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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: alexzurhorst on August 12, 2011, 03:47:24 pm

Title: What makes a word profane?
Post by: alexzurhorst on August 12, 2011, 03:47:24 pm

The word itself, or the meaning behind it?

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: articx on August 13, 2011, 12:21:04 pm

The meaning people gave to it.

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: ktheodos on August 14, 2011, 06:00:21 am

both....in some way

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: queenofnines on August 14, 2011, 07:46:21 am

Neither.  A "bad" word is completely dependent on what is societal acceptable at a given time.  Plenty of today's "bad" words used to be considered perfectly benign, and vice versa.

It's all  :bs: if you ask me.  Censorship is fake, stupid, and mostly unnecessary.  The only thing that matters is if what you speak is the truth.

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: jordandog on August 14, 2011, 07:52:32 am

Quote from: queenofnines on August 14, 2011, 07:46:21 am

Neither.  A "bad" word is completely dependent on what is societal acceptable at a given time.  Plenty of today's "bad" words used to be considered perfectly benign, and vice versa.

It's all  :bs: if you ask me.  Censorship is fake, stupid, and mostly unnecessary.  The only thing that matters is if what you speak is the truth.

Excellent post, QON! I wonder how many realize the number of words in the Bible that would fall under censorship by today's 'rules'. Political correctness, which changes with the winds, will be the death of intelligence if we don't keep an eye on that BS too. :P

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: sdecaro558 on August 14, 2011, 08:32:05 am

What makes a word profane is neither the meaning nor the history of the word, but societal standards.  There are words that in the 1800's were completely acceptable that aren't at all acceptable now, some bad enough that people want to censor certain classic books (like the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain).  The same is true of gestures - the middle finger is bad in our society, but things that are completely acceptable here have different meanings elsewhere.  I believe it is in China that a "thumbs up" is actually an obscene gesture and an insult.  Language changes, and so, insults and profanity change.

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: yosav on August 14, 2011, 08:41:47 am

the meaning even if someone said a word that wasnt bad but meant bad it would be profane to you

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: hello_orange on August 14, 2011, 09:28:08 am

usually its the context the word is used in

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: queenofnines on August 15, 2011, 06:52:05 pm

Thanks, jordandog!   :)

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: webmasterdn on August 15, 2011, 07:37:08 pm

The tone they use it on. Example of a female dog and the blue lake you swim lol.

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: bud1 on August 15, 2011, 09:28:48 pm

It depends in what part of the world you live in. 

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: may7991 on August 16, 2011, 12:03:11 am

In my perspective, it'll be the meaning and the word itself haha :)

Title: Re: What makes a word profane?
Post by: alisonhowey on August 16, 2011, 12:04:35 am

i think the only thing that makes a word profane is the meaning people gave to it. theres a lot of "bad" words that really dont mean bad things at all