tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post7444989371893008438..comments2023-04-07T04:46:51.500-07:00Comments on trailer park girl: One Girl's Journey to Find the AnswerValerie Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098943497558760020noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-75689780485760179222012-05-23T16:18:40.263-07:002012-05-23T16:18:40.263-07:00Amen to your thoughts, Danielle! ..."a nice r...Amen to your thoughts, Danielle! ..."a nice resounding resonance" like that first quenching sip of a chilled Chardonnay on a humid, hot afternoon! Don't ya love Ellen Etc! Gotta meet her one day. Helluva wise woman. Thank you for joining the conversation! ~tpgValerie Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04098943497558760020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-15185937261060062832012-05-23T15:24:31.115-07:002012-05-23T15:24:31.115-07:00I thoroughly enjoyed reading this stimulating, ent...I thoroughly enjoyed reading this stimulating, entertaining (per usual, filled with fire!) well-researched article and am delighted that you and Ellen got a chance to have a "meeting of the minds" on this subject! I must come from a writer's perspective on this one: I love the sounds of words. Period. Admittedly, 'fuck' always has had a nice, definitive, resounding resonance to it, regardless of its meaning. That said, I don't care whether a businessman or politician use the word but, say, if a pre-adolescent youngster were to use the word, it would strike me hotly as somehow distasteful and inappropriate.Daniellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-40009245026899725142012-05-23T07:09:10.222-07:002012-05-23T07:09:10.222-07:00Ellen Etc, THANK YOU! A reader asked me if I mad...Ellen Etc, THANK YOU! A reader asked me if I made up the character "Ellen Etc." And I said, "Nope. She's the real deal and I truly hope to meet her one day!" ~tpgValerie Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04098943497558760020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-25764759026740803552012-05-22T14:46:32.349-07:002012-05-22T14:46:32.349-07:00I am tickled pink that you quoted me so extensivel...I am tickled pink that you quoted me so extensively, Valerie. I certainly understand that many people need to have a reserve of strong language for strong situations, but most of the usage I hear is pretty f***ing casual. There's the useful concept of multiple languages -- the language of respect for school, work, and society, and a separate language of fun for use with one's intimates. <br /><br />But many people stubbornly argue that there's no difference among "occasions," and that "words are just words," which, sadly, limits their effectiveness across subcultures. Bedroom language for the bedroom, board room language for the board room, courtroom language for the courtroom, I say! Save "finger" language for instances in which one truly wishes to insult another. <br /><br />I deeply enjoyed your lively historical overview of "offensive" language. TROUSERS! Waaahaha! <br /><br />Thanks again for including me in your blog and making me famous!Ellen Etchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474498233967516879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-2210120728217629222012-05-22T08:07:56.915-07:002012-05-22T08:07:56.915-07:00tpg, you could write about enemas and it would mak...tpg, you could write about enemas and it would make me laugh! I've never read anyone whose personality, wit, and charm come through more perfectly in her writing than do yours. f@#*ing classic! Don't change a thing for me, as in "My Funny Valentine." You will notice, of course, I use this word sparingly, taught that its use indicated a crimped vocabulary. Or perhaps, it is truly a generational thing. But, wtf, it just ain't true. There were many pearls of wisdom in this blog from Ellen Etc.'s pov. I'm poised to read them again. And your responses, as in talking to myself (as I am now.) Have a great day, tpg, and watch out for old codgers in Cadillacs...they'll nail you every time (I know....I am one only mine's a Camry Hybrid!)BThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01380696948179481717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-4698588976032313222012-05-22T07:38:42.101-07:002012-05-22T07:38:42.101-07:00I think it has it's place in our day and age a...I think it has it's place in our day and age and I don't think you're an overuser or abuser. There are some times when nothing else feels so right and usually for me that is during golf (!) but I don't think as hard as Ellen Etc on the meaning of the word, just use it as the curse word it's become and as a way to let out some madness. Worse things exist I'm sure but I also agree that there may be a better way. I'm going to try and be more creative in the future and make the world a better place :) Anywaay, great read!valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12035526923524401551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-36150581137438325072012-05-21T19:37:18.698-07:002012-05-21T19:37:18.698-07:00BTW......bravo for Kristie for plugging Poise. I t...BTW......bravo for Kristie for plugging Poise. I thought the ad was a bit shocking but I know many women who use them and isn't it fantastic that they don't have to hold the shame of ageing as a negative. How wonderful that Poise makes a product that allows these women to function outside of their home and now that Kristie is a spokeswoman, it is even better!!! <br /><br />Besides............seeing Kristie as an angle is a kick!Juniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18385404953005191372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-1663559228501110612012-05-21T19:31:22.346-07:002012-05-21T19:31:22.346-07:00When I was 5 yrs old (I am well advanced into the ...When I was 5 yrs old (I am well advanced into the world where I'm SUPPOSE to have wisdom), I missed my school bus and the principle had to drive me home. He was not a happy camper, to say the least. In fact, he said a word that I had never heard--so I had no idea what he meant. I did however, understand that he was angry, so I didn't press my luck by asking him to explain. I just wanted to get home to the safety of my home. <br /><br />My Mom thanked him graciously for the ride, invited him to stay for dinner, which I was grateful that he refused. I didn't care if he ate with us, but I wanted to know the meaning of this new word! You see, I was one of those children that asked a zillion queries--in fact, one of my friend's calls me 'Junie Junie Why Why" so I have to admit to being guilty of still asking questions! <br /><br />Digressing here. <br /><br />Ok, I sit down to my family's dinner, the conversation begins and I asked the burning question: "Mom, or Dad, what does the word 'shit' mean?" I was shocked at what followed. The sound of silver dropping to the table was very pronounced. I froze in shock as my mother, wearing an angry, red face, jumped to her feet, grabbed my arm and dragged me into the bathroom! For five L-O-N-G minutes she used a tooth brush to wash my mouth with soap! I was not a happy child, and she was one pissed off parent as she sent me to my room with massive tears and a sore mouth--and still in complete darkness as to what the danged word meant! <br /><br />Today, I'd race to DSS and report the well meaning woman, but back then I was smart enough to shut my mouth and never ask that question again. I learned a lot that day: that the English language had some mysterious words that I didn't know who would explain, and that I would never let the word 'shit' slip out of my mouth again. <br /><br />For the next 40 years! Yes, you read that right; I did not swear for the next 40 years (do you all see Val fainting on the floor?). By this time, I had fooled society into believing I had some class, had raised 2 children who only spoke 'acceptable' language (with an understanding of why, I might add)and had years of working with teens and abused women and children. There were plenty of opportunities to use 'foul' language, but that old tooth brush always hung out in my head. <br /><br />So, at 45 yrs old, I told myself that I was free. I had done well for this long, but that the next 45 yrs I was going to speak any word that I wanted. And, I have......<br /><br />Words are words. They have meanings, but often the meanings are what we attach to them and we all come from different families with different word usage. To me, the word 'fuck' has absolutely nothing to do with sex, but rather a way to toss out drama, if approperate. So, Val, you hear me say what I want IN YOUR HOME, because it is ok there. But if your Mom were to show up, I'd behave. That tooth brush is all powerful still! It also wouldn't serve me well to use this type of language around my Buddha Son, who is 6.....or his teachers, whom I'm sure wouldn't appreciate my flare. I'm not crazy about movies that use 'fuck' all the time, cause it really isn't how society talks on the street. I had to laugh at Ellen's visual of a guy with his 'fucking pizza'--actually, I'm still laughing! <br /><br />So....a long way to say that it doesn't offend me unless the person using it has no boundaries around her/his language. This could embarrass others, and that seems rather selfish. <br /><br />But, baby, in your home--around our mutual friends--I have no problem with the 'f-word.' That sounded silly, actually, but I'm trying to be 'acceptable'. Even in your home, I wouldn't use it but for some effect that I wanted. <br /><br />Gads, it took me forever to find a way to reply to a blog and now I can't stop the fingers from dancing!!! <br /><br />And...........hide the fuckin tooth brush!Juniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18385404953005191372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-9535339798108736272012-05-21T18:26:25.706-07:002012-05-21T18:26:25.706-07:00Thanks banjoker! So nice to hear from you again af...Thanks banjoker! So nice to hear from you again after months and months! <br />Maybe we should hang out again. I promise to leave my "prolonged adolescence" at home! <br />Seriously though, thanks for contributing to the conversation! Much love and a box of crayons, where all colors can comfortably reside!<br />~tpgValerie Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04098943497558760020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107737623514518595.post-16291565274669283382012-05-21T12:39:14.431-07:002012-05-21T12:39:14.431-07:00OK. Remember, you asked for comments....
I reali...OK. Remember, you asked for comments....<br /><br />I realize I'm pathetically old-school. In my family, h-e-double toothpicks was enough to get one sent to one's room for the rest of the day. That said, when I hear or read the "f" word, my internal responses tend to be that the utterer is in a prolonged adolescence, linguistically lazy, or (in the case of a particular loved one) suffering from one too many glasses of wine. It turns me off, to use another sexually-tinged phrase. I know that many writers use it for effect. For me, the effect is often to find something else to read.banjokerhttp://aol.comnoreply@blogger.com