"Gods-be-damned"?

[KnowledgPeace]

I was watching Syfy TV show “Defiance” when one charachter (episode 4, I think) utters the word “gods-be-damned” as an adjective. I…assume (being non-native english speaker) it is used as a “censored” version of g*dammed (since the show rotates about various alien communities, each one with their religious creed).

My question is…does it still count as blasphemy (as among the “gods” there could be also our Lord) or not?

 

[Allegra]

Since the fictitious alien gods don’t actually exist, either in theory or reality, I’m pretty sure they can’t blasphemed against.

 

[Bonnie]

Terry Pratchett used “gods” in his Discworld books since there were many gods. I’ve always liked Anoia - Goddess of Things That Get Stuck in Drawers.

 

[Digitonomy]

I was watching Syfy TV show “Defiance” when one charachter (episode 4, I think) utters the word “gods-be-damned” as an adjective. I…assume (being non-native english speaker) it is used as a “censored” version of g*dammed.

I doubt the goal was really to censor such language - most cable shows I have seen do not really shy away from it. It is one way that the cable channels differentiate their product from the slightly tamer network shows.

I think they were just trying to throw some twists into daily language to make the characters and setting both a little strikingly different from our own, and yet familiar. Battlestar Galactica also had a polytheistic society and used a lot of “godsdamned” in its scripts.
KnowlegdPeace:

oMy question is…does it still count as blasphemy (as among the “gods” there could be also our Lord) or not?

Hmmm… good question. I think using your logic, technically it does.

 

[BarbTh]

To my mind, small g “gods” refers to any person(s) or thing(s) put before/above God (Capital G) and Jesus is God.

 

[mikekle]

I doubt the goal was really to censor such language - most cable shows I have seen do not really shy away from it. It is one way that the cable channels differentiate their product from the slightly tamer network shows.

IDk about that, from all the non-movie channel cable tv I have watched, it seems they censor much more than regular network tv, Ive even seen the 3 letter word for a donkey ‘bleeped’ out.

Not to mention, most of us know the entertainment industry in general is trying to push all sort of immorality on viewers, so why in the world would they be censoring like this at all? ve always wondered about that and why so many liberal minded people today seem to be ok with this practice?

Strange especially the times we are living, I cannot ever recall hearing anyone calling for censoring of tv to end??

 

[Bonnie]

Sounds vaguely familiar. Do you remember which book?

 

[Bonnie]

Sam Vimes, too. Just read Night Watch & he wants to kill Carcer but refrains as that would put him on the same level. Oddly enough, when I saw one of the Batman movies where he doesn’t drop the Joker from a high place, I thought Batman wimped out. It was already evident that the police were unable to hold him, so he leaves the Joker alive to kill some more. Similar situations, but I ended up approving of Vime’s actions more than Batman’s.

My apologies for thread drift, but I’m finding this an interesting topic.

 

[revert_jen]

Sounds vaguely familiar. Do you remember which book?

I’m pretty sure that it was Wyrd Sisters, because weren’t they trying to figure out what was wrong with the country? I remember something about abjuring the demon with the “bald washing brush of mystery” or something like that. Hilarious!

And yes, Sam Vimes is a very moral character, too. I think one of the best things about him is that (as we are all supposed to) he always remembers that he is a sinner (whether he calls it that or not). And I love his wife. Just intelligent and quiet and kind until there is a very good reason not to be, and then WHAM!

Anyway, about the subject of the thread, if you can stop yourself blaspheming, then it is best to replace it with something that can’t cause scandal if people aren’t listening properly. I’m not sure that “gods-be-damned” is blasphemy, but I’m sure it’s unwise to use it. Aside from someone not hearing the “s” and thinking you are trying to dam* God, you might give people the idea that you are a polytheist. (Also, IMO, it would sound a bit affected. )

–Jen