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Topic: Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable
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T Knowflake Posts: 749 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 13, 2009 11:15 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090712/sc_livescience/swearingmakespainmoretolerable Swearing is a common response to pain, but no previous research has connected the uttering of an expletive to the actual physical experience of pain. "Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," said Richard Stephens of Keele University in England and one of the authors of the new study. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain." Stephens and his fellow Keele researchers John Atkins and Andrew Kingston sought to test how swearing would affect an individual's tolerance to pain. Because swearing often has an exaggerating effect that can overstate the severity of pain, the team thought that swearing would lessen a person's tolerance. As it turned out, the opposite seems to be true. The researchers enlisted 64 undergraduate volunteers and had them submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice. The experiment was then repeated with the volunteer repeating a more common word that they would use to describe a table. Contrary to what the researcher expected, the volunteers kept their hands submerged longer while repeating the swear word. The researchers think that the increase in pain tolerance occurs because swearing triggers the body's natural "fight-or-flight" response. Stephens and his colleagues suggest that swearing may increase aggression (seen in accelerated heart rates), which downplays weakness to appear stronger or more macho. "Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists," Stephens said. The results of the study are detailed in the Aug. 5 issue of the journal NeuroReport. IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 831 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted July 13, 2009 11:39 AM
guilty of a potty mouth. Though not as bad as my mother. She has the worst potty mouth I've ever heard! Driving with her is surreal! Her road rage makes her invent swear words that don't even make sense!!IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 785 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 13, 2009 01:03 PM
I am definitely guilty of profanity when I am angry. When I am furious,I can really go off on somebody. also rage makes me feel pain less. When I was 17 years,I got jumped by four guys in high school cafeteria. I was being hit a lot. All that did was make me angrier and angrier, and I fought harder and harder. I went nuts on them,and most of the people thought I beat them up. I ended up hitting a teacher that held me,but I was too blind in my rage at the time. It wasn't until after the rage went away, I felt the pain. that's one of the reasons, I need to keep my anger under control.
Raymond
------------------ “It is absolutely the perfect name,” Dr. Brown said, given the continuing discord among astronomers and the public over whether Pluto should have retained its planetary status. In mythology, Eris ignited discord that led to the Trojan War. “She causes strife by causing arguments among men, by making them think their opinions are right and everyone else’s is wrong,” Dr. Brown said. “It really is just perfect.” http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/science/space/15xena.html?_r=1 IP: Logged |
cpn_edgar_winner Knowflake Posts: 744 From: Toledo, OH Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 13, 2009 02:15 PM
the f bomb works the best.IP: Logged |
katatonic Knowflake Posts: 957 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 13, 2009 03:25 PM
makes sense to me! i would think at the very least that swearing triggers release of adrenalin, which makes pain easier to bear for sure...i'm sure there are other ways of diverting the experience of suffering...for instance my dad taught us when you burn your fingers cooking, immediate forceful pinching of the ear lobe with the hurt finger dilutes the pain by spreading it thinner...sounds potty but it works!! another thing i learned from my dad, which has come up in numerous more spiritual searches, is that "it's only pain", ie, pain is a signal, and just another part of life, and doesn't have to be traumatic... IP: Logged |
AcousticGod Knowflake Posts: 862 From: acousticgod@sbcglobal.net Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 14, 2009 06:58 PM
This was on the morning news this morning.IP: Logged |
Cynnared Knowflake Posts: 204 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 14, 2009 09:49 PM
I LOVE THIS! Swears can come out too easy for me but I will keep this in mind when I'm giving birth next month. I swore when my daughter was coming out 7 years ago.Cynn IP: Logged |
GypseeWind Knowflake Posts: 831 From: Dayton,Ohio USA Registered: May 2009
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posted July 14, 2009 10:50 PM
swearing is totally acceptable and expected during childbirth.IP: Logged |
hippichick Knowflake Posts: 60 From: Registered: May 2009
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posted July 14, 2009 11:02 PM
Nurses and Sailors have potty mouths elite!!!To me it is re-lease.... I do not take it personally, ever. To me it gets out anger-energy...why keep it in...to develope cancer or something? Fred Durst of the immortal Limp Bizkit put it the best-ever way that I could imagine! (the following contains ex-plicit words, language and "supposed" meanings!!! PLEASE do not watch if you are not able to hear explitives!!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QqigamlsHQ ps WHAT A GREAT THREAD!!! IP: Logged |
Glaucus Knowflake Posts: 785 From: Sacramento,California Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 12:05 AM
Yeah,...I was in the navy,and a lot of cussing there. Raymond
------------------ “It is absolutely the perfect name,” Dr. Brown said, given the continuing discord among astronomers and the public over whether Pluto should have retained its planetary status. In mythology, Eris ignited discord that led to the Trojan War. “She causes strife by causing arguments among men, by making them think their opinions are right and everyone else’s is wrong,” Dr. Brown said. “It really is just perfect.” http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/science/space/15xena.html?_r=1 IP: Logged |
BlueTopaz124 Knowflake Posts: 48 From: Portland, OR, USA Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 12:33 AM
They were talking about this on the radio on my way to work today too...like when you have the kitchen cabinet open above your head and you stand up straight and the corner of the door hits you right in the middle of the head....talk about blinding pain...or having the car door slammed shut on your finger. IP: Logged |
SunChild Moderator Posts: 281 From: Melbourne. Victoria. Australia Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 12:40 AM
Maybe I should have tried that during childbirth...... As a matter of fact, I don't recall swearing or screaming. IP: Logged |
PeaceAngel Moderator Posts: 1442 From: peace.angel@live.com.au Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 01:22 AM
I think that makes sense. I know when I bump my head or get hurt the first thing that happens is I swear.I think there's still this odd sense of taboo about swearing so when it comes out of your mouth, we are programmed in such a way, that the focus automatically goes into what was said and the response to it rather than your pain. So it's diverting your pain. The other element to it is for similar reasons, it offers some comic relief, which makes someone laugh and then has that same effect of taking their mind away from the pain. I have no issues with swearing. I swear profusely in day-to-day life. But when I'm angry - oh, if it were a movie, you couldn't put a rating to it. IP: Logged |
pire Knowflake Posts: 374 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 10:41 AM
There is swearing and swearing i think. If i get burned or my head knock the door frame, which happen often since im tall, then i do swear. Actually, i got used to hit my head on doors' frame. So i swear less systematically here. But one thing i find about easily swearing is that we end up swearing in front of others. Kids see us and think that swearing is normal and may be even cool. IP: Logged |
T Knowflake Posts: 749 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 10:54 AM
Funny how it seems to help when you stub a toe or something.I dont swear around kids either pire. Now I have to really watch it because i hang out with a bunch of potty-mouthed guys and i notice i'm starting to talk too much like a dude. yuck. lol must be natal neptune in the 11th house. my sailor-mouth became especially bad while spending a year with my swearing dad. for the most part i can catch myself though. depends on who i'm around. IP: Logged |
D for Defiant Knowflake Posts: 585 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:16 AM
I no longer swear.It does not make me a better person. A lot of people might agree on the concept that cursing releases one's pain, rage, and so forth. Profanity is the language of hate. The language of death force. The language most favored by the dark forces. If I sound judgmental, I don't mean to be. It just is. Again, it by no means makes me a better individual. Vulgarity/Expletives/Profanity/Obscenities are harmful to the life force. They are the language of hate. It simply is. Just my two cents. I would not categorize anyone as "not worthy" or "not my friend" if one does swear. I hope that makes sense. D ------------------ Every night and every morn, Some to misery are born; Every morn and every night, Some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to endless night. ~William Blake IP: Logged |
T Knowflake Posts: 749 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:22 AM
I know what youre saying D. However, Ive come to view swear words just like any other words. I think it's the energy, or life force behind them that matters. Not the empty words themselves. Swearing in a rage might be different than in fun, but i think it's the rage that is the part that is harmful, not words, but the energy coming through them or any words. Just a thought. Have a great day everyone. Got to head out. IP: Logged |
PeaceAngel Moderator Posts: 1442 From: peace.angel@live.com.au Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:30 AM
quote: Profanity is the language of hate.The language of death force. The language most favored by those who are the opposite of good.
Stirring trouble and causing arguments, and bringing judgement and negativity is the language of hate - but it has nothing to do with swearing unless someone is using it derogatively toward someone else.
Interesting reply. Oh, and if swearing is the opposite of good - then, I'm hardly an angel. But I guess you knew that anyway. That's my take on it. IP: Logged |
PeaceAngel Moderator Posts: 1442 From: peace.angel@live.com.au Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:32 AM
Nicely put T.I think swearing is just part of every day life - and that's how it is. It wasn't like that when I was little, but I think it's just evolved that way. EDIT: And yeah, it is the intention of the words or the user. Non-swear words can be used and be more venomous than any curse words. IP: Logged |
Deux*Antares Knowflake Posts: 267 From: No Permanent Address Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 01:24 PM
I am not against swearing especially if it's in the appropriate context, like in the subject of the article. If it would help lessen your pain I'd gladly do it for you, too. LOLI would rather be seen as f*cking improper or unlady-like for 5 f*ck!ng minutes of swearing than to live with f*cking accumulated negative energies. But it's another thing if you use swear words without reason or because your vocabulary is limited, like when you use curse words as replacement for nouns, adjectives or adverbs. ------------------ Be humble, but not weak. IP: Logged |
Cynnared Knowflake Posts: 204 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 03:10 PM
I can recall what I said when my daughter crowned and it just slipped out......and then her father (my ex) told her what I said when she was born and she goes to me....'OOOOOOhhhhhhh mommy, you said bad words when I was born........" I'm a bout ready to shoot my ex!IP: Logged |
katatonic Knowflake Posts: 957 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:16 PM
sidetrack. for cynn...when my grandson was being born his dad tried to distract my daughter by asking her "what's the first thing you're going to do when this is over?" to which she replied wholeheartedly "KILL YOU!!" i'm sure all mothers can relate...IP: Logged |
AcousticGod Knowflake Posts: 862 From: acousticgod@sbcglobal.net Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 15, 2009 11:57 PM
I wonder if swearing makes Palin more tolerable. IP: Logged |
Cynnared Knowflake Posts: 204 From: Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 16, 2009 12:31 AM
kata.....ohhhhhhh my boyfriend is sooooooooooooooooooo getting fixed! I think I'm gonna do a few practice curse words...the baby has dropped and holy hell is it hard to get around my apartment now......the bf has to help me to bed and to the living room and out the door etc......I don't see about the killing him cause I'll need him for when the baby starts crying at 3 am and I can boot his butt out of bed to feed her and he can go on poopy diaper duty cause he has no sense of smell...... Cynn My narcissistic ex hates it when I curse but talking to him can be painful as hell. Sometimes curse words really get the point across.......but the poor narc think I'm describing him by cursing....NOT!!!....lol
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PeaceAngel Moderator Posts: 1442 From: peace.angel@live.com.au Registered: Apr 2009
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posted July 16, 2009 12:40 AM
Oh AG, you throw in some crackers!At first I thought, does Palin's swearing make her more tolerable and then I thought, wait, your swearing makes her more tolerable. Any which way! IP: Logged |