# Fuckin' eh! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658 "2008-11-07T16:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/1 "2008-11-07T16:49:01Z")
There are times I am downright amazed at the country I live in. Apparently, in my home and native land it is now perfectly acceptable to yell “Fuck you!” to an officer of the law. Because it’s not a curse, [it’s an insult.](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081107.wcurse07/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081107.wcurse07) Fuck yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/2 "2008-11-07T17:21:37Z")
I’m not sure what your point is, but it’s true that “fuck” is used differently in (Quebec) French than in English. It’s basically seen as a throwaway swear word, not as a comment on sexual functions. Many years ago my uncle was suspended from school for saying “fuck you” to his English teacher (interestingly enough, she was also my English teacher when I went to the same school long after that). To him it was simply a swear word, but to her, who at the time didn’t know much French or much about Quebec culture, it was much more of an insult than my uncle intended. This said, I didn’t know there was a municipal by-law against cursing in Montreal. It’s probably a remnant from another time, and very rarely invoked (except when people curse at police officers). On the other hand: > [@The Globe and Mail](#): > > The two solitudes of swearing emerge on the airwaves in the province; it’s not uncommon to hear French-language hosts and guests casually throw around the f-word, even on Canada’s public broadcaster, Radio-Canada. This I’ve never heard. I’ve heard guests say _tabarnac_ on _Tout le monde en parle_, and it’s not bleeped or cut so obviously it’s considered acceptable, and I believe Jon Stewart has used ‘fuck’ on _The Daily Show_, but it’s hard to tell because they bleep profanity (on CTV anyway, which is the channel where I watch it). But I don’t remember someone using ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada; maybe it’s happened but probably not often. ---
**Author:** ![bellybean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@bellybean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bellybean)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/3 "2008-11-07T17:39:34Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > This I’ve never heard. I’ve heard guests say _tabarnac_ on _Tout le monde en parle_, and it’s not bleeped or cut so obviously it’s considered acceptable, and I believe Jon Stewart has used ‘fuck’ on _The Daily Show_, but it’s hard to tell because they bleep profanity (on CTV anyway, which is the channel where I watch it). But I don’t remember someone using ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada; maybe it’s happened but probably not often. In French, _fucké_ can mean broken or not working, and also crazy, when referring to person. I could imagine this usage on Radio-Canada. I think the article linked in the OP lost something in translation. They seem to have translated _sacre_ as “swear word”. But a _sacre_ is a particular type of curse, using words from Catholicism. That is not the case for “fuck”–a naughty word, maybe, but not a _sacre_. I am amazed that there is a by-law against swearing here. I wonder if police officers are aware of it, because they could seriously improve city finances if they decided to enforce it! ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/4 "2008-11-07T17:46:47Z")
I believe the original words used (at least per the French language dailies) was “blaspheme” - blasphemy. No way is _fuck_ a blasphemy, though it is an insult. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/5 "2008-11-07T18:41:40Z")
So, if I’m understanding you right, it’s vulgar but it’s not profane? And profane is a different level of unacceptable? ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/6 "2008-11-07T18:56:31Z")
> [@bellybean](#): > > In French, _fucké_ can mean broken or not working, and also crazy, when referring to person. I could imagine this usage on Radio-Canada. Oh yeah, you’re right. :smack: I wouldn’t expect to hear ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada, but ‘fucké’, yes, to be sure. (Not in news shows of course, but in shows with a more informal language.) > [@](#): > > I think the article linked in the OP lost something in translation. They seem to have translated _sacre_ as “swear word”. But a _sacre_ is a particular type of curse, using words from Catholicism. That is not the case for “fuck”–a naughty word, maybe, but not a _sacre_. Yes. Montreal apparently has a (rarely used) by-law against “blasphemy”. ‘Fuck’ is not a blasphemous (or profane) word, it’s just vulgar language. This is how Dupuy got out of a ticket. Saying that “in Montreal, the f-word is apparently not a swear word at all” is totally false and dilutes the whole point of the article: ‘fuck’ is a swear word (though probably milder, in French anyway, than in mainly anglophone locales), it’s just not a blasphemous word. (By the way, I used “profanity” incorrectly in my first post: I meant to say that _The Daily Show_ or CTV bleeps vulgar language.) > [@](#): > > I am amazed that there is a by-law against swearing here. I wonder if police officers are aware of it, because they could seriously improve city finances if they decided to enforce it! Fuck the police! 😛 Oh, wait, ‘fuck’ is not illegal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/7 "2008-11-07T22:50:06Z")
Nah, francophones don’t treat “fuck” as a swear at all. I often remind my sister-in-law that she shouldn’t say ‘fuck’ in front of her kid and mine, seeing as how anglophones don’t view it quite as lightly. As for being broadcast, I’m certain I’ve heard “fuck” a few times on french TV shows, like Tout sur moi… ---
**Author:** ![placebo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@placebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/placebo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/8 "2008-11-08T02:41:32Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > I believe Jon Stewart has used ‘fuck’ on _The Daily Show_, but it’s hard to tell because they bleep profanity (on CTV anyway, which is the channel where I watch it). But I don’t remember someone using ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada; maybe it’s happened but probably not often. I don’t know about _The Daily Show_, but CTV used to broadcast _The Osbournes_ in its full uncensored glory. Incidentally, I was just watching _Télé-Québec_ and the term “fuck friends” was casually mentioned on a debate show. It really is no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/9 "2008-11-08T03:05:27Z")
I’m not surprised. My protestant parents didn’t like my use of the word “fuck”, but if I yelled “Christ” or “God damn”, there was hell to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/10 "2008-11-09T04:53:58Z")
So, would I be guilty of blasphemy under this bylaw if I said “tabernac”, given that I am not a Christian, so I would not see it as blasphemous? Or is blasphemy defined by the hearer rather than the speaker? It strikes me that this law would not long survive a constitutional challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Bambro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@Bambro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/11 "2008-11-09T05:03:09Z")
> [@bellybean](#): > > In French, _fucké_ can mean broken or not working, and also crazy, when referring to person. I could imagine this usage on Radio-Canada. > > I think the article linked in the OP lost something in translation. They seem to have translated _sacre_ as “swear word”. But a _sacre_ is a particular type of curse, using words from Catholicism. That is not the case for “fuck”–a naughty word, maybe, but not a _sacre_. > > I am amazed that there is a by-law against swearing here. I wonder if police officers are aware of it, because they could seriously improve city finances if they decided to enforce it! Having nothing to do with the thread, I’ve just got to say this… HOLY SHIT DUDE! 5 years and 17 posts. I’ve seen some long time members with really low post counts, but I think you win the prize. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/12 "2008-11-09T05:32:57Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > It strikes me that this law would not long survive a constitutional challenge. Probably not (though I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t really say). Plenty of places have laws against blasphemy, adultery, or similar behaviours still on the books, and they’re not struck down because either they’re not actually enforced, or nobody’s actually tried to challenge their validity, especially when the punishment is simply a fine. If I have the time, I may try to track down this Montreal by-law, so we can see how “blasphemy” is actually defined. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/13 "2008-11-09T05:52:36Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > This I’ve never heard. I’ve heard guests say _tabarnac_ on _Tout le monde en parle_, and it’s not bleeped or cut so obviously it’s considered acceptable, and I believe Jon Stewart has used ‘fuck’ on _The Daily Show_, but it’s hard to tell because they bleep profanity (on CTV anyway, which is the channel where I watch it). But I don’t remember someone using ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada; maybe it’s happened but probably not often. We get the unbleeped _Daily Show (International Edition)_ here, and I assure you, Jon Stewart manages to say “fuck” just about every fucking show. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/14 "2008-11-09T15:42:53Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Oh yeah, you’re right. :smack: I wouldn’t expect to hear ‘fuck’ on Radio-Canada, but ‘fucké’, yes, to be sure. (Not in news shows of course, but in shows with a more informal language.) I’ve actually heard ‘fuck’ on CBC Radio (English), only just recently. It made me gawk at my radio and think (momentarily) “Where’s that TiVo remote?” (:smack:). But, I only get my CBC via Sirius, so perhaps this was a satellite-only show. I sort of doubt it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Retief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Retief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retief)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/15 "2008-11-09T18:01:27Z")
> [@Bambro](#): > > Having nothing to do with the thread, I’ve just got to say this… > > HOLY SHIT DUDE! 5 years and 17 posts. I’ve seen some long time members with really low post counts, but I think you win the prize. 🙂 Probably, like me, refused to **pay** to post. Ref the op many words have different meanings in closely related languages, an example would be the word cunt which in dutch simply means backside and is not gender specific. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/16 "2008-11-09T18:27:35Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I’ve actually heard ‘fuck’ on CBC Radio (English), only just recently. It made me gawk at my radio and think (momentarily) “Where’s that TiVo remote?” (:smack:). But, I only get my CBC via Sirius, so perhaps this was a satellite-only show. I sort of doubt it, though. Haven’t you watched George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC-TV ? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/17 "2008-11-09T21:15:26Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Haven’t you watched George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC-TV ? Nope. I live in the States now, since 2002. I get my CBC by satellite radio. ---
**Author:** ![bellybean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@bellybean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bellybean)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/18 "2008-11-09T21:17:06Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I’ve actually heard ‘fuck’ on CBC Radio (English), only just recently. It made me gawk at my radio and think (momentarily) “Where’s that TiVo remote?” (:smack:). But, I only get my CBC via Sirius, so perhaps this was a satellite-only show. I sort of doubt it, though. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard “fuck” on Radio 1 from time to time, but not from the journalists, just in the reports. Also on “Out Front”. But I think there is a warning/disclaimer type-thing beforehand. And I have been paying for the whole five years. I just don’t have a lot to say. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/19 "2008-11-09T21:19:45Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Nah, francophones don’t treat “fuck” as a swear at all. I often remind my sister-in-law that she shouldn’t say ‘fuck’ in front of her kid and mine, seeing as how anglophones don’t view it quite as lightly. Some barbarian you are. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-eh/471658/20 "2008-11-09T21:28:48Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Nope. I live in the States now, since 2002. I get my CBC by satellite radio. Let me tell you you are missing a real treat. Check out [The Hour](http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/content/wholeshow.html), a news/entertainment program.