# Vulgarity? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 13, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740 "2017-10-13T17:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/21 "2017-10-13T19:36:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It certainly can be, as verified by some of the cites above. Just about _anything_ can be sexualized if said in the right tone or context. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/22 "2017-10-13T19:40:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > And I have given the simple answer. If you are offended by somebody’s post, report it and let the mods deal with it. > > It certainly can be, as verified by some of the cites above. > > If you believed that you were being abused, you should have reported the post. > > You haven’t been “disciplined.” You received a mod note. > > What we want you to do is to obey the rules. OK. I just don’t report that often and there is so much rage in some of these threads I can get offended before I even realize something was wrong. I don’t have reporting on my mind. I was OK with getting my say in the thread. But the original mod post was a misinterpretation of the actual posts. I was quoting the OP as to “horseshit” and things being “pulled out of asses.” When I did use the phrase for my own voice I was trying to use it to open the OPs eyes to his own language, and not to offend or be vulgar. When you shoot out this stuff it comes back around. You got to read for comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/23 "2017-10-13T19:41:07Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Just about _anything_ can be sexualized if said in the right tone or context. You mean like, _ **anything** _… ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/24 "2017-10-13T19:42:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > What I know is that you’ve responded to vulgarity with vulgarity, which rather weakens your case about how offensive it is. Sorry Col, but this is the definition of pedantry in the service of lala. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/25 "2017-10-13T20:13:52Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Just about _anything_ can be sexualized if said in the right tone or context. So what? One of the regular meaning of this phrase is sexual. See the cites. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/26 "2017-10-13T20:14:55Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Sorry Col, but this is the definition of pedantry in the service of lala. Not pedantry, but a observation. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/27 "2017-10-13T20:19:58Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > You got to read for comprehension. You do realize that this is both condescending and insulting. If you are gonna dish this stuff out suck it up and take it. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/28 "2017-10-13T20:33:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > So what? One of the regular meaning of this phrase is sexual. See the cites. So absent context, you can’t attribute meaning to another person’s use of the phrase. Unless you’re a mind reader. And by the way, the only cites I see attributing sex to the phrase are “Wktionary” type cites. Cambridge, and other more scholar type cites don’t mention it. I know which cites I’ll give more credence to. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/29 "2017-10-13T20:45:45Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So absent context, you can’t attribute meaning to another person’s use of the phrase. But you also can’t discount that the sexual sense was meant. But as **Bone** says, because of the potential ambiguity he made it a note instead of a warning. > [@](#): > > I know which cites I’ll give more credence to. It doesn’t matter whether or not you “give credence” to it, the sexual sense still exists. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/30 "2017-10-13T21:04:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But you also can’t discount that the sexual sense was meant. But as **Bone** says, because of the potential ambiguity he made it a note instead of a warning. Yes I can discount that because there is no context for me to infer his use of the phrase was sexual. And frankly, the given context in this particular situation, I find it rather strange that’s where your mind goes. It’s like if I said: “I was chatting my boss up at work” And you replied with: “Ooo, chatting up? You try’n to hook up with your boss?” Uh no, I just meant I was having a conversation with my boss. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/31 "2017-10-13T21:20:12Z")
With regard to “hot and bothered” being sexual in nature, I just want to respond to these comments in the interest of clarity: > [@Colibri](#): > > It certainly can be, as verified by some of the cites above. > [@Bone](#): > > I interpret this phrase to be sexual in nature. I acknowledge that there are multiple meanings and that it is not necessarily sexual. Because there is ambiguity, my comment in this instance was a note. If it was clear the comment was sexual in nature then my comment would have been a warning because there is a clear and specific rule against sexualization in this fashion. There are cites for it being sexual in nature but generally as one of several different interpretations, and frequently the secondary interpretation; more significantly, there are important mainstream dictionaries like [Merriam Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20and%20bothered) and [Cambridge](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/all-hot-and-bothered) **that never mention any sexual connotation at all**. To me the phrase is equivalent to “hot under the collar” which is completely inoffensive, IMHO. Whatever happened to the spirit of erring on the side of a generous interpretation of the poster’s intent when there is doubt? And in this case, there is tons of doubt. Furthermore, the rule itself reads “Do not say or imply that your fellow posters achieve sexual gratification or soil themselves in glee/distress due to recent news reports, political iconography, contemplation of ideological positions, etc.” which would imply something pretty blatant and not just “here, I found a dictionary that says that there might be a potential sexual interpretation of this common phrase”! **Bone** , to your credit, you’ve cited and applied the principle of generous interpretation yourself, and also to your credit, you’ve given a note here and not a warning. I’m just saying that I think even a note wasn’t justified based on the common usage of that phrase. It would be unfortunate if we all felt the need to consult multiple different dictionaries before using common idioms for fear that they might be deemed unacceptable because someone, somewhere might find an obscure offensive interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/32 "2017-10-13T21:36:00Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You do realize that this is both condescending and insulting. If you are gonna dish this stuff out suck it up and take it. Take what? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/33 "2017-10-13T21:40:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not pedantry, but a observation. It’s pedantry when you won’t acknowledge a context. Your powers of observation are selective in this case. I understand you’re keeping the peace, but you don’t help your own case by calling my response to his abuse a discrete event. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/34 "2017-10-13T21:48:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But you also can’t discount that the sexual sense was meant. But as **Bone** says, because of the potential ambiguity he made it a note instead of a warning. > > It doesn’t matter whether or not you “give credence” to it, the sexual sense still exists. Does a sexual sense exist to this phrase I am writing right now? Now if I said you were pulling the answer out of your ass that would be OK with you here? But if you said I was hot and bothered because I said that to you a few times running, you are imputing sexual meaning to me? You know I’m not the one who wanted or needed it to be about asses, in fact I was trying to avoid it. And this is why I’m keeping on writing here. So you can tell someone he is pulling things out of his ass, but if you make a comment about it, sexuality will be the default. Because we were already in the neighborhood? How did we get there? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/35 "2017-10-13T22:27:55Z")
I have never ever heard, seen or read the phrase “hot and bothered” without having sexual connection to it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/36 "2017-10-13T22:40:32Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I have never ever heard, seen or read the phrase “hot and bothered” without having sexual connection to it. And you were my friend! ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/37 "2017-10-13T22:47:15Z")
Does anyone else think that the gun threads have a tendency towards abuse? If people are abusive but it goes under the radar because “the gun threads are controversial,” you are overlooking an issue that might be very meaningful to the threads. If I have a liberal perspective on healthcare I don’t expect to say something and have a load of invective just for having a progressive value, as soon as it is posted, like automatically. “Horseshit” “Pulling it out of your ass” Should I for the gun issue? Why is it different? What kind of scene are we playing out in these threads? Why is it abusive and sadistic? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/38 "2017-10-13T22:54:02Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You do realize that this is both condescending and insulting. If you are gonna dish this stuff out suck it up and take it. Mad Sir, kindly wait til you get warning that is (inaccurately posed) and then see how mild and reasonable my sentence was, in retrospect. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/39 "2017-10-13T23:05:00Z")
So to continue: The phrase “hot and bothered” in this case comes to mind by being on a thread where it seemed to me, all progressive thoughts are answered by a violent gesture: abuse, obscenity, “I saw it and fell off my chair”… This is rage. Is this a description of “hot and bothered”? I thought so. Am I guilty of this too? I’m going to look inside. But I think I am snarky and not obscene for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740/40 "2017-10-13T23:21:51Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > And you were my friend! I add people to that because they’re regular posters, not because they may or may not be friends. I add posters to it who I don’t even like or who I know aren’t too fond of me…simply because I use it as a way to find posts/topics fast of regular, old time, solid posters… …and (slightly) as a relaxation thing. But it doesn’t really have anything to do with how I feel about the poster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulgarity/798740.md?page=3)