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aball1035
Guest
My question is, why are some words bad, and others not? For example, why is it more OK to say ****, but not s**t? Why is it a sin to say the F word (by itself, not used against another)?
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CatofAlexandria
Guest
I can give you a partial answer. Others might want to fill in and help me out.
The reason why some words are considered “bad,” and other words aren’t, even if used in the same context, is the connotation that those words carry given our current societal norms. You mention the F* word, which is an excellent example. In our society, the F* word carries with it a descriptive meaning, whether you say it in isolation or not. The meaning that it carries with it is that of derogatory and vulgar sexual intercourse. Thus (as the Supreme Court has even noted in FCC v. Fox), the F* word’s power to insult or offend derives from its sexual meaning. Put simply, saying the F* word is a sin because the F*word is always associated with a vulgar and degrading way of describing the sexual act. Connotation overshadows context.
The S* word is similar. Unlike “feces,” for example, which is merely descriptive and even scientific, the S* word carries with it a vulgar connotation which is also somewhat degrading. Like modesty and other standards, cultural context matters. It’s best to stay away from words with certain emotive meanings, and to stick to the more respectful, descriptive terms.
The reason why some words are considered “bad,” and other words aren’t, even if used in the same context, is the connotation that those words carry given our current societal norms. You mention the F* word, which is an excellent example. In our society, the F* word carries with it a descriptive meaning, whether you say it in isolation or not. The meaning that it carries with it is that of derogatory and vulgar sexual intercourse. Thus (as the Supreme Court has even noted in FCC v. Fox), the F* word’s power to insult or offend derives from its sexual meaning. Put simply, saying the F* word is a sin because the F*word is always associated with a vulgar and degrading way of describing the sexual act. Connotation overshadows context.
The S* word is similar. Unlike “feces,” for example, which is merely descriptive and even scientific, the S* word carries with it a vulgar connotation which is also somewhat degrading. Like modesty and other standards, cultural context matters. It’s best to stay away from words with certain emotive meanings, and to stick to the more respectful, descriptive terms.
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St_Francis
Guest
There are vulgar words and there are sinful words. The latter would involve blasphemy, calling upon the Lord’s Name in vain–without really meaning to call on Him. The vulgar words would only be sinful if your intent was to anger someone, but that could also be done without using any profanity at all, so it’s not the word, per se, that’s sinful.
The really horrible thing I have been noticing is that it seems like it’s perfectly acceptable to have blasphemy on tv and movies, which are still avoiding the use of merely vulgar words.
The really horrible thing I have been noticing is that it seems like it’s perfectly acceptable to have blasphemy on tv and movies, which are still avoiding the use of merely vulgar words.
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Pug
Guest
It is not clear to me that it is always a sin in all circumstances to use the F word. Say you are a court recorder, faithfully recording words spoken. I do not think it would be a sin to faithfully record what was said, or later to testify faithfully to what was said.
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Magnanimity
Guest
Very interesting question which I’ve thought about a little bit. For a long time, the jury was out for me on the subject of cussing. Being from the South myself, I was raised in an environment where cussing was just plain wrong-something you didn’t do. I never really heard a good reason to explain why though, so I guess that’s why I witheld opinion on it for a long time.
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Steven Pinker, but I’ve been somewhat influenced by his ideas on cussing. I heard him interviewed a while back on a local radio program (see here: kpbs.org/news/2008/sep/11/steven-pinker-tells-us-about-the-stuff-of-thought/). I have to confess that I sympathize with his views on cussing, or ‘swear words.’ They are a particular example of what Pinker calls “word magic.” The phenomenon of word magic occurs when you basically believe that you alter the very moral fabric of the universe when you cuss.
In reality, is it at all likely that there is any substantial difference that obtains when you use/utter the word sh** as opposed to shoot, freaking rather than f***ing? Not likely, I think.
Having kids probably helped to make me a little more liberal on this point too. When I was a boy, I know I felt empowered when I used cuss words. Well, being the very kind father that I am
, I’m afraid I had to rob my own children of this misperception of power because there never was any real power emanating from me using or uttering those cuss words. I was, unknowingly, a tacit subscriber to the theory of word magic.
There are arguments to be made against profanity, I think: arguments from civility and against laziness. And there are arguments to be made that profanity is an age-appropriate form of expression. So I haven’t fallen off the liberal deep end or anything. I think my wife and I have struck a good middle ground on this issue. I humbly offer the above as food for your thoughts…
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Steven Pinker, but I’ve been somewhat influenced by his ideas on cussing. I heard him interviewed a while back on a local radio program (see here: kpbs.org/news/2008/sep/11/steven-pinker-tells-us-about-the-stuff-of-thought/). I have to confess that I sympathize with his views on cussing, or ‘swear words.’ They are a particular example of what Pinker calls “word magic.” The phenomenon of word magic occurs when you basically believe that you alter the very moral fabric of the universe when you cuss.
In reality, is it at all likely that there is any substantial difference that obtains when you use/utter the word sh** as opposed to shoot, freaking rather than f***ing? Not likely, I think.
Having kids probably helped to make me a little more liberal on this point too. When I was a boy, I know I felt empowered when I used cuss words. Well, being the very kind father that I am
, I’m afraid I had to rob my own children of this misperception of power because there never was any real power emanating from me using or uttering those cuss words. I was, unknowingly, a tacit subscriber to the theory of word magic.There are arguments to be made against profanity, I think: arguments from civility and against laziness. And there are arguments to be made that profanity is an age-appropriate form of expression. So I haven’t fallen off the liberal deep end or anything. I think my wife and I have struck a good middle ground on this issue. I humbly offer the above as food for your thoughts…
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edwest2
Guest
I think it would be best to look at common usage before bringing up exceptions. There were words you could never say on TV. It was all written down. Then, after the anarchist assault on morals in the media, guys like George Carlin did a “comedy” routine where he said all those words. In Catholic school, I was taught certain words are bad and the same at home. They are vulgar and they are often used in anger. So-called comedians use these words all the time as if they don’t mean anything anymore. Nothing’s changed.
As Catholics, we should not be indifferent to vulgar, obscene or blasphemous language. We should guard ourselves against using such words.
God bless,
Ed
As Catholics, we should not be indifferent to vulgar, obscene or blasphemous language. We should guard ourselves against using such words.
God bless,
Ed
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