One more question

[gemfyre]

What did people with Tourette's say before swear words were invented?

And do they use the swear words of their native language? In that case, are Japanese people with Tourette's silent?

Okay, off to bed with me.

P.S. Anyone know how to de-coagulate snot? I think I much prefer a constantly dripping nose to this damn thick goo filling my sinuses, blocking my nose and irritating my throat. I cough and it's dry, unproductive and painful. Blowing my nose does little as well. Ick.

Comments

[mistress-wench.livejournal.com]

Would still have been vocal tics like grunts and shouts perhaps, or just motor tics, I have slight problems with both.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Vicks?

Also, Remember Joel, at school? I'm pretty sure what he had was tourette's even though he didn't swear but just made odd noises. I think the swearing associated with tourette's may be a bit of a stereotype, really. Rather like the Rainmain perception of autism.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Oh Joel swore. He usually used the Tourette's as an excuse for swearing. But yeah, most of the time it was just the usual uncontrollable noises.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'll bet he did. He didn't swear in primary school, though so he was so faking it in high school.

And teachers could tell when he was faking, eventually.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Hah, it was pretty obvious sometimes.

I just remember during graduation rehearsals he got up in front of the mic on the podium and said, "I have a dream!" I just grinned and thought, 'You win at life.'

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

LOL. I don't remember that--but then I don't think I went to graduation at all.

[abinormal.livejournal.com]

Swearing isn't actually the most common symptom of Tourette's. There are plenty who have the swearing, but it's the facial tics that are the main symptom. So probably a lot of grunts and vocalizations. I imagine swearing is more cathartic.

[just-the-ash.livejournal.com]

Even though, as five zillion people have told you/will tell you, the coprolalia is actually a fairly rare symptom... a friend of mine with autism-related tics loves the pin that says "Tourette's: It's No Fucking Joke, Asshole."

[just-the-ash.livejournal.com]

Oh, and re the snot: DRINK. WATER. AGAIN. Ideally, you should be alternating between gulping water and voiding it. Try tea (or, better, a caffeine-less herbal infusion) -- the hot liquid will be especially helpful.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

More water... okay. I drank about 2L yesterday.

They kinda don't appreciate it much at work when I dash to the loo every 10 minutes though.

[miwasatoshi.livejournal.com]

Coprolalia -- what a wonderful word! I don't even know why I didn't think of that myself, I know the roots involved ...

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I was just pondering why coprolalia (oh man, gotta love Latin roots) started in the first place, because those words differ from language to language and some languages lack them. It was actually a discussion I had at work yesterday.

I think someone may have hit the nail however - it's probably cathartic.

[miwasatoshi.livejournal.com]

With Japanese, the idea of vulgarity is that "it's not the words you use, but how you use them." So you can be saying, "Thank you" but if you use the wrong tone, you might as well be saying, "Up yours," or something worse. Sometimes, the Japanese language is a total minefield. Fortunately, foreigners are largely exempt from having to use Japanese etiquette ... but they really appreciate it when if you try!

[callistra.livejournal.com]

I did think it was sweet that gemfyre thought the japanese don't swear. I've heard that they do, but just didn't have any examples because they REALLY don't like to tell any one about it.
:-)

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Actually that was because I recently read an article about the trouble they were having translating the "Where the bloody hell are you?" ad for a Japanese audience, because those sorts of words weren't in the Japanese vernacular - or at least using them in a joking sort of way isn't.

[lavender-lace.livejournal.com]

You could try using a neti pot to flush out your sinuses. I always do when I have a bad head cold or am feeling sinus pressure. You can accomplish the same thing with a teapot with a smallish spout. Just fill it with warm water, add a pinch of salt and stir it well. Then stand over the sink, tilt your head, and pour the water slowly into one nostril. Relax and breathe through your mouth until it starts coming out the other side until you've used up all the water. Then give your nose a good blow to get out the rest of the water. It sounds gross, but it really clears your head.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I've heard of this and been tempted to try it. But just thinking about water up my nose makes my eyes water uncontrolably.

[lavender-lace.livejournal.com]

I've never had it hurt personally, but I think it has to do with the fact that the water is only a little saline and tepid, and that you're expecting it. Unlike when you get water up your nose when you're swimming or something which really hurts!

[jet-ski.livejournal.com]

It works - I did it when I had a chronic sinus infection and it got rid of it. I haven't had problems since! :P