Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Emerson on Curse Words (Commonplace Book)

My mother can never understand why her Oxford educated son talks like a truck driver. But I have Emerson on my side:
What a pity we cannot curse and swear in good society! Cannot the stinging dialect of the sailors be domesticated? It is the best rhetoric, and for a hundred occasions those forbidden words are the only good ones. My page about 'Consistency' would better be written thus: Damn Consistency!
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9 comments:

  1. sara d. reissTuesday, September 12, 2006 at 11:18:00 AM EDT

    cuss. it's cussing. and cussing is fun

    ReplyDelete
  2. bradTuesday, September 12, 2006 at 5:33:00 PM EDT

    Fuck. Shit. Cock. Nuts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ping33Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 6:05:00 PM EDT

    "Tits doesn't even belong on the list, you know. It's such a friendly sounding word. It sounds like a nickname. 'Hey, Tits, come here. Tits, meet Toots, Toots, Tits, Tits, Toots.' It sounds like a snack doesn't it? Yes, I know, it is, right. But I don't mean the sexist snack, I mean, New Nabisco Tits. The new Cheese Tits, and Corn Tits and Pizza Tits, Sesame Tits Onion Tits, Tater Tits, Yeah. Betcha can't eat just one. That's true I usually switch off . But I mean that word does not belong on the list."

    ReplyDelete
  4. David GoldingTuesday, September 12, 2006 at 9:02:00 PM EDT

    "words are a motherfucker, they can be great" - Eminem

    ReplyDelete
  5. sara d. reissTuesday, September 12, 2006 at 9:12:00 PM EDT

    to brad:
    screw suck pussy arse

    ReplyDelete
  6. bradThursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:24:00 PM EDT

    to sara:
    boob butt anal rod

    ReplyDelete
  7. sara d. reissThursday, September 14, 2006 at 1:31:00 PM EDT

    titty. muthafucker. donkeypuncher.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousThursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:23:00 PM EDT

    I was surprised when I looked up the infamous "Seven Dirty Words" and found that "tits" is one of them. Even my grandmother said tits. Well, actually, she said "titties" but, close enough.

    Anyway, if people cuss all the time it loses it's impact so you don't have that shock value when you need it.

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  9. sara d. reissFriday, September 15, 2006 at 1:03:00 PM EDT

    one of our favorite telly shows in england actually had a bit about "dirty words" and what was still dirty and what no longer had shock value. apparently wanker used to be really shocking but is so commonly used now it's like saying "jerk"

    i love the "what's your favorite curse word?" question on Inside the Actor's Studio. sad but true.

    ReplyDelete