Whats the difference? Don't they mean the same thing when and used in identical situations? So who ultimately decided which words are acceptable and which ones arent? Whether I say Hell or Heck is based entirely on my upbringing, my background and the influence of people around me. Or in other words whether or not I grew up in Utah. Words like Hell and Damn carry such a taboo for most people "with any decency" around here. I say that half jokingly because isnt that the case? Hearing the "D word" or the "B word" on our innocent ears is like pouring a little salt on the belly of a snail, minus the whole oozing bubbly stuff. Its like acid, we are afraid of it and are shocked when we hear it, as if they were there to hurt us. What do these words even mean? Aren't they just synonyms of the hecks, dangs, and craps that are safe to use? Or I suppose more appropriately aren't the dang, hecks and craps synonyms of the naughty words?
Now im using these 'John Wayne' words as the main examples and other words apply. The people around us defines what is a bad or acceptable, so why is it that people purposely choose to go against what is acceptable? Whether its with dress, behavior, or language.Kids swear in school because it gives them a rush, they know they shouldnt but they still do it... livin on the edge. Maybe they like the attention it gives them.
Yet we still haven't really uncovered why these words are so bad compared to their Utah version counterparts. What is so difference between these two curse words? Damns and Hells seem to pierce us like javalins but dangs and hecks bounce off like fluff balls. "What the hell?" and "What the heck?"... Dammit and dangit. You cant tell me these pairs of phrases are not identical in meaning cause they are! So why the division? You say one and it carries along with it all other synonyms and connotations to that word. Secondly what do we really mean when we say these words? It appears to me we throw them around like a football... most the time we just want a word to throw in there! Perhaps it makes us feel like we are expressing ourselves better. "This stupid thing" is the same as "this damn thing" ... there are multiple ways to say the same thing. Ok, so im not advocating we all break the social norm (as ridiculous as it is) of the difference between 2 letters, Heck and Hell... dang and damn. Nor am I suggesting we start swearing like sailors to express ourselves. Just a thought... isnt the meaning more important than the language? Internationally we have many different ways to say the same thing... no matter what language we speak, what we are saying is the thing we should focus on.
It seems that 'the saints' kind of missed the boat with this one, we are encouraged not to use filth in our language... (the damns, hells, shits... you all remember). So what did we do? We just changed them a little bit, same meaning same instances but now thier ok. Maybe something more important to look at is why we are saying these words, they are generally degrading and used at times when we are angry or frustrated. When we choose better words we suddenly enter a higher plane of respect for others and for things around us. At the same time we gain respect from those that hear us. Consider standing before a judge or leader, you probably would be very respectful in the way you speak. I for one dont care for formalities really but I do know that respecting others is important to do. We are heirs to heaven, were in the school of princes and princesses, become as much like our example and savior as we can. Again what do we mean when we say what we say however we say it? Its something we should all look at... try to become better in the way we are. Thats why we are here.
Did that even make sense? I've been sitting here a long time... ive gotta get the hell out of here. :)