[Magdalen] Saturday Marches

[sally.davies at gmail.com]

Totally with you here, Scott - I feel the same way. Words do have power of
their own and are not fully ours to do as we please!

Somewhere, I read a reference to research showing that curse words, which
all cultures seem to have, provide real psychological benefits - but only
when used at point of need, not randomly.

The theory goes that if we deploy the power of such words defensively
against a real injury or threat,  we can feel empowered/energised in a
helpful way and reduce stress. But if we use the words casually and
frequently, the sense of power and thus any possible benefit will be lost.

Michelle Obama said "when they go low we go high" and for me the power of
Saturday's marches was all about that, just a beautiful day. I don't think
that cursing Trump or anyone else from the podium added any value to the
overall message, though it may have felt cathartic for some.

As I said though, I did resent a Trump apologist patronisingly
"apologising" for Madonna on behalf of all Americans, even though I would
have preferred her to express herself differently and more considerately in
view of the large and diverse crowd and viewers on TV...though  In fact
IIRC I told him where to go out loud in a rather similar way :-)

Talking to the TV, first sign of losing one's marbles

Sally D


On Mon, 23 Jan 2017 at 2:19 AM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think I feel similarly. The word, in my view, has such force to
>
> express extreme anger or frustration, it does so for me even when the
>
> person saying it is just casually peppering their speech with it. So
>
> even though there's no reason for my blood pressure to rise and some
>
> level of fight-or-flight to well up, it does.
>
>
>
> The view of many is "it's just a word." But I feel power from words.
>
>
>
> And I get really ticked off when I'm in another forum discussing this
>
> and others assume I'm a prude, a "Miss Grundy," or a precious
>
> snowflake. I'm not offended by profanity...it just scares me (to some
>
> degree...I don't cower behind a pillar or anything) and it depresses
>
> me when used without a thought, especially as an easier thing than
>
> saying a word that is actually meant.
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 22, 2017 at 6:07 PM, Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I really think the reaction to the word f*ck is a generational one.  I
>
> > really wish people would not say it and I let myself think that the use
>
> > reflects a lack of imagination and intelligence.  I think maybe people
> who
>
> > use the word are striving to call attention to what they have to say.  I
> do
>
> > hope it works for them, but my reaction is  to shut down and try to
> ignore
>
> > my own discomfort with the word.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Scott R. Knitter
>
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>
>