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To assault one is to intend to cause them harm. Cursing in a situation where crap is literally happening, that is reactionary.


That is what it appears to be. That is what it is assumed to be. But is that factually what it is? My argument is that it is not.

Consider this: Have you ever worked around a person who tended to respond to a bad event in their morning by being difficult all day? Say they were driving into work and someone made them angry, and then they take out that anger on their co-workers the rest of the day. Have you ever witnessed that? If not, you will. There are many people like this in the world. What they are doing is getting you involved in their anger. That is one of the issues of anger, it compels the mind experiencing it to attempt to cause others to move into that state. Cursing is the same thing. People do not curse loudly unless there is the possibility of moving the mind of another person, unless there is someone to hear the cursing.

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If things like this happen eventually we will reach the point where people are arrested for speaking in their house with closed windows.


But it has been that way and the problem you suggest didnt happen. In fact, I submit that the further we move from a civil society the closer we get to the hypothetical you posited. In fact, to my knowledge, there is nothing historically that agrees with that which you and dergats are suggesting, that being that civil societies are dangerous.

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Also please stop generalizing. You say people curse out loud to get the attention of another person. That is simply not true. Some people do, sure. Others curse loudly to let off steam. These are just two reasons for so many people in the world, there are sure to be others.


Ah, but what is letting off steam? That is a pretty general statement if you ask me. I think Ive been fairly specific in fact. Analyze, watch, observe, you will see that I am generally correct. Yes, an infant will cry when no one is around. And yes, a person in distress will scream out for help when no one is around. But a person cursing loudly is making a show.

I think there is an assumption that I dont know much about cursing. The fact is that cursing is a struggle having been raise in an environment where cursing, others and objects, was the way it was. As well I served in the Navy. All of my old friends curse as a matter of common discourse. Ive managed to stop cursing for the most part, but it leaks out, especially when old friends visit.

From what Ive observed, cursing is exactly that which Ive described it.

If you want to challenge my theory on the subject, please, present a competing theory, in complexity and specificity.

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You know what I think a lot of people find offensive? You thinking you're right all the time, Joel. The way you talk down to others and if they make a valid point you turn your nose up at them and simply tell them they're basically too stupid to understand.


People may or not find that to be the case. I dont think I am right all the time. I know for a fact that I am wrong all the time. I do think that I am less wrong than most people, but that is necessary for cogency and clarity of thought. Deceptive people waffle about on points. Everyone here knows exactly what I think.

I have no idea where the 'talking down' comment comes from. Reflexively I want to assume that this is a debate tactic that is intended to shame the opponent into competing less vigorously. Perhaps that isnt the case. In any event, that isnt my intent. My objective is to make my case as strongly as I can. I believe in the things Ive learned in this life. I think those things deserve strong advocacy.

I have no idea what you mean by, ...turning your nose up... Im afraid that makes no sense to me at all, youll have to rephrase that.

Here is a thought for you to consider: If I think you are stupid I dont respond to you at all (unless you whine about me not responding, then maybe). That I engage a person is a sign of respect.

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Wouldn't you find that a little offensive, like cursing?


Nope, not to any real extent at least. I am persistently insulted on these boards. Ad hominem attacks on me are the rule. I attack the idea and get attacked personally. That is what dergats is making a habit of doing in this thread. His ideas arent standing on their own merit so he is getting personal.

According to his last post Im an untouchable. I am so low that not even worth having a discussion with. These attacks get justified since Im securely pigeonholed and thus an icon of sorts. People have made up their minds that Im the bad guy and even if there is no evidence present, my general badness must have caused the attack.

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And hey, if cursing is offensive and an assault upon people, I guess being demeaning to people and acting like you're always right would be too.


Or, demeaning people is a tactic that people with poor arguments use to quell the strong arguments that threaten their world-view. I guess it depends on how you look at it and to what standards you hold others.

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You have a bad habit of demonizing people who disagree with you.


Cant be demonstrated, ad hominem.

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Are you high when you write sometimes?


Spurious ad hominem comment.

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You're not even worth haveing a "discussion" with.


Careless ad hominem pigeonholing. Now Im an untouchable?

I assert that the argument that people verbally assaulting others, by intent or indifference, is irrational in a civilized society. I attack the argument with specifics. And you think Im wrong for doing that? Considering the ad hominem junk that is fairly constantly thrown at me, I must admit that Im astonished when a bright young lady such as yourself accuses me of that which others get a free pass in doing to me.

In any event, my suspicion is that this woman had a habit of verbally polluting the environment of her neighbors. I also suspect that being a person of limited control and respect for others she conducted herself in an insulting manner before the judge and found that not everyone has to tolerate her abuse. But, like Dune said, unless the transcript is provided, the facts cannot be known.

Joel.