Quote from: Cindy James on November 19, 2011, 11:51:57 PM
Sorry and I hope I'm not interrupting, even though I am.
Where do the terms, pussy and dick come from? Balls are pretty obvious. I'm not interested in the offensive terms.
I noticed, when I was in my teens, that other boys tended to think of their parts in reaction to almost any word. Especially a word that was abrupt or a little unusual. When the subject was being discussed and the conversation needed a reference to be made, almost any term for male or female genitals or the sex act itself was understood.
I assume, but I may be wrong, that many of the more popular terms come from that tendency. Khyber pass is an example.
Personally, I like to try to be as matter of fact as I can be, so if I ever do have to make a reference to what is there, I call it the ugly bit. Simply because it is.
But another point here is that this may be a reflection of our obscession with any references. Hence the social disdain for so called swear words.
There are a number of prominant thinkers here in the UK, who want to reintroduce traditional terms into common usage, ->-bleeped-<- for the sex act for example. Others include ->-bleeped-<-, fart, piss and so on.
Steven Fry is perhaps the most significant, though I confess I haven't read his thinking first hand as he seems mostly occupied on tacky game shows and Twitter these days.
They argue that our obscession with these terms comes from the 19th century neurosis. Essentially working people, aquiring huge wealth and seeking to adopt the mannerisms and customs of the upper classes. Since these people rarely ever came into contact with the upper classes, their only significant experiences were very formal and to the point. Such as being sentenced in court.
