| Author |
Message |
Subba Rao
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:30 pm
Post subject: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Hello everyone,
I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
Could someone please correct me if I am wrong? Thank you in advance for
any clarification.
Regards,
PS - I live in the US and thus use American English.
--
SR
castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com
Please remove SPAMBUSTER to reply via email.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Molly Mockford
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
At 06:30:26 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, Subba Rao
<castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in
<l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com>:
| Quote: | I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
|
Yes, "hell" is considered a swear-word in the UK, but a very mild one,
about the same level as "damn".
These things vary by culture, though - the French "merde" is much milder
than the literal translation "shit", and the Channel Island patois word
"bougre" is considered hardly swearing at all, even though it means
"bugger".
--
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Troy Steadman
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Molly Mockford wrote:
| Quote: | At 06:30:26 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, Subba Rao
castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in
l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com>:
I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
Yes, "hell" is considered a swear-word in the UK, but a very mild one,
about the same level as "damn".
|
But "hell" and "damn" equally have non-swear-word usage; unlike say the
F or C words. The phrase "A go-to-hell attitude" is not swearing. "Go
to hell!" is.
| Quote: | These things vary by culture, though - the French "merde" is much milder
than the literal translation "shit", and the Channel Island patois word
"bougre" is considered hardly swearing at all, even though it means
"bugger".
--
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ray o'hara
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
"Subba Rao" <castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
| Quote: | Hello everyone,
I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
Could someone please correct me if I am wrong? Thank you in advance for
any clarification.
Regards,
PS - I live in the US and thus use American English.
|
It is a mild swear. Use "A devil may care attitude" it means the same and
won't offend anyone. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Don Phillipson
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
"Subba Rao" <castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
| Quote: | I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
|
Swear words are relative to unstated general cultural
assumptions (taboos) most commonly concerning
sex, religion and politics. Thus words invoking excretion
or sexual activity are swear words in some cultures, but
not others. By contrast, the swearing lexicon of French Quebec
includes many specifically religious words (e.g. ciborium,
chalice.) Tightly controlled political communities certify
specific words and phrases for abuse, e.g. fascist hyena:
but the same words, uttered by someone else, may
carry no such weight. Each of us needs to know the
local social environment, i.e. which taboos are recognized
and which are not.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Molly Mockford
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
At 04:37:10 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, Troy Steadman
<troysteadman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in
<1130585830.352202.229190@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>:
| Quote: | But "hell" and "damn" equally have non-swear-word usage; unlike say the
F or C words. The phrase "A go-to-hell attitude" is not swearing. "Go
to hell!" is.
|
I've never heard of "a go-to-hell attitude" - if it doesn't mean (as I
had assumed) an attitude which leads one to say "Go to hell" to
somebody, then perhaps it's an American thing.
As I mentioned in my last post, these things vary with culture. I
assume the OP included ucle in the post because he wanted British
opinions.
--
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Brian Wickham
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 08:09:17 -0400, "ray o'hara" <roh@comcast.net>
wrote:
| Quote: |
"Subba Rao" <castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
Hello everyone,
I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
It is a mild swear. Use "A devil may care attitude" it means the same and
won't offend anyone.
|
I interpret the two as having different meanings. A person who loves
to party, or burn the candle at both ends, may have a "devil may care"
attitude. But a person who says, "screw you, I'm doing it my way" has
a "go to hell" attitude.
I see a "go to hell" attitude to be directed at those around the
person in question. A "devil may care" attitude is directed within.
I think the OP implied that his "go to hell" attitude was the result
of a bitter experience that soured his outlook. That would not
describe a "devil may care" person who is usually thought of as happy
and carefree.
Brian Wickham |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TakenEvent
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:16 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
"Molly Mockford" <nospamnobody@mollymockford.me.uk> wrote in message
news:24OVSOOri2YDFwTQ@molly.mockford...
| Quote: | At 04:37:10 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, Troy Steadman
troysteadman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in
1130585830.352202.229190@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>:
But "hell" and "damn" equally have non-swear-word usage; unlike say the
F or C words. The phrase "A go-to-hell attitude" is not swearing. "Go
to hell!" is.
I've never heard of "a go-to-hell attitude" - if it doesn't mean (as I
had assumed) an attitude which leads one to say "Go to hell" to
somebody, then perhaps it's an American thing.
As I mentioned in my last post, these things vary with culture. I
assume the OP included ucle in the post because he wanted British
opinions.
--
|
Actually, the OP included "PS - I live in the US and thus use American
English" because he didn't.
I've never heard of a go-to-hell attitude before either. It is probably as
you describe. Hell used to be a swear word, though it's used regularly on
cable these days. It's lost some of its power; a fact that should make
those who would be offended by it a little happier. "Go to Hell!" is used
when "fuck you" or "fuck off" would be inappropriate due to circumstance,
but where the general idea must still be conveyed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Flynn
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Dave Fawthrop wrote:
[snip]
| Quote: | As children (1940s) we were taught various songs where "the other
place" and other euphemisms are used.
|
L*nc*sh*r*?
--
johnF
"Everything that is specifically human about our mode of awareness is a
product of our long-standing symbiosis with culture."
-- _A Mind So Rare_, Merlin Donald |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Molly Mockford
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
At 10:16:11 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, TakenEvent
<lightbulbsnickety@chartermi.net> wrote in
<luL8f.17313$0d3.14875@fe06.lga>:
| Quote: | "Molly Mockford" <nospamnobody@mollymockford.me.uk> wrote in message
news:24OVSOOri2YDFwTQ@molly.mockford...
As I mentioned in my last post, these things vary with culture. I
assume the OP included ucle in the post because he wanted British
opinions.
Actually, the OP included "PS - I live in the US and thus use American
English" because he didn't.
|
I can see no other possible reason for his including ucle than that he
did want responses from both sides of the pond. Whatever, he's got
them!
--
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TakenEvent
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
"Molly Mockford" <nospamnobody@mollymockford.me.uk> wrote in message
news:xGx0ttPU94YDFwRl@molly.mockford...
| Quote: | At 10:16:11 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, TakenEvent
lightbulbsnickety@chartermi.net> wrote in
luL8f.17313$0d3.14875@fe06.lga>:
"Molly Mockford" <nospamnobody@mollymockford.me.uk> wrote in message
news:24OVSOOri2YDFwTQ@molly.mockford...
As I mentioned in my last post, these things vary with culture. I
assume the OP included ucle in the post because he wanted British
opinions.
Actually, the OP included "PS - I live in the US and thus use American
English" because he didn't.
I can see no other possible reason for his including ucle than that he
did want responses from both sides of the pond. Whatever, he's got
them!
--
|
It was either his mistake, or he figured that even posters from the U.K.
could enlighten him as to American usage. Not a big deal -- moving on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Dean
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Troy Steadman wrote:
| Quote: | Molly Mockford wrote:
At 06:30:26 on Sat, 29 Oct 2005, Subba Rao
castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote in
l6idncZSsb_e0v7eRVn-rA@adelphia.com>:
I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell"
attitude. She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not
know that "Go to hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the
impression that the F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear
words.
Yes, "hell" is considered a swear-word in the UK, but a very mild
one, about the same level as "damn".
But "hell" and "damn" equally have non-swear-word usage; unlike say
the F or C words. The phrase "A go-to-hell attitude" is not swearing.
"Go to hell!" is.
|
Indeed. Otherwise such words as "hell" and "damnation" would not appear
in the Bible. Or in GCSE English papers.
--
John "All Hell broke loose" Dean
Oxford |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mike Stevens
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:19 am
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Molly Mockford wrote:
| Quote: | These things vary by culture, though - the French "merde" is much
milder than the literal translation "shit", and the Channel Island
patois word "bougre" is considered hardly swearing at all, even
though it means "bugger".
|
Here's a genuine quote I heard from an old fellow in a pub I used to
frequent with my late father-in-law. Said chap, know to the other locals as
"Deaf Fred" had spent some years of his youth, several decades before, in
Australia, and on one occasion said "That be a terrible place, that
Australia. They calls one another a bastard as easy as you & I calls one
another a bugger".
--
Mike Stevens
narrowboat Felis Catus II
Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
No man is an island. So is Man. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Reinhold (Rey) Aman
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:29 am
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
Subba Rao wrote:
Namaste,
| Quote: | I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
She asked me not to use those swear words.
|
Jesus Christ! What an uptight cunt. Listen to a wise old man, Subba:
Dump that silly prudish twat and get yourself a real woman. She'll be
nothing but trouble. Trust me.
[...]
~~~ Rey ~~~
Vivat lingam
Non resurgam
http://www.sonic.net/maledicta/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dave Fawthrop
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:32 am
Post subject: Re: Go to hell - Is this swearing? |
|
|
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 06:30:26 -0400, Subba Rao
<castellan2004-mail@SPAMBUSTER.yahoo.com> wrote:
| Hello everyone,
|
| I was narrating a business conversation to my girlfriend. I have
| mentioned that the business dealing lead me to a "Go to hell" attitude.
| She asked me not to use those swear words. I did not know that "Go to
| hell" was a swear word/phrase. I am under the impression that the
| F-word, s**t word etc, were considered swear words.
|
| Could someone please correct me if I am wrong? Thank you in advance for
| any clarification.
Well in my parents days, c1920-1936 "hell" was a very bad word, and would
definitely be concidered swearing. As children (1940s) we were taught
various songs where "the other place" and other euphemisms are used. Even
as a child I thought this rather daft.
--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk>
"Intelligent Design?" my knees say *not*.
"Intelligent Design?" my back says *not*.
More like "Incompetent design" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| |
FAQ
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in