Comments on: Jackhammer Blast Words

By: Allen

Allen — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 01:13:42 +0000

I think it came out in the 1950′s, the original version of ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD starring Paul Douglas. The angel who came to him (only as a voice) told him that as part of the deal for heaven’s help was that he had to give up cussing. After that his speech turned positively Shakespearian.

By: David Mills

David Mills — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:08:09 +0000

Ray Ingles: Oh, I agree, but when they’re needed usually only one is needed.

I remember an emotional meeting of Christian friends where one was defending leaving his wife for a younger woman, and one member of the group finally (and uncharacteristically) burst out with “[male bovine excretion].” It was the only word for it and it clarified things right away. Indeed cleared the air. But if he’d let loose with a string of obscenities, no one would have gotten the point.

By: Ray Ingles

Ray Ingles — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:36:46 +0000

“Bang words” do have their place. They are far more common than they should be, but sometimes they are exactly what’s needed. Exhibit A: http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/08/a-message-to-those-praying-for-christopher-hitchens/61131/

By: George Sim Johnston

George Sim Johnston — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:40:41 +0000

David: The most effective use of obscenity that I know of in literature is in “Buddenbrooks”: And it is only a suggestion of an obscenity; Mann does not trot out the actual word; he simply reports that a terrible vulgarity is uttered by Tony’s husband after he is exposed as a fraud and is making his departure. It’s the same with sex in literature or movies: So much more effective when simply suggested.

By: Steve Colby

Steve Colby — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:08:32 +0000

One of my favorite put-downs came not from the movies, but from the BBC adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small: “Tristan, you have a long and dismal history of terminological inexactitude”

No bang words needed, and the eloquence of that
line has stayed with me for 25 years.

By: Craig Payne

Craig Payne — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:12:37 +0000

Yes–now we have it in some churches. “Relevance” is a tacky god.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:36:21 +0000

When I challenge the profanity of my college students, they say they should not have to think that hard about things. Cuss words just make things more fun. The make things real. They laughingly agree with the statements “Bush is an F-ing Idiot” or “Lil Wayne s the Sh-t” etc. Ha ha ha! They do not not what I mean when I call them vulgar. But they and so much of our culture are just that. The entire level of humor has changed. Conservative friends insisted I watch “The Office.” Though far from a prude, I found the humor very problematic as well as very juvenile. But I imagine I will hear the series referenced in sermons. So it goes.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 04:08:16 +0000

Cuss words just make things funnier, at least for me.