A question

LeoZ 2004-11-08 18:20:18 ET Why do we curse? Or, to be more specific with my question, why do we use expletives? Like after we learnthe words "fuck" and "shit" and then we drop something on our foot why do we go "FUCK!" or "SHIT!" Or "Motherfucker!" Why do we say "Motherfucker!" when something bad/unexpected happens? I'm noticing this cause I'm trying to cut down on my curse words. I stopped saying "Motherfucker" and now just say "Mother!" Does that make me Dutch Schultz?

The Statutory Ape 2004-11-08 18:24:20 ET Perhaps it's just a learned habit.

analog sky 2004-11-08 18:54:49 ET Motherfucker is one of the better words in the English language. Keep that word and give up a slightly less useful world like "dickface" in its place.

tetesuro 2004-11-08 18:57:52 ET Dickface world, far out!

roots radical 2004-11-08 19:22:10 ET it's hard to cut down on cursing. I've been working on that for awhile. I think it has a lot to do with the enviroment and how people around you talk.

Enamon 2004-11-08 20:19:28 ET It's the same reason why some people scream when hurt or scared - to notify the rest of the pack. The reason we use FUCK or SHIT is because they are one syllable words. Their meaning has nothing to do with it. That's why us Russians say "blyat'"(sp?). It's a one syllable word. It means "whore" (I think) and thus has a completely different meaning from FUCK or SHIT. The reason us Russians dont say SHIT when we stub our toe is because the Russian word for shit, "gavno" is two syllables and requires more effort to say. Of course when we're insulting someone, words like "motherfucker" are great since they are lengthy and can be said forcefully (just like SHIT and FUCK are easy to say with force). When deliberately insulting someone a longer syllable word is usually used. You rarely hear someone calling someone else a FUCK or a SHIT (which are monosyllabic). Instead you hear MOTHERFUCKER SON OF A BITCH STUPID FUCK NO GOOD SHIT ASSHOLE SHITKICKER etc. I hope that explains it.

LeoZ 2004-11-08 20:21:50 ET No, no, a lot of people, including me use 2 syllable words as an expletive. But why does it become so natural to use them?

Enamon 2004-11-08 20:27:06 ET It depend on the situation. As for the reason it's so natural to use them is because, like I said in the beginning, it's a way to tell all the other humans around you that you got hurt or that there's something wrong. Since humans linguistic animals and tend to communicate more through words than basic sounds they tend to substitute words for natural sounds.

antony green 2004-11-09 19:26:29 ET it's like why I say "curse me" instead of "bless you" after someone sneezes.

Enamon 2004-11-09 19:27:57 ET I just say Salud or Gesundeheit.

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