1.2M views · Dec 6, 2007 · 2:32 · 5 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2011–2016
A short clip of Stephen Fry defending swearing as a rich and essential part of the English language and rejecting the idea that it is unnecessary.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN commenters post it in swearing and profanity debates as the best statement against taking offense at profanity.
“Stephen Fry says it best”HN comment, 2013
“I'm with Stephen Fry on this one”
Stephen Fry defends swearing against vocabulary snobbery.
I'm with Stephen Fry on this one: "There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who used to say swearing was a sign of a poor vocabulary. Such utter nonsense." this video
“The following video sums it up nicely IMO”
Sums up the casual attitude to swearing.
I'm rather bemused by this whole thing, I'd be intrigued to know the demographics of the people who take such, issue with use of swear words. Perhaps it's an American thing, but in Britain I'm not aware of anyone I know who'd react in hysterics at the thought of a strong word appearing in something as public as a slide deck! Swearing at someone can be extremely rude, but using such words passively to add emphasis seems perfectly normal to me. The following video sums it up nicely IMO this video
“Stephen Fry says it best”
Fry addresses offense at profanity.
And as usual, any HN post that contains profanity is immediately overrun by 'offended' fuckheads that simply don't understand the joke and are offended by fuck all. Stephen Fry says it best: this video
“Profanity is an essential and rich part of the English language.”
Fry defending swearing as rich part of English.
From the fucking lovely Stephen Fry "The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest is just a fucking lunatic." Profanity is an essential and rich part of the English language. It's really only prudes and people who need to feel morally superior have a problem with it, and they can fuck right off, frankly. this video
“Stephen Fry, whose intellect and vocabulary are way beyond mine, on swearing.”
Fry on swearing with delightful bleeping.
Stephen Fry, whose intellect and vocabulary are way beyond mine, on swearing. The bleeping on the second video is so deliciously germane. [1] this video [2] link
“On the ridiculous notion of "unnecessary”
Fry on the notion that swearing is unnecessary.
The word "fuck" evolved past "sexual acts and bodily functions" _centuries_ ago. Do you have the same objection of "screwing off"? I anticipate you claiming that you have objections to the phrase, but do you have the same magnitude of objections? Or is one worse than the other? Second hand smoke smells. That is an actual reason to not blow smoke into somebodies face, it isn't just tradition. Putting weird political rants into your documentation would presumably not serve a purpose. The word fuck, despite your disapproval of it, has versatile meaning and can be used in a variety of ways in general speech. If you want a political equivalent, it would be like referencing luddism in documentation. Luddism, originally referring to a specific political movement, has long since transcended its literal connotations. It would not be considered particularly bizarre to use the word "luddism" or "Luddite" in documentation. On the ridiculous notion of "unnecessary": this video
