esp said:
How do you feel about swearing?
It's just language. All these words that we now consider obscene will be considered polite in a hundred years. A hundred years ago it was considered vulgar to say "thigh." We now call women's mammaries "breasts" because "tits," which was originally "teats," had once been acceptable but had become vulgar.
What do you think those words really mean?
I'm not sure what you "really mean." They all have dictionary definitions, which I don't think is true in all languages. Every native speaker of Spanish I've asked has been stumped over the root meaning of "pendejo" and "chingazo," they're just insults. What they mean in context is anger. Most of us don't use those words, at least "in polite company," unless we want people to know we're really pissed off.
How does swearing effect you?
It lets me know that the speaker is angry. When I hear it in rap videos I realize that today's curse words are headed for oblivion, because they use them so much that their impact has been blunted. I can still be startled to hear swearing in a milieu where it's not expected, such as a business meeting or a gathering of middle-aged women. Children use it so much it's just all blah blah blah.
Do you swear a lot or are you subjected to a lot of cursing?
Yeah, living in L.A. in the 1960s as a teenager, I adopted a lot of off-color language. I'm more housebroken now, but I think nothing of peppering my speech with four-letter words if I'm among friends, men my own age, or people whom I've already heard swear. I don't overdo it in the sense that I know in which situations it's so inappropriate that it would damage my career or relationships. But I stay near the edge.
In which situations would you consider swearing appropriate?
Well, I just told you. Situations in which you won't be outraging anyone that you'll regret outraging. Situations in which you want to express extreme anger or frustration. Situations in which you want to demonstrate that you're as hip as the next dude.
Would you feel as comfortable swearing at your doctor that your spouse?
My wife and I swear at each other regularly and comfortably. I've never sworn at my doctor but if she ever gives me reason to you can be sure that I will. I'm certain that she can take it and would laugh it off.
What could I say to you, and in what situations?
Use the words when you need to make the impact. Don't use so many of them that I've gotten used to hearing them come out of their mouth so they've lost their impact. Don't dis my wife unless you're one of
her peers and she's standing there to hear it.
You can curse at my country all you want, but don't ever, ever, ever, dis my dogs. That would be "fightin' words."
