Swearing Lessens Pain

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, England - A British researcher said
his study indicates using swear words increases a person's
tolerance for pain. Richard Stephens of England's Keele
University said he compared the pain tolerance of 67
students of both sexes when they each dropped a hand into
ice-cold water, the Boston Globe reported Monday. Stephens
said most of the subjects found their pain tolerances
increased when they were allowed to exclaim swear words as
opposed to neutral language. "It seems to (work) via the
emotional content of swearing -- people appear to shock
themselves into a state of emotional arousal (the fight or
flight response), which is known to have a pain-lessening
effect," Stephens said. Stephens said he doesn't see why
people in pain shouldn't swear. "What's the harm in swear-
ing if it helps you cope? Provided there are no children
around, of course," he said.

so does running someone over will a bull-dozer!

Wow, I've been increasing my pain tolerance for all these years and didn't even realize it.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Wow, I've been increasing my pain tolerance for all these years and didn't even realize it.

dont get too happy. there will be another study out soon that says swearing will cause pain soon!

I must be in constant pain when I'm driving.

No way, this can't really be true?!
It's almost silly. I mean, if it is I'm gonna have quite a time the next time I get real hurt

also known as "injury turrets"

Hit the ol' thumb with a hammer and see what kind of colorful metaphor / expletive may come out.

James B. wrote:

also known as "injury turrets"

Hit the ol' thumb with a hammer and see what kind of colorful metaphor / expletive may come out.

I should try that sometime.

I tried it and it doesnt work Im still in financial pain hehe

Something my buddy Mike wrote a while back titled Cursing??? It's quite funny if you have a good sense of humor:


Cursing and Vulgar Language

I'm
surprised by the amount of people who don't correctly use the English
language. Of course, that's how languages change. Our
misunderstandings and prejudices lead to the further development of
language. I recall taking Ancient Greek and comparing my vocabulary
with Modern Greek. One word always made me laugh: Ponos (p????). This word in Ancient Greek means "work", but in Modern Greek it means "pain". Leave it to the Greeks!

As for English, many Americans often ignorantly use the word "curse" (or its slang derivative "cuss") to refer to words which are not curses.

A curse is
a prayer of doom. It is an effort to befall another by invoking
supernatural power(s). That is a curse. As such the following are
curses:

Curse you.
Go to hell.

May you have diarrhea for a week!


Many often confuse vulgar or profane language for curses. "Vulgar"
means "of the people," or the language of the masses (not the
aristocracy). The Latin Vulgate Bible was the Bible written in the
people's Latin. "Profane" originally meant "in front of the temple", and later came to mean "irreverent".

Smurf, smurf poo, ass, smurfette, etc. are vulgar terms that can be used profanely. Words that are vulgar and profane change over time--curses do not.

"Shit" is a vulgar word.
"Eat shit" is a vulgar, possibly profane (in the contemporary sense)
thing to say to someone.
"Eat smurf poo and die" is likewise a vulgar command.
But "may you eat smurf poo and die" is a curse!


Another example:

"Fuck" is a vulgar word.
"Fuck off" is vulgar command and an idiom meaning, "go away (and masturbate)."
"May you Smurf off until your balls rot" is a curse!


Swearing is likewise misused. Smurf, smurf poo, ass, smurfette, etc. are not swear words. To swear is to take an oath.

Why
do people confuse these terms? In Christianity cursing and swearing
are considered sinful. Since our culture was heavily influenced by
Western Christian culture, we tend to lump these categories of speech
with vulgar/profane terms. (These three categories have been
confused). Sometimes vulgar and/or profane terms were considered
sinful, but that would often depend on the context of the discussion as
well as those engaged in the discussion.

In short, curses and
swearing oaths are things which do not change in definition over time,
but vulgar language (and thus, what individuals could consider profane)
does change over time. Smurf originally was a verb that meant to breed animals (frie./ang-sax. fokken). smurf poo was
a verb that simply meant "to defecate". In fact, the correct English
for the past tense of "to shit" is not "take a smurf poo," (which is the
modern idiomatic usage), but "shat". You may say Johnny took a smurf poo, but really it is more apt to say that Johnny shat.

In any case, whether we like the language being used or not, it still is subject to the rules of grammar.

Now you can Smurf off or smurf poo me a comment. (Just don't be cursing if you do)

So, playing Halo 3 on Legendary difficulty is painful. That actually makes a lo of sense.