Recently, NPR aired the word "goddamned" again, this time in a quote from a Tom Cruise-in-character-as-Les Grossman appearance, and boy howdy is America upset about the taking of the Lord's name in vain. But don't worry, NPR's ombudsman (who is a woman! Which gives me pause that she should be opining on language usage!) is on the case. She writes: "I'm seeing the question through a different lens-one that is not based in the New York-Washington corridor, where this example of offensive language often goes in one ear and out the other." While it's surely true that in "real America" it is sometimes considered offensive to Christians to use "God" or "Jesus" or "The Lord" as an oath, there is no way that you can convince me or ANYONE ELSE IN AMERICA that "swear words," especially including goddamned, are a "beltway," "corridor" thing. (Elitist corridor Vice President Joe Biden be damned, of course.)
Friday, July 2, 2010
26
Being ON the Beltway is sufficient cause for creating new and imaginative ways to take the Lord's name in vain.
I call bullshit, NPR OmbudsPerson.
I learned to swear in the Midwest, goddammit, and still do.
I mean, fuck, Mamet's from Chicago...
B-b-but I don't think that's what she's saying? She's saying that that sort of language "goes in one ear and out the other" up in these'n here parts? Whereas in those'n thar parts, people actually register curse words and therefore are more apt to react to them?
Yeah, that's what I read too. Poor Alicia; first, she has to defend NPR in the dust up over NPR putting amazon associates links to books its shows review and now this. Plus, House 5538 is chugging forward which will cut all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) (parent of the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio) after 2012, a cut that might also mean her job.
Alicia has definitely had it in the ear before.
That's what Iggy Pop said!
Isn't the use of swear words on the tv, like, regulated and some shit?
Thank you very much, cable television!
I am spending the weekend in North Real America (New Hampshire). The mountain air and clean language are both so restorative!
"NPR's legal team says that using the Lord's name in vain for emphasis is not illegal."
Glad they have a team on that.
glad the pledge money I don't send it covers it
I am of the beltway. Cursing is just the vernacular here, and not the middle of the country. Us saying "fuckitall" or "bullshit" is like a British person saying "loo" or "lift." An adorable verbal quirk.
I'm pretty sure that the British equivalent to our "gosh darn" is actually the "c-word."
I am in the middle of the country. Cursing is the vernacular here.
Actually think it's "twat." Been called a twat (pronounced "twuh-at" as opposed to the American "twaht") many times.
No, that's the Antipodean equivalent.
She's right-I never pay bad words any mind when I'm riding the Acela.
Fact: Jews invented swearing.
But it didn't really take off until the Irish got their hands on it.
Bullshit. Over-reliance on "goddammit" is the truest mark of a Southern accent. Late for the church picnic? Goddammit. Daughter comes home with a tattoo? Goddammit. Shut your finger in the car door? Goddammit.
My favorite Southern cussing? "Well, shit twice and fall back innit!"
THANK YOU.
If she ever watched COPS, she wouldn't make these kinds of mistakes.
Swearing as the trait of the East Coast elitist?
Well, sure, if it's AT someone.
Jesus H Christ, that's silly.
Jesus H. Christ, that's silly. Gee, may I make up a bunch of freaky fairy tale stories too, and feign offense when sane rational people make fun of me? Wish we could send the freaks to the rubber room and just be done with religion once and for all.