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Good day to you guys...first blog so hold on to your horses. If I actually write it will probably be complaining about something or someone....but not the usual bitching I will try to be as civilised as humanly possible.
Contains Strong language
So the first topic I want to write about is sensitivity to language. Now I am one who kind of agrees with Destiny in that language should be taken as it is intended, not that the words should have any metalinguistic data which is not present in the original statement. However, I feel that some words are beyond this, and they should not be used unless accepted into a social lexicon. An example of such would be the liberal use of the word 'Cunt' in my old city. It stems from being close friends with an aussie, who used the word more than any other and just kind of spread to the drinking crew of that city. I have since left that place, and as such have used the word alot less than I used to. Also words like nigger (refering to a friend) is perfectly acceptable to me, I would never use it in hate, as well as I would never use it around people who may be sensitive to such words (New social groups etc).
Today however the proverbial biscuit has been taken. On a group I am part of, someone said that they have only ever had slow internet in Korea, and that this has also been the case in other places such as Pc rooms and at the schools. Now, as a member of society, I had to ask
Optimus Yale: what the fuck are you trying to do when you don't get fast net in PC bangs? I download Diablo 3 in like 5 minutes, thats like 9 gig o.o
Now, using the word fuck these days has very little of the original meaning. Hell, between groups of older people, the word is thrown around more than any other, and as such has many linguistic uses such as emphasis, a verb and also adjectives ( I would suggest the youtube video 'a definition of the word fuck'). Well I feel like in a circle of grown adults, nobody should take offence at the word if it is not meant in venom. Clearly here the linguistic use of the word is one for marked emphasis. It is not intended to offend, it is not intended to be light hearted, I am seriously concerned about what someone can do to have slow internet in PC rooms as well as at work and at home....they must be doing something wrong.
Why would people take offence at this word appearing on the internet. In face, one member asked me not to swear, and then said he avoids swear words by deleting them. Actually he uses the word 'police' it. I studied linguistics at university, and followed a Halidayan(sp.) model for language which is that words meanings is made by the context in which it appears. If the word, as used here is used for emphasis, then there is nothing wrong with it. It contains no negative metalinguistic meanings (such as racist undertones, other words for negative connotations (Nazi). so therefore there is nothing wrong with it. It blows my mind that people get offended by the word fuck. It's meaning has rapidly changed, and infact its history is one which is almost impossible to trace. It is known that it has been a taboo word for over 200 years, but not much else is known about it.
Anyways I'm done with this fucking rant unfortunately. I can't be fucked to write anymore. Just fucking remember that fuck is not always a bad word, and regardless of your personal opinion on the word, it is more common than ever before and will continue to be used into the future by younger generations. I would never use the word around children out of respect, but using it between adults is an area I feel it has become way to common to delete.
 
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In my opinion, any social interaction involves a degree of compromise whereby I must acknowledge and, to a degree, acquiesce, to respecting the language 'models' of others. I won't use the word 'fuck' if I can help it because, 1) I can see that others might be offended by the word and, 2) I can use other words that convey a similar meaning. It's all very situational. Personally, I see the internet as an extension of my everyday communication with others, and thus the same general strictures apply.
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If people find 'fuck' offensive, then you can't really do much about it except try not to use it around them unless you're trying to piss them off. Just deal with it, you're not going to change their feelings about words. To make use of the model of language that you used whereby the meanings of words are based on the context of their usage, what if I come on to some page on the internet and someone uses 'fuck' in an interrogative, which makes it seem aggressive to me? Context isn't always objective across the internet and so the other person's take on the situation could have been different from yours.
Also, not everyone wants to use swear words willy-nilly, some people are like you and are quite desensitised to it all while some others take offence generally, but will be fine if a close friend uses them with them as they will usually know whether or not the intent is malicious or neutral.
You say that you wouldn't use swear words (actually you refer to 'fuck' rather than general swear words) around children out of respect, which reveals that you also recognise the significance of the word and that it is not appropriate for everyone. Sooo, to go back to my original point, if you don't want anyone to get mad then abstain from using swear words unless they go first, you feel close enough to use them or just do whatever you want and claim that people should react according to your intentions, not your means of expressing them.
Just a final note with that Destiny stuff, I always find it a tiny bit silly that people think that swear words shouldn't have negative meanings in society etc, etc, but I'm pretty sure that swear words were formed out of a need to express oneself in such a manner. If we were to make 'fuck', 'shit' or 'cunt' or whatever into everyday terms like 'nice' or 'bad', then new swear words would naturally arise to somewhat take their places to which the cycle would probably repeat where people think other people are being too sensitive to an arrangement of letters and sounds.
I may have missed your point slightly, which I think was along the lines of 'fuck isn't that bad, get over yourselves', but I think I covered most of it.
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I understand that I shouldn't use the word in circles where the word is not generally used, however I use the word ALL the time outside of work and interacting with children. I believe that it is up to the parents to decide whether the word is acceptable for their kids or not, but guaranteed the child will know the word anyway once they get to around 10-11, but I not using it shows a situation where it is not acceptable.
I'm an ESL teacher in Korea, and I've had 5 year olds say 'fuck you'...obviously I didn't teach them but I sure as hell punish them for using it in an environment where it is Deeply not accepted (*though I do this to keep face with other teachers, with older students I've taught I allowed them to use it once a day as long as it was in a grammatical sentence. If the sentence made no sense or they said fuck for saying fuck they got punished.)
Just a final note with that Destiny stuff, I always find it a tiny bit silly that people think that swear words shouldn't have negative meanings in society etc, etc, but I'm pretty sure that swear words were formed out of a need to express oneself in such a manner. If we were to make 'fuck', 'shit' or 'cunt' or whatever into everyday terms like 'nice' or 'bad', then new swear words would naturally arise to somewhat take their places to which the cycle would probably repeat where people think other people are being too sensitive to an arrangement of letters and sounds.
I found an interesting thing in the etymology of the word fuck.
"It became so common that an effective way for the soldier to express this emotion was to omit this word. Thus if a sergeant said, 'Get your ----ing rifles!' it was understood as a matter of routine. But if he said 'Get your rifles!' there was an immediate implication of urgency and danger." [John Brophy, "Songs and Slang of the British Soldier: 1914-1918," pub. 1930]
If the word gets used so much then it loses the value of being offensive, and in fact it means much more if you don't use it. Cute little thing I found when reading http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fuck?s=t
I just feel that in a group of adults, the word shouldn't be shunned in such a negative attacking way as where to avoid the question I was asking and just focus on the word I was using. I used the word as in 'what the fuck'....similar to when people (same people) write WTF or anything like that just that, just that I spelt it out further showing emphasis. I don't know maybe I just like to swear (which I do) and I assume that people don't get heavily offended by things they read anymore. 
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I'll add this here for levity's sake; it might also stimulate some discussion.
From the Oxford English Dictionary: earliest recorded examples of the word 'fuck' as both a noun and verb.
fuck, noun.
1.1 An act of copulation.
1680 Anon. in Rochester's Poems on Several Occasions (1950) 37 Thus was I Rook'd of Twelve substantial Fucks. c 1684 Sodom (Epilogue spoken by Fuckadilla) l. 19 A little fuck can't stay our appetite. c 1800 Burns Merry Muses (1911) 68 When maukin bucks, at early f—ks, In dewy glens are seen, sir. c 1888–94 My Secret Life III. 139, I was dying with want of a fuck. 1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley xviii. 342 A lily-livered hound with never a fuck in him. 1965 E. J. Howard After Julius iii. 38 Eat well, don't smoke, and a fuck was equal to a five-mile walk.
b.1.b concr. A person (usu. a woman) considered in sexual terms.
1874 Lett. fr. Friend in Paris II. 168, I had always held that dear mamma was the best fuck in the family, and in every way a most desirable and splendid creature. 1969 S. Greenlee Spook who sat by Door ix. 77 An aborted marriage to a favourite fuck. 1969 ‘J. Morris’ Fever Grass ii. 26 She was a good fuck.‥ She was great in bed.
fuck, verb.
1.1 intr. To copulate. trans. (Rarely used with female subject.) To copulate with; to have sexual connection with.
a 1503 Dunbar Poems lxxv. 13 Be his feiris he wald haue fukkit. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 1363 Bischops‥may fuck thair fill and be vnmaryit. 1535–36 ― Answer to Kingis Flyting 49 Ay fukkand lyke ane furious Fornicatour. 1598 Florio Worlde of Wordes 137/1 Fottere, to iape, to sard, to fucke, to swive, to occupy. c 1650 in Hales & Furnivall Percy's Folio MS. (1867) 90 Which made him to haue a mighty mind To clipp, kisse, & to ffuck. 1680 Rochester Poems on Several Occasions (1950) 14 Much Wine had past with grave discourse, Of who Fucks who, and who does worse. c 1684 Sodom II. 30 Hee Fucks to please his will, but I for need.
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On June 20 2012 15:51 OptimusYale wrote:
I found an interesting thing in the etymology of the word fuck.
"It became so common that an effective way for the soldier to express this emotion was to omit this word. Thus if a sergeant said, 'Get your ----ing rifles!' it was understood as a matter of routine. But if he said 'Get your rifles!' there was an immediate implication of urgency and danger." [John Brophy, "Songs and Slang of the British Soldier: 1914-1918," pub. 1930]
Haha, that's pretty interesting.
If the word gets used so much then it loses the value of being offensive, and in fact it means much more if you don't use it. Cute little thing I found when reading http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fuck?s=t I just feel that in a group of adults, the word shouldn't be shunned in such a negative attacking way as where to avoid the question I was asking and just focus on the word I was using. I used the word as in 'what the fuck'....similar to when people (same people) write WTF or anything like that just that, just that I spelt it out further showing emphasis. I don't know maybe I just like to swear (which I do) and I assume that people don't get heavily offended by things they read anymore.
I personally agree that amongst a common group of adults in at least Australia (social situations that I'm used to), 'fuck' can be alright, but it can also be quite offensive or at least a bit shocking depending on who your company is.
Back to your original situation, I think internet slang is a different kettle of fish, like 'wtf were you downloading lol' seems much less aggressive than 'what the fuck were you downloading?'. Even 'wtf were you downloading' seems a bit nicer, but adding that 'lol' or your choice of mitigator seems to lessen the sense of aggression on the questioner's part. But in the end, what do I know? Internet slang or just simply word usage on the internet can vary so much from person to person because of its inherent lack of super concrete rules.
Disclaimer: I'm no linguistics student myself, but I do find all of this quite interesting in my spare time.
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EPT
