Comments on: Thought for the Week: The Fucking Virtue of Swearing http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/ Free speech on terrestrial radio Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:07:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ‘The Virtue Of…’ http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1864 ‘The Virtue Of…’ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:04:38 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1864 [...] 1/21/2008 - The Virtue of Swearing (read) [...] [...] 1/21/2008 – The Virtue of Swearing (read) [...]

]]> By: Stephen http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1424 Stephen Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:26:38 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1424 Deal sensitively? Of course. That's why I don't swear in front of my in-laws and my son. But while dealing sensitively we must be careful never to pander to it. S. Deal sensitively? Of course. That’s why I don’t swear in front of my in-laws and my son. But while dealing sensitively we must be careful never to pander to it.

S.

]]> By: Greg, Sacramento http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1423 Greg, Sacramento Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:24:32 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1423 Given, though, that some people are unable to respond rationally over emotionally at any given time, don't you think a good society wants to deal sensitively with emotions as well as with people's sense of rationality? Given, though, that some people are unable to respond rationally over emotionally at any given time, don’t you think a good society wants to deal sensitively with emotions as well as with people’s sense of rationality?

]]> By: Stephen http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1422 Stephen Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:45:30 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1422 I agree. Like I said in another article taking offense is an emotional reaction to something, never a rational reaction. S. I agree. Like I said in another article taking offense is an emotional reaction to something, never a rational reaction.

S.

]]> By: Frank Carillo http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1421 Frank Carillo Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:37:12 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1421 Anyone offended by someone cursing is too easily offended. Anyone offended by someone cursing is too easily offended.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1416 Stephen Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:06:55 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1416 Jaccalyn: I'll be honest, I think the references to drugs are worse than the use of "ass" and "assholes" with respect to young children listening (but I still don't advocate bleeping-out for that reason). I have a 16 month old son and I'd rather he learnt the proper use of all words rather than learn that there is a difference between "bad" words and "good" words. My wife disagrees. "Bad" words are out of bounds, and I guess I have to tow the line! As for whether or not certain words are necessary: you could raise that argument with respect to any words. Words convey meaning in a particular way. No single word is essential for communcation - but they are all different ways to express meaning and all of them have a place. John: I agree with you. There are contexts in which I wouldn't use the word "fuck." My inlaws are fundamentalist Christians and it would cause a lot of unnecessary problems if I started saying words they deem taboo. As you correctly infer it's a taste and context thing - not a moral rule thing. I guess I tow the line on it for the sake of family peace. S. Jaccalyn: I’ll be honest, I think the references to drugs are worse than the use of “ass” and “assholes” with respect to young children listening (but I still don’t advocate bleeping-out for that reason). I have a 16 month old son and I’d rather he learnt the proper use of all words rather than learn that there is a difference between “bad” words and “good” words. My wife disagrees. “Bad” words are out of bounds, and I guess I have to tow the line!

As for whether or not certain words are necessary: you could raise that argument with respect to any words. Words convey meaning in a particular way. No single word is essential for communcation – but they are all different ways to express meaning and all of them have a place.

John: I agree with you. There are contexts in which I wouldn’t use the word “fuck.” My inlaws are fundamentalist Christians and it would cause a lot of unnecessary problems if I started saying words they deem taboo. As you correctly infer it’s a taste and context thing – not a moral rule thing. I guess I tow the line on it for the sake of family peace.

S.

]]> By: John http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 John Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:38:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1412 So true, Stephen. I've still never heard a justification for the belief that certain words are inherently wrong to say. The most I've heard is a good argument persuasive of the fact that they can be inappropriate in some social interactions, due to the fact that they may be offensive, but (a) offence is subjective, and (b) it doesn't argue that the words are wrong to say, only that they're wrong to say in front of your friend's great grandmother. Which is the other problem. Which words are 'swear' words and why? It seems this list is continually changing. To call a guy a 'bastard' may have been insulting 200 years ago when the word was more commonly associated with its original meaning, 'illegitimate child'. But today? It's retained its taboo status in some shrinking parts of society despite the fact that nobody uses the word in the straightforward way! The word 'bitch' is well on its way to achieving this status too. Bizarre. By the way, you may or may not have seen, I crossreferenced your original Jerry Springer: The Opera piece <a href="http://www.john-wright.net/2007/11/20/up-on-blasphemy-charges/" target="top" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>. So true, Stephen. I’ve still never heard a justification for the belief that certain words are inherently wrong to say. The most I’ve heard is a good argument persuasive of the fact that they can be inappropriate in some social interactions, due to the fact that they may be offensive, but (a) offence is subjective, and (b) it doesn’t argue that the words are wrong to say, only that they’re wrong to say in front of your friend’s great grandmother.

Which is the other problem. Which words are ’swear’ words and why? It seems this list is continually changing. To call a guy a ‘bastard’ may have been insulting 200 years ago when the word was more commonly associated with its original meaning, ‘illegitimate child’. But today? It’s retained its taboo status in some shrinking parts of society despite the fact that nobody uses the word in the straightforward way! The word ‘bitch’ is well on its way to achieving this status too. Bizarre.

By the way, you may or may not have seen, I crossreferenced your original Jerry Springer: The Opera piece HERE.

]]> By: Jackalope http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 Jackalope Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:44:08 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1411 I've been listening to John with Tommy Boyd when they were on, Tommy initially said that he wouldn't use the word cunt even with the freedom on the internet, because he just didn't like it much, but by the end of the run he seemed happy to use it, the point being that there's a definite sense of relativity in cultural things like this, a well-placed swear word may be funniest because it might be offensive to some other people and it's like being in the club to appreciate and find it funny. I like this blog, like the discussions. It's definitely a great break from censorship to be able to use speech freely like this. I’ve been listening to John with Tommy Boyd when they were on, Tommy initially said that he wouldn’t use the word cunt even with the freedom on the internet, because he just didn’t like it much, but by the end of the run he seemed happy to use it, the point being that there’s a definite sense of relativity in cultural things like this, a well-placed swear word may be funniest because it might be offensive to some other people and it’s like being in the club to appreciate and find it funny.

I like this blog, like the discussions. It’s definitely a great break from censorship to be able to use speech freely like this.

]]> By: Jaccalyn http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/comment-page-1/#comment-1410 Jaccalyn Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:52:58 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/01/21/thought-for-the-week-the-fucking-virtue-of-swearing/#comment-1410 I am ashamed to say my Four year old son loves this song, and every time it comes on the radio he wants me to turn it up, i am pleased that the majority of the bad words are bleeped out for his benefit. I am not against cussing in movies or songs, but i do wonder why some of them were needed. I am ashamed to say my Four year old son loves this song, and every time it comes on the radio he wants me to turn it up, i am pleased that the majority of the bad words are bleeped out for his benefit. I am not against cussing in movies or songs, but i do wonder why some of them were needed.

]]>