observation on my idiolect (cusswords in post)

[rikibeth]

Someone commented, yesterday, on my use of "problematic" in an online discussion. They characterized it as a weak word. I hadn't thought of it that way.

It made me realize something about the way I use words. If I disagree with something, but want to give the speaker/writer the benefit of the doubt for good intentions, the word I tend to use is "misguided."

"Mistaken" is a little stronger than that, when I feel it's more than just a matter of opinion.

The next level up from that is "wrongheaded." This is the polite version of "they have their head wedged up their ass."

By the time I'm dragging out "problematic," I'm going for the G-rated version of "that's some pretty fucked-up shit, right there."

However, I can't expect the rest of the world to have a secret decoder ring for Rikibeth Is Trying Not To Swear.

aren't words cool?

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

You want amusing, ask mama_hogswatch below about how one of her worst insults is "Cupcake."

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

I love it!

It's in the orientation training at my restaurant that, no matter how cranky I sound, I'm not mad at the person I'm addressing unless I start my sentence with honey, sweetie, or darlin'. And how many of those I use is a measure of just how mad I am. They're all terrified of it.

[youraugustine.livejournal.com]

Whereas for a very dear friend of mine (and thus it's creeping into my usage), if he's sprinkling "darlin'"s in there (regardless of your sex), you're probably totally fine.

If he starts leaving them off, it's Serious Talk. And if he says "babe" or "baby", you're in biiiiig trouble.

(His brother uses "sweetheart" to much the same effect.)

Oh communication.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

Oh, all of those words get scattered throughout my speech. It's only when I open with them that there's a problem.

As in, "Honey. Sweetie. Darlin'. Do I understand correctly that you blew off your because you were too stoned to come in to work? Right after I made you a manager?"

Contrast, "Hey, darlin'? Could you pass me that?"

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

Not an insult. It's a paddle to spank with.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

The phrase "Now listen here, cupcake," springs to mind, as the opening to a thorough explanation of exactly how wrong your target is. Am I in the vicinity of the correct usage?

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Ding ding ding!

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

Exactly right. Said in a Tidewater accent.

As in, when a child is sneaking a cookie, "You sure you wanna be doin' that, cupcake?"

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

Very nice. Very nice indeed. Mind if I borrow it?