VEGANGELICA

Hello Unfan, fellow Iowan, and others considering the conundrum of curses,

Hmm...in my part of Iowa "wank-stain" was never used (at least that *I* heard) but "twat" sort of meant the same is "dickhead" (jerk/dummy) and was used by kids when I was growing up. "Twat" definitely was a term of contempt and hostility toward women but was broadened to apply to anyone who was considered "a fool." And "cunt" was *much much* stronger and derogatory (toward women) than "twat." "Cunt" is very potent indeed.

My view on curse words: I don't like it when words are used intentionally to be mean to other people, but I don't care if words are used just as an out-pouring of emotion such as when you hit your thumb with a hammer and shout out some swear word. In other words, I don't care about the word but I do care about the intentions of the person saying it. I agree that the concept of certain words being forbidden is silly, because the word used does not change the thought or feeling behind it.

A recent article I read somewhere said that swear/curse words when vocalized during pain actually reduce the sensation of pain...but only if the person doesn't usually use the words (there has to be a sense of violating something socially acceptable for cursing out loud to reduce pain). I think classifying "curse words" as inappropriate is just one additional way a culture tries to enforce certain rules of behavior and get people not to question authority.

One of my big dislikes regarding swear words is religious hypocrisy about them. Once someone who is Christian said to me, after I said "darn," that I shouldn't say that, because it means "damn." Then, moments later she said the word, "Golly!" I told her that "Golly" is a euphemism for God...but she refused to believe me! Quick to criticize me, but very, very slow about taking the log out of her own eye.

I agree with those who think it is silly when someone says "Jeez!" instead of "Jesus," as if a god, if there were one, would be fooled by that replacement, or care about the spoken word when I should think the thought would count more than the word to a reasonable god. Thinking a god cares about the actual sound of the word vocalized seems to me like an admission that the god is petty, cruel, and superficial. Since I feel in the first place that a religious view that some god wouldn't want its name spoken is preposterous, I find it tedious to tiptoe around what I see are silly, random religious sensitivities about certain words. And yet...I *do* tiptoe...avoiding words that I know are upsetting to some people, because I'd rather they didn't feel offended and it is easy enough for me not to say them. I suppose I want to avoid them being angry with me. Arrgggh! I'm bowing down before oppression!!!

I actually don't like "Jeez" at all because it means someone is expressing impatience and is looking down on another without being able to maturely express his/her feelings. I prefer the person to just say straight out: "I feel frustrated with you because of this or that" instead of just saying, "Jeez." I will listen to the former, which shows the person is at least patient enough to calmly state her/his feelings, but if a person just says "Jeez" this doesn't seem like an invitation to converse about the problem.

VeggieLover--I'll have to try your "Oh sew socks!" That sounds rather "me."

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