Most DegreeInfo posters take pride in their academic pursuits and accomplishments, which is as it should be. When one has disciplined one's self to complete an academic program, one should indeed experience a certain sense of accomplishment, personal fulfillment and attainment. On this forum, meticulous attention is given to the myriad nuances of accreditation, curriculum/program design & rigor, less-than-wonderful institutions, my-degree-is-bigger-and-better-than-your-degree, and the like. A premium is placed on issues such as good grammar/spelling in one's posting, civil interaction among posters, agreeing to disagree and for the most part toleration of alternate and opposing viewpoints. Interestly, some will debate/argue ad infinitum the fine points of academe, extolling the life-changing virtues of higher education, while simultaneously resorting to 7th grade expletives to validate or emphasize a particular point of view. With this in mind, several questions emerge: 1. Does one's level of education have any correlation with one's choice of vocabulary, specifically the use of expletives? 2. Should higher education promote and influence one's capacity for more civil dialogue? 3. Is the use of expletives necessary to add legitimacy/validity to one's point of view?
I have heard for years that one uses profanity because one has a limited vocabulary. This is obviously about the most exaggerated myth in history. I don't think there is any correlation between one's educational level and one's use of expletives and/or morals. Our politicians certainly validate this. Some of the most brilliant men to hold the office of President--JFK, Nixon, Clinton--are on record as having used the "F" expletive on a regular basis. Brilliant candidates for the presidency--HHH, Kerry--are on record for the same thing. Check out Dr. Victoria Zdrok, a brilliant, highly educated woman (Ph.D., J.D.) who sells her twice-worn panties and engages in other strange behaviors and exhibitionism. To quote Sinbad, "Don't make no sense to me."
My father had an IQ of 180, 40 patents and had two successful businesses - and yet he was the most verbally vulgar man I ever knew. Some of the best engineers and physicists that I have worked with over the years tended to swear a lot (some even enjoyed throwing things). On the other side of the spectrum, some of the most verbally correct people I know are idiots. Bottom line: I do not believe their is any correlation between intelligence and/or education* the "way" or method a person communicates. Higher education means little in this area as understand that your verbal communication habits are usually picked up well before any advanced education. * side note: Education does not equal intelligence. (or common sense for that matter)
Education is usually correlated with a larger vocabulary, though that increase might consist mostly of technical terms from arcane disciplines. I've noticed that highly educated people sometimes affect a wider range of expletives, occasionally spouting Latin or Elizabethan wonders that I need to consult the Oxford English Dictionary to understand. (Some use Romanian.) I actually bought a book from the remainders at B&N on ancient Roman insults. As you might expect, they were masters at it. It was kind of an art form with them, putting down people with style and panache. But many of their remarks were very rude, extremely graphic and emotionally cutting. Sure, but that doesn't necessarily equate to absence of expletives. I'd say sometimes 'yes'. I think that the primary purpose of language is communication, so words should be chosen that best communicate one's intended meaning. That might be specialized vocabulary if the message is technical and if the hearers/readers are familiar with the subject. It might be expletives if the intention is to communicate great emotion, especially emotion so violent it breaks boundaries. I think that the issue probably isn't the words themselves, but rather whether or not the words are appropriate in their context. If our purpose is maintaining civil dialogue with those who hold strong opposing views, then we probably should choose thoughtful language and avoid insults or other attempts to cause anger and arousal. If we know that certain words offend our hearers, and if we persist in using them anyway, we may be communicating that we don't care in the least bit about their feelings. They will hear our expletive as if it were 'fu...(oops)...you' directed at them, and will take offense.
Anybody else notice that the Bills (Huffman the Gnomological, Dayson the Epistemological, and--in occultation--Grover the Theological) are just plain smarter than the rest of us?
Fuck, no. Fuck, who cares? Fuck, fuck. Of course it doesn't add legitimacy/validity, nor does it subtract from them. It adds punch.
I am not aware of any research to support a correlation between educational level and vulgar language. Although I personally find vulgaries to be a childish way to express onesself, most of the people with whom I work are highly educated and many of them use vugarities on a regular basis. I find little difference between the use of racial slurs, sexual preference slurs and so-called "four-letter words". I do realize, however, that a large number of people do not feel the same way. Tony
Re: Re: An Inquiry about Educational Level & the Use of Expletives I knew this thread would bring Steve to a screeching halt and into the nearest truck stop, eager and willing to spout his vast reservoir of expletives. Of course, I am in total disagreement with his position, even though he speaks as Janko's prophet.
A brilliant observation, Tony. The two-year old who doesn't get his/her way erupts in a temper tantrum of actions and articulations. Every time I see such a display in public, I think "poor itty bitty baby didn't get its way." Of course, I think similar thoughts when big babies use expletives.
I know one lady who tells me that she didn't really know how to swear until she was in her second year of college. (I don't know if Calculus had anything to with it.)
I spent a few years at sea in the merchant marine and Navy yet I never HEARD foul language like that from a contingent of Sea Scouts. Man, these kids were SOMETHING.
