Abrahams cussing

[Mike B.]

(12-12-2012 10:00 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Interesing points, Mike. Also, many military commanders were quite blue with their language.

Quote:The widespread use of profanity is much more prevalent in the 20th century than it was in the 19th

I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that. It wasn't as exposed, certainly, but to say that it was more prevalent now would also have to mean it was less prevalent in everyday conversation then, and that just isn't true. My files on Enoch and preaching in the 19th century are boxed up now, but one of the biggest complaints written about by the clergy was the vulgar language thrown about in society, among numerous other sins.

Does its use add anything to the movie? Doubtful, but I also hold with my original point, i.e., this is much ado about nothing.

Best
Rob

Not to get too philsophical but hasn't what is considered profanity changed over the years? The bigger concern was blasphemous words said against God in the past. Something our more secular society doesn't care about as much as a whole.

I feel like George Carlin and his seven words routine, here.

What is profane or vulgar is ultimately a social construct. There is really no logical reason why some words that mean the exact same thing are a "curse" and something else is not. We now use the phrase "n word" for a word that was very common in the 19th and 20th centuries. While it doesn't count as profanity, mores do change and what is considered vulgar does change.

There are some languages and cultures like Japan where there is no such thing as profanity. There are rude and insulting phrases and so forth, but no particular word is considered unsayable per se.

Laurie Verge is right though of course about dueling and violence. There was a much higher murder and violence rate per capita in the 19th century than the 21st century. I know that is hard to believe with news reports and so forth, but America is enjoying today its lowest level of violence in its history.

If anyone is interested in this non-Lincoln topic, I would suggest psychologist Stephen Pinker's books which are very good.

Sorry, now back to our beloved 16th President.