Linguistic Shock Value



  • When I was a kid (~40 years ago), everyone used the word [i]shit[/i] all the time:

    This shit...
    That shit...
    Shit!
    

    and the F word was reserved for shock value. Over time, the F word has been demoted to everyday use:

    Fuck this...
    Fuck that...
    Fuck!
    What the Fuck!?
    

    and the C word is used for shock value. I can't help but ponder what will happen down the road when the C word is eventually demoted to common daily use:

    This cunt...
    That cunt...
    You cunt...
    

    What word will we use for shock value? Personally, I can't really think of anything beyond the C word.


    This presents a problem; since language evolves slowly over time, and curse words are clearly an important asset to those wishing to express themselves above and beyond mere ordinary words, we need to start planning for a new shock value word now.


    While this has the potential to degenerate quickly, please give it some thought before posting, as this will affect all of us in how we are able to express ourselves in the future.


    Nominations?



  •  Bush 



  • So far, at least, these things seem to go in cycles, albeit long ones, and we're at the end of a linguistic crudity cycle. If things continue to work as they have in the past, then in 40 years or so our descendants will think of us as foul-mouthed old horrors. (That's what happened in Victorian times, for example.) Modern media may alter this, though.

    I just wonder if intellectual complexity in public discourse is cyclical, too. I haven't seen anything on that subject. We're certainly at a low point, and I'd hate to think that it's all downhill from here.



  • Being a Robert Jordan fan, I'll have to nominate "Light" or "Peace"



  • Why has no-one suggested Belgium yet?



  •  no, that's too hard



  •  Being as the average IQ is rapidly increasing these days I think we'll be moving to more complex structures for shock value, basically taking our basic-not-so-shock-value words and putting them together in simple phrases like "Fucking-cunt" or merging Fuck and Bastard to make a new word "Fucktard".I think I'll still stick with my old shock-value word thrown into the middle of a non shock-value statement: "Jesus-titty-fucking-christ"



  • I nominate the slavic word "kurwa" (or "kurva"), since a lot of languages already know it (meaning "bitch" or "whore", though it's already demoted to everyday use in some countries).



  •  BOB SAGET!!!



  • @Spencebob said:

     BOB SAGET!!!

     

    The Aristocrats! 



  • I don't know if this thread is coincidental or not, but [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Carlin]George Carlin[/url] just died. He came to the forefront in the '70s for his routine of the 7 words you can't say on TV.


    But to back up your original post of how words have eveolved to not be so shocking, I have a book ("Blue Streak", Richard Dooling, Random House, 1996, ISBN 0-679-44471-8) that argues (1) society needs words with shock value. (2) words evolve over time and (3) You need to continually invent new shock words.



  • @Hitsuji said:

    Being as the average IQ is rapidly increasing these days
    I think you need to rethink this one, or at least revisit the definition of "average IQ". The average IQ for any given age is, by definition, a constant 100. You could say that the overall average intelligence is rising, but you can't say that in the context of IQ.



  • @OzPeter said:

    George Carlin just died

    I just heard it on the news - kismit?

    *bows head in sad awe*

     



  • @Welbog said:

    @Hitsuji said:

    Being as the average IQ is rapidly increasing these days
    I think you need to rethink this one, or at least revisit the definition of "average IQ". The average IQ for any given age is, by definition, a constant 100. You could say that the overall average intelligence is rising, but you can't say that in the context of IQ.

     

     See the Flynn effect. The entire premise is debatable, anyway - are we actually getting smarter because of good nutrition, etc, or are we just better educating poorer (and less well-trained, for IQ tests) socioeconomic groups?

     Anyway, given globalization, I'd expect to see a lot of crosstalk between languages, myself. Russian, in particular, has some... creative constructions.



  • @snoofle said:

    we need to start planning for a new shock value word now
     

    We could do worse than consult Fry and Laurie:

    Fry and Laurie Witness sketch



  • @ammoQ said:

    I nominate the slavic word "kurwa" (or "kurva"), since a lot of languages already know it (meaning "bitch" or "whore", though it's already demoted to everyday use in some countries).

    ... even now people use this word to mark the commas in sentences. I am stunned as single word can extend one's vocabulary so much.



  •  the fact we have a category of phonome strings that we consider inherently vulgar with no logical reason is a WTF

     

    (now something that refers to a group of people being used as a derogatory is logical and understandable - someone saying "I got Jewed", "That's gay!", etc)



  • @Hitsuji said:

    ...or merging Fuck and Bastard to make a new word "Fucktard".

    It's the merging of fuck and retard, you fucktard.

     

    This kind of thread appeals to me, as one of my goals in life is to be as offensive as possible.  Therefore, I submit the following words and phrases for use:

    taintbite
    One who is not only without shame, but also bites the taint that feeds him or her. Example: Judy told my pimp I was holding out on him and he gave me a black eye. She is such a taintbite!
    skullfucking Baby Jesus
    An action as evil as skullfucking Baby Jesus. Example: Writing a website in ColdFusion is like skullfucking Baby Jesus
    bin Laden'd
    Anal penetration so severe it results in the recipient coughing up blood. Refers to what will happen to Osama bin Laden when he is caught. Example: I'm going to bin Laden the next motherfucker who breaks the build!
    Dutchfag
    Used to call someone a boot-licking, Nazi-assisting coward. Reserved for extreme circumstances. Example: Rachel, how could you have a three-way fuck with my brother and father at our wedding! You're such a Dutchfag!


  • @Physics Phil said:

    Why has no-one suggested Belgium yet?
     

    Better use "France"or "Russia", you might shock more people. We are a small country :D



  •  Future profanity will come from backlash against growing political correctness.

    "this fucking door won't shut." -- offensive.

    "this goddamned motherfucking wooden hinged portal cover won't  align itself so as to disallow entry, but that's ok because we're all allowed to make our own decisions in life." -- correct



  •  @vt_mruhlin said:

     Future profanity will come from backlash against growing political correctness.

    "this fucking door won't shut." -- offensive.

    "this goddamned motherfucking wooden hinged portal cover won't  align itself so as to disallow entry, but that's ok because we're all allowed to make our own decisions in life." -- correct

     

    I never understood what people's problem with "political correctness" in and of itself is.  Now when it's taken to excess sure make fun of that excess but not the entire concept of not being a douchebag to one another.

     

    but then maybe they're using the term expressly meaning when it's taken to excess and not including it's fundamental intent to refrain from being a douchebag to each other.

     

    Seriously how hard is it not to use "Jew", "Fag", "Nigger", derogatorily?



  • I seem to shock alot of people by using the words "please" and "thank you".  Seriously!

    Ok, truly seriously, I get great delight from hearing very clever and creative twists on curse expressions.  For example I once heard someone say "jumping baby jesus on a pogo stick".  I'm never clever enough to make up my own, though.



  • @morbiuswilters said:

    @Hitsuji said:

    ...or merging Fuck and Bastard to make a new word "Fucktard".

    It's the merging of fuck and retard, you fucktard.

    The proper way to merge them would be bassfucker.



  • @Kazan said:

    I never understood what people's problem with "political correctness" in and of itself is.  Now when it's taken to excess sure make fun of that excess but not the entire concept of not being a douchebag to one another.

     

    but then maybe they're using the term expressly meaning when it's taken to excess and not including it's fundamental intent to refrain from being a douchebag to each other.

     

    Seriously how hard is it not to use "Jew", "Fag", "Nigger", derogatorily?

    Political correctness is merely another term of politeness.  The problem people have is when it is forced on them by hysterical members of society or by those in authority.



  • I like saying bastich, myself.



    Here's a fun article about international insults.



  • Meecrob.



  • gee-haw!

     



  • Frakkin' smeghead!

     

    Chase: White.
    Pryor: Black.
    Chase: Bean.
    Pryor: Pod.
    Chase: Negro.
    Pryor: ... Whitey.
    Chase: Tar baby.
    Pryor: ... What did you say?
    Chase: Tar baby.
    Pryor: ... Ofay.
    Chase: Colored.
    Pryor: Redneck!
    Chase: Jungle bunny!
    Pryor: Peckerwood!
    Chase: Burrhead!
    Pryor: Cracker!
    Chase: Spear chucker!
    Pryor: White trash!
    Chase: Jungle bunny!
    Pryor: Honky!
    Chase: Spade!
    Pryor: Honky honky!
    Chase: ... Nigger.
    Pryor: Dead honky.

     



  • christmas!

    as in "eh, christmas you buddy"

     



  •  here are my favorites:

    • cunthole - "That cunthole just cut me off"
    • soggy cunt - "Jim is such a soggy cunt that he won't even come over for poker night"
    • cock smoker / smoke my cock - "(to wife) Stop being such a soggy cunt and smoke my cock"
    • nigger rape - "Man, we were really good at basketball today.  We really nigger raped them"
    • fagfuck - "stop fagfucking around and get to work!"
    • Mongoloid / mongy - "The mongy mart sells donuts"

    I believe I covered the most important uses of cuss words: describing people who are mean; describing people who are pussies; describing stupid people; telling someone to suck it; putting down someone that you beat; and describing an activity that sucks.  I also agree that the shock value of words in the future is going to be based on their offending of a specific group of people.

     Here are some words that will intrinsicly become more offensive as time goes on:

    • retard
    • faggot
    • rape
    • ho


  • @tster said:

     here are my favorites:

    • cunthole - "That cunthole just cut me off"
    • soggy cunt - "Jim is such a soggy cunt that he won't even come over for poker night"
    • cock smoker / smoke my cock - "(to wife) Stop being such a soggy cunt and smoke my cock"
    • nigger rape - "Man, we were really good at basketball today.  We really nigger raped them"
    • fagfuck - "stop fagfucking around and get to work!"
    • Mongoloid / mongy - "The mongy mart sells donuts"

    I believe I covered the most important uses of cuss words: describing people who are mean; describing people who are pussies; describing stupid people; telling someone to suck it; putting down someone that you beat; and describing an activity that sucks.  I also agree that the shock value of words in the future is going to be based on their offending of a specific group of people.

     Here are some words that will intrinsicly become more offensive as time goes on:

    • retard
    • faggot
    • rape
    • ho

    I would not want to be you when you run into a large black man, a psychotic feminist with knives and a leather daddy in an alley at 2am.  On the other hand, I'd gladly pay to watch. 



  • I second "Bush."



  • @morbiuswilters said:

    An action as evil as skullfucking Baby Jesus.
     

    First time I heard that one was someone saying here "That code couldn't be more evil if it was skull fucking Baby Jesus" and I have to say it's one of my favorites on the "shock value" list.

    I prefer "one liners" to one word insults, they tend to be more creative and poinent.  Though tard seems to often be added to just about anything, and we could probably mine the world of mental illness/diseases etc for some good shock value - nothing like heckling the handicapped for shock value.  "Go play in traffic Downs baby"


    Natural segway:  What's crossing the line?

    Personally, I really don't draw one 99% of the time, though I still distain from ethnocentric insults in general - and anything that tries to combine "jew" and "oven" just doesn't work for me.



  •  Personally I'm a fan of the phrase 'fucksocks!', although that doesn't work well as a verb or adjective.

    The (now defunct) 4rthur dictionary has some fabulous terms with a lovely british twist: http://web.archive.org/web/20060901105642/www.4rthur.com/dict.php

    • Arsenuggets! : Ar-s-nu-ge-ts
      Noun
          1 Nuggets of 100% pure arse : See that alexnessie? He's total arsenuggets!
          2 The dissatisfying sort of turd that even a rabbit wouldn't be proud of. Usually requires a disproportionate effort to expel. Aka Maltesers. : Christ! I just burst a 'roid for one lousy arsenugget! 
    • BOLLOCKS : bol-lucks
      TESTES
          1 shout it from the rooftops, loudly. you'll see : total, utter BOLLOCKS
    • Cock Badger : k aa1 k b ae1 jh er0
      Noun
          1 A badger constructed entirely out of cocks. : 
    • Cuntymints : kunty mint
      Noun
          1 an expletive commonly believed to be shouted by suffers of Tourettes Syndrome :
          2 an imaginary candy : «Oh, cuntymints! A broken image link!»
          3 used for minty cunts : Yum, that cunt is minty
    • Figging : phee-ging
      verb
          1 Sticking peeled ginger up someone's (or something's) anus. : I figged her.
    • Flunge Bucket : Fer-lunge Buck-et
      noun
          1 Female, who has flunge, tit flunge, arse flunge and sock flunge all at the same time : that fat pie eating munter over there is wearing clothes 6 sizes too small...Yeah, she looks like a flunge bucket
    • Fucknuggets : Fuh-k-nuh-gets
      verb
          1 Expletive for when something goes wrong : oh fucknuggets, I've missed the sodding bus again
          2 Small nuggets of fuck used by astronauts rather than more cumbersome whole-fucks. : Houston, we have some fucknuggets.
    • Fucksocks : fuksok
      Noun
          1 An expletive commonly believed to be shouted by suffers of Tourettes Syndrome : Fucksocks! My computer crashed!
          2 slang for condom : Most commonly used to describe bewilderment or incredulousness, meaning (noun/adj) a pair of coloured (normall) socks, engaged in either tender or boisterous koitus.
    • Mongoloid : mon-go-loyd
      noun
          1 Like a mong, only more severe. A total fuck-wit/retard. : You fucking mongoloid 
    • Munt : Munt
      noun
          1 The anus of a man, contracted form of Man Cunt. Can be used as an insult. : "You fucking munt"; or "Bend over, Mr. Berk, and lets see that munt of yours"
    • pisswimp : pea-eye-ess-ess-doubleyou-eye-emm-pea
      noun
          1 A chap who can't do pee-pee at a urinal, and instead has to skulk in the cubicles like a lady. : baldmonkey is a pisswimp
    • Spacker : Spa-ak-kerr
      noun
          1 Insult specifically designed to be used against politically correct people. : Spacker.
    • Spacktard : fuck-wit
      noun
          1 stupid fucking moron, from spacker/retard : that tony blair is a complete spacktard
    • splutch : sper-lut-ch
      verb
          1 The sound of ladyfwaps, emitted when a woman diddles her gusset. : Quickly, Cordelia, Geordie Al is shaving his back! *splutch* *splutch* *splutch*
          2 See also: : 'ladyfwap'
    • etc, etc.
    If that's not inspiring, then I don't know what is.

     



  • Funny; I was only discussing this the other week in the pub! We came to the conclusion that the existing words were perfectly sufficient - providing they were prefixed by the word "Ginger".

    Anybody can acept being called "A Tosser"; but "A Ginger Tosser" - that's just insulting. The same applies to any other insult that you can think of; insert the word Ginger and it is suddenly more offensive to the recipient, and yet funnier to the cusser.

    BTW: My hair is brown!



  • I think the future is going to be as seen in Idiocracy. Swear words will be part of the regular vocabulary. When you say someone is "`tarded" or "fucked up", you'd more likely be refering to a mental condition than actually being offensive. The way to cuss at someone would be by using words with four or more syllables, or words and expressions from the `fag` vocabulary (such as "excuse me", "how do you do" etc.).



  • @Spencebob said:

    BOB SAGET!!!
    http://www.tourettesguy.com reference?  If so, bravo!



  • @morbiuswilters said:

    @Hitsuji said:

    ...or merging Fuck and Bastard to make a new word "Fucktard".

    It's the merging of fuck and retard, you fucktard.

    I'm reminded of Red vs Blue's contribution to the world of cussing:  cockbite



  • @Kazan said:

    I never understood what people's problem with "political correctness" in and of itself is.  Now when it's taken to excess sure make fun of that excess but not the entire concept of not being a douchebag to one another.

     

    but then maybe they're using the term expressly meaning when it's taken to excess and not including it's fundamental intent to refrain from being a douchebag to each other.

     

    Seriously how hard is it not to use "Jew", "Fag", "Nigger", derogatorily?

     

     

    You've kind of made the point by using the word "Jew".  It's not derogitory at all, but I've seen some idiots act all huffy like "Jewish Person" is somehow correct.

    The "don't be a douchebag" thing isn't binary though.  There's the way douchebags talk, the way normal people talk, and the way politicians talk.  Being politically correct means you're talking like a politician.  OK, I guess most politicians could be considered douchebags, but when it comes to politically correct speak, it's about not appearing as a douchebag more than it is actually about not being one.



  • @belgariontheking said:

    @morbiuswilters said:

    @Hitsuji said:

    ...or merging Fuck and Bastard to make a new word "Fucktard".

    It's the merging of fuck and retard, you fucktard.

    I'm reminded of Red vs Blue's contribution to the world of cussing:  cockbite
     

    In like 7th grade, I tried to introduce ass-butt.  Later on that very same year, the character Jimbo on the Simpsons used the term.

    I'm sure the Simpsons writers arrived at it independantly of me, but I like to think I had something to do with it.



  • @vt_mruhlin said:

    In like 7th grade, I tried to introduce ass-butt.  Later on that very same year, the character Jimbo on the Simpsons used the term.

    I'm sure the Simpsons writers arrived at it independantly of me, but I like to think I had something to do with it.

    Beavis and Butthead brought us asswipe!!!

    Funny on the Mongoloid "shock value" word ... in Spanish it is a derogatory term used to describe kids with Down Syndrome; the syndrome itself is also called mongolismo (mongolism).

    Hm.... how about South Park's unclefucker???

    Anyway, the best shock-word proposed in this thread gets my vote:

    Bush


Log in to reply