Who determined which words were curse words?

The irony for me is that a seemingly earnest OP with such natural interest in language taboos has done no research on his own, even after having "etymologies" suggested to him.

Sometimes, going all Venn diagrammy here, religion intersects, but without even taking the time to Google, common sense says that "curse words" are going to be the words and phrases that offends whatever one's society has deemed acceptable.

Not my area of expertise, and I'm aware of your multi-cultural experience, so what's your take on the origins and role(s) of "swear words"?

nota bene said:

I suspect that it's only now that you're arriving at the real agenda of your OP.

I'd appreciate some examples of "Christians" becoming "angry around sinners." When have you experienced this? What do they do when they are angry?

I think we've held onto the "notion" that taking the Lord's name in vain is wrong because it's one of the Ten Commandments.

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You need an example of Christians getting angry about sinners? How about fighting against gay marriage......lol

There is an existing law that prevents gays from getting married. Why are Christians fighting to keep this law? Again, the Bible constantly repeats FREE WILL. It doesn't say to use laws to enforce Religion. It doesn't mean a preacher has to marry them.

Goshin said:

Moderator's Warning:

The Religious Discussion Forum is specifically reserved for the civil and respectful discussion of theistic issues. Certain types of posts are specifically banned from this subforum: posts questioning or debating the existence of God; baiting/trolling the religious; bashing religion-in-general or bashing a specific religion. If you want to do these things, Philosophy is reserved for atheistic and anti-religious rants. Inserting them into RDF threads usually results in threadban and infraction points. Take note that this thread is in the Religion Forum.

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I'm a Christian...........I'm not challenging Christianity or any religion. I'm challenging the humans interpretations of Christianity as opposed to what the Bible says...

nota bene said:

The irony for me is that a seemingly earnest OP with such natural interest in language taboos has done no research on his own, even after having "etymologies" suggested to him.

Sometimes, going all Venn diagrammy here, religion intersects, but without even taking the time to Google, common sense says that "curse words" are going to be the words and phrases that offends whatever one's society has deemed acceptable.

Not my area of expertise, and I'm aware of your multi-cultural experience, so what's your take on the origins and role(s) of "swear words"?

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If you happened to research it yourself instead of just trusting someone is right because it sounded good, you would notice that "etymologies" is theory, not fact...

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

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Societies global moderators decided.

Anti-Party said:

I'm a Christian...........I'm not challenging Christianity or any religion. I'm challenging the humans interpretations of Christianity as opposed to what the Bible says...

Click to expand...

Moderator's Warning:

1. Mod-box warnings are just that- warnings. Cautions to be mindful of the rules, issued when there is a question that someone may be straying outside of same. 2. Do not address moderation or mod warnings in-thread... in many cases this can be a 10 point infraction with suspension. This is necessary to avoid having many threads derailed into into "arguing with mods".

Every parent throughout history? They empower a word by making it taboo and giving it auras of conspiracy and evil. Because it was so disallowed I remember kindergarden and beyond being a total cuss fest whenever authority wasnt around.

I once argued with a friend about how the word "fudge" is or isnt a bad word. I said it depends on how you used it and your ultimate intention. He was more literall and "I didnt say an exact cuss word therefore I didnt cuss." Its a passive agressive stance. You are saying it without saying it. Everyone knows your intention. In the core of your mind you are replacing that word with a real "cuss" and your lips are simply averting it with smokescreen tactics. As a kid if you say, "Fudge you" to a teacher everyone knows what you mean, your intentions, and you arent fooling anyone.

The cussing conspiracy reminds me of the clothing conspiracy. Certain people want things a certain way so they do their best to control everyone else because they just really want to do it themselves but cant bring their "presented face" to do what their "inner face" truly wants. Someone that doesn't cuss doesn't it do it to your face but you can see the look in their eyes when they are thinking it. And that is more offensive than someone that just flat out says it.

Im pretty damn sure clothing is a conspiracy brought about by ugly people that just dont want other people being in their "natural state" because they cant handle themselves doing it. (by pride, embarrassment or taught through family over many generations) Its pretty ingrained too because even though I know of this I am embarrassed to run around naked and don't do it.

So in summation cuss words are brought to you by parents.

Goshin said:

Moderator's Warning:

1. Mod-box warnings are just that- warnings. Cautions to be mindful of the rules, issued when there is a question that someone may be straying outside of same. 2. Do not address moderation or mod warnings in-thread... in many cases this can be a 10 point infraction with suspension. This is necessary to avoid having many threads derailed into into "arguing with mods".

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I don't get why commenting on it is taboo? Why cant a few people say "Oh well that sux." Or "Oh I disagree with that." Or, "Yay, he deserved that." And if what you did is right then say, "Your opinion is noted but that does not change enforcement." Please forgive my inquisitive nature?

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

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If there were no stigma attached to the words, you'd have little interest in saying them. So, be happy for the stigma; it adds something that otherwise wouldn't be there.

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

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A quick Google or wiki would have answered all your questions here. You did no research of your own, and then just assume it's religion's fault because it's something you don't like.

Anti-Party said:

If it truly is a matter of racist and classiest discrimination dated back to 1066, why hasn't America had a serious discussion about this?

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Americans are more concerned with today's economy, gun control, same-sex marriage, and the war, than language. Imagine such a peaceful and uneventful word we would have to live in where the biggest problem of the day was the origins of curse words. #firstworldproblems.

Anti-Party said:

Why do we punish our children for using these words?

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It will get them in trouble in school and later at work.

Anti-Party said:

Adults rarely get punished for using them so the only people this is affecting is children.

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Adults get punished all the time when adults use these words in the wrong setting.

Anti-Party said:

Are we being racist and classiest discriminators by telling our kids they are grounded for cussing?

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Maybe these words were about racism and calsism long ago, but today it's about not getting in trouble in school or in the work setting.

Anti-Party said:

Was I discriminated against when I forgot about the profanity sensor? Just kidding, but you know what I'm getting at.

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You're about to be "discriminated against" for addressing mod actions in thread, that's for sure. Like using curse words, addressing the mod box is rude, because when you do that you are changing the topic of the discussion. Just as there are appropriate places to curse, so are there appropriate places to address mod actions, but this thread isn't it.

dirtpoorchris said:

I don't get why commenting on it is taboo? Why cant a few people say "Oh well that sux." Or "Oh I disagree with that." Or, "Yay, he deserved that." And if what you did is right then say, "Your opinion is noted but that does not change enforcement." Please forgive my inquisitive nature?

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Reading comprehension = 0

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

Click to expand...

Curse words are defined by social convention. It is one of many aspects that defines a culture.

I speak fluent English, Swedish, and Spanish, and I speak a bit of Italian as well. Spanish is like English, there are curse words which are taboo, which are barred from TV, etc. Swedish, on the other hand, does not have any curse words. There are certain words that are considered "dirty," but they are not taboo or barred from public places the way they are in English. They're simply a part of everyday lexicon.

So, in my opinion, the answer to your question is that it's simply a matter of culture.

I don't believe the Bible says anything about profanity, and I also don't believe that the concept of curse words has anything to do with religion. It's purely cultural.

Peter Grimm said:

I don't believe the Bible says anything about profanity, and I also don't believe that the concept of curse words has anything to do with religion. It's purely cultural.

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Are you sure about that?

SMTA said:

Are you sure about that?

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One of the commandments is to not use the Lord's name in vein. Some people interpret that as a commandment not to cuss. I think it's more correctly interpreted as a commandment not to blaspheme.

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

Click to expand...

Etymology - love the topic!

It's purely non-religious, actually. . . Every word has a different origin - and a different reason for originally becoming profane.

*****, for example - use to be a term for a lady. Not *the most* appropriate term - but it wasn't lewd. It would be the equivalent of 'dame' I suppose. . . it slowly evolved over time.

The F and S four-letter words were originally part of acceptable anglo-saxon usage. Very common, every day (and still are just common every day words - like the S word is used in other countries the same way Americans use 'oh-man' or 'totally' to emphasize context - or fill up verbal space like 'ah' and 'um'. My sister was truly shocked when she went to the Netherlands and attended church there - and the minister used it all the time) . . . So for these two words the newcomers to the area who opposed the Anglos tried to distance themselves from the Anglos as much as possible by disaproving of these 'trademark words' that were so common in Anglo usage.

Scolding children to 'not say those words' and 'don't you dare say that' - just carried generation to generation. The *reason* not being passed along - just the 'unusable' factor.

So on - so forth . . . every word has it's origins and own personal history on it's way to becoming a curse word. . .and it's not international (other countries have their own). What we consider a curse word really reflects our societies origins - for us it's multiple languages and cultural/social histories that have gone into making us 'the US' . . .and it changes over time - enough people use it, it becomes more common place - less offensive. . .new words can be adopted as curse words as well.

Aunt Spiker said:

Etymology - love the topic!

It's purely non-religious, actually. . . Every word has a different origin - and a different reason for originally becoming profane.

*****, for example - use to be a term for a lady. Not *the most* appropriate term - but it wasn't lewd. It would be the equivalent of 'dame' I suppose. . . it slowly evolved over time.

The F and S four-letter words were originally part of acceptable anglo-saxon usage. Very common, every day (and still are just common every day words - like the S word is used in other countries the same way Americans use 'oh-man' or 'totally' to emphasize context - or fill up verbal space like 'ah' and 'um'. My sister was truly shocked when she went to the Netherlands and attended church there - and the minister used it all the time) . . . So for these two words the newcomers to the area who opposed the Anglos tried to distance themselves from the Anglos as much as possible by disaproving of these 'trademark words' that were so common in Anglo usage.

Scolding children to 'not say those words' and 'don't you dare say that' - just carried generation to generation. The *reason* not being passed along - just the 'unusable' factor.

So on - so forth . . . every word has it's origins and own personal history on it's way to becoming a curse word. . .and it's not international (other countries have their own). What we consider a curse word really reflects our societies origins - for us it's multiple languages and cultural/social histories that have gone into making us 'the US' . . .and it changes over time - enough people use it, it becomes more common place - less offensive. . .new words can be adopted as curse words as well.

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Its interesting to see the taboo of "nigger" change. In the last few years ive noticed white people saying it and getting away with it. Mostly in the entertainment industry. Its almost as if the word is finally losing its power, which is great. It will be nice in a few hundred years when racism is almost totally forgotten in America. I've known black dudes who are older I cant joke with racially though. And one told me its because he dealt with the racism first hand in the day so its no joke to him. With everyone else young-middle age we could racially joke with each other whatever way all day and never offend each other. I cant condone Obama for what he has done (lied about bringing troops home, or wordsmithed rather?) but im glad he was black. Finally gets that social hurdle out of the way. When Obama was elected "white guilt" across the nation was lifted tremendously.

dirtpoorchris said:

Its interesting to see the taboo of "nigger" change. In the last few years ive noticed white people saying it and getting away with it. Mostly in the entertainment industry. Its almost as if the word is finally losing its power, which is great. It will be nice in a few hundred years when racism is almost totally forgotten in America. I've known black dudes who are older I cant joke with racially though. And one told me its because he dealt with the racism first hand in the day so its no joke to him. With everyone else young-middle age we could racially joke with each other whatever way all day and never offend each other. I cant condone Obama for what he has done (lied about bringing troops home, or wordsmithed rather?) but im glad he was black. Finally gets that social hurdle out of the way. When Obama was elected "white guilt" across the nation was lifted tremendously.

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Hmm - I don't think it has anything to do with Obama . . . but a mellowing of the line that divides the cultures in the US. More white people listen to rap. More black people attend previously white-predominate universities. It's good - and inevitable - that with such stark contrasts between cultures with the slow dissolve of the remaining racism those 'tags' that define people as A or Z are blending together a bit - more grays in the middle. (etc - the examples are many)

Nigger is split - though - taboo to some, ok to others. The taboo isn't just 'don't say that - if you're white' - Some black people are opposed to it as well - a few years ago (2007?) they 'buried' the word in a ceremonious effort to end the use of it as a casual, hip, or cordial term between black people for their selves. The effort was met with mixed responses from all people.

So it's hard to tell which way it will good.

Aunt Spiker said:

Hmm - I don't think it has anything to do with Obama . . . but a mellowing of the line that divides the cultures in the US. More white people listen to rap. More black people attend previously white-predominate universities. It's good - and inevitable - that with such stark contrasts between cultures with the slow dissolve of the remaining racism those 'tags' that define people as A or Z are blending together a bit - more grays in the middle. (etc - the examples are many)

Nigger is split - though - taboo to some, ok to others. The taboo isn't just 'don't say that - if you're white' - Some black people are opposed to it as well - a few years ago (2007?) they 'buried' the word in a ceremonious effort to end the use of it as a casual, hip, or cordial term between black people for their selves. The effort was met with mixed responses from all people.

So it's hard to tell which way it will good.

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I dont think it had anything to do with Obama either. But it is still a good token of the times to add to history.

Aunt Spiker said:

Hmm - I don't think it has anything to do with Obama . . . but a mellowing of the line that divides the cultures in the US. More white people listen to rap. More black people attend previously white-predominate universities. It's good - and inevitable - that with such stark contrasts between cultures with the slow dissolve of the remaining racism those 'tags' that define people as A or Z are blending together a bit - more grays in the middle. (etc - the examples are many)

Nigger is split - though - taboo to some, ok to others. The taboo isn't just 'don't say that - if you're white' - Some black people are opposed to it as well - a few years ago (2007?) they 'buried' the word in a ceremonious effort to end the use of it as a casual, hip, or cordial term between black people for their selves. The effort was met with mixed responses from all people.

So it's hard to tell which way it will good.

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He didn't say it was because of Obama. But he did point out that America made "progress" in the racism topic. But at the same time we have seen the true and still racists pop out. Most of them show themselves by screaming lies and nonsense about Obama, even when there is plenty of real topics to scold him on.

I've seen lots more racism towards blacks from whites since the election of Obama. Everyone noticed that Obamacare was just Romneycare but only a bad decision because Obama proposed it. Everyone also hated Outsourcing until Obama took a stand against it with the Anti-Outsourcing Bill of 2010. But , "If it isn't my idea, it's not a good idea" (R)ight wing?

Anti-Party said:

He didn't say it was because of Obama. But he did point out that America made "progress" in the racism topic. But at the same time we have seen the true and still racists pop out. Most of them show themselves by screaming lies and nonsense about Obama, even when there is plenty of real topics to scold him on.

I've seen lots more racism towards blacks from whites since the election of Obama. Everyone noticed that Obamacare was just Romneycare but only a bad decision because Obama proposed it. Everyone also hated Outsourcing until Obama took a stand against it with the Anti-Outsourcing Bill of 2010. But , "If it isn't my idea, it's not a good idea" (R)ight wing?

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They were always there - people just ignored them for a while. I think they just get more recognition / coverage.

Anti-Party said:

Who determined which words were curse words?

There is a list of words we are not allowed to use in today's society. And all of these words have an another word used to describe the EXACT same thing.

The bible says, "Do not use profanity". Profanity is, "Using a word that doesn't fit to describe emotion". Well GOLLY GEE that sounds strict. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong about this gosh darn theory...Here is how you prove me wrong;

Who, exactly, determined which words were not ok to say?

Because sh*t means poop. F*ck means sex. P*ssy means vagina. Who in time declared these words not ok to say? In the future will we declare "poop" not ok to say? Will we create a new term for Vagina and teach that the word Vagina is a bad word?

You get where I'm going, discuss......as long as this thread doesn't get banned for "profanity".....heh

Click to expand...

I feel that it is context being used that should matter. It doesn't make someone feel less insulted if I used non-curse words to insult them, they are not going to be thankful because I didn't use curse words to insult them.