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The
other day something happened, can’t remember what, but I said, “Oh crap.” “Mom,” my 8-year old son said, “you’re not supposed to say that.” Well, it was better than what I really wanted to say. While attending a Christian boarding school, I knew that I would have to curb the language, no four letter words here. But what I didn’t know was that I was also not allowed to say shoot, darn or oh my goodness. These are minced oaths-words based on profanity, but changed to make them less profane. Didn’t know that expression until I was told at school/Lisa Paolino, Are We There Yet. More here.
Question: Do you use four-letter words much? Or mince them into something more acceptable?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Fixer on December 11 at 12:24 p.m.
Entirely situational. Four-letter words do come in handy, though.
Luckily, I’ve been working with people of other nationalities over the last couple of years, and have learned some words and phrases that many Americans wouldn’t recognize, so I can swear more frequently and not offend anyone.
HonestGeorge on December 11 at 12:27 p.m.
Four-letter words are too restrictive. “Got down, couldn’t get up” and “Son-of-a-biscuit eater” soaks up more anger. But not around the grandkids. Son-of-a-gun is strong enough for them.
MusicalChair on December 11 at 12:36 p.m.
Must be how the word ‘suck’ got so popular. I used ‘shazbot’ from my Mork & Mindy days when I worked as a church secretary several years ago. Sometimes a Norwegian ‘uffdah’ works.
Stickman on December 11 at 5:18 p.m.
I try to avoid all of them, otherwise it shows our true intelligence. As one once said, “I have never had an intelligent conversation with one that curses”, or something to that effect. Must have been Dorothy Parker. One of my favorites. Words to that affect are not allowed in my simple carport.Teach your children well.
Escapee on December 12 at 8:49 p.m.
The only time I swear is when I’m in my car, and some senseless stupid inconsiderate driver tries to run into me. So I guess you could say I swear quite a lot…