Tap Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) Dd came to me and asked a question about H*ll as a place, but she didn't want to say the word H*ll, because she thinks it is a bad word. Since she was using it in reference to the place, not as an expression, so to me it is fine for her to use it. But that got me wondering how others think. (Incase the computer edits it further, and someone can't guess what I mean, the word I am using is the place opposite of heaven :D) ETA: Okay just to clarify...I mean as a curse word. Edited September 7, 2009 by Tap, tap, tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 If my dd said "Jesus saves people from h*ll, right?" I wouldn't bat an eye. But if she came to me and said, "What in the h*ll is for lunch?" we might have a problem. ;) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalknot Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I don't think it's a bad word. Inappropriate sometimes, but no ... not bad. I tend to think of words in terms of appropriate/inappropriate rather than good/bad, though. And certainly, her question would be an appropriate context in which to use the word :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 If you mean is it cursing - I would say no. It is not taking the Lord's name in vain. But I think it is inappropriate for most conversation if you are not using it as place name. Actually I find it less offensive than vulgar language (4 letter words of a different variety!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julieofsardis Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I don't think it's a bad word. Inappropriate sometimes, but no ... not bad. I tend to think of words in terms of appropriate/inappropriate rather than good/bad, though. And certainly, her question would be an appropriate context in which to use the word :) :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I think any word can become a "bad" or curse word. It's more the attitude with which a word is said as opposed to the word itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Where's the option for no? I voted other, no I dont think it's a bad word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Where's the option for no?I voted other, no I dont think it's a bad word. :iagree: I don't think it is a bad word either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Where's the option for no? Yeah, where the h-e-double toothpicks is the "no" option? (Sorry, couldn't resist.:D) It's all about context. A child asking a sincere question about hell is just that: a sincere question about hell. One person telling another to "Go to hell" is clearly another matter altogether. Definitely not acceptable. By the same token, if the slang "h-e-double hockey sticks" is used as a euphemism in the wrong context, it's still not acceptable (imo). That is, "Go to h-e-double hockey sticks" is still, at heart, telling someon to "Go to hell". On the other hand, "Where the h-e-double hockey sticks" did I leave the car keys?!" is on par with "Where on earth...?" or some such. And while "hell" as an expression is not humorous, "h-e-double hockey sticks" is. To me, anyway. It makes me think of the part in the Charlie Brown Christmas special when Sally is supposed to say, "Hark!" during the play and instead in a moment of stage fright emits, "Hockey stick!":lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I dont have a problem with it either way, really. To me, its not a particularly bad curse word because we are not Christian, so it has no "load" for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) I don't think it's a bad word. Inappropriate sometimes, but no ... not bad. I tend to think of words in terms of appropriate/inappropriate rather than good/bad, though. And certainly, her question would be an appropriate context in which to use the word :) Yeah, that. Words are tools: a word can't be bad any more than a pencil or a hammer can be bad, but it is possible to do good or bad things with them, as with any tools. If my child were to shout "Go to Hell!" at me, it's the disrespect and unkindness that would be an issue, not the exact words used. As for appropriateness, I guess that is a matter of taste, opinion and religious beliefs. Coarse language doesn't bother me much, however I do try not to say anything that is going to be offensive to the person I'm talking to. Edited September 7, 2009 by Hotdrink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hmm.. 3 answers for Yes, and the obligatory Other. Biased poll? :) My vote: Nope! It's a word like darn, fudge, or jiminy cricket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 This reminds me of the time my daughter, at the age of 5, was telling her also 5yo friend about hell and the devil. My daughter had never heard the word used in the context of swearing, and so was perfectly comfortable saying it. The other girl, whose family was not religious, had never heard the word out of the context of swearing. She came running in the house to tell me that my daughter had said "hell." The poor child thought my daughter was doomed to some horrible fate because she had uttered the word. I had a hard time not to laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 We use Hell as "the place." Usually it's in context of what Hell is and how it isn't and can't be what many people think. It's a "bad word" when used as an exclamation. We don't use it and consider substitutions to be just as icky. My view of how to decide whether it is okay to say something is whether it would be nice or icky to hear a 7yr old say it (or the like) every other sentence. I decided this when my kids were little and I spent some time with a 7yo that regularly used substitutions. It was NASTY sounding. My kids are actually MORE conservative than I am. Because of a certain kids' movie, one of my children used a substitution for a short time, but otherwise, they've chosen to not do so even as teens and are offended when it is done though they realize most people just don't know better. But I don't find anything nasty sounding about a 7yo or 77yo saying, "David indicates in Psalms that he knew that God would raise him from hell when he deemed it time." or "Job and Solomon both knew what hell really was as we can see at these scriptures." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Yeah, where the h-e-double toothpicks is the "no" option? (Sorry, couldn't resist.:D) It's all about context. A child asking a sincere question about hell is just that: a sincere question about hell. One person telling another to "Go to hell" is clearly another matter altogether. Definitely not acceptable. By the same token, if the slang "h-e-double hockey sticks" is used as a euphemism in the wrong context, it's still not acceptable (imo). That is, "Go to h-e-double hockey sticks" is still, at heart, telling someon to "Go to hell". On the other hand, "Where the h-e-double hockey sticks" did I leave the car keys?!" is on par with "Where on earth...?" or some such. And while "hell" as an expression is not humorous, "h-e-double hockey sticks" is. To me, anyway. It makes me think of the part in the Charlie Brown Christmas special when Sally is supposed to say, "Hark!" during the play and instead in a moment of stage fright emits, "Hockey stick!":lol: :iagree: I also do not believe in he double hockey sticks. I do not believe a loving god would condemn imperfect humans whom he created to an eternal he double hockey sticks. Instead I believe that, for those who are particularily evil, it will take them a very long time to reach heaven:)." Doth not god know what he hath created?" My 2 cents:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pajama Mama Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I would vote for no but I think it is used inappropriately at times. I would put it in the not nice word category when used in a mean way, not curse. I think of it in the category of calling someone a retard or f@ggot which aren't considered curses. But I think those words sound uglier than h@ll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nope, but then I don't believe there are any bad words, just the misuse of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I voted other. Nope, not a bad word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nope, but then I don't believe there are any bad words, just the misuse of them. Should have read this first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Other: Depends upon context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nope, but then I don't believe there are any bad words, just the misuse of them. Yup, that about sums it up. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Your poll choices are "yes,yes,yes,other" How about NO. I dont think hell is a bad word. My son wrote an essay in IEW class about a Flaming Death Bird from Hell. I flinched bc I knew there would be some parents in the class who would be horrified even though he was clearly talking about the place. I wasnt one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 No, not a bad word at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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