Abusive language in working-class culture

The original exchange on Labor-L list, 17 December 2000

From LABOR-L@YORKU.CA Mon Dec 18 07:18:31 2000 Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 20:05:56 -0500
Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <LABOR-L@YORKU.CA>
From: Jim Jaszewski <grok@SPRINT.CA>
Subject: You're IT
Comments: To: webprem@gov.on.ca, chris_stockwell@ontla.ola.org
Comments: cc: gellatlm@olap.org, Labour Left Opposition <CLC_LO@listbot.com>, act-cuts-ont-l <act-cuts-ont-l@list.web.net>
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GENERAL STRIKE, ASSHOLES.

The Revolution will not be televised: News at 11...

Jim W. Jaszewski
Labour Left Opposition (I.D. Only)
Canada

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From LABOR-L@YORKU.CA Mon Dec 18 10:31:42 2000
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 08:23:57 -0500
Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <LABOR-L@YORKU.CA>
From: Haines Brown <brownh@HARTFORD-HWP.COM>
Subject: Re: You're IT
To: LABOR-L@YORKU.CA
In-Reply-To: <4.3.2.7.2.20001217200211.00c94920@pop3.sprint.ca> (message from Jim Jaszewski on Sun, 17 Dec 2000 20:05:56 -0500)
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> GENERAL STRIKE, ASSHOLES.

I must say, I am offended by the above remark. I know enough of world cultures to know that many people the world over would find mere exposure to such language a personal affront. In my own community here, such a comment is considered to be offensive and associated with obnoxious whites. I know of no one, inside or outside the labor movement, who speaks in such a way, at least normally.

I consider such language to be anti-working class, although perhaps I'm being old fashioned. One used to be able to say that there were working-class behaviors and attitudes that distinguished it from and held it above the bourgeoisie. I hope that is still true (an interesting topic of discussion, by the way).

Haines Brown