The 19th Century version of "Weinerbomb" (Text is NSFW)
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 - 4:20pm
I saw this via boingboing.
We talk a lot about playing games on public servers and the annoyances of kids who love to swear and get a kick out of abusing strangers through their headsets. Well, lest we think this is a evidence that our culture is going down the tubes and lest we believe those who blame television and video games for the poor manners so often demonstrated; this gem of a document can put us straight.
Written in 1898 it is an official Major League Baseball document that sets down examples of obscene speech in baseball. The document is titled "Special Instructions to Players" and it gives some interesting vocabulary lessons. Truly there is nothing new under the sun. The good old days seem a lot like today.
*Legion* wrote:
There's not enough bandwidth on a thousand Internets to detail what's wrong with that idea.
informationgames.info
http://twitter.com/nnschiller
That is AWESOME.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"In other news, Miyamoto pissed on my head, and gave me a forecast of rain." - *Le
Having read this historic document, our GWJ CoC seems deficient now in comparison because it doesnt list such specific examples of unacceptable language.
Spice it up a bit!
Xbox Live: Irongut | Playstation ID: Irongut_GWJ
Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfcking players on this motherfcking field!
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On the contrary. It's this "don't take sh*t from anybody" attitude that won the Spanish American war that same year and netted us Puerto Rico and Cuba.
A proud, proud tradition lives on today in every home where a 13 year old calls me a gay n00b while playing TF2.
Rat Boy on Newlywed Ackbar wrote:
Hasn't anybody seen Deadwood? The language on that show is not a fiction even if most of the events are. America has a long tradition of verbal abuse. These colors don't run c*cks*cker.
MechaSlinky wrote:
Agreed, but Deadwood is a contemporary work of fiction. We don't, or at least I don't, often run across documented profanity that isn't contemporary. Sure Fanny Hill was published a long time ago, but if we listen to some (the Jack Thompsons & William Bennetts of this world) we could easily get the impression that this sort of behavior is a new development and a consequence of tv, video games, and the 60's.
*Legion* wrote:
informationgames.info
http://twitter.com/nnschiller
Now that you mentioned that, I can tell you from first hand experience that the use of foul languages is much much more prevalent in China. That is why I could never understand the irrational "fear and loathing" of foul language here in the states, I mean they are just words! (As long as they aren't directed to my mom or dad I am cool with it
)
Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
LobsterMobster wrote:
If you read Chaucer, or look at a medieval street map of London or Paris (especially the red light districts), even the most foul-mouth rapper or contemporary movie mafioso seems tame in comparison. Anyway, the whole concept of scatalogical or sexual swear words is a relatively recent concept, a couple of hundred years old. Hitherto there were only blaspheming type words.
It will do good to heart and head
When your soul is in my soul's stead;
And I will friend you, if I may,
In the dark and cloudy day.
- AE Houseman, trailblazing XBL user
XBox Live
What's up with ye olde obsession with dogs?
Man that gave me a laugh. One of my ex-girlfriends would have the most colorful conversations with her family in Cantonese. If you didn't know any better you'd think they were about to kill each other all the time. Chinese also have some of the most original insults out there. It's amazing the amount of effort people must have made to come up with them.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is just the light of an oncoming train." - Robert Lowell
"Boy exchange is a fun pain in the ass." - LiquidMantis
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Hear hear!
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"In other news, Miyamoto pissed on my head, and gave me a forecast of rain." - *Le
I love the "UNMAILABLE" bit at the bottom. A little research shows that there's a bunch of stuff you can't mail. Damn prudes in the government.
Examples please.
"I'm absolutely retarded. Not 100% sure why." - atom
"Dhelor + intarwebs = Great ideas." - wordsmythe
"Do I what I do: hate everyone." - Quintin_Stone
Check out the Firefly DVD bonus materials, I seem to remember Joss and Nathan talking about the English translation of some of their Chinese cursing.
*Legion* wrote:
informationgames.info
http://twitter.com/nnschiller
I heard on the news today that the Chinese government is trying to get the people of Beijing to clean up their language before the Olympics.
Unfortunately it was on the radio so I can't find a source.
Sivok wrote:
Oh my God, they said "remonstrated!" The dirtiest word of them all!
"Men like sex, thus boobies! Oogaba!" - dejanzie
"If ads put your sanity to the test
come on down to Rat Boy's nest!
light up a stogie, and soon you'll see
how rock can be commercial-free!
'I'd hit it!'" - HP Lovesauce
Of all the indecent and infamous inventions of depravity, that one takes the cake!
*Legion* wrote:
informationgames.info
http://twitter.com/nnschiller
I'm imagining some 19th century man using gamerspeak and giggling uncontrollably.
"I reckon i'm the beatin'est feller on this here Halo server n00b. And if you wanna raise a ruckus' 'bout it, you're gunna be pretty streaked and pull foot right quick."
I love 19th century slang.
Quote:
XBL Tag: Prederick