When did douche or douchebag become socially acceptable terms?

[Art Vandelay]

It is nearly impossible to read any type of public forum, watch Jon Stewart or Colbert, listen to Mad Dog radio, etc without hearing referred to as a douche. When did this become such a commonly used term? It seems to have went from a phrase I would rarely hear to one that is common it has lost all effect, almost overnight. It appears to have replace the He/she/it sucks phraseology.

The reason I ask is, since I hear something "sucks" half a dozen times a year over the pulpit, which always makes me cringe. I'm curious how long it will be until I hear, "Lucifer is such a douche bag... I hate that guy"?

I will save all you clever posters the trouble of the quick reply and write your response for you:

AV is such a DB.

[Donuthole]

"Lucifer is such a douche bag... I hate that guy"?

That makes me laugh, only because I can really hear one of our YM standing up and saying that. While I am not making a comment about the politically correctness of those terms, it's undeniable that there are some words which are not intended for pulpit use.

As a fun aside, our new bishop (young guy, real young. Like 32 years young) said the words "crap" and "butt" during his "calling acceptance speech." Pretty much the entire ward got a chuckle.

[Soccermom]

While I am not making a comment about the politically correctness of those terms, it's undeniable that there are some words which are not intended for pulpit use.

My kid brother gave a talk on modesty a few summers ago. He was trying to give a delivery that wasn't just reading, so he kind of ad libbed and accidentally used the word slut. I happened to be visiting my family at that time and was rather amused watching the various reactions. My brother was mortified after and my mom was giving him the death stare for the remainder of his talk, but the bishop was really cool. My brother thought he was in big trouble and asked the bishop if he was mad. The bishop told him he liked the message of his talk and liked the point he was trying to make and knew that my brother recognized his mistake so why harp on it any more.

[Donuthole]

My kid brother gave a talk on modesty a few summers ago. He was trying to give a delivery that wasn't just reading, so he kind of ad libbed and accidentally used the word slut. I happened to be visiting my family at that time and was rather amused watching the various reactions. My brother was mortified after and my mom was giving him the death stare for the remainder of his talk, but the bishop was really cool. My brother thought he was in big trouble and asked the bishop if he was mad. The bishop told him he liked the message of his talk and liked the point he was trying to make and knew that my brother recognized his mistake so why harp on it any more.

That's awesome. He totally should have used the word floozy (sp?), though, just to endear himself to the over-45 segment of the ward.

[falafel]

That's awesome. He totally should have used the word floozy (sp?), though, just to endear himself to the over-45 segment of the ward.

And the Nacho Libre lovers in the crowd. He probably could have covered 90% of the ward with that.

[YOhio]

I can't remember the exact date, but it was sometime last February.

[SteelBlue]

My kid brother gave a talk on modesty a few summers ago. He was trying to give a delivery that wasn't just reading, so he kind of ad libbed and accidentally used the word slut. I happened to be visiting my family at that time and was rather amused watching the various reactions. My brother was mortified after and my mom was giving him the death stare for the remainder of his talk, but the bishop was really cool. My brother thought he was in big trouble and asked the bishop if he was mad. The bishop told him he liked the message of his talk and liked the point he was trying to make and knew that my brother recognized his mistake so why harp on it any more.

When one of my younger brothers left on his mission several years ago he asked me to speak with him. It was in the ward in which I grew up so I got to speak to people I'd known forever. I told a story about a teaching appointment I'd had as a trainer with a new missionary from Wyoming. I explained that the kid was so new that his Dutch was nearly incomprehensible and I said "he basically sounded like a huge hick". As soon as I said this I saw the eyes of several people in the audience get really wide. I thought it was odd that there could be so many Wyoming defenders in the audience and I began to wonder whether there something going on with my appearance. The talk went on and I nearly forgot about the looks I'd been flashed during that story.

So I finish the talk and afterward I'm shaking hands with some old friends and one of them says "great talk, but I couldn't believe you said that". I asked her if calling the Wyoming kid a hick had offended her and she said "oh, I thought you said he was a huge dick." I assured her that I hadn't and hoped it was just her who had that perception. I learned with each ensuing handshake and conversation that just about EVERYONE thought I'd called him a "dick", my own parents included. My mom taped the talk and so we played it back when we got home and everyone heard "hick" as clear as day. But the majority of those who were in the audience that day are fairly certain I really don't like Wyomingites.

[smokymountainrain]

When one of my younger brothers left on his mission several years ago he asked me to speak with him. It was in the ward in which I grew up so I got to speak to people I'd known forever. I told a story about a teaching appointment I'd had as a trainer with a new missionary from Wyoming. I explained that the kid was so new that his Dutch was nearly incomprehensible and I said "he basically sounded like a huge hick". As soon as I said this I saw the eyes of several people in the audience get really wide. I thought it was odd that there could be so many Wyoming defenders in the audience and I began to wonder whether there something going on with my appearance. The talk went on and I nearly forgot about the looks I'd been flashed during that story.

So I finish the talk and afterward I'm shaking hands with some old friends and one of them says "great talk, but I couldn't believe you said that". I asked her if calling the Wyoming kid a hick had offended her and she said "oh, I thought you said he was a huge dick." I assured her that I hadn't and hoped it was just her who had that perception. I learned with each ensuing handshake and conversation that just about EVERYONE thought I'd called him a "dick", my own parents included. My mom taped the talk and so we played it back when we got home and everyone heard "hick" as clear as day. But the majority of those who were in the audience that day are fairly certain I really don't like Wyomingites.

Hysterical.

[Art Vandelay]

Is it just me, or has the (in my opinion) unnecessary use of profanity, on cuf, increased exponentially over the past year? I don't consider myself a prude when it comes to language. I was raised on a farm with a non-member, Korean war veteran, father. 99% of all my friends growing up were non-members and I've spent more than my fair share of time in locker rooms and sports buses. I'm not usually offended by reading a swear word (though a few are particularly offensive); I just don't get the need for some to use them as often as they do. Considering most posters on here have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a good percentage hold doctorate-level diplomas, and most of this forum is or was once lds, it seems strange to me. A properly placed profanity can occasionally help to exacerbate a point. However, the continual f-bombing or sh-kicking only dilutes the effectiveness, when such an exclamation might be warranted.

Sorry for the sermon. Carry the [redacted] on...

[kccougar]

Is it just me, or has the (in my opinion) unnecessary use of profanity, on cuf, increased exponentially over the past year? I don't consider myself a prude when it comes to language. I was raised on a farm with a non-member, Korean war veteran, father. 99% of all my friends growing up were non-members and I've spent more than my fair share of time in locker rooms and sports buses. I'm not usually offended by reading a swear word (though a few are particularly offensive); I just don't get the need for some to use them as often as they do. Considering most posters on here have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a good percentage hold doctorate-level diplomas, and most of this forum is or was once lds, it seems strange to me. A properly placed profanity can occasionally help to exacerbate a point. However, the continual f-bombing or sh-kicking only dilutes the effectiveness, when such an exclamation might be warranted.

Sorry for the sermon. Carry the [redacted] on...

Agreed.

[UtahDan]

I agree with you Art. I would like to see it start moving the other way.

[SuperGabers]

I have been responsible for the use of the f-bomb a few times and have since repented. I have committed not to use that word anymore, so feel free to read my posts again, Bish.

[MarkGrace]

Considering most posters on here have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a good percentage hold doctorate-level diplomas, and most of this forum is or was once lds, it seems strange to me.

I guess I see the connection with LDS thing (though most of my LDS friends swear on a pretty regular basis), but I don't get what you're going for with the relation to education, unless you're about to drop that cookie-cutter Mormon mommy line of "people only swear because they're not intelligent enough to think of something else." Obviously I prove that this is bullshit!

I quite like that swearing is allowed here -- most of the time it makes me laugh, but I guess I'm just that juvenile (fart jokes and/or farting, however, do not make me laugh, and I'm glad those aren't allowed in this forum). I also missed this thread when it started, and I'm a big fan of the word douche bag. I hated it about 10 years ago when everyone started saying it and it was almost "cool" to do so, but then it became so uncool I thought it was cool again. I say it all the time now.

[Pelado]

Is it just me, or has the (in my opinion) unnecessary use of profanity, on cuf, increased exponentially over the past year? I don't consider myself a prude when it comes to language. I was raised on a farm with a non-member, Korean war veteran, father. 99% of all my friends growing up were non-members and I've spent more than my fair share of time in locker rooms and sports buses. I'm not usually offended by reading a swear word (though a few are particularly offensive); I just don't get the need for some to use them as often as they do. Considering most posters on here have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a good percentage hold doctorate-level diplomas, and most of this forum is or was once lds, it seems strange to me. A properly placed profanity can occasionally help to exacerbate a point. However, the continual f-bombing or sh-kicking only dilutes the effectiveness, when such an exclamation might be warranted.

Sorry for the sermon. Carry the [redacted] on...

Hell, yeah. Lots of gratuitous cussing going on around here.

[MarkGrace]

I have been responsible for the use of the f-bomb a few times and have since repented. I have committed not to use that word anymore, so feel free to read my posts again, Bish.

I'm disappointed.