Why did cussing become predominantly sexual insults? - Historum

**infestør** · June 29th, 2012, 01:52 PM

afaik, cussing (which is a euphemism for cursing) was actually cursing someone back in the days. like in the lines of "begone you unsavory filth". i don't know about all the languages but the ones i know and possibly in most of the languages in the world people curse 99% sexual insults. was it always like this in the history? why did sexuality become so sensitive that all the curses are focused on it? also, why do you think some languages are more "creative" and "ahead" in cursing than the others? whyyyyyyyyyyyy

**Gudenrath** · June 29th, 2012, 01:56 PM

If you read some Martial, Petronious, Apuleius or Catullus or indeed most of the graffiti in Pompeii, you can see that sexual insults as cussing is not a recent phenomena. I would think it as ancient as sentient man, simply because the sexual act is very central to our existence and thus holy/special and thus an obvious choice when having to make exclamations out of the ordinary that crosses a mental line and are intended to offend or provocate.

macro · June 29th, 2012, 02:03 PM

Or that or the cursing is centered around sh1t. Excuse my french.

**tjadams** · June 29th, 2012, 02:07 PM

Funny you bring this up.
I've had some British curse words flung at me before and guess what, they
totally missed their mark by 16 kilometers. I had no idea what the word
meant so couldn't be offended. I'm thinking the sexual juiced curse words
are more universal and most people get the point better.

**Vladd** · June 29th, 2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjadams

Funny you bring this up.
I've had some British curse words flung at me before and guess what, they
totally missed their mark by 16 kilometers. I had no idea what the word
meant so couldn't be offended. I'm thinking the sexual juiced curse words
are more universal and most people get the point better.

Dare we ask what they were? We could educate you

Gordyman · June 29th, 2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladd

Dare we ask what they were? We could educate you

What's a ****job?

Gordyman · June 29th, 2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladd

Dare we ask what they were? We could educate you

What's a w a n k e r?

Mosquito · June 29th, 2012, 02:41 PM

Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo,
Aureli pathice et cinaede Furi,

**infestør** · June 29th, 2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gudenrath

If you read some Martial, Petronious, Apuleius or Catullus or indeed most of the graffiti in Pompeii, you can see that sexual insults as cussing is not a recent phenomena. I would think it as ancient as sentient man, simply because the sexual act is very central to our existence and thus holy/special and thus an obvious choice when having to make exclamations out of the ordinary that crosses a mental line and are intended to offend or provocate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjadams

Funny you bring this up.
I've had some British curse words flung at me before and guess what, they
totally missed their mark by 16 kilometers. I had no idea what the word
meant so couldn't be offended. I'm thinking the sexual juiced curse words
are more universal and most people get the point better.

very good points indeed, good sirs (the rest of youse, please don't stray off the topic). i guess using sexuality is the most effective area for cussing.
elderly people i know from my hometown usually curse about sickness, death, mutilation etc. (in turkish) which is way more horrible for me but hey it's different for everybody

**Vladd** · June 29th, 2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordyman

What's a w a n k e r?

I remember Phil Collins saying that the writers wanted him to say that when he appeared on Miami Vice, they didn't know what it meant they just knew it was something British people said.
Of course we have a fine history of cursing, even the Bard came out with some good ones.
http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/