blasphemy [LWN.net]

blasphemy

Posted Apr 4, 2006 15:24 UTC (Tue) by Seegras (guest, #20463)
In reply to: blasphemy by xoddam
Parent article: My sysadmin toolbox (Linux.com)

It actually took me a few seconds to realise he meant that "jesus christ" with "blasphemy". But then, I come from a catholic and a european background, so I don't count "using the name of some deity or said deities relatives and saints as interjections" as "blasphemy".

But what do you know, some of you USians are just girlies or victims of "political correctness".

This aside, I actually like those "sysadmins toolkit"-articles, it gets a perspective on how different people work ("what, you use Satan!" -- SCNR).

to post comments

blasphemy

Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:25 UTC (Thu) by xoddam (subscriber, #2322) [Link]

> you USians are just girlies

Ooooh! Now he thinks I'm an American!

Jon's informal statistics for subscribers a few months ago showed less
than half were from the USA. As far as I'm concerned that's a good
thing. While there's an obvious and unavoidable bias in favour of
English on this site (as in most global fora), apart from that everyone
makes an effort towards cultural sensitivity. If that's "political
correctness", why then I am proud to be politically correct and everyone
here has a right to be proud likewise.

I had a Protestant upbringing, which may explain why I was quick to
pounce on TwoTimeGrime's profession of ignorance above, but I maintain
that the intended meaning was clear from the context.

The sense of "blasphemy" meaning to use a holy name profanely or "in
vain", is an old-testament notion (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12) and
certainly not restricted to the English language. I'll concede that this
usage may indeed be restricted to cultures with strong Protestant or
Jewish influence.

FYI I am not from the USA and have never visited either American
continent. I am overweight, have a ponytail and sometimes a goatee, and
depending on the weather I may be seen in Doc Martens, sandals (but never
with socks!) or in Fair-Trade "No Sweat" sneakers made in a unionised
factory in a third-world country.

http://www.nosweatapparel.com/

> "what, you use Satan!"

OK, I'll laugh now :-)

http://www.dpjs.co.uk/blasphemy.html