GEN: Profane and obscene

[Jan Helene Moore <janmoore@TENET.EDU>]

This is highly semantical (if that's a word) but some on the list have
used these two words interchangibly.  Others have used them as if one
were worse than the other.  Actually, in the dictionary sense, "obscene"
refers to anything that is "disgusting to the senses"(Webster) and
generally refers to bodily functions, sexual or otherwise, which are not
mentioned in "polite" company.  The "p-word" under discussion would be an
obscenity to those who object to it.
  "Profane" refers to things sacreligious in nature, ie. taking the name
of the diety in vain. (G-D!!, etc.)
   As a first year "boomer, I turn 50 this year and am constantly being
taken aback by words which would have gotten me grounded being used by
educated professionals and on prime television.  One in particular was
used in my senior year college skit and got the four participants
suspended briefly. (It describes what Hoover sweepers do.)  Nowadays
students use it frequently and in their minds is synonymous with
"stinks".  I just have to cope with this and remember that I am getting
up there.  When I was a kid, air was clean and sex was dirty.  Oh,
well.....Many things have changed and many of them for the better. I'll
just keep my mouth shut most of the time and accept the bitter with the
sweet.
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        Jan Moore                               Foster Elementary
        Library Media Specialist                1025 High Point
        janmoore@tenet.edu                      Arlington, TX 76015
        FAX (817)468-8292                       (817)465-4702
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