On a very related note, swear words have always baffled me, to some degree. I've always wondered, why do they actually sound worse than other words? What is it about them that triggers that response in our brain; why do we automatically label them 'offensive' upon hearing them?
This is especially confounding when you consider their definitions. 'Sh*t' means 'poo', essentially. But why is it that one is widely considered inappropriate, yet the other is entirely innocent? They're both colloquialisms for fecal matter, yet people respond to them so differently. And the word 'f*ck' means 'fornicate' - they have the same definition - yet one will make certain people gasp when used suddenly, whilst the other would only trigger mild confusion, and perhaps slight disgust, depending on the context.
Why are these certain words so offensive, whilst their synonyms leave eyelids relatively un-batted? Why have I chosen to censor these words in this post; why do I also buy into this social code without even thinking about it? I truth, I do know why: because it's what I've been told all of my life, and it's constantly re-enforced by society. But still, I do find it kind of odd to think about.
Edit: You know, if he was still a member of this forum, this thread would be an absolute haven for doodo! and his ramblings.
__________________
Read that instead ^.
|