i doubt i'll get to the others before tomorrow night (gotta teach someone powerpoint tomorrow...WHEEEEE!), so here's a quickie to tide you over...
i was thinking about swearing before falling asleep the other night. and it seems to me that the subtleties of language can be best expressed through that language's curse words, such as the subtle differences between the words "dick" and "cock".
connotations and implications and enunciations all play a part. someone calling you a dick is not the same as calling someone a cock. you shout dick in a crowded area and people may pass it off as someone looking for richard; you shout cock and people will not misinterpret your meaning. i could go on with other words - words used for women tend to be more titilating and controversial.
but this all goes back to words (and their meaning) having power. you give the words power. the power over you, to control your thoughts and feelings. once you truly believe that, then you've taken the power away and made it your own. no words can affect you. they bounce off, or become absorbed, but do not wound.
current mood: snuffly
current noise: end of "entourage" on hbo
i was thinking about swearing before falling asleep the other night. and it seems to me that the subtleties of language can be best expressed through that language's curse words, such as the subtle differences between the words "dick" and "cock".
connotations and implications and enunciations all play a part. someone calling you a dick is not the same as calling someone a cock. you shout dick in a crowded area and people may pass it off as someone looking for richard; you shout cock and people will not misinterpret your meaning. i could go on with other words - words used for women tend to be more titilating and controversial.
but this all goes back to words (and their meaning) having power. you give the words power. the power over you, to control your thoughts and feelings. once you truly believe that, then you've taken the power away and made it your own. no words can affect you. they bounce off, or become absorbed, but do not wound.
current mood: snuffly
current noise: end of "entourage" on hbo
uh huh, sticks and stones.
as an aside, ive actually tried to 'rescue' a situation where i loudly called someone a cock, but an officer overheard me. so after i shouted "you fucking cock!" i turned to carl and said, "have you seen my farmbird?"
*nods* mthe English Language is a funny thing.
that is a funny situation.
i had a gentleman from the Hell's Angels call me a "college bitch" and i yelled back "at least i can get into college"
i wonder how i've gotten through life without being beaten to a pulp yet.