“Seeds.” Such an innocuous word. However, if I want to make a friend of mine squirm, all I have to do is say, “Seeds.” Seriously, the gal almost turns green. And it’s all my fault.
Look, some people have trouble with words like moist or cervix. I happen to have friends that squirm at both of those. They don’t faze me. Seeds–that doesn’t faze me either, but throw that out in a conversation with Olivia, and I guarantee she’ll shoot daggers–at me. And all because I told her about how the doctor ordered me not to eat seeds after the birth of my oldest.
3 Icky Words
Excrement:
Actually, I couldn’t care less if someone uses that word. However, if you use any of its euphemisms, I’m likely to leave, put in my earbuds, or hand you a roll of toilet paper. Yes, I have done that. The last time was when a young man in my house called something the equivalent of “sanctified excrement.” I asked my son if his friend needed toilet paper. I don’t think it’ll happen again soon.
It’s simple. If you are discussing bodily functions, and are not in your doctor’s office, then we really don’t need that mental image. You are not two anymore. I don’t need a play by play of your bid to take over the “throne.” And, in the words of Sir John Gielgud, I’m liable to threaten to “alert the media.” In fact, I did that for my son once. He said he had to void his bladder, and I threatened to alert the media. He told me to go ahead. So I did–social media, expressly, Facebook. I don’t think he’ll call my bluff again. My apologies to anyone who had to read that status. Sometimes parenting requires sacrifices.
Foul:
Okay, once again, it has nothing to do with the word foul. It’s a nice, strong word for things that are rather revolting. Kind of like this entire topic. (Why did I decide to do this challenge again?)
But under the heading of foul words, I hate them all. No, really! In fact, in the words of the Doctor of Words:
I could not, would not say them on a boat.
I will not speak them like a goat.
I will not say them in the rain, nor will I say them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree! Not in a car! Let my ears be free!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox, with some socks, or a guy named Knox!
I will not hear them in my house and never spoken by my spouse.
I do not like them here or there nor ANYWHERE!
Smut:
Who wants to guess that the word itself doesn’t bother me? Ding, ding, ding! We have a bunch of winners! Woohoo! No, seriously. I hate smut. I almost put the word “sex” there, but you know what? Sex isn’t the problem. It’s a pretty cool thing, actually. God, for example, doesn’t make junk. So it’s cool beans stuff. But, turn it into something other than God intended for it, and it becomes smut.
And I hate it.
In fact, I hate it so much that I wrote an entire blog post on it. So, instead of rehashing that, I’m just going to link to it HERE and wish you a good day!
Okay, fine. Maybe, instead, I’ll ask you. Do you have an actual word you hate? Because seriously, I can’t think of any words that affect me like moist does one friend, or cervix does my other.
And I don’t know anyone but Olivia who cringes at the word…
Seeds…
Oh, and if this should tie into my writing somehow? I’ll just add that I work REALLY hard to avoid these things in that, too. I allude to it now and then, but always with a solid reason that can’t be demonstrated better in some other way. There. Token tie-in to my writing complete. Have a great day!
*can’t help but hear Marco from the movie The Bachelor whispering, “Seeds…” instead of “Future…”*
Olivia says
Funny post 😀 Made me laugh and cringe a little. hehe. I can’t think of any specific word besides the no-no offensive words that bother me. I have a hard time saying diarrhea out loud from the first time when I was kid and realized what it meant!!
And yes, as Emma said, thank you for being mindful of certain subjects/terms in your own writing. I have certainly appreciated that as I’ve read your books 🙂
Chautona Havig says
I never had trouble saying it, but I still have to think where that h goes every time. I have to say, “Di-are-HEE-ah” in my head so I can do it. Same with macabre. I have to think, “MACK. A. BRR” or I can’t recall how to spell it. Quinoa, too. There are just a few…
Susan (DE) says
By the way, I may be a moron, but I don’t even get the seeds thing. Don’t eat seeds. Huh?
Sickening? Nauseating? Disgusting? HUH???
I’m confused.
Chautona Havig says
I had a LOT of stitches after my first birth. And seeds (tomato, sesame, etc) stick to stitches once they are… eliminated.
Susan (DE) says
Oh! Poor, poor thing! I guess it’s LONG OVER, but I cringe for you.
But I don’t think the WORD kills me!
Just…feeling for you.
Emma says
I love this post! And I love that you don’t write about those things. Thank you!
Chautona Havig says
Did you know I agonized for weeks over one word in Past Forward? When Chad learns that baby Jesus is back (Ryder calls at Willow’s request), I originally had a word there. Incredibly mild. It hurt to write it but it was the right word. I really believe Chad would have said it. I’d put it in. I’d take it out. I finally decided that it didn’t matter if he would. My readers trusted me not to put it in there. So I didn’t. And I’ve always been very glad I didn’t, and rather sorry that it lost the punch it had because of that. At the same time. But mostly glad. 🙂
Susan (DE) says
I’m with your friend. I hate the word “moist.” Ugh.
Chautona Havig says
So funny. Every time I think of a nice *word for soft and not dry* cake, I think of her. And then I feel a little sorry for her. Dry cake is also icky.
Susan (DE) says
Well, okay. I can take it when it’s cake. 🙂 But I do hate it in MOST contexts. MOOOIIIISSSSTT.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Giggle.
Elissa says
I don’t have any words that bother me (that I can think of right now), but this reminds me of a friend who can’t help but giggle at the word ‘snaggletooth’.