Where did "Bad" words come from?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Where did "Bad" words come from?

Posted: 9/13/2002 8:07:48 PM EDT

Does anybody know why we have "bad words". Like you can say feces but not shit. It refers to the same substance. It's just a word. I think it has something to do with religion a long time ago. Any thoughts?

Posted: 9/13/2002 8:10:38 PM EDT

[#1]

I believe words don't bring on a bad connotation until people use them in a sense to where it can be construed as being a "bad" word. Therefore, I'd have to say people are the ones who make them bad simply by how they choose to use them.

Posted: 9/13/2002 8:21:16 PM EDT

[#2]

A long time ago, I seem to remember hearing that a lot of the words considered coarse language originated with the peasantry in England. It was considered in poor taste in noble society to use the same words as them. Like I said, it was awhile ago when I heard this and can't remember if the source was trustworthy or not.

Personally, the whole thing with people getting up in a fuss about swear words seems pretty pointless to me. I can understand the problems with using the name of the Lord in vain, if one is a christian, but otherwise, who cares.

Posted: 9/13/2002 8:49:24 PM EDT

[#3]

There are no bad words. Think about it. When you get pissed you can say "darn" or "dang" or "damn". With all three you mean the same thing. So how is one "bad." Same for fudge, freak, frig, fuck...all mean the same thing.

As for "The Lord's name in vain" thing, "Goddamn" is not using the Lord's name. The Lord's name is Jehovah/Yahweh, or I Am That I Am. Therefore Jehovahdamn is using the Lord's name in vain, or I Am That I Am Damn is, but God's name is NOT God.

My 1.58 cents

TS [X]

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:04:56 PM EDT

[#4]

When I tell my wife I wanna "fuck", she gets pissed off and walks away...

When I tell her I wanna "make love", she drags me into the bedroom...

Go figure...They both mean the same thing to me.[:D]

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:14:10 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
When I tell my wife I wanna "fuck", she gets pissed off and walks away...

When I tell her I wanna "make love", she drags me into the bedroom...

Go figure...They both mean the same thing to me.[:D]

View Quote

I KNEW I was doing something wrong!!
I'm gonna try option #2 tonight . [:D]

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:35:07 PM EDT

[#6]

I agree, i use all those words on a daily basis. I'm just wondering how they got to become unacceptable to use.

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:39:37 PM EDT

[#7]

Bad words originated shortly after the invention of the coffee table.
The first words were muttered in dimlit caves from men not wearing goat leggings and stumbling through the dark to happen upon such tables.

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:40:54 PM EDT

[#8]

Normans.

Nearly all the 'bad' words in English are the old Anglic words that the Saxons used, or words that have evolved from the words that the Saxons used.

When the French-Vikings, the Normans, took over they didnt use those words and they were considered part of the 'underclass', not to be used in 'polite' company.

Posted: 9/13/2002 9:47:43 PM EDT

[#9]

same old bullshit (OOPS)....there was a time
when thumbing your nose at someone was considered obscene. it is just a bunch of crap.
today showing someone your middle finger is
considered obscene & can get you in legal
trouble. so in the future show them your
pinkie finger.

Posted: 9/13/2002 10:03:33 PM EDT

[#10]

... tits doesn't even belong on the list, sounds like some sort of snack food. Tater Tits. Bet 'ya can't eat just one.

George Carlin from a long long long time ago.

Posted: 9/14/2002 4:01:39 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
When I tell my wife I wanna "fuck", she gets pissed off and walks away...

When I tell her I wanna "make love", she drags me into the bedroom...

Go figure...They both mean the same thing to me.[:D]

View Quote

Kinda sorta.

During the Middle Ages in England, permission was required from the King to procreate. Notice would be posted out front

F ornication
U nder
C onsent of the
K ing

At least that is what I was told once was the origin of this word.

[img]http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/huh.gif[/img]

Posted: 9/14/2002 4:24:49 AM EDT

[#12]

Yeah, but with the proper setup, the first one can get you dragged onto the kitchen table. [:D]

Quoted:
When I tell my wife I wanna "fuck", she gets pissed off and walks away...

When I tell her I wanna "make love", she drags me into the bedroom...

Go figure...They both mean the same thing to me.[:D]

View Quote

Posted: 9/14/2002 4:52:23 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Kinda sorta.

During the Middle Ages in England, permission was required from the King to procreate. Notice would be posted out front

F ornication
U nder
C onsent of the
K ing

At least that is what I was told once was the origin of this word.

[url]http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/huh.gif[/url]

View Quote

Sorry, that is a legend.

the F word is more than likely descended from old German or Dutch, maybe Old Norse.

[url]http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.htm[/url]

Posted: 9/14/2002 6:13:02 AM EDT

[#14]

Okay sorry, those who knew me know I had to do this:

Main Entry: [2]fuck
Function: noun
Date: 1680
1 : usually obscene : an act of copulation
2 : usually obscene : a sexual partner
3 a : usually vulgar : DAMN 2 b : usually vulgar : — used especially with the as a meaningless intensive

Main Entry: [1]fuck
Pronunciation: 'f&k
Function: verb
Etymology: akin to Dutch fokken to breed (cattle), Swedish dialect fokka to copulate
Date: 1503
intransitive senses
1 : usually obscene : COPULATE — sometimes used in the present participle as a meaningless intensive
2 : usually vulgar : MESS 3 — used with with
transitive senses
1 : usually obscene : to engage in coitus with — sometimes used interjectionally with an object (as a personal or reflexive pronoun) to express anger, contempt, or disgust
2 : usually vulgar : to deal with unfairly or harshly : CHEAT, SCREW

Silence gets a cookie for saying this was dutch. Remember, when in doubt Meriam Webster always slid a little something extra interesting into his dictionary. [;)]

Posted: 9/14/2002 6:39:56 AM EDT

[#15]

More elitist nonsense.

Posted: 9/14/2002 9:01:45 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
There are no bad words. Think about it. When you get pissed you can say "darn" or "dang" or "damn". With all three you mean the same thing. So how is one "bad." Same for fudge, freak, frig, fuck...all mean the same thing.

As for "The Lord's name in vain" thing, "Goddamn" is not using the Lord's name. The Lord's name is Jehovah/Yahweh, or I Am That I Am. Therefore Jehovahdamn is using the Lord's name in vain, or I Am That I Am Damn is, but God's name is NOT God.

My 1.58 cents

TS [X]

View Quote

using the lords name in vain is just{crocodile tears) Praying to god and not really meaning it,that is taking his name in vain!

All the rest is just bull shit!

Bob [:D]