Curse Words. Curse Words?
Something that’s always bugged me is the existence of curse words. Who decided that certain words are bad words in the first place? Take a step back from the world for a second. Better yet, imagine an alien has come to ask you some questions about Earth. Try explaining curse words to the alien, go for it. The alien would never understand it, because it really doesn’t make any sense.
“Certain words are bad words. Why? Uhhh, because they sound bad and are offensive. What’s offensive about them? Umm, they sound bad.”
I’d also like to add that another good example here is explaining this concept to children. I remember, as a child, being very confused as to why, in a time where I was learning so many words, I wasn’t allowed to say certain ones. What I like so much about this example is that most of us will have been in this position, as well as on the opposite end (a parent trying to explain such a ridiculous concept to their child) at some point in our lives. Special thanks to the stumbleupon user “pinkpennylady” for this excellent point.
Don’t get me wrong, there are certain words that can be offensive to certain groups because they are racist. However, the word itself isn’t offensive unless it is used in derogatory way. For example, if someone were to say “People used to call black people niggers, but that isn’t appropriate anymore”, the word doesn’t offend anybody. But if someone were to say “That nigger on the bus looked at me funny”, it is extremely offensive. Either way, the word itself needs context to become offensive. But let’s take a very general curse-word: The F-Bomb.
Let’s say someone on the news doing the weather someday said “it’s going to be fucking cold tomorrow.” Within 3 seconds someone calls up to complain. What is that conversation like? “Someone on TV said the f-word! I don’t like hearing that word and I don’t want my kids to hear it!”
SO WHAT? What’s next, the kids say it? SO WHAT? It’s a word. Words can’t hurt people. Sentences can, but individual words are harmless. This even includes racist words
Which sentence is more offensive:
“You look fucking beautiful.”
or
“I hope you die a painful death.”
Without question, the latter is more offensive. But which would you get in trouble for on TV? The first one. See how backwards this is?
I’ll add one more thing to this list: nudity.
I understand nudity being censored on TV, but what is considered nude? Apparently, nudity is only offensive if at least one of three things is shown:
1. Nipples
2. Genitals
3. Crack
The third is actually questionable. Crack can be shown, no problem, if there’s a thong somewhere in it. Why does that make a difference, you see the same exact thing, thong or no thong.
As for the first of the three, why is it offensive to show a female nipple, but not the other 90% of the breast? The nipple is like a curse word. There’s no good reason behind it being offensive, but everyone just accepts that it is anyway.
Thank goodness there’s an Internet, real free speech finally. Pass this post along and hopefully more people will cut the crap with the inconsistent censor-ships already.
3 years ago