Occurences of swearing in the Linux kernel source code over time

Re:Occurences of swearing in the Linux kernel source code ov... by rfrey on Monday June 16, 2025 @11:51AM (#44290740)

It's actually a mid-elite idea, I'd say - that novice/mid/elite programmer meme springs to mind. For sure profanity is used a ton by those some would consider the rabble. Then there's medi-elite who are very pure in their language.

And then there's the academics, surgeons, and nuclear physicists who use quite a bit of profanity (especially the surgeons!) and teach their kids that profanity is a linguistic tool that is often super effective.

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Re:Occurences of swearing in the Linux kernel source code ov... by hack_katz on Monday June 16, 2025 @05:36PM (#44293626)

I think that's totally plausible! Especially because the fact is that "intelligence" is an incredibly fuzzy concept, such that one could be extremely intelligent in the STEM fields, as you mention, but then be simply average in linguistic ability.

Accordingly, even IF the willingness and ability to use profanity indicated a lesser linguistic intelligence, one would be mistaken to then assume that a person with that willingness is any less of a capable professional in non-linguistic fields

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