Well, duh. Anyone who has ever stubbed their toe knows this already but one of the researchers, Dr Stephens, raises an interesting point:
"If they want to use this pain-lessening effect to their advantage they need to do less casual swearing.
"Swearing is emotional language but if you overuse it, it loses its emotional attachment."
I'm not sure that I agree with this. I think there are likely many types of swearing that people use depending on the context. I swear casually all the time and that sort of swearing is very different that how I swear when I'm in pain or when I'm pissed-off.
I think, for me, there is casual swearing and 'charged swearing.' For instance, one of my favourite movies is The Big Lebowski. Apparently is has the most mentions of the word 'fuck' than any other film. I barely even notice it as to me it's mostly used very casually and is somewhat similar to how I swear casually in certain contexts. But how I use the word 'fuck' when in pain could peel paint off walls.
I think this clip illustrates what I mean; there is 'yeah, fuck it' and 'FUCK!!!'. If you don't like swearing, run away now.
Sooo....
What do you think about what the researcher says? Do you feel that you have different categories or types of swearing? etc...
Fuck yes. But that aside, I'm off to join the Casual Swearing Appreciation Society. (last paragraph).
ReplyDeleteNeil, if you can find them, let me know, eh? I looked. I think the author made it up.
ReplyDeleteQuick....dial 911! HURRY! I think I swallowed my fuckin' tongue!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly fuck, that so reminds me of my old fucking office I can't fucking believe it! It was like old fucking home week! FUCK!That was great. Thanks for the laugh.
Actually, I agree with you. I do have various levels of swearing words. Especially if I drop something or hammer my thumb or any other stupid ass thing I might do. And if I don't want anybody to understand me, I just swear in French.
lol! Tabarnac de calisse!!
ReplyDeleteMy first boyfriend was Acadian and his mother, when she got angry.... woo! look out! I loved it... she would go on and on and on, louder and louder! lol... When she was in a better mood, I asked her to teach me... my poor first boyfriend. ;-)
Are you bilingual Bogey?
Oui, je suis capable du fait de parler dans le français, surtout les mauvais mots.
ReplyDeleteI see you picked up a few choice words along the way yourself!
Isn't the point of learning a new language so that you can expand your swearing vocabulary? ;-) I took a couple of American Sign Language courses recently and one of the first things I did was search Youtube for swearing signs, haha.
ReplyDeleteI used to be bilingual. I went to French Immersion school for grades 7, 8 and 9. I was fairly fluent but 'use it or lose it' and I lost it. Although when I was in Ottawa last summer, I could sense that it would probably be easy to pick up again if I was surrounded by it but barely anyone speaks French out on the coast.
Funny vid! Have you seen "Zack and Miri Make a Porno"? I seem to remember a lot of cursing in that one.
ReplyDeleteI used to curse a lot until I could do it in front of my mom and it did bother her.
What I think is freaking stupid is all the darn "polite curse words". It's all a pile of fudge. Jeez Louise! I mean really - is there a difference between "fucking" and "freaking" - at least verbally? Everybody knows what you mean. Isn't what one thinks and feels more important than the bullshit one spouts?
I fuckin love to swear. Makes me feel like a right clever cunt (sorry, i ken some folks - and particularly women - find that a really offensive word but where i come from, it's a genuine term of endearment).
ReplyDeleteAnd i totally agree, there's casual, pishy, meaningless swearing and there's serious, i'm angry, i want to offend you or i'm in serious pain swearing which mos def helps to ease the angst.
Haven't seen that flic Russ. I have however left a freaking foul message of your blog. haha!
ReplyDeleteHey Naldo, cunt doesn't usually bother me. Many, many years ago, I got all bandwagony on the idea of the time of 'reclaiming the word' for myself and fellow sistahs. I wore a t-shirt with 'cunt' spelled out across the front. It was a tie-dyed t-shirt that I loved and wore it with defiance and pride. One day a friend pointed out that because of the tie-dye patterns on the t-shirt, 'cunt' actually looked like 'cant'... lol. Rebel without a clue.
Am I the only woman who swears around here?
I'm not a casual swearer. So if you start to hear those words coming from my mouth, beware. That's the thunder before the storm.
ReplyDeletelol! I'll keep that in mind! =:-o
ReplyDelete;-)