To Dunk and to Crack

When I was on my mission in Hiroshima the slang term for "baptize" was "dunk."  For example, one missionary may say to another, "We've been teaching the Tanaka family for three months and they finally got dunked."

Often times a church leader (an English speaking one, of course) would overhear a missionary use the "dunk" terminology and chastise that guy for using such disrespectful language.  For a missionary to refer to a sacred ordinance to with such a  crude vernacular was just simply impertinent!

Now as a chiropractor, I am sometimes met with the same type of scorn when I call a "spinal adjustment" a "crack."   I remember when at a meeting a few years ago, I asked another chiropractor, "I'm a little stiff could you crack my neck for me?"

"No," he replied, "I won't crack it, but I'll adjust it."

As my daughter would say, "Whatever."

I understand that language is powerful.  Words are powerful.  Using the right word at the right time at the right place can influence thinking, alter behavior, and even change lives.  I get it!  But maybe it's not in me to be so exact, so formal, so precise in speech.  Maybe I enjoy using the "dunks" and "cracks" in my language partly because I do like to be more laid back in communication and maybe I just like rebelling against those who would control my words.  Maybe because I try not to be judgemental of the words of another, I reject (with attitude) the judgement of others on my words.

Whatever.

Comments

[Nicole (Dr. Nick)]

Here-here! The town I practice in has many network and activator doctors. When patient's come to see me it's often because they are looking for "the crack." It's so much easier to say to a patient, "What kind of adjustment have you had before? Was it the 'cracking' kind?" When I say, "Was it an osseous adjustment? Did you cavitate?" they kind of look at me funny. :)

[Mandi]

If people were to really think about it, I don't think it is in most of them to be so exact, formal and precise (or politically correct, either). A little bit of slang, or comic relief as the case may be, can sometimes be a good thing rather than impertinent.

I have two favorite phrases so far in our chiropractic career: 'Addicted to Crack' and 'I'm Here to Get High' (Helpers High, not a drug high). Disrespectful to the profession? No, in fact they can be conversation starters that can sometimes lead a person to at least curiosity about chiropractic.

And at church, in the middle of a sacrament meeting or gospel doctrine class that has gone on a bit too long, I don't think a little bit of Robert Kirby is apostasy - well, maybe in Provo it is.