Kolya on 16/10/2007 at 13:26
Quote Posted by ZymeAddict
Sorry Kolya, but just because an idea is old doesn't make it incorrect. Language does fluctuate, and it's "level" is usually directly related to the health of a society. I would say it's an indisputable fact that the average person now has a fouler vocabulary than probably any other time in history, and this degrading process started right after the vaunted upheaval of the 1960s which my liberal profs are always going on about.
There's no "level" of language, as in one slang or language is better than another. (See (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Labov) W.Labov on African American Vernacular English)
And since we're talking about it, there's no "foul" language either. There are social conventions to use an appropriate code in a given situation, which can easily change over time. But even people who use an inappropriate code because they don't know better or just disagree with you about which conventions currently apply,
are able to express everything in their code that you can express in yours.It's a mistake that's easily made to think that someone who doesn't use your code is dumber than you, or that their code is a degradation of yours. Watch people use Baby-talk on foreigners. Or watch people react to "AOL speak" on these forums. Usually it's possible for anyone to get what these people are saying (even though you haven't "learned" AOL speak), but since it's not the preferred code here, forumers will act as if they didn't understand, talk about the asker in 3rd person or ignore them. What's happening in these cases as well as in your case is that people use their own code to shape and define their group, who's in and out.
You want to be part of a certain group too, so you distance yourself from "foul language". Your opinion that language was in a constant degradation process helps you with that. I'm confident that this will work out for you. A lot of intelligent people share that opinion, but you will find few linguists among them.
Vivian on 16/10/2007 at 13:44
Koyla right. Language is what people speak. The only way it could maybe 'degrade' is if the information content somehow goes down, not if liberals use more trendy curse-words.
PS donkey balls, pigs cock, shit-pie, hairy long-knackered goat groping fuckwich.
fett on 16/10/2007 at 15:42
Quote Posted by Kolya
You want to be part of a certain group too, so you distance yourself from "foul language". Your opinion that language was in a constant degradation process helps you with that. I'm confident that this will work out for you. A lot of intelligent people share that opinion, but you will find few linguists among them.
Exactly. The definition of 'foul language' at this point in history is defined by religious mores, not some objective rule book. I find this to be hilariously ironic since most Biblical language is sexual by nature - even the relationship between man and God is defined repeatedly in sexual (and I don't mean profane or graphic) language that would be considered offensive and inappropriate if used from a pulpit today.
Question: Can you describe the objective difference between these two words:
1) Feces
2) Shit
Answer: The use and arrangement of varying letters.
Sure they each carry a different connotation socially, but that's due to a perception (that for many, is a mistaken notion of morality) - not the inherent use or meaning of the words themselves.
Rug Burn Junky on 16/10/2007 at 15:49
Quote Posted by ZymeAddict
No, I think what is happening here is exactly what I think is happening here. You, like too many other idiots nowadays, can't form a coherent argument to counter an opinion you consider "moronic", and instead resort to ad hominem attacks and four-letter words. So again, thanks for helping to prove my point. :thumb:
Ummm, yeah. Sure.
D'JK has already explained what I've done (hell, for example's sake, just scroll up on the first page, and you'll find plenty of coherent thought provided by moi), and pretty much everyone is pointing out why your opinion is moronic. I've simply given you the noose to hang yourself with, thanks for jumping through my hoops, kiddo!
Now, while you're jumping to wildly off-base assumptions about me being an idiot (I assure you, I'm fucking smarter than you are, even if I do use an occasional f-bomb), let me just point out that you're using big words that you clearly don't understand: If you could please direct me to the ad hominem attack I used here, I would be most grateful. ;)
Cheerio!
Rogue Keeper on 16/10/2007 at 15:54
I'm *a bit* pissed now from a completely unrelated reason. May I join this productive debate between you two? :D
fett on 16/10/2007 at 17:13
I have a sinking feeling it's not going to be productive. Entertaining - yes. Productive - no.
Sypha Nadon on 19/10/2007 at 04:04
I saw the Police live in Montreal over the summer and it was very enjoyable. Wish they had played a few more of their non-hit songs as it were, but all in all, it was a good time. The acoustics were deafening though, and there was this one bald guy in front of me who kept whistling over and over again, like he would stick two fingers in his mouth and whistle really loud and it was maddening... I hate whistling. Other than that it was fun.
Scots Taffer on 19/10/2007 at 04:23
IT'S SYPHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SYPHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SYPHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAUAU AUAUUGUGGUGUAUAGUGUUGUGAUAGUHJHJHJHHAJHKLLgls sglgssglglslsglsg
Aja on 19/10/2007 at 04:23
you pigfucker you'll get banned for that! :mad:
Scots Taffer on 19/10/2007 at 04:23
well gee that fucked things up
