Comments on: Curse words are almost always simple words to say…so they’re also simple words to reinvent.

By: Shannon Archer

Shannon Archer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:07:02 +0000

He’s protecting his mom…she is a total potty-mouth:)

By: Will

Will — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:02:08 +0000

Kids are great! My son loves trucks, but he used to struggle with that “tr” sound, so….

We live near the beach, too, but that “ea” sound didn’t use to come out right either.

Michale Svigel has a great article called “Toward An Evangelical Theology of Cussing.”

By: David Paul Regier

David Paul Regier — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:10:38 +0000

When I was about 5 or 6, my friends “made up” a new word (I think it was with the help of an older brother).

I told it to my mom. I got my mouth washed out with soap.

By: Sarah J.

Sarah J. — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:53:37 +0000

I loved that movie!

By: Crystal

Crystal — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:08:55 +0000

Haha, needed a morning laugh to go with my cup of coffee. My littlest one is 19 months, so while he’s not making up words, he is horribly mispronouncing them. Sooo funny, yet, sooo inappropriate at times.

By: Ben Power

Ben Power — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:53:22 +0000

Of course it’s contextual. I tend to think this word in particular gained its meaning from the Christian canon. “Damn it to hell,” “God damn” something, etc all carry the idea that damning something is an indication of disapprobation.

Some of the others, I don’t know. I don’t really care, to be honest. Say what you mean, mean what you say, and if what you mean is bad, then fix that. If there’s a problem with your speech, it’s a heart issue – focus on filling the heart with good things (so that good things can come out), rather than teaching a person to be an angry hypocrite. The offense comes from an angry heart, not a combination of letters.

By: Kevin Ring

Kevin Ring — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:46:21 +0000

Nice.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:20:56 +0000

I think this incident raises the question of how these words came to be considered obscene.

I don’t use them myself, but it is somewhat interesting that certain combinations of letters are considered more offensive than others.

By: Kendall

Kendall — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:43:16 +0000

funny. :)

By: Brook (Matt5verse6)

Brook (Matt5verse6) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:59:49 +0000

No joke! Just a moment ago my 6 year old was in the other room playing a video game with his aunt and started saying something that sounds like “my damn feet”. I asked him, “What are you saying?” He repeated it a few times and said he was saying, “My dan feet.” (???) When I asked where he heard that he said (of course), “I made it up.” Hmmmmm. :P

By: jennapants

jennapants — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:14:19 +0000

but…don’t you think if he thought he was doing something bad, he’d be quick to blame someone rather than taking full credit?

orison makes up LOTS of words. it’s inevitable that he’d make up some that just happen to be bad in certain contexts.

By: Joseph Louthan

Joseph Louthan — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:57:58 +0000

My son loves to say, “It hurts like hell.”

Dad: “What? It hurts like what again?”

Son: “Hell. You know, the ice balls from the sky. Hail. It hurts like hail.”

By: Chad

Chad — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:11:19 +0000

You really need to go see the Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Cuss, Cuss, Cuss… Great little movie with a great take on cussing.

By: Lee Shelton

Lee Shelton — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:55:59 +0000

I’m sure Orison got that from one of his grandpa’s sermons. Probably in a different context, though. :)

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:19:04 +0000

I very specifically remember “testing” that word out when I was in a grocery store with my mom when I was 5. Someone had told me it was a bad word, but I didn’t believe them, so I just blurted it out randomly to get her reaction. It worked.

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:43:15 +0000

Agreed. How else would he use it so perfectly given the context?

But did he KNOW he wasn’t making it up?

By: AMD

AMD — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:15:35 +0000

Am I the only one to doubt that he hasn’t heard it – probably on more than one occasion – even in his short innocent life?

By: Bethany

Bethany — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:07:27 +0000

What did you say then, Abraham?

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:54:07 +0000

haha. That’s one of my favorite words, but don’t tell Orison.

By: Ordinary Radical

Ordinary Radical — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:43:20 +0000

My grandmother (God rest her soul), a very proper southern lady, would make a “sheee-eee” sound while changing my diaper. In my infantile innocence, I would smile and imitate her. Until the time she was doing this with the family within earshot and I added the inevitable “t” sound to the end. Brought a quick end to that little game.

By: Kendall

Kendall — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:04:57 +0000

I remember saying (ah-la valley girl), “Oh my God, DAD.” to him when I was about 6. I think he bumped me when he was buckling my little brother into the car…
It DID not go over well.

By: Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:03:10 +0000

My 4-yr-old daughter likes to make sounds that rhyme. For some reason, it is not uncommon for her to start with “puck”. Things degrade quickly from there.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:49:28 +0000

My daughters made up the word “piss” because that’s what it sounds like.

By: JMH

JMH — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:20:54 +0000

I once used the F-word in front of my dad. I was like 13. I knew it was a little racy, but didn’t know it was like the World Cup of racy. Dad helped me out on that one.

By: Linley

Linley — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:51:24 +0000

That’s awesome. I might be too old to get away with that as an excuse. What a shame.