Thursday, October 15, 2009

Vulgarity

photo source:offthemark.com

Since this week’s topic is open topic, I would like to write something about vulgarity as vulgarity is also part of our verbal communication.

There is a video from “tubeyou” which was filming a “professor” who is interested in vulgarity in Cantonese for more than ten years, was giving a “seminar” in a university hall. The talk is about how to “rebuke” in vulgarity to a person who has just scolded you in a more “polite” and humorous way. Well, you may think that it is just for amusement, but, in deep, I think it is more than there.

Our world is getting “smaller” but human mind is getting “wider” (more “open minded”, I mean). And the consequences are unbelievable. I have never thought that we can have a “seminar” in vulgarity in public (base on the sound of clapping hands, I think it was almost full house!)! “Since vulgarity is part of our language and since we cannot avoid it as well, why not we talk about it openly?” It might be one of the attitudes of the “professor” towards vulgarity.

This reminded me about the conservative sex education of eastern society. If we Asian were to open up our mind and having “seminar” on pregnancy and AIDS prevention in public for the youth, will it reduce the abortion rate as well as the spread of HIV? It is quite controversial and subjective. I think we cannot simply say “no” nor “yes” as it takes a lot of considerations which related to our moral and ethic. Same goes to vulgarity, I suppose.

Would you allow your child/children to take these “seminar” one day?