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KYMLEE

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Word Associations: A sociological study

Mon Dec 4, 2006 11:48 AM EST
society, language, sociology, word-games
By kymlee
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I was involved in a discussion about the banning of language that lead to another discussion about how language affects socialization…or at least that is the direction I was going. I believe that while between individuals, we can claim that word only have the meaning they are given or that they have no meaning at all, but in the wider scheme of society, words do in fact have relevance to our social construct.

Just to test this theory out, as well as gather tangible data for analysis, I would like to play a word association game. While this is not my intention to offend anyone, I assure you there is a method to my madness, however I am reluctant to offer any additional information for fear your responses will be tainted. Once you have responded to the words, you are welcome to analyze why you believe you associated the words as you did, as well as any additional reflection you might find helpful to my research. Later I will write an article including this and other research.

Since this experiment (and not necessarily the research for my article) are dependant on participation, I want to thank everyone in advance for your help.

Instructions: Examine the list of words below and respond to each with the word that first enters your mind. It is very important to the integrity of this experiment that you are honest with both me and yourself. Don't think to hard; just answer.

Jews
Black
White
Immigrant
@!$%#
Bourgeois
Communist
Liberal
Beautiful
Conservative
Rebel
Christmas
F.U.C.K

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  • kymlee's Column, All of Newsvine
  • Groups: Newsvine Community, Word Play, Writers
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  • Public Discussion (51)
kymlee

I have had too much time to think about the words and since the point is to indicate the "first thought" response I will leave it to others. I am looking forward to what people have to say.

    Reply#1 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 11:51 AM EST
    Sarcophilus

    paranoid

    • 2 votes
    Reply#2 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 3:29 PM EST
    Grey Wolf

    sex

    (i don't know, F.U.C.K. made me think of sex, for some reason)

    • 2 votes
    Reply#3 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 3:40 PM EST
    Grey Wolf

    oh each word, my bad -- but i can't do it with a list (by the time i read "Jews" I've already scanned down to Black, White, etc. So I scanned the list, saw F.U.C.K. and thought "sex," and then re-read the list, the whole time thinking, "sex.")

    • 2 votes
    #3.1 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 8:06 PM EST
    kymlee

    It's okay Mike, I figured seeing a list would distract some people...as I said it is an experiment. I'll fill you in on what the acronym stands for later.

      #3.2 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 11:06 AM EST
      Reply
      urbane gorilla

      Jews - me
      Black - American
      White - privilege
      Immigrant - us
      @!$%# - shame (as in shameful word)
      Bourgeois - middle class
      Communist - dead (as in a dead philosophy, not a dead communist)
      Liberal - activist
      Beautiful - girl
      Conservative - selfish
      Rebel - cause
      Christmas - tree
      F.U.C.K - Y.O.U.

      - i dunno that it says much - except that i'm hopelessly conventional, much to my embarrassed surprise. . .

      • 3 votes
      Reply#4 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 7:20 PM EST
      urbane gorilla

      dyslexic that i am, i thought the headline was "a scatalogical study"! - {shrugs} what's the diff?

      • 4 votes
      #4.1 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 10:07 PM EST
      Nycam

      a scatalogical study"! - {shrugs} what's the diff?

      One smells badly. Most of the time. lol.

      • 1 vote
      #4.2 - Thu Dec 7, 2006 5:19 PM EST
      Brad Leclerc

      a scatalogical study"! - {shrugs} what's the diff?

      One smells badly. Most of the time. lol.

      Yeah...and the other is about fecal matter ;)

      • 1 vote
      #4.3 - Thu Dec 7, 2006 5:46 PM EST
      urbane gorilla

      aha - it wasn't just dyslexia - the title is misspelled, I skimmed & misread - s/b sociological -

      • 2 votes
      #4.4 - Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:30 AM EST
      urbane gorilla

      and fixed.

        #4.5 - Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:05 PM EST
        kymlee

        Thanks Miss J

          #4.6 - Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:32 PM EST
          urbane gorilla

          you're welcome - i didn't mean to get on your case - looking forward to your analysis.

            #4.7 - Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:16 PM EST
            Reply
            Benno Hansen

            Jews - war
            Black - sad
            White - pure
            Immigrant - hope
            @!$%# - criminal
            Bourgeois - intelligent/elite
            Communist - my aunt
            Liberal - smart ass
            Beautiful - the brunette in my dreams ;)
            Conservative - selfish, scared and greedy
            Rebel - punk
            Christmas - commercials
            F.U.C.K - pornography

              Reply#5 - Mon Dec 4, 2006 9:12 PM EST
              Brad Leclerc

              Jews - Jewish
              Black - White
              White - Black
              Immigrant - Foreign
              @!$%# - Insult
              Bourgeois - Huh?
              Communist - Marxist
              Liberal - Socialist
              Beautiful - Pretty
              Conservative - Tradition
              Rebel - Loner
              Christmas - Pagan
              F.U.C.K - frell

                Reply#6 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 2:48 AM EST
                urbane gorilla

                Interesting, Rukh, when I see "immigrant", I think American (or "us" as in my answer), since we are a nation of (mostly) immigrants.

                frellis entirely new to me.

                • 1 vote
                #6.1 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 3:04 AM EST
                Brad Leclerc

                "frell" is just a made up swear word from the show Farscape...I guess I was thinking about it at the time or something.....lol...i dunno

                  #6.2 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 11:43 AM EST
                  urbane gorilla

                  I like the sound "frelling in the backseat..." " I got my frell...." - good one! ;)

                    #6.3 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 12:27 PM EST
                    Reply
                    Sarcophilus

                    now she tells me:

                    Jews - menorah
                    Black - king
                    White - queen
                    Immigrant - everyone
                    @!$%# - discrimination
                    Bourgeois - Paris
                    Communist - Chairman Mao
                    Liberal - blue
                    Beautiful - lie
                    Conservative - King Canute
                    Rebel - James Dean
                    Christmas - credit card
                    F.U.C.K - one of those smart-arsed acronyms that butchers language to make a questionable point

                      Reply#7 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 4:34 AM EST
                      KyleN

                      Jews Israel
                      Black hot
                      White ground
                      Immigrant Mexican
                      @!$%# street punk
                      Bourgeois socialist text
                      Communist Marx
                      Liberal confused
                      Beautiful children
                      Conservative what kind
                      Rebel K.A. (kappa alpha)
                      Christmas family
                      F.U.C.K slogan

                        Reply#8 - Tue Dec 5, 2006 11:20 AM EST
                        Jay Baker

                        Jews - seinfeld
                        Black - Chapelle
                        White - hospital
                        Immigrant - New York
                        @!$%# - KKK
                        Bourgeois - Marx
                        Communist - Bolshevik
                        Liberal - nancy pelosi
                        Beautiful - art
                        Conservative - illogical
                        Rebel - confederate flag
                        Christmas - green
                        F.U.C.K - f.c.u.k. (a clothing line popular in Europe)

                          Reply#9 - Wed Dec 6, 2006 12:41 AM EST
                          Walt D

                          Jews - seinfeld

                          No way! I made a point of taking this as quickly as possible without reading any comments because any insight I can get into my addled gourd is, as always, greatly appreciated. Perhaps Seinfeld was the ultimate pinnacle of 7000 years of Hebrew culture (not a small feat).

                          • 1 vote
                          #9.1 - Fri Dec 8, 2006 3:48 PM EST
                          Reply
                          Nycam

                          Jews-Isrealites
                          Black-Night
                          White-Knight : )
                          Immigrant- Ellis
                          @!$%#- hood
                          Bourgeois-unwashed masses
                          Communist-Lenin
                          Liberal-Goldwater, by comparison to this administration
                          Beautiful-odalys garcia
                          Conservative-Nazis
                          Rebel-Dead South Rhetoric
                          Christmas-Happy Holidays
                          F.U.C.K-ME
                          lol

                            Reply#10 - Thu Dec 7, 2006 5:26 PM EST
                            kymlee

                            The time is coming, I suppose I have already received a pretty good response (for my under the radar column). Sorry for the confusion in the beginning - those who experienced it know what I am talking about. I'll publish my thoughts and analysis on Monday.

                            Thanks everyone!

                              Reply#11 - Thu Dec 7, 2006 7:09 PM EST
                              Brad Leclerc

                              Give it to me strait doc......am I crazy or what? :P

                                #11.1 - Thu Dec 7, 2006 8:26 PM EST
                                kymlee

                                Rukh, I suspect you are quite sane. ;-)

                                  #11.2 - Fri Dec 8, 2006 2:01 PM EST
                                  Brad Leclerc

                                  You disagree with most of the therapists I've seen then.....but I suppose that was a long time ago...hehe

                                    #11.3 - Fri Dec 8, 2006 2:25 PM EST
                                    David Mc Girr

                                    gimmie a mark doc.

                                    -Dave

                                      #11.4 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:31 AM EST
                                      Reply
                                      Walt D

                                      Jews-Seinfeld (sorry-first thing)

                                      Black-oil

                                      White-snow

                                      Immigrant-Mexican I'm being honest..I live in CA

                                      @!$%#-hate

                                      Bourgeois-bitch

                                      Communist-Russia

                                      Liberal-Left

                                      Beautiful-Sad (crap...that's not good, huh?)

                                      Conservative-Right

                                      Rebel-Yell

                                      Christmas-Noel

                                      F.U.C.K-why is this an anagram? (I couldn't get beyond that in time)

                                      I sincerely answered these as fast as I could type and read no comments first.

                                        Reply#12 - Fri Dec 8, 2006 3:42 PM EST
                                        kymlee

                                        why is this an anagram?

                                        Its a nerdy twist I'll address when I write my analysis. Sarcophilus alluded to something of the effect but called me a smart ass (its okay, I wasn't hurt - **sticking out tongue @ Sarcophilus). Plus Newsvine would not let me publish it without the acronym so I decided to have a point to using the word that I could include in my article (besides wanting to find a way around the foul language filter ;-)).

                                        Thanks for your contribution.

                                          #12.1 - Fri Dec 8, 2006 8:37 PM EST
                                          Walt D

                                          publish it without the acronym

                                          Yes, it should have been acronym rather than anagram. There are no anagrams for "@!$%#." Mother@!$%#er can be "free kot chum," however.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #12.2 - Sat Dec 9, 2006 12:00 PM EST
                                          Reply
                                          Arghawon

                                          Jews - Rich
                                          Black - White
                                          White - Cake
                                          Immigrant - US
                                          @!$%# - slang
                                          Bourgeois - rich
                                          Communist - USSR
                                          Liberal - Democrat
                                          Beautiful - Sky
                                          Conservative - Christian
                                          Rebel - w/ out a clue
                                          Christmas - Day
                                          F.U.C.K - sex

                                          I started a word association thread in a private forum I belong to - its over 189 pages long w/ about 2,000 words...

                                          I am curious to see how your comments shed light on that one for me....

                                            Reply#13 - Sat Dec 9, 2006 1:25 AM EST
                                            Ansab

                                            Here's my associating. Have fun

                                            Jews - Jesus
                                            Black - @!$%#
                                            White - cranky
                                            Immigrant - Mexican
                                            @!$%# - loser
                                            Bourgeois - cashmere
                                            Communist - leopards
                                            Liberal - awesome
                                            Beautiful - sexy
                                            Conservative - Jew
                                            Rebel - me
                                            Christmas - your mom
                                            F.U.C.K - babies

                                            • 1 vote
                                            Reply#14 - Sat Dec 9, 2006 1:28 PM EST
                                            vicaxp

                                            Jews-beef ishkanock! (sorry, long story, but it was a handi-capable young man at college!)
                                            Black-white
                                            White- chocolate
                                            Immigrant- worker
                                            @!$%#-lover
                                            Bourgeois-pig
                                            Communist-scum
                                            Liberal-ly spread
                                            Beautiful-smile
                                            Conservative-ruins
                                            Rebel-with out a cause
                                            Christmas-story
                                            F.U.C.K -me!

                                            Enjoy!

                                              Reply#15 - Sat Dec 9, 2006 8:49 PM EST
                                              Celestina

                                              Jews--cross
                                              Black--hat
                                              White--scar
                                              Immigrant--mexican
                                              @!$%#--chain
                                              Bourgeois--corset
                                              Communist--red
                                              Liberal--agenda
                                              Beautiful--compact
                                              Conservative--rush
                                              Rebel--cause
                                              Christmas--tree
                                              F.U.C.K--clown

                                              Did that as fast as I could, without thinking about it. I am somewhat dismayed by the results and may have to go live in my closet for a few days.

                                              For fun, I decided to slap my husband with these. Here's what he says:

                                              Jews--Israel
                                              Black--white
                                              White--cloud
                                              Immigrant--grandfather
                                              @!$%#--Huck Finn
                                              Bourgeois--me?
                                              Communist--Marx
                                              Liberal--freedom
                                              Beautiful--Celestina (he actually used my real name)
                                              Conservative--freedom
                                              Rebel--James Dean
                                              Christmas--oh, God two weeks
                                              F.U.C.K--fsck

                                              • 2 votes
                                              Reply#16 - Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:11 PM EST
                                              sara_mac

                                              Jews Kosher
                                              Black Tar
                                              White Out
                                              Immigrant Tax
                                              @!$%# Rig
                                              Bourgeois Disco
                                              Communist Manifesto
                                              Liberal Arts
                                              Beautiful Disaster
                                              Conservative Agenda
                                              Rebel Yell
                                              Christmas Tree
                                              F.U.C.K Bush (no pun there, I swear)

                                              • 2 votes
                                              Reply#17 - Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:08 PM EST
                                              JimmyHavok

                                              Jews juice
                                              Black white
                                              White power
                                              Immigrant song
                                              @!$%# boy
                                              Bourgeois pig
                                              Communist infiltrator
                                              Liberal party
                                              Beautiful dreamer
                                              Conservative blog
                                              Rebel yell
                                              Christmas tree
                                              F.U.C.K you

                                                Reply#18 - Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:32 AM EST
                                                StatueOfMike

                                                Jews Candles
                                                Black Light
                                                White Bright
                                                Immigrant Poor
                                                @!$%# Rap
                                                Bourgeois Vie
                                                Communist Manifesto
                                                Liberal junkie
                                                Beautiful
                                                Conservative Dick
                                                Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
                                                Christmas Time
                                                F.U.C.K Yeah!

                                                • 1 vote
                                                Reply#19 - Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:50 AM EST
                                                David Mc Girr

                                                Jews - Yarmulke
                                                Black - white
                                                White - bread
                                                Immigrant - everyone
                                                @!$%# - "niggaz"/ brotherhood
                                                Bourgeois - french middle class
                                                Communist - dead ethos
                                                Liberal - horse feathers
                                                Beautiful - ....Meagan
                                                Conservative - Bush
                                                Rebel - yell, hicks
                                                Christmas - weapons
                                                F.U.C.K - that stupid clothing line french connection UK

                                                  Reply#20 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:19 AM EST
                                                  qualitymike

                                                  Jews - Culture
                                                  Black - Race
                                                  White - Bland
                                                  Immigrant - New York
                                                  @!$%# - Negative
                                                  Bourgeois - Over-Thought
                                                  Communist - Un-American
                                                  Liberal - Lazy
                                                  Beautiful - Woman
                                                  Conservative - Uplifting
                                                  Rebel - Helpful
                                                  Christmas - Charitable
                                                  F.U.C.K - Crass

                                                    Reply#21 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:24 AM EST
                                                    Jillian MarieDeleted
                                                    c_daniels225

                                                    Jews - Palestinians
                                                    Black - like me
                                                    White - Black
                                                    Immigrant - Everybody except Native Americans
                                                    @!$%# - Legacy of America's past
                                                    Bourgeois - pretentious
                                                    Communist - community oriented
                                                    Liberal - diverse
                                                    Beautiful - in the eye of the beholder
                                                    Conservative - racist
                                                    Rebel - Cynthia McKinney
                                                    Christmas - Pagan
                                                    F.U.C.K - acronym for something

                                                      Reply#23 - Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:04 AM EST
                                                      icarus4586

                                                      Jews - Holocaust
                                                      Black - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
                                                      White - milk (?)
                                                      Immigrant - Mexican
                                                      @!$%# - Gangsta
                                                      Bourgeois - the French
                                                      Communist - Russians
                                                      Liberal - my roommate
                                                      Beautiful - love
                                                      Conservative - Dick Cheney
                                                      Rebel - Luke Skywalker
                                                      Christmas - tree
                                                      F.U.C.K - porn

                                                      Nobody shoot me, I'm just being honest.

                                                      • 2 votes
                                                      Reply#24 - Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:50 AM EST
                                                      Elliot Vos

                                                      lol thanks, roommate.

                                                      I don't think I can do the associations because my friend tracker brought me here (and thus I saw everyone else's lists before I could think for myself.

                                                        #24.1 - Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:55 AM EST
                                                        Elliot Vos

                                                        )

                                                        grrrr... I hate it when I make grammatical mistakes and then can't fix them...

                                                          #24.2 - Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:57 AM EST
                                                          Reply
                                                          Tanya Payne

                                                          Jews - Bankers
                                                          Black - Power
                                                          White - Privilege
                                                          Immigrant - Natives
                                                          @!$%# - Hatred
                                                          Bourgeois - Elitism
                                                          Communist - Cuba
                                                          Liberal - Dead (just started a book "They Only Look Dead" about the left)
                                                          Beautiful - Life
                                                          Conservative - Ignorant (I haven't heard a single convincing argument yet from a conservative)
                                                          Rebel - Me
                                                          Christmas - Commercial
                                                          F.U.C.K - The police

                                                          So, I know F.U.C.K. is an acronym for something, but I tell you each time I hear that word my brain puts "the police" at the end, regardless of the context. I'm sure that's not a good thing.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#25 - Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:53 PM EST
                                                          Arghawon

                                                          For
                                                          Unlawful
                                                          Carnal
                                                          Knowledge

                                                            #25.1 - Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:00 PM EST
                                                            kymlee

                                                            Oh shoot! I forgot to address the acronym in my article. Fornication Under Consent of King.

                                                            a misguided attempt to explain the origins of the word @!$%#(which is most likely germanic). sometimes said to stand for "Fornication Under Consent of King" or "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", both of which are false.

                                                            Source: Urban Dictionary

                                                            • 4 votes
                                                            #25.2 - Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:02 PM EST
                                                            Arghawon

                                                            Thanks for the correction... interesting nevertheless... now f.u.c.k makes much more sense...

                                                              #25.3 - Mon Jan 1, 2007 10:19 AM EST
                                                              Reply
                                                              Walt D

                                                              Can we expect the analyses/results any time soon?

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              Reply#26 - Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:07 PM EST
                                                              kymlee

                                                              Yes I published it a few weeks ago Walt (here). Go check it out and let me know what you think...

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              #26.1 - Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:18 PM EST
                                                              Reply
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