Remember when I said that jogging is a great time to just be one with nature, and lots of times I end up in prayer and deep thought? Well, yesterday I was having some deep thoughts of another type that had nothing to do with praying. I was wondering about the origination of swear words. I mean, who ever thought of those words, and how did they become taboo? And why are they so tempting to use? Did some caveman slam his finger with his club one day and shout out some random four letter nonsense sound and think, "Hey, me like that sound. That sound make Grog feel good release." So then Grog started to say it whenever he was mad or got hurt. Then one day, some other caveman heard Grog say it and they tried it too, and realized it felt good but sounded really bad in front of the other more sophisticated cavemen, so it became taboo. From there it spread like wildfire. Is that how it happened? And should I get my head checked out because I'm actually spending time wondering about these things?
6 comments:
And if you make up your own words that you say with just as much meaning as if you were using a "real" swear word, is it as bad?
I hope not. :)
I use "bah" and "dang it" and "shnikees" all the time. But I use those words to try and tone down my frustration. Really swearing makes me more angry, cause I know I lost control of myself.
The last time I swore was in 2004. I accidentally said the word that "dang it" is patterned after when I almost got in a wreck on my motorcycle with a friend on the back. I'm still annoyed at myself for swearing, especially in front of a friend. How embarrassing.
I haven't sworn in I don't know how long -- until the last few weeks. This car accident has really brought out the worst in me... Here's to hoping the new year makes a more "sophisticated cave man" out of me.
Bart, I go back and forth with the made up words that sound very similar to the "real" swear words. "Flippin'" is one I hear a lot, and lots of times I think that everyone knows what you're substituting that for, so if you wouldn't use the "real" one, then you shouldn't use that. But then I go and say it, and I think, "Well, that's not NEARLY as bad." I'm appalled when I hear someone say it at church though. So basically, I think I just justify it for whatever situation I'm in. I'm a total hypocrite, but at least I acknowledge it, right?
I have a brother-in-law that swears and believes that it's okay because it's society that has made the words taboo and in reality they really don't mean anything.
Rrright. Just keep telling yourself that while you scream foul profanity at the person who just cut you off. "What I am saying is just fluff. It really doesn't mean a thing."
Hmmm. I don't think having something you say when you're frustrated makes it automatically a swear word -
Of course this comes from someone who is trying to eliminate swearing from her life. Just "biblical swear words" but still....
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