Culture and the Meaning of Words

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:30:25 EST

This entry is meant to be a lesson in culture values. Youmay also find it creates some thought about values, period. We all have ourvalues. Maybe we are clear on them and perhaps they are cloudier than black andwhite.

Often, we put labels on these values. Some religion,someplace we live. I am clear on my values. I am an American Hippie, male,full-stop. Of course I don't know what judgmentsyou have from that classification. I know what it means to me.

It means I value and prefer the paths of peace (overviolence), love (as opposed to hate) and understanding (if not personallyagreeing).

Recently another person that I value highly and for a longtime period was informing me of a positive event. I responded with, "That's greatshit!" The receiver of this positive note informed me they did not see anythinggreat about shit, overall.

That was a surprise to me. And it got me thinking about howthe meanings of words a sender of information may intend can be taken in a completelydifferent context. Not long ago, I was leading a break out session for SmallBusiness Nation. I opened like this.

Raise your hand if you know Harry. Ok thanks. Now raise yourhand if you know Bee. Thanks. Now everyone put your hands down, and only raiseone if you know both of them. OK, great. Now keep your hand up if you just metthem at this conference. Oh Wow. Thank you.

To those who have your hands up now, I'm sorry. I forgot totell you I invited a guest to be among us. That would be Moses. I invited himto be with us in a meta-physical way today. Now I suppose you cannot see himbecause he just fell off of his chair and on to the floor. Because in his worldand language, those with your hands in the air just publically admitted thatyou just met this male and female here at this conference. And that you enjoyedthem both so much you engaged in after hour's physical activity, with both ofthem last night.

Oh shit.

I have been doing considerable research on that word thepast few days. It turns out that in the USAand Western Canada, the word shit has become avariable, such as X in math, or foo in computer programming. It is far moreflexible than ‘stuff' because it can be used for as a variable for physicalthings, in addition to the expression of emotions.

No shit.

Asking about, our fluid language adopted this new variablesomewhere about 1962. George Carlin created a monologue about in the mid- 60's.The monolog was popular because of the vast and rapid change over fromsomething less than pleasant in many cases, to a variable.

I fully admit some American citizens do not particularlyenjoy this variable. I only have to look as far as some of my own siblings to realizethis. To that I say, tough shit.

Years ago, it was a national shock when on screen in themovie, Gone With the Wind; Clark Gable said to Scarlett, "Frankly my dear, Idon't give a damn." I suspect if the movie was made in the ‘60's, he would haveused the variable that has been so popular for almost 50 years. Or maybe not.It might not have raised the shock value. Well, since they didn't make themovie in the ‘60's, I don't give a shit. If you do, tell me about in thecomments.

TRCB.com RSS Feed

Culture and the Meaning of Words