Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
What if you got hit with a dictionary?
2007-07-13 06:45:37 · 29 answers · asked by 11:11 pm<3 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
well what if you got hit with a pixie stick?
2007-07-13 06:48:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is a very, very old saying. It has been around at least 80 yrs. and maybe a lot longer. It is referring to the physical body and whether words can do physical harm. In days when abuse was allowed by moral standards and by law, when a spouse had the right to beat his wife and children to keep them in line or simply if he wanted to and bar brawls were an accepted part of Saturday night fun you can see how the meaning would have been different. Spare the rod and spoil the child and sometimes a wife would willing take the beating to prevent a child from being beaten because she feared for the harm of her child. And we also know how slaves were beaten when slavery was allowed. Subservient slaves, wives and children learned to listen and obey the master. Now the abuse is not allowed and nobody cares about listening. Abuse has reared its ugly head in the younger generations who form gangs and instigate violence at an unprecedented rate. I don't advocate violence. There has to be a humane way to control when it is necessary and I don't know what that is anymore.
2007-07-21 13:30:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This children's taunt was first listed in 'Folk Phrases of Four Counties' (1894) by G.F. Northall and is first attested in the United States in 'Miss Lindsey' (1936) by S.G. Gibbons. The proverb is found in varying forms: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but hard words cannot hurt me; Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me; Sticks and stones will break my bones, but lies will never hurt me." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).
2007-07-21 13:25:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard it like that because you're right, it's not true. But Pee Wee Herman used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" To be honest, that's not really true either.
2007-07-21 11:55:34 · answer #4 · answered by Lola B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Al Gore invented around the same time he invented the internet.
2007-07-21 13:48:38 · answer #5 · answered by Big Biscuit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think they meant that nothing some one says will hurt you on the out side but words can hurt you on the inside if you are a sensitive person
2007-07-20 20:56:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
exactly!! :)
words are much more painful sometimes!
but yes, getting hit w/ a dictionary would definetly hurt! just dropped one on my foot yesterday!
:)
2007-07-21 11:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
also ive been hit wit sticks and stones and my bones are fine
2007-07-13 13:48:58 · answer #8 · answered by P&S Thuggin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows --but I think it must have been a Caveman. Maybe one of those guys in the TV commercials. How old are they "supposed" to be anyway.
2007-07-21 11:45:42 · answer #9 · answered by soupkitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you know that:the term mind your Ps and Qs came from old london,in the bars they sell beer in pints and quarts,When the patrons got un ruley the bar tender would say mind your Ps and Qs.
2007-07-20 18:02:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a dictionary isn't a word
2007-07-20 14:37:02 · answer #11 · answered by Lesley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋