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You know, I've often wondered about the severity of "bugger". Technically it means the same as "tap" or "f***", right? But it seems to be more of a "PG-13" profanity for general use, unless I'm mistaken. Did Spike ever use it on BtVS?

'bugger' undoubtedly had sexual connotations... you're right (although it refers exclusively to anal sex - sorry kids!). But the fact is that in modern parlance it isn't used to mean that at all. saying 'oh, bugger' is actually a really mild way of saying 'oh, s**t'. It's definitely not considered as offensive as s**t or f**k in that sense. Likewise, 'bugger off' is probably slightly less offensive than 'piss off'... it's morphed from something has its origins in something quite offensive, to something that's pretty much accepted as being very mild. possibly this parallels our acceptance of homosexual relationships...but that's pure conjecture on my part.

I'd definitely say it would be PG-13. I wouldn't want to have to explain its origins to my kids particularly, and I wouldn't expect it to pop up in a disney film. but in the adult world it's ultimately very mild.

Now I have totally hijacked this thread. sorry![/i]

When I use the expression, "I'd tap that", I am meaning it in the sense it was originally intended, not a subdued version. But I don't believe that most teenagers are, they may say they are because they want to give that impression to their friends but when it comes down to it very few are sexually mature enough to be able handle the full inplications of the situation. What it really reminds me of is when I was in about 6th grade, the term "that sucks" became popular. My mother found this very inappropriate at first. Now we use it without thinking, but it has the same vulgar beginnings if you take by it's orginally meaning.

One of my least favorite slang words is "hella" - I hated it from the first time I heard it and hoped it was a regional/trendy thing that would die out quickly but here we are over a decade later. Even funnier is its corresponding adolescent mutation "hecka" which is now bandied about by middle school students left and right because their parents won't let them say a word with "hell" in it.



Eric Cartman said it best, "I'm hella cool and you're just hella jealous."

ummm...i would tap that...and by tap i do mean the sexual meaning...umm yeah...

Nostradamus wrote:You, I've often wondered about the severity of "bugger". Technically it means the same as "tap" or "f***", right? But it seems to be more of a "PG-13" profanity for general use, unless I'm mistaken. Did Spike ever use it on BtVS?

bugger can also mean, gay sex...its a slang term for that,

Side note on the heck/hell. The college hockey team I coach is named the Hellcats. When we travel to BYU in Provo, Utah we are announced as the Heckcats on the PA before the game. Makes us laugh everytime.

ok thats halarious!

Nostradamus wrote:Did Spike ever use it on BtVS?

How did I miss this reference to myboyfriendSpike earlier?



Yes, he does say bugger, as do some of the other British characters on the show (Giles, Gwendolyn Post, Ethan Rayne). Several times on BtVS/AtS, the characters refer to annoying creatures as buggers too.

Interestingly, I remember when the first Austin Powers movie was released and some British people were upset by the use of the word "shag" because it's the equivalent of the F word in America. I remember seeing letters complaining that they didn't want to see a foul word like "shag" splashed on the covers of magazines.

Nothingman wrote:Side note on the heck/hell. The college hockey team I coach is named the Hellcats. When we travel to BYU in Provo, Utah we are announced as the Heckcats on the PA before the game. Makes us laugh everytime.

Give 'em heck! Goooooo Heckcats!

Yes, he does say bugger, as do some of the other British characters on the show (Giles, Gwendolyn Post, Ethan Rayne). Several times on BtVS/AtS, the characters refer to annoying creatures as buggers too.

wat is this BtVS/AtS you guys speak of...

cworky wrote:

Yes, he does say bugger, as do some of the other British characters on the show (Giles, Gwendolyn Post, Ethan Rayne). Several times on BtVS/AtS, the characters refer to annoying creatures as buggers too.

wat is this BtVS/AtS you guys speak of...

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. I think the second one is Angel, but I am positive that the first is Buffy.

thank ya!

starbug wrote:Now I have totally hijacked this thread. sorry!

But what a fascinating digression!



Another development has been the use of "gay" as a synonym for "lame" or "uncool". It has stirred some controversy due to its sexual alignment connotations, but I think most of the (young) people who use it in this sense don't have any hatred or bigotry in mind. Like "hella", it has seen a lot of use on South Park.