Posts: 1392
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Registered: Nov 2003

posted August 16, 2004 05:22 AM         

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But it is interesting that everybody was horrified by the word, with apparently very little idea of why it was "bad".

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Posts: 4050
From: The Boundless
Registered: Mar 2003

posted August 16, 2004 09:41 AM         

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People are offended by it now, and it's been considered vulgar for quite a while. But were they always? Like I said, the research remains somewhat murky.

I can think of a lot of words that didn't begin as being offensive to many people (deservedly or not), but eventually became offensive. Like Communism. The slang word for an African American that is so ugly now that most of us can't even type it, and only African Americans can get away with saying it. How about Gay--it used to mean you were just sort of happy. But now it terrifies most politicians and a lot of insecure heterosexual men.

Words sometimes experience a metamorphosis through time. Take the word 'ignorant.' It's a pet peeve of mine. The word really means lack of information, but somehow it's come to be used as an implication of someone being rude.

A good etymologist might have some valuable information. But really, we've no idea whether the word was used for some good clean fun at its origins or not. No one gets upset over the word "Shag," though it means the same things as "f*ck."

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Posts: 5301
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted August 16, 2004 11:50 AM         

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Well in that case, I know a few people who'd do well to just 'shag off'.

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posted August 16, 2004 02:29 PM         

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"there's nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
Shakespeare

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Posts: 1082
From: Sydney, Australia. Cancer Sun.....Gemini Moon.....Aqua Rising
Registered: Aug 2003

posted August 16, 2004 07:06 PM         

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sounds like a good combination of heck and f*ck..never heard it before..though i think i might start using it in a saying that comes from my mouth occasionally to a particular friend of mine...go feck yourself..

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posted August 17, 2004 06:23 AM         

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Now I come to think of it, "shag" is the craziest example of a bowdlerised euphemism for fvck that I've come across. Originally a woolly fleece, I beleive. Then a type of tobacco. Why is it now a fvck? Probably in 10 years it will be considered an absolutely filthy word, and will have been replaced by another. "Kitten", perhaps!

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posted August 21, 2004 05:51 AM         

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Oh, a shag is also a lovely seagull

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Posts: 1506
From: The second star to the right (which shines in the night for'eer)
Registered: Apr 2003

posted August 21, 2004 05:17 PM         

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I became aquainted with that word a couple of months ago when I read this book where this Irish girl used to say it all the time.

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Get some love in your groove, just get hip to forgive... - Michael Franks

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From:
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posted October 21, 2004 05:57 AM         

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Another thing I've always wondered about is Vietnam. The British were not involved so I don't know much about it, but people always say Iraq is another Vietnam. Can anyone enlighten me?

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 21, 2004 06:45 AM         

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Hi maklhouf, how are you?

One comparison between Iraq and Vietnam, is noted in the new wave of war protest songs for the first time since Vietnam. I think these have a lot more 'bite' this time compared to the songs 30 years ago; for example, some of you may have heard rapper, Jadakiss' controversial lyrics in the charts right now.

People who are seeing different facets of the war are making comparisons.
I hear snippets in the news all the time.

There's the body count and kill ratio. However, it does not compare at this stage. The Gulf War started in March 2003 and the total number of coalition deaths is just under 500 people. The Vietnam war killed two million. I sure hope we can't compare the two in this respect

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Posts: 3396
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted October 21, 2004 11:26 AM         

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how did I ever miss this fecking thread?
I say where there is a will, there is a way to say f ck. Hmmmm, wonder what thinks of this fecking thread?

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 21, 2004 11:33 AM         

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Ahhh....

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From:
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posted October 21, 2004 11:41 AM         

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Hi, both,

The number of deaths is not what I was wondering about. Of course it is comparable in that the American people in both cases were willing to countenance an enormous number of deaths on the other side and only got worried when their own body count started to climb. But I just wondered what they were doing in there in the first place.
***** ***** ****** ****** *******
I'm all in favour of a little filth to lighten the day. Life gets fecking tedious otherwise.(Psst: If you don't tell I won't either)

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 21, 2004 12:04 PM         

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Hi maklhouf

Yeah I know what you mean - I'm as baffled as you. These things tend to spiral in chaos and everyone forget's the steps in action that entertained the result.

Something to think about - hang on lemme Google for anything that may clear it up a little for us.

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 21, 2004 12:13 PM         

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I've searched, nothing I feel pushed to quote though - have you had any luck?

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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Nov 2003

posted October 21, 2004 12:14 PM         

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That's kind of you Sheaa. I hope its not the same old story: the US supporting a rebel faction to rise up against the main government, in order to destabilise the country.

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 21, 2004 12:38 PM         

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*sigh* feck knows, eh?

I have to log off now hon, got an appointment with a 159 bus. I will speak to you when I'm on next no doubt,

Bye for now,
Sheaa

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Posts: 10985
From: One of the billions and billions of cosmos hurdling towards a black hole :)
Registered: Nov 2003

posted October 21, 2004 02:09 PM         

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Isis -

Thank you so much for that info - I LOVE reading about word origins.

PixelPixie -

That animation deserves a Webby Award. Awesome!!!! Thank you.

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Posts: 5378
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted October 21, 2004 02:29 PM         

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Yes Isis, Thanks for that helpful website it's great!!!!

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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Nov 2003

posted October 22, 2004 05:11 AM         

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Some people were surprised when Sun Child said she felt she had no friends here. It's a tendency to form cliques, and only speak to the people you "know". It is bad manners not to even say hello. It's also very interesting as well. People come here and get free help, but sometimes they are uncomfortable with that "freebie". They don't like to beholden. They want to pay in some way. So they "pay" with friendship or flattery. Unfortunately, the other side of that coin is that other people feel excluded.

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Posts: 2864
From: London
Registered: Jul 2004

posted October 22, 2004 05:52 AM         

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Sun Child said she had no friends here?

She does! I've hardly seen her here though

I was just asking about the 'Knowflakes M.I.A' thread yesterday since I wanted to call for a few people who I hadn't seen in ages. Anyone have a clue where it is?

Also I'm sure there was a thread on these types of concerns recently, y'know people feeling left out etc. somehow I think we should find that too!

Anyone who does feel secluded - muck in and speak up or people won't know There are times when I haven't a clue what people are talking about, but I don't instantly feel they're here to leave me out.. if they are, they blatently aren't my friends *shrugs* I question what I need to & leave the rest to my better judgement

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From:
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posted January 04, 2005 09:26 AM         

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I've thought of another pair like feck/feckless. Ruth is just a girl's name now, but it does mean the exact opposite of ruthless.
actually, ruth sounds a bit like root, which is the australian word for feck.

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Posts: 5301
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted January 04, 2005 08:27 PM         

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yeah, that's funny, as we have "Roots" stores all over Canada, and my friend from Australia (she moved here for love and marriage) thought that was fecking hilarious!
Are they in America or UK too? Good quality clothes. Those snuggly kind mostly.

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From:
Registered: Nov 2003

posted January 05, 2005 08:11 AM         

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No Roots Stores here, anyway you need fishnet stockings for those sexy legs.

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Posts: 5301
From: Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted January 05, 2005 10:19 AM         

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Got em....... Just didn't wear them that night.
You just wait for an opportunity to match my flirts, doncha?

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