Me (14y male from Poland) got my english teacher annoyed/disappointed after saying the word “crap”. I’m unsure if this is the right place to ask this question but is saying that word considered bad? I always thought it was pretty mild and not a big deal.

  • JackbyDev
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    11 year ago

    Pretty cherry picked examples. Telling an interviewer anything specific about what you’re doing in the bathroom is odd, “I need to make a bowel movement” is weird too. Comparing a deceased person’s items to excrement is bad, calling it junk would be bad too but that doesn’t make junk a swear word. The third one isn’t really off-putting because of the word to me and is more about the attitude, even if they said something like “I don’t take flak from anyone” I’d have the same reaction.

    • @Badass_panda
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      1 year ago

      The third one isn’t really off-putting because of the word to me and is more about the attitude, even if they said something like “I don’t take flak from anyone” I’d have the same reaction.

      Indeed, you’d have the same reaction if they said they don’t take “shit” from anyone.

      You are making my point on all three examples: the direct reference to making a bowel movement is vulgar, there’s no situation where “crap” is totally fine and “shit” is not… because crap is only very mildly less vulgar than shit, they are both vulgar references to feces.

      I can keep on coming up with examples. The doctor says, “I need a stool sample,” vs. the doctor saying, “I need a sample of your crap, please.” Substitute shit and it is not particularly more shocking; neither works.

      Give it a try: what’s an example where “shit” would be shocking, and “crap” would be totally acceptable?

      • JackbyDev
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        1 year ago

        No, a doctor saying they need a shit sample is definitely more shocking than using a medical term, lmao

        • @Badass_panda
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          11 year ago

          My dude, re-read the comment for a sec. A doctor saying they need a “shit sample” or a “cup of your crap” would both be much more shocking than a stool sample.

          … that’s the point.

          • JackbyDev
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            -11 year ago

            Just because two words are unprofessional doesn’t mean they’re equally vulgar.

            • @Badass_panda
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              11 year ago

              Ok. Go ahead and show they’re not. Give me a single circumstance where “shit” is unacceptable and “crap” is totally fine.

              • JackbyDev
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                11 year ago

                Television targeted at pre teens and teenagers is a good example, saying shit would feel weird but crap is fine.