Curse

Kurow · Sep 20, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50

I was wondering if people shared my thoughts of the nature of insults. To start it off I must state that I do not believe that insults can be effective without the target of the insult consenting to be affected or hurt by the insult.

First we need to get a good definition of insult. Lets take one of the dictionary.com definitions:
"An offensive action or remark."

The root of the insult is offense. One cannot offend with out a target correct? And for offense to "succede" the target of the insult must accept this offense. To take offense at an insult, the target must allow themself to be offended. If one does not understand the insult, it means nothing. Does this not suggest that any person can choose not to be offended by any given insult? No, being human this person is privy to such emotions as pride and anger.

This then begs the question "what reason do humans have to be offended?". I do believe that insults have been a key part of human life since the birth of language, or even before. Some reasons I can think of for humans not to be able to controll their offense at insults could be the nature of humans to fight and battle over territory and mates, the inflation of ones ego, and the domination of the target.

To sum up, theres too many things that people get offended at for little reason just in order to get in a fight or argument.

Alone) · Sep 20, 2005, 02:02 AM // 02:02

One word that I feel is the basis:

Pride.

Link Ironhammer · Sep 20, 2005, 02:05 AM // 02:05

Kurow are you a political or an emotional wiz?

Venus · Sep 20, 2005, 02:06 AM // 02:06

Wernt we just talking about the basis of human emotion (or somthing like that) in another thread? lol... Kurow, you should be a phycologist (sp)

ethornber · Sep 20, 2005, 02:27 AM // 02:27

There are more uses for insults than offending the target.

GreatLich · Sep 20, 2005, 02:35 AM // 02:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethornber

There are more uses for insults than offending the target.

Such as?

ManadartheHealer · Sep 20, 2005, 02:44 AM // 02:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatLich

Such as?

Perhaps to make oneself feel better?

Edit: See below for a more detailed explanation

Lasareth · Sep 20, 2005, 02:45 AM // 02:45

Self-assertation of an emotionally frail or self-concious individual. Insults rarely have to do with the target. They're mostly about the assailant trying to assert a feeling of superiority that only demeaning other individuals can give (in his mind).

Alone) · Sep 20, 2005, 02:50 AM // 02:50

Pride? What?

SOT · Sep 20, 2005, 02:53 AM // 02:53

This thread is an insult...To the RULES of these boards. Anewiel will airlock it hopefully before it degenerates any further

Alone) · Sep 20, 2005, 02:56 AM // 02:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOT

This thread is an insult...To the RULES of these boards. Anewiel will airlock it hopefully before it degenerates any further

I really can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not

chris_nin00 · Sep 20, 2005, 02:59 AM // 02:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alone)

I really can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not

Notice the

Insults don't mean a thing if it doesn't mean a thing to the insultee. An insult is what you make it!

huh · Sep 20, 2005, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Here's my little contribution to this:
Insults are derogatory terms used when one party in an argument has run out of constructive arguments, or none at all the begin with. Its used in the hope of causing the other party (the one that still has constructive arguments) to lose their temper and thus, begin to argue unconstructively too.

It can also be used in the hope of causing embarassment to someone.

Alone) · Sep 20, 2005, 03:16 AM // 03:16

Here's what I've learned in high school:

When one chooses argue against someone, and that person have no other way of putting up another arguement, and he or she have looked torwards a sort of way to express anger, that person loses. Loses as on terms of the arguement, can not bring anymore points, or just can not accept.

You'll see it in parents, teachers, friends, guild wars.

And to keep it related, the expression of anger usually is insults. For me, it's silence or violence. Depends on the situation...

ManadartheHealer · Sep 20, 2005, 03:24 AM // 03:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alone)

Here's what I've learned in high school:

When one chooses argue against someone, and that person have no other way of putting up another arguement, and he or she have looked torwards a sort of way to express anger, that person loses. Loses as on terms of the arguement, can not bring anymore points, or just can not accept.

You'll see it in parents, teachers, friends, guild wars.

And to keep it related, the expression of anger usually is insults. For me, it's silence or violence. Depends on the situation...

There are always people who, when beaten by rational arguments, will fall back on the time-honored tradition of simply arguing immaterial points.

chris_nin00 · Sep 20, 2005, 03:25 AM // 03:25

Isn't there that line...
"Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me."
But insults can sometimes be not verbal right?

PieXags · Sep 20, 2005, 03:26 AM // 03:26

I'm wicked awesome and you guys aren't.

That was an insult in a sense, does that have anything to do with whatever you people were talking about?

Discuss!

ManadartheHealer · Sep 20, 2005, 03:27 AM // 03:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dictionary.com

in·sult ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-slt)
v. in·sult·ed, in·sult·ing, in·sults
v. tr.

To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness. See Synonyms at offend.
To affront or demean: an absurd speech that insulted the intelligence of the audience.

Hope that answers it

Kurow · Sep 20, 2005, 03:33 AM // 03:33

Huh, youre right about the insults being used to boost the insulter's ego, but if it is not taken offense at, does that mean the insulter gains nothing from it?

Say I were to call PieXags' mom a dullard. It is assumed that this would offend Piexags, but what way would it make me feel better? I already knew that I wasnt a dullard. The implication of his mother being a dullard and the assumption that mine isnt I suppose.

And I aint no genious.

PieXags · Sep 20, 2005, 03:34 AM // 03:34

Actually insulting my mother doesn't mean much to me, she wouldn't be offended by it, so why should I?

There's not much you can do to offend PieXags.