Coach was right to be jealous of the rat-bastard in question, by the way: He quickly moved up from Hillside High School to coach in college and in the NBA, and then on to a career in broadcasting --- Dick Vitale.)

Not from Coach Kelly, but a favorite curse I learned, I think, here in New Orleans about 20-25 years ago: "Eat shit and die!"

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:50 PM

When my boys were adolescents, I found the best way to cure them of the F word was to

1. take it literally, and
2. say it myself ... especially in front of their friends.

For example

Kid to friend (while playing video game)   "F*** this s***!"
Me (loudly, from next room)   "But I don't want to f*** that s*** !   Too stinky!"

Or ...

Kid to friend (while losing at video game)   "F*** off!"
Me (again from next room)   "Ok! Who's 'Off'?"

After they'd retrieve their jaws from the floor, things would usually tone down quite considerably for the rest of the evening.

But the best example of this was when my son fell in love with a disgusting line he'd heard in a song by a group called the "Insane Clown Posse". It went "eat a bowl of dicks". Well, he tortured me with that stupid bowl for months and months, until one fine day he decided to use it as a screen name on a poker site he liked.

Well, the next day "eatabowlofdicks" found a half a dozen messages from men on that site who wanted to know his hair color, eye color, astrological sign etc. He was just plain horrified, changed the screen name and I never heard from that bowl etc. HA! :-)

daylia

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:53 PM

PEDANT ALERT:

Cluin contributed "Fuckin'-ay!" I do not know whether he meant 'A' or 'aye'..I have heard this pronounced several ways, and have strong feelings about how it seems to have been corrupted.
   It was originally "fuckin AYE", with aye meaning 'yes', like pirates and other sailors say.....so it meant, "absolutely yes", but someone saw it in print, didn't understand, and started saying A....which has a ring to it, but 'means' very little.

I read that the Canadians even say 'fuckineh'...but...*grin*...

END PEDANT ALERT

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:56 PM

If you have a vocabulary, you don't need to curse--except in extraordinary circumstances.

I submit that debate on a web site is not an extraordinary circumstance.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:57 PM

I think the first time I heard the F-word in a public forum was back in the fall of 1969, from the auditorium stage of Michigan State University, as one of the organizers of a massive peace march stared out at the thousands of people jamming the place and exclaimed "Far fucking out!"

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:58 PM

I like to differentiate cussin' from cursing. Cursing is like the song "Nell Flaherty's Drake" or (my very own curse) "May all of your children grow up to be disappoints to you." Cussin' is what you do when your cutting the grass and you pull the power mower over the dog at the same time you run over the hose you were kicking out of the way when your foot found the concrete steps instead. It is permissible to combine the two when when the guy in the lane next to you turns across your lane to make a turn -- in this case you can also speculate about his or her hygiene, ancestry, possible afterlife, and general sexual habits.

Cussin' is okay -- letting off a good cussin' clears the soul and unblocks the psychological sinuses. Cursing should be reserved for the guy who stole my fence and similar sorts of undesirables.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 02:01 PM

"So how many people here have actually taught their young children (if and when they were young) to use the kind of expletives they have on here?"

That might be a good way to get them to clean up their language.

"Now children, I've written the words on the board with little stars in place of some of the letters, and I want you to fill them in, and write down sentences making use of them."   

"No Johnny f**K does not mean "fork" - you can't have been paying attention. I'm going to have to ask you to write the correct word out one hundred times before you go to play...""

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: grumpy al
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 02:20 PM

I find that "May your ear'oles turn to arse'oles and shit all over your shoulders" is a pretty good curse, however I can fucking swear with the best of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 02:33 PM

Some people obviously take pride in using expletives...enjoy yourselves folks whether on here or in real life.....I prefer to use a language where crudity doesn't exist..but that's just me!!! I'm proud of myself for not having to use that kind of language......You do what pleases you.
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: mack/misophist
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:08 PM

No matter how hard one tries, 'fuck' can never be the equivalent of 'make love'. It's derived from an unpronounceable Indo-European root word that means 'to pierce with a spear' and it's linguistic cousins (in English) are feud, fight, foe, and frigate (warship). At some as yet unexplained level it's intrinsically aggressive. A lot of old time hippies tried hard to turn it into a loving word. They had to give up.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:18 PM

There is connotative language and there is denotative language. Confusion comes from mixing up the two.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:21 PM

Oh Brucie..you are such a fount of knowledge!. I'm confused.......LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: dianavan
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:26 PM

I thought 'fuck' was an abbreviation for, fornication under the command of the king' or something like that. Thought it dated back to a time in English history. Makes me wonder...

I think the use of the word varies greatly. During the 60's 'fuck' was used to puctuate almost any comment. In the States I heard the terms, fucked-up, fuckin' good, for fuck sake, etc.

When I moved to Canada, I heard (for the first time) fuck around!

It was usually used as a kind of "I'm bewildered" or "do you believe it?" comment. Seemed an odd expression even to one who was quite used to hearing street language.

d

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:34 PM

It seems, then, that "Fuck" is a vulgarity, but "Fuck you" is a curse. Or is it a blessing?

clint

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: darkriver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:37 PM

How many of you have seen the movie "The Great Liebowski"?

The old cowpoke, sittin' at the bowling alley bar, asks the Dude:
"Dude, is it necessary to use so many cuss words?" [or some such thing]

The Dude replies:
"What the fuck you talkin about, man?"

I suspect that most of the time that the people who overuse it aren't even aware of doing so.

My wife swears more than I do, and unfortunately she did a lot of that when our kids were younger, so now the lads use these words too much as well. Happily, wife has cleaned up her act, but now of course I have to work on the kids....

Doug

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:37 PM

brucie-I've pulled my own teeth with pliers after drinking a bottle of vodka as well.
them dentists are a fucking rip off.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:37 PM

It goes like this: "Don't fuck around, buy a round."

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:40 PM

It can help get a point across with impact.

Especially for those who genuinely find it offensive.

That's definately where it works best.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:42 PM

you speleed definitley wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 03:44 PM

It had an impact though jOhn LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:02 PM

It all depends on where i am. Take grannies for example...around one of my grannies, i could let off a stream of expletives that would make a whore blush and she wouldn't bat an eyelid. In fact, she would probably join in. Another granny in the same situation would frown upon my use of language unless i was quoting someone else or using it to make a point. Third granny (i have three, long story) would probably keel over on the spot. It depends on the company i'm in, and if i'm unsure as to what language is acceptable in any given company, i just don't swear unless i hear them doing it first.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:27 PM

Martin--

Get a point across?---not likely, especially when overdone, by somebody, who for instance, can't seem to express himself without foul language. Used sparingly it would be much more effective.

It is, however, wonderful for demonstrating the speaker's poverty of imagination and intellect.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:35 PM

An example of tamed language: "F'crying out loud!"

I rarely use "the words", since that's the way I speak, and I like to keep something in reserve for special occasions. But I can't imagine being upset by people using them freely, if that's just the way they speak, and they aren't setting out to upset people who don't deserve to be upset (like Blissfully's second two grannies). It's the attitudes behind what people say that matter, not what they say in itself.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:41 PM

"Say, have you read The Symposium? That Plato was some fuckin philosophisr!"

"He sure was a clever son of a bitch, wasn't he?"

"Dunno about that Sartre fellow but. Existentialist? More like a whinging pain in the arse who smoked too much..."

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:46 PM

You mean like, "eat fecal matter, Ron Davies"

-or-

"go copulate yourself, Ron Davies"

-or-

"put a flag-pole in your rectum, Ron Davies."

I think that you will agree that these are all great examples of getting my point across without cussing or using foul language, but keeping it all so very clinical and sterile for your highly offensive ears.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 04:55 PM

Yeah...it is the feeling behind the words. If i said 'eat shit and die!' to a friend, what i would really mean is 'you're bugging me sooo much right now, but i love ya anyway'. And i'd have a big grin on my face when i said it, and they'd know what i meant.

If, however i said it to ....oh, i dunno, let's say Adolf Hitler...then i wouldn't have a grin on my face, and i would mean it quite literally.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:02 PM

So, Martin, how is the Martin Gibson School of Charm coming? You never did say.

And are you still having problems filling your class on "Filthy Invective"?


And, since you've returned to your home in the gutter, when did you say visiting hours were, in case we want to visit you?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:07 PM

Ron

tsk, tsk, your such a little girl. Are you still a virgin?

Do you think oral sex is dirty?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:08 PM

Re: my post of 4:27

QED

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:11 PM

ron

re-read my post of 4:46

again, no cuss words. but OBVIOUSLY major impact!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:12 PM

dianavan said (an hour or so ago):

"I thought 'fuck' was an abbreviation for, fornication under the command of the king' or something like that. Thought it dated back to a time in English history. Makes me wonder..."

Interesting -- I hadn't heard that theory, but one that I *have* heard is that The F Word was originally an acronym for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," and that it was posted on the stocks where a person (usually if not always a woman, one would assume) was punished for said offence.

"Fornication Under the Command of the King" would be the opposite of unlawful -- but what instance of fornication would be mandated by the crown? Perhaps a "nobleman" claiming his "right" to bed some pretty young peasant bride-to-be?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:14 PM

However Martin. it demonstrates perfectly that you still haven't discovered anything above your waist yet.

And when did you say visiting hours were?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:30 PM

Poppagator and Dianavan:

Those "explanation" of the F-word are what is called folk etymology: Trying to come up with some superficial explanation of a word without looking into the actual history of the word.   

If you look into Snopes, you'll find those "explanations" exploded.

POSH (supposedly Port Out Starboard Home) is another popular but false folk etymology.

As a very effective rule of thumb, any time you see a word "explained" by use of an acronym, you can be pretty sure that the explanation is folk etymology. The use of acronyms to make words (such as the historical SNAFU) is modern, just not part of the way the language developed before about the early 20th Century.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,AKgrown
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:33 PM

I've checked this one out before...

'Fuck' is definitely not an acronym, it comes from Middle English- fuccant-which means "they fuck". It was first written in a poem in a mixture of Latin and English sometime before 1500.

Well, I know the finger went back to ancient Greece and Rome. One of the perverted emperors (either Nero or Caligula, I can't remember) had his subjects kiss his middle finger, as a double-entendre for you-know-what.

Hope this clears it up!

AKgrown

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:33 PM

And you didn't answer my question, Ron

do you think oral sex is dirty?

I think you do.

You are a blast to tease, Ron.

come back often.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:39 PM

"Why, then, 'tis none to you: for there is nothing either good or badbut thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison."

Of course, Hamlet was talking about Denmark, but he could have as easily been talking about words. I recall very few scenes in movies where cussin' has been effective. But every now and then, ya know?

"Braveheart" (I know, I know) had a scene in which the Irishman yelled, "Fock you." I though that was great. More I think for the way it was said than the word itself. Another was a scene in "Die Hard with a Vengance" where the lady softly mouths the word "Asshole" about a superior officer. Some times are more appropriate than others I suppose.

I learned that not ALL times are appropriate in Dunn's Restaurant in Montreal. I was 18 and I took my grandmother out to dine. I was full of piss and vinegar, and I dropped the BIG word at the table. My grandmother--all five foot, 95 pounds of her--reached across the table and gave me a little reminder across the face. I went backwards off the chair, thus receiving glares from other diners. I got up, apologized, and sat back down. I have always remembered that. To this day, Mary Walsh owns a piece of my heart, and any time I am tempted to use the eff word, a thoght of her flashes across my mind as I consider whether it would be worth the pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:47 PM

fucking good story, Brucie.

don't you think it was a fucking good story, Ron?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:49 PM

Martin.If you have not discovered anything above your waist..I envy you....I wish all my thoughts and deeds could be below that level....especially at my age LOL.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:50 PM

How the hell are ya, Martin? Crazy as ever I see. lol

I can just imagine you as a teenager in the classroom. I think I was the same, tell ya the truth. Neck deep ALL the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:52 PM

Sure was, Martin.

But, if you'd read carefully, you'd see that one of the points is the same one I made---that cursing is far more effective when used sparingly.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:53 PM

well, G-silver. I like it both ways. But I think Mr. Davies is so enamored with his pseudo-intellectualism that he has lost touch with or never knew anything at all about some of life's real pleasures.

In short, he's a prude.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:55 PM

Uncle DaveO: I never believed those acronym stories were true, but I see how my post could have been read that way. I meant merely to pass one such story one along, just in contrast to the other one. I think you're correct in that making up acronyms is a chracteristically modern practice.

As an American, I grew up hearing "fuck you, "get fucked," "fuckface," etc., etc., but NEVER encountered the expression "fuck off" until visiting Canada (Toronto) as a college kid in the mid-60s. I know it's a longstanding expression popular in the UK and Ireland as well as in Canada, but I believe its use in the US is recent and still relatively exotic.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 05:58 PM

Poor Poppa Gator....no-one ever told me to!!!!!!!
Must have hit you hard eh????
Hope you come through it with wisdom and understanding.
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 06:16 PM

Martin--

Congratulations on poking your head out of the gutter.   There's really a lot more room out here.

And if you need your fix, you can always dip back in.

You might be surprised how rich the English language is.

But unless you're really irked, you can reserve your favorite mode of expression for people who cut you off on the interstate.

Unless, of course you're permanently mad at the world---in which case you should up your meds.

Or you really are unaware of any part of your body than your rear?


Let's see, that's about 3 years old---and a pretty screwed up 3 year old at that.


By the way, not caring for your unimaginative, crude manner of communication by no means makes a person a prude.

For instance, I enjoyed the "Fuck the South" article----but that author showed a lot more imagination, and humor, than you ever do, even though the language more than exceeded your standard.


You might want to try a different model than the one you're currrently using.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: dianavan
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 07:42 PM

Martin - Just exactly what is your problem with little girls. Why do you use the term as a curse?

Could it be that you are a pedophile?

d

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 07:44 PM

I think it has worrying connotations from a supposed adult male.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 07:47 PM

"Supposed" is the operative word. I think we have ample proof the mental age hovers around 3 (and, as I said, not a well-adjusted 3 year old).

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 07:52 PM

How come my teacher in primary school could say shit when she dropped something, my english teacher in high school could say bastard when reading from 'Of Mice and Men'...But i got a bollocking for calling one measly year head an impotent power-tripping fuck-pig? The mind boggles, it truly does....

Incidentally he deserved it. The term ignominious wank may have been invented for him.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 07:55 PM

Blissfully Ignorant, I am enchanted by your phrase, ignominious wank. Wonderful!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 08:07 PM

Why thankyou!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Peace
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 08:09 PM

Your way with words is aptly complemented by your sense of humour--compounded with justice.

I am a teacher, and as such I have a minor facility with lip reading. It has stood me in good stead over the years. It provides one the opportunity to be clever on occasion.

Two yeatrs ago a student disliked a particular assignment to do with Shakespeare. He mouthed the words "fuckin' asshole" as he read the requirements of the homework. I said, "*****, the noun will cost you three hundred words, but the adjective will cost you another five." He did the extra essay, but he needed the practice anyway.

He graduated last year and he and I stay in touch.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 08:27 PM

Lol!

Just for the record, the ignominious wank in question was the only teacher i felt compelled to swear at, and then it took a lot of provocation. I finally snapped when he pulled up one of my classmates and subjected him to a torrent of abuse for miss-spelling most of his essay, completely disregarding the fact that the pupil was dyslexic. Said pupil understandably told the teacher to fuck off; the teacher then turned to the rest of us saying, 'Well, i bet you all think he's really hard for saying that!'
Well, along with therest of the class i shouted 'yes!', adding that he was an impotent power-tripping fuckpig.

The other teachers all hated him, too. ONe of them actually laughed when she was told.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: mack/misophist
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:27 PM

Note to GUEST,AKgrown: The 'f' word is certainly older than middle English. There are close analogues of it in most of the Germanic tongues and some of the Slavic ones.

And for the 'finger', in The White Goddess, Graves says that in classical times, the middle finger was associated with the god Saturn and popularly called 'the fool's finger' because there are more fools in the world than anything else (see the section on 'dactyls'). The classic equivalent of the modern 'finger' was called the 'fig' and was formed by thrusting the tip of the thumb between the two adjacent fingers. The first time I saw it mentioned in print was in a footnote in The Divine Comedy. The gesture is still used in southern Italy.

While I'm at it, the 'thumbs up' gesture, as used in the Roman arena, did not mean 'spare him'. It was made with an upward jab and meant 'gut him'.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:44 PM

No, dianavan I am far from being a pedophile. That's the kind of accusation that could get you a lawsuit if Martin Gibson was my real name. You would be easy to find and there are plenty of lawyers in my family.

Lttle Girls is what Arnold Shwarzneggar has refered to wimpy guys as. I do it in gest to wimpy guys like Ron Davies who think they know a lot but are about as street wise as Barney Fife. If you were informed, you would know that instead of being a frustrated man-hating dried up female crotch canal of a feminist.

I'm not irked, Ron. I just like cussing at you because you keep cumming back for more.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:01 PM

If there weren't a whole lot of Ron Davies in the world, cursing and vulgarity simply wouldn't work.

IMO, an equivalent "stuck emotionally and psychologically at age 3" syndrome exists as much among the Ron Davies as the Martin Gibsons, being about equally fixated upon and obsessed with "below the waist" vulgarity and cursing.

As adults, it's all about authoritarianism, and one's orientation towards it I think. If you have a strong authoritarian streak, you are opposed to the use of colorful language (which is how I refer to such). If you have issues with authority, or delight in frustrating authoritarianism, you will season your language with color, pepper, or whatever you have to hand.

I personally think the use of colorful language is something that should be done creatively and also to get a rise out of the prudes among us. So the more unusual, the more points awarded, in my book.

BTW, I'm proud to say, I've taught many a youngster the right way to use colorful language!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:02 PM

I'm borderline dislexic, and often have problems spelling [not sure if anyone here has ever noticed this?]
when i was at school i was put into a specail class,
one of the kids in the corridor one day called me a thick bastard, i said to him, "say that again, and i'll smash your fucking face in!"
he said it again, so i walked up to him, and hit him across the head with a big heavy text book.
at that very moment, the headmaster walked past, he said
"don't treat books like that john, they are expensive!"

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:06 PM

Lol!
There's nothing wrong with prudery, as long as it's done in private, behind closed doors.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:29 PM

Ah, Martin, in addition to your other talents you're also a diplomat. The State Department needs your help--at least the Bush State Department--you'd fit right in with the image Bush is conveying--that's why the US is so popular in the world now.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 10:45 PM

If someone felt they could judge my intelligence by the number of times i said fuck, then i'd have a hard time crediting them with the intelligence required to make that judgement. Therefore, it wouldn't make a blind bit of fucking difference to me....

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:19 PM

And anyway, a well-placed fuck can really make your day.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:26 PM

Ah, but there is something that has not yet been discussed here, and that is blasphemy -- or, rather, the use of religious things, themes, ideas in ways that are hardly religious.

"Close the door! Were you born in a barn?" "As a matter of fact, yes. There was a star in the East, shepherds, angels...."

"Jesus Fucking Christ!"

"Christ on a [crutch, skateboard, surfboard, crouton, etc.]!"

"Holy Mother Mary Shit!"

"God's Blood!"

Blasphemy was, for many years and to an extent still is, a definitely Catholic thing. Protestants had sex and scatology.

Having grown up in a Catholic household and in the "Christian" tradition, I can't discuss this in relation to non-Christian religions, but I suspect they too have similar things.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:35 PM

I much prefer vulgarity to blasphemy. Blasphemy only offends those of a religious persuasion, as opposed to vulgarity which offends almost everyone if used carefully.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 11:41 PM

Oh yes, how could I have missed that?

Martin--

You also specialize in empty threats, while whining to higher authority if things don't go your way, as in "The Affair of Impersonating Martin On Mudcat"----truly a world-shaking event. You are a true piece of work .

Sweet dreams.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: dianavan
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:35 AM

Actually Ron, not all of Martin's threats are empty. He once PM'd me to tell me he was going to report me to Joe and he did. He's just a tattle-tale troll who operates out of fear.

d

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:51 AM

There was one other occasion when i swore at a teacher, but that was taken in good humour as was intended...

Picture the scene- i'm in the school library, and i'm in first year (about 12 years old). I pick up a book i'd like to read, and go to check it out only to be told that i can't take out that book until i'm in third year.

'Why not?', i ask.
'Because this book has language in it that the school considers inappropriate for someone your age', is the reply (or words to that effect)
'What,' i say, 'like fuck?'
Teacher says 'yes', with a forced stern look and a repressed giggle.
'But i already know fuck, where's the harm in me reading it?'
'Oh....here. Don't tell anyone. And tuck your shirt in.'

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 09:20 AM

Speaking of blasphemy, I think the most startling expression I ever heard was back in 1963 when I was doing reconnaisance geology around the wilds of Moose Head Lake in Maine. We'd had a hard day running survey lines through the "slash" that the timber crews had left behind and it started to rain, soon turning into a downpour. One of our crewmembers from Virginia split the heavens with "By the quivering **** of the ******ed ****** of Jesus!" I save that one for very special occasions.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 09:47 AM

Ah, and that's the rule! Know your audience!

Cut loose with a "Holy Jesus McFuck!" around, say, Jerry Fallwell or Pat Robertson and you'll get their attention better than plain old scatology.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 10:03 AM

Blissfully Ignorant, I'm in total agreement with you about the stupidity of the claim that a person's intelligence can be adduced based upon their use of colorful language.

I'm a school librarian at a school where my father once attended. When it looked a bit dodgy as to one of my own children graduating on time, he told me the story of how it was questionable as to whether he would graduate on time. It seems he had a severe case of senioritis (as we call it here), and just days before graduation, colorfully let a blue streak of language fly--at the school librarian.

Of course, it all turned out fine in the end, the whole family graduating on time with their mediocre education, and a pronounced gift for the use of colorful language.

I am forever making coy apologies to students for using colorful language in their presence. They love it because it adds an eccentric air to my librarian persona, which helps break up the monotony for them of being forced to endure the rest of the "proper" behaving staff all day every day, day in, day out...

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 10:59 AM

ROTFL! jOhn's headmaster is great.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 11:14 AM

That's right, dianavan and ron Davies.

Cross the line and you are fucking with big trouble. I don't care for empty threats.

dianavan, I'd rat on you in a moment as you are so hung-up in your feminist abuse, all men whould be warned of you, if they don't know your type already.

Typical of you Ron, to grope for something to say and tie it back to Bush.

Do you wear a board behind your back to help support your spine? You are perhaps the lamest of all the pseudo-intellectuals here. Besides, you are boring.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:45 PM

I have to say that I don't consider the constant use of fuck, shit, crap, piss, cunt (and all the rest) "colorful". They are, especially in certain mouths, so common as to be drab.

Now Blissfully Ignorant's "ignominious wank"--THAT'S colorful!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:47 PM

I'm reminded by something above of Woody Allen's wonderful statement: "Sex isn't dirty--unless you do it right!"

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:54 PM

Of course the use of vulgarity is common, especially among teenagers. I find as I have gotten older I use colorful language less, but to much greater effect than I did when younger.

What I taught my own kids was that it's all just words, like hurtful name calling, and that the words only have power over us if we imbue those words with that kind of power. That is something we control, not the authorities and name callers in life. I also taught them to be careful where they used colorful language, because the reality is, they can get in trouble with authorities for using such language, regardless of the circumstances.

But there is no denying the fact that for those people who use the language, colorfully or otherwise, it does often feel VERY GOOD to use vulgarities in everyday speech, and for others who are disgusted by the use of such language, it often feels VERY BAD to hear it, as it tends to enrage and/or disgust those who are prudish authoritarian types when they hear it.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 01:58 PM

The other day I called something "twaddle" and the person I was speaking with was shocked.

Personally, I much prefer to combine the Usual Words in unusual ways, or combine them with blasphemy or even common, ordinary words. The "regular" ways of using them are boring, trite, and therefore ineffective.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 02:18 PM

Maybe they thought you meant "twattle" which is material of the twat!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: annamill
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 03:07 PM

"ah gowon, even your nose has been blown"! One of my favorites.

You say "tomato, I say f**king tomato,
You say potato, I say f**king potato,

tomato, f**king tomato,
potato, f**king potato.
Let's call the whole thing off!

Honey hates it when I say f**king....funny..I can say it but I can't write it...funny..

I grew up in the late fiftys, in Newark NJ!
If anyone has ever seen The Sopranos they know where as of I speak.
F**k and Sh*t were part of the language. Much like the clicks in the language of some of the tribes in Africa. Mariam Makebe sings a song called "The Click" song. (Does that make this a music thread?)

Well, anyway, as I grew older I realized that using this foulness would not get me very far in life. So I don't use it in public. Often.

Ron and Martin, cut the shit, it's getting f**king boring. Take it to the PMS please.

(Do you suppose the clicks are a form of foul language. Wouldn' that be a pisser??)

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 05:05 PM

Fuckin A--100!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: s6k
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 07:05 PM

i fucking love it

everyday swearing is fucking marvellous

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 09:18 PM

Well fuck me backwards and call me a bastard...this thread has descended into gratuitous cursing! I am shocked and offended, i really am!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 09:59 PM

In certain desperate circumstances, profanity affords a degree of relief denied even to prayer. -- Mark Twain

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 10:50 PM

Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 10:51 PM

That was me, not Jacqui. (Kendall)

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 11:17 PM

Profanity is the effort of a profane mind to express itself...

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 11:49 PM

Although, i have to say that because if i didn't i'd be admitting to having a feeble mind. And that's a secret....OOOPSIES!

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 12:57 AM

Fibula- I was a bit wooried wehn i spotted the headmaster stood next to me,
i thought "oooh shit, i might get expelled for this!"
but, he saw the whole thing, the kid that called me a thick bastard was astonished, that i did not get into trubble for hitting him, he stood there looking at headmaster with his mouth open, but no words coming out!
very funny, [one of them times, were you haf to be there to see how funny it was],

headmaster went up many times in my estimation after that, [top bloke!].

i made some smart arse comment to the name calling kid, like "just fucking watch it"
he answered something like =
"yes, ok i will do, thanks"!


john


ps=nobody calls me a thick bastard and gets away whith it! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Cluin
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 01:10 AM

So have we come to any kind of fucking consensus regarding cursing yet?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: s6k
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 07:24 AM

have we fuck

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,bob kaye
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 07:36 PM

someone asked where "fuckashitpiss" came from. I read that term in the 60's novel called "Candy", words spoken by a retard-hunchback who was in love with Candy...
and Ringo Starr screwed her on a pool table in the movie Candy...

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: hilda fish
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 06:57 PM

I teach in prisons and also live in a disaffected community and some language is so common as to be part of the culture inside and outside. For example, "cunnava thing" (cunt of a thing) is a familiar way of saying somethings difficult in the same way that "shitava thing" or "fuckava thing". If anything's rotting or off it's referred to as a "lepers dick" and that can also be the descriptiong of someone who is a bit off i.e. doesn't wash too frequently or eats things off the ground. "Jesus fucka dick" has always been an expression of amazement as has "shittabrick" while "goddincunt" was always a description of terrific, one way or another. I was raised with swearing, cursing etc. as part of the common language and without realising it I was regarded in other circles as a foul-mouthed person. That pissed me off when I became aware of it. Neither my mob, myself, or the people I teach or my community are stupid, insensitive or consider themselves foul-mouthed. Language and culture are interesting in that they have always been the one of the ways that inferiority/inferiority, godlessness/godfulness etc. can be judged and yet language changes, and changes again. These days I would humbly offer that what was considered either sacrilege, obscene or offensive would be accepted in most younger circles as perfectly normal although there is an awareness that some would take offense. Me, I continue to me known as a foul-mouthed person, but not as bad as I was. I am that bit more aware but I am capable of letting it rip if I think that superiority of language is part of the scenery. It's nice to deliberately offend sometimes. Is there a conclusion to any of this?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 08:10 PM

The worst my mother ever came out with was "bumbuggerbitch". Sometimes, for variety, she would say "sugarmagundy" instead of saying "shit".

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: LadyJean
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 12:25 AM

I went to a small excessively Christian college for two years. One night at a basketball game, I was sitting in front of a young man who was studying for the ministry. The referee made a call he didn't like at a crucial moment, and he stood up and shouted, "Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuGGGGGGGGGG!"

I don't have all the words to Anne Feeney's "F Word" song, but I reccomend it highly.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 04:01 AM

I'm rather fond of mixing 'Edina' from 'Absolutely Fabulous' (Brit TV comedy) and Sarah Kennedy from Radio 2... Edina would make comments like 'buggerybuggeringassholes' and Sarah uses a word 'bummocks', which I suspect she cribbed from one of her compilation books on 'what children say'. It's not quite bollocks a nautical term and not quite bums.... one of those portmanteau words that cover many situations.

What usually comes out is something like 'buggerybummocks and arsehole!'

Limpit comes out with 'Oh fudge', which is pretty good, seeing as how her first curse came at age 18months, she fell of a chair and said 'oh bowwucks'.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: DMcG
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 04:16 AM

From Sheridan's "The Rivals":


Abs. Spoke like a man! But pray, Bob, I observe you have got an odd kind of a new method of swearing—
Acres. Ha! ha! you've taken notice of it—'tis genteel, isn't it!—I didn't invent it myself though; but a commander in our militia, a great scholar, I assure you, says that there is no meaning in the common oaths, and that nothing but their antiquity makes them respectable; because, he says, the ancients would never stick to an oath or two, but would say, by Jove! or by Bacchus! or by Mars! or by Venus! or by Pallas, according to the sentiment: so that to swear with propriety, says my little major, the oath should be an echo to the sense; and this we call the oath referential, or sentimental swearing—ha! ha! 'tis genteel, isn't it.
Abs. Very genteel, and very new, indeed!—and I dare say will supplant all other figures of imprecation.
Acres. Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete.—Damns have had their day.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: DMcG
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 04:27 AM

I'd better give a few of his examples, for the flavour of 'oath referential':

Odds whips and wheels! I've travelled like a comet

Odds blushes and blooms! she has been as healthy as the German Spa

Merry, odds crickets! she has been the belle and spirit of the company wherever she has been

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Crystal
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 05:45 AM

I find my swearing changes depending who I'm with. When I'm around older people (ie people 1 or 2 generations above me) or kids (up to about 10) I'll censor myself, usually halfway through a word; for example ssssssssssssshugar. However when I'm with friends my language deterioates and in particularly bad cases I'll mutter (or scream) motherfuckingfuckingfuck to the heavens.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 11:15 AM

After 9-11 when I "came out" as an atheist, I tried to stop saying just 4 words (or versions thereof): God, damn, heaven, and hell. YOU try saying ANYTHING emphatic in English without those! I am left with expressions like "very" for emphasis. It bites.

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: goodbar
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 05:50 PM

i started swearing a lot in second grade. me and my asian buddy matt wang would go around the playground and be like 'oh shit! fuck this fucking recess teacher! fuckin' bitch!'

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: Once Famous
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 06:01 PM

Amos is no where to be found here on this thread because he is squeemish.

Guest, Bob Kaye. You are right!   "GIVE ME YOUR HUMP!"

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: GUEST,jacqui.c
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 07:45 PM

Kendall has quite a reputation for using a couple of phrases in particular when he gets hot under the collar (and those that know him know that this is quite a common occurrence - the stories are legion!) Quite often these phrases are accompanied by a certain amount of assault and battery against the inanimate object - I have yet to ask his daughter about the incident with the toaster.

A few days ago we bought a new computer desk that needed to be assembled. I told his brother about this and he just laughed and said 'that should be interesting'. I thought about going out for the afternoon or just retiring to another room until it was all over but decided that I ought to stay around to see who won - him or the desk. To make things interesting I had a bet with Seamus that Kendall could build the desk without using either 'Goddammit' or 'Sumbitch', which are usually both used with both force and feeling. If he swore Seamus was on for three dog biscuits and a bacon strip.

Well, it took about two hours to build and all that pased his lips were a couple of 'miserable pricks', said very quietly and with little force or feeling. Even when we realised that the desk would have to be redesigned to fit the space available he didn't break out with a cussword.

However, use of certain phrases is a good release sometimes and he wouldn't be Kendall if he didn't use them. But it was fun waiting to see if he could manage without them, particularly when dealing with flat pack furniture. Has anyone ever had instructions for this stuff that are actually clear and concise?

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: annamill
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:16 PM

GUEST,bob kaye, I remember Candy! Great book! I didn't think the movie was up to the book though. I loved some of her Aunt's expressions. Very funny! Filthy, but funny.

JennyG, I think the term "bumbuggerbitch" is much worse than most of the words expressed here. Just think of the meaning. My goodness! ;-) Giggle!

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: kendall
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 12:29 PM

I never cuss without a goddamn good reason

Subject: RE: BS: Cursing
From: *Laura*
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 03:57 PM

i agree. absofuckinlutely.
lol

(obviously said in deep husky american accent by Big from sex and the city)