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Stephen Fry on the Joys of Swearing

gsmokeyjoe · commentary · Watch on YouTube

Language & linguisticsFree speech, censorship & civil liberties

What it is

A short clip of Stephen Fry defending swearing as a rich and essential part of the English language and rejecting the idea that it is unnecessary.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters post it in swearing and profanity debates as the best statement against taking offense at profanity.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2011, last 2016

What HN commenters said

  1. “I'm with Stephen Fry on this one”

    Stephen Fry defends swearing against vocabulary snobbery.

    stevelosh, 2011-11 · Recommendation · in “Think twice about that F-bomb in your next talk”

  2. “The following video sums it up nicely IMO”

    Sums up the casual attitude to swearing.

    glenjamin, 2011-11 · Recommendation · in “Swearing”

  3. “Stephen Fry says it best”

    Fry addresses offense at profanity.

    shocks, 2013-05 · Recommendation · in “I Don't Want Your Fucking App”

  4. “Profanity is an essential and rich part of the English language.”

    Fry defending swearing as rich part of English.

    anu_gupta, 2014-03 · Recommendation · in “WTF, HTML and CSS?”

  5. “Stephen Fry, whose intellect and vocabulary are way beyond mine, on swearing.”

    Fry on swearing with delightful bleeping.

    bhrgunatha, 2016-08 · Recommendation · in “Why swearing is good for you”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: stephen fry, swearing, profanity, english language, free speech

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