Why is language offensive?

[dennissabre]

I asked in an earlier post (see below) about an offensive word?

It appears that a lot of people don't find this word offensive
so what i would like know is what is it that makes certain words offensive and why?

After all words are just words so what makes a word offensive and why?

Look at all the swear words there are? Why do they become offensive when after all they are just another word?



"Can anyone please tell me why one HM was ripped to pieces for using gangster talk yet another HM regularly uses the term Bitches when referring to women and this isn't an issue?I accept it is an americanism but why should that make it any more acceptable?"

[Ashleee:)]

I dont really find any swear words offensive. Its just a word. And i especially do not get the deal about the word B*****d. It was used in everyday sentences back in 16th century to describe children born out of wedlock. But now for some reason its like 'Oh my god! Did you just say that??' :shrug:

[AngRemembered]

Good point I'm not easily offended but I can understand why people can be by words and espeicially in the context they come.
I think most people would'nt care if they heard the phrase lifes a bitch, but may get hurt by hearing the phrase you son of a bitch or lazy bitch.
No word in particular offends me, just the context and manner in which they are said.

[Ashleee:)]

Yeah you do have a point there, the only thing that ive found offensive is when some idiot shouted something at my ex boyfriend when we were walking down the street, all becuase of the football top he was wearing.

Dont know if this is a common phrase everywhere or just in Scotland but it was ********n B*****d. And i was offended because of the context it was used, because of all the bigotry between football fans in Scotland. Its so bad. :nono:

[dennissabre]

If i called someone a banana it probably ( :hugesmile: ) wouldn't offend them,right? But if i called them a Sh*t then that is offensive?
Who decides what becomes the swear word and why?
:puzzled:

[Ashleee:)]

:mad:

Did you just call me a banana!!

How dare you!!

:bigsmile:

[dennissabre]

The things that keep me awake :laugh3:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
:mad:

Did you just call me a banana!!

How dare you!!

:bigsmile:

I'm so sorry :flowers:

Kind of lost mind there for a mo :banana:

[AngRemembered]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)

Dont know if this is a common phrase everywhere or just in Scotland but it was ********n B*****d. And i was offended because of the context it was used, because of all the bigotry between football fans in Scotland. Its so bad. :nono:

LOL, I think thats a common phrase in football all over the world.
I can understand it being offensive the fact it was shouted at him (assuming it also was aggresively) so no matter what word were used it woul'nt have been fun.
A lot of my friends (espeicially white) asked me how I felt about last years BB when someone mentioned the 'N' word and was then thrown out for it.
I still think it was harsh, espeicially after seeing whats gone on this year , again context last year the phrase was used by someone naive no offence at all, contrast that with the abuse it took for Alex to be ejected.
So my answer to those people was , still is
One word is crazy a warning that it may be not be wise to use it again would have settled the matter as not everyone is as tolerant to words as I am.
However throwing someone out over this word only highlighted to people that one word can be so shocking its considered a BIG issue, in a strange way BB only made the word more desirable to use if you want to offend and shock.

[Ashleee:)]

I thought the first word was irish... :puzzled: but never mind :)

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by AngnAndy
Originally posted by Ashleee:)

Dont know if this is a common phrase everywhere or just in Scotland but it was ********n B*****d. And i was offended because of the context it was used, because of all the bigotry between football fans in Scotland. Its so bad. :nono:

LOL, I think thats a common phrase in football all over the world.
I can understand it being offensive the fact it was shouted at him (assuming it also was aggresively) so no matter what word were used it woul'nt have been fun.
A lot of my friends (espeicially white) asked me how I felt about last years BB when someone mentioned the 'N' word and was then thrown out for it.
I still think it was harsh, espeicially after seeing whats gone on this year , again context last year the phrase was used by someone naive no offence at all, contrast that with the abuse it took for Alex to be ejected.
So my answer to those people was , still is
One word is crazy a warning that it may be not be wise to use it again would have settled the matter as not everyone is as tolerant to words as I am.
However throwing someone out over this word only highlighted to people that one word can be so shocking its considered a BIG issue, in a strange way BB only made the word more desirable to use if you want to offend and shock.
That's my reason for this poll. The N word is one of millions of offensive words but if i called some say a chair its not offensive. How do offensive words actually become offensive?

I have got another poll going at the mo which is which HM would you save in a fire?
Just for some light relief :joker:

[Princess]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
I thought the first word was irish... :puzzled: but never mind :)

Feck is an Irish swear word I think. People say it here ALL the time!


Swear words are confusing. But everything really is confusing. Why is any word a word? Why are swear words bad words? Who decided all this? Like it could be easily be changed that **** could be like a really nice word and the word puppy could be offensive! Its more philosophical than anything else.

[AngRemembered]

Absolutely, who knows in 20 years time we could have invented one in this thread that will become taboo then eventually against the law.
Yeah who knows in 10 years we may be getting the mods on here deleting posts because someone has called another Alex :shocked:

[dennissabre]

Feck is a made up word used in Father Ted :joker:

I actually prefer it :blush:

[AngRemembered]

Originally posted by Princess

Feck

My all time fave its a word not quite swearing but its still useable when you stub your toe at Sainsburys.


"Fecking trolley, and what are you fecking looking at, oh its you darling, sorry I stubbed my toe so I'm afraid the feck's off tonight love":dance2::joker::thumbs2:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by AngnAndy
Absolutely, who knows in 20 years time we could have invented one in this thread that will become taboo then eventually against the law.
Yeah who knows in 10 years we may be getting the mods on here deleting posts because someone has called another Alex :shocked:

I can't believe you just used the 4 letter word Al*x?
Now your being offensive :shocked: x 2 :joker:

[AngRemembered]

Originally posted by dennissabre

I can't believe you just used the 4 letter word Al*x?
Now your being offensive :shocked: x 2 :joker:

LOL!!!! oh feck it

[Ashleee:)]

You all know the F word im talking about isnt *******, right?? :conf2:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
You all know the F word Im talking about isnt *******, right?? :conf2:

Blast! I was was so so sure it was Frog :colour:

[Ashleee:)]

Shhh!!

Dont say it! God man, do you have a death wish?!!

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
Shhh!!in

Dont say it! God man, do you have a death wish?!!
and your using the G*d word again you blasphemer :banana:

[Ashleee:)]

Yes, because you are my God.


:laugh:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
Yes, because you are my God.


:laugh:
and tonight i am a DJ :dance::dance::dance:

[Ashleee:)]

God is a DJ. Fact. :thumbs:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
God is a DJ. Fact. :thumbs:
I thank you :dance2:

[Ashleee:)]

Only for tonight though....

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
Only for tonight though.... :puzzled:

[Ashleee:)]

Never mind...faithless song....:pat:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
Never mind...faithless song....:pat:
Insomnia :dance:

[Ashleee:)]

God is a DJ
Insomnia
Salva Mea
One step too far

:thumbs2:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
God is a DJ
Insomnia
Salva Mea
One step too far

:thumbs2:

Brilliant live :dance:

[Ashleee:)]

I can imagine :spin2:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
I can imagine :spin2:

Make the opportunity and stop for no one :dance:

Do you think we all got off my original post ? :joker:

[Ashleee:)]

:blush2: oops. Anway, so yeah swear words...??

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
:blush2: oops. Anway, so yeah swear words...??

Well the good news is that we haven't seen any yet? :shocked:

[Xander]

completely off topic but dennissabre, i noticed you avatar is the same breed of dog as mine and looks the same. :spin2: `I should get over my insomia habit because i start to post random things. :)

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Xander
completely off topic but dennissabre, i noticed you avatar is the same breed of dog as mine and looks the same. :spin2: `I should get over my insomia habit because i start to post random things. :)

That's my picture in the Avatar

[Ashleee:)]

You complete dog.

[Xander]

A dog, typing on Tibb?
:shocked:

[Ashleee:)]

There's a few dogs on here :tongue: and a bat and an elephant.

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
There's a few dogs on here :tongue: and a bat and an elephant.

Is it cos I's a dog?
If i was a Cat i wouldn't so much grief! :bigsmile:

[Ashleee:)]

cat's are boring though :bored:
Andy is a bat, a bat of a man! He's batman.

[AngRemembered]

hey who's the elephant :conf2::conf::shrug::wink:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by AngnAndy
hey who's the elephant :conf2::conf::shrug::wink:

Err Dumbo i think? :puzzled:

[Ashleee:)]

It was me! :laugh: ............ i was tramping on his little paws. :devil:

[dennissabre]

Banana!

[Ashleee:)]

Plum.

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Ashleee:)
Plum.

That hurt :bawling:

[x.Nicola.x]

I don't find swear words offensive when you just like say oh f'in hell or whatever. But I think when your aiming it at someone like your a ****** then it is as offensive as any other word. I do swear alot myself as I don't see a problem with it aslong as I am not aiming it at someone because at the end of the day they're just words.

[Lauren]

Usually the way they're used. Some swear words are usually only used in an aggressive or insulting manner, so are seen in the same way.

[xDramatick]

Swearing and stuff doesn't normally annoy me.

Words like 'bitch' don't particularly bother me depending on the context. If it's a joke, then I really don't miind, or if it's meant as bitch, i.e; someone who bitches. However in any other context, I wouldn't be happy.

I think most people have words they dislike being called.
I hate pretty much all gay derogatory terms, so unless someone has said it sensitively knowing that I'm gonna take it lightly, it's fine, but the majority of the time, I won't like it.

[Shaun]

The only language I can find offensive is racist, homophobic or sexist...basically any form of prejudice.

[Matt10k]

I hate it when someone refers to you as 'love', I find it patronising.

For some reason, it annoys me even more if the person is younger than me. It just seems strange, like something only a little old lady should be allowed to call me :joker:

[dennissabre]

Originally posted by Matt10k
I hate it when someone refers to you as 'love', I find it patronising.

For some reason, it annoys me even more if the person is younger than me. It just seems strange, like something only a little old lady should be allowed to call me :joker:

I totally agree with you love! :pat: :whistle:

[Matt10k]

Originally posted by dennissabre
Originally posted by Matt10k
I hate it when someone refers to you as 'love', I find it patronising.

For some reason, it annoys me even more if the person is younger than me. It just seems strange, like something only a little old lady should be allowed to call me :joker:

I totally agree with you love! :pat: :whistle:

:mad::mad::mad:

Oh wait, it's ok for you to say it though because you're older... though it would be unusual for a man to say it to another man!! :conf2:

[melanie]

Its not the words that are offensive, its the way a person says it.