i dont understand what is so bad about people and children saying it. how did 'hell' become so bad to say?
2007-06-15 11:04:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
like all swear words, its about the meaning of the word. Any word that refers to something people would rather not talk about around the dinner table is somewhat of a swear word
its interesting how what is considered a swear word evolves over time. A r s e used to be the common but socially unacceptable way of referring to ones rear, the word a s s was substituted as a less vulgar way of saying the same thing, and over time, a s s became unacceptable.
Same thing with the F-word, Freak and Frick have been coined to replace it but they are more and more becoming socially unacceptable.
the word hell refers to a place of unimaginable torment, whether or not you believe it exists, the meaning is the same. People don't want to talk about this bad thing so substitutes like heck and H-E-double toothpicks are used.
Once a word is deemed a swear word, people begin using it in other contexts to emphasize their point or to be intentionally vulgar, when was the last time you used the F-word in reference to sex? Just like Hell is inserted unnecessarily into a sentence to emphasize the point (what the Hell were you thinking? as an example)
I think the value of words comes from their meaning and it is useless to water down your statement by substituting other words, but I also believe it is unnecessary to add swear words just for emphasis, this makes someone sound less intelligent if they do it too often.
2007-06-15 11:16:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hell is derived from the curse "go to hell" which was thought in the middle ages by some as having the power to damn your soul to hell. This is historical, but some stuffy or religious people still consider it impolite. It's sub-cultural. Most Americans think of it as a minor curse word. It's so innocuous that it's even used on television newscasts at times. I say to hell with your bloody relatives. :-)
2016-05-21 04:17:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's used in the Bible so in that manner, it wouldn't be considered a swear word because it's referring to a place. Otherwise, yes, if used the wrong way it is considered swearing.
2016-02-17 02:57:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well. . .it's connotation refers to the one place people fear to go, so I suppose that it is a bad place, but it should not be deemed a swear word because unlike most other swear words, hell is an actual place with more to its meaning than a pile of poop
2007-06-15 11:07:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never cuss/curse. But I do hell because I've never heard of it being a swear word.
2007-06-15 11:10:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How did any word became bad to say? There is really no such thing as a "bad" word. It's all about what people "want to hear." But it's not really the word itself that gets them- it's the intent of the word.
So no, it should not be.
2007-06-15 11:09:32 · answer #6 · answered by Kat 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends upon its context and use. Its like the word b*tch. If using it to describe a female dog its fine, but to call someone it makes it a swear word.
2007-06-15 11:15:54 · answer #7 · answered by Robbo_op_98 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ONly for the excessively prudish. SOme people are beyond explanation.
Edit: Oh, and freedom of speech. Go to hell. LOL
2007-06-15 11:07:31 · answer #8 · answered by Nestor Desmond 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hell I don't know.
I don't believe in words being 'bad' words, people just try to make them that way.
2007-06-15 11:13:14 · answer #9 · answered by Mariah 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it's a place. Not really it should be a swear word. It should not be considered a swear word.
2007-06-15 11:08:31 · answer #10 · answered by Wyman 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋