Is "profanity" an outdated concept?

[arbusto_baboso]

And by that, I mean is the idea that a word can somehow be "obscene" still one that can have currency in our society?

After all, even use of "fuck" is absolutely commonplace now. So much so, that it doesn't shock most folks anymore (the primary function of profane language).

So, really, can't we all be adults and not pretend to be offended by "doody words" please?

And by that I mean all you Lounge Motherfuckers.

[trof]

1. I dunno. Is 'nigger' obscene?

It is to a lot of folks.

I kinda cringe when I see 'fuck' in a thread title.
Especially there when it's just used gratuitously to grab attention.
I actually pass on most of those threads.
Juvenile.

I'm not a prude, by any stretch, but that one still (mildly) offends me.
There are times when 'fuck' fits and nothing else will serve.
It's just such a hard edged, hard sounding word.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. I think "nigger" is in a completely different catgeory of language.

That one is intended to cause harm, unlike use of "fuck", "shit", or even "Christ on a fucking crutch".

I would say racial and ethnic slurs aren't profanity per se, but simply offensive speech (which the 1st Amendment still protects).

[HopeHoops]

7. Ethnic slurs aren't profanity. They are hate speech.

That's an ENTIRELY different matter. Words that are meant to hurt do just that. Who the hell has ever been hurt by someone saying "shit"?

[HopeHoops]

3. FUCK that shit.

I mean, who the hell came up with a god damned concept of fucking profanity in the first place. Shit, fuck that. The bastard must roll in piss and the mother fucker has to be a cock sucker who hates cunts and tits.

Notice I not only scored all 7 of George Carlin's "Words You Can't Use on TV" and ALSO threw in "hell", and "god damned" for good measure?



:woohoo:

[rrneck]

4. I agree.

As usual, it depends on the circumstances, the venue, and the person being addressed. I never did like the whole political correctness thing because it opened the way to a lot of disingenuous behavior. The idea that as long as you say the right words or refer to somebody by the correct appellation made one "correct" in any meaningful sense of the term always seemed foolish to me.

I can call you a fornicator of swine but we will both know I just called you a pig fucker.


Pig fucker.

:evilgrin:

[arbusto_baboso]

6. Only my FRIENDS call me pig fucker....

:evilgrin:

[HopeHoops]

8. I use that term for particularly difficult programming issues.

It fits.

[rrneck]

11. Oh, pardon me

Mr. Fornicator of Swine.


:7

[PeaceNikki]

5. I highly recommend this film

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486585/

[Deja Q]

9. No.

Life is what we make of it.

And certain words will get messages deleted.

Become a mod and you'll see how quickly you'll have to use draconian methods when someone pops the effenheimer... :D

[Throd]

10. Cuss in front of my children and see for yourself

Propriety seems to be the outdated concept.

[KamaAina]

12. FUCK YEAH!!1!

:P

[Xithras]

13. A few months ago at a public park...

I was watching my 4 year old play in the sand when a couple of twentysomethings started doing their fuck-this, and fuck-him, and fuck-yeah's. I could give a fuck what people say in their homes or with their friends, but I draw the line when people start spouting off around my kids.

I walked over and asked them to take it somewhere else, because there were kids around and they didn't need to listen to profanity in a playground. The guy stood up and looked like he wanted to fight me, but thought better of it and walked off with one final fuck-you.

The world may be a bit more open to profanity now, but it's hardly "absolutely commonplace". I know plenty of places and businesses that will still throw you out the door over an ill-placed Fuck. I know plenty of bosses who would quickly fire any employee who saw obscenity as an acceptable thing to display in the workplace.

[DarkTirade]

14. There's plenty of profanity still on TV.

Not dirty words. Just profanity. For example, watch Fox News for about 30 seconds. I'm sure you'll find something disgustingly profane in even that short amount of time.

[Orrex]

15. The word "fuck" has been around longer than most other words in common usage

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. Comes from "facio" in Latin.

[Orrex]

17. Really?

In Richard Lederer's Anguished English, I believe he identifies the German fokken as its source.

Dictionary.com also identifies a Germanic source:

Abbreviations & Acronyms
fuck
The claim that fuck is an acronym is demonstrably false. It is an old word of Germanic origin.

from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fuck

I'd be happy to learn otherwise, though; etymology is something of a hobby, so if you have an earlier source, please share!!

[tabbycat31]

18. what about "cunt"

is that profane?

[Ptah]

19. no

profane
1 : to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt : desecrate
2 : to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use