Why do you hate swearing... or like it?

[Jennifer Hartley]

*keep the profanity down in this thread please* I personaly dislike swearing, no offence to you if you choose to swear, that is your right. So my questions are: why do we do it? should we stop? what are the alternatives?

[Ash Phillips]

Swearing is a part of language, and I'm quite happy to use swear words, but I think there are limits, don't do it around children, because children aren't mature enough to understand when it's appropriate or inappropriate, and don't make every other word you say a curse word, because it makes you sound like a moron.

Swearing, in my opinion, does have a purpose, and that is to communicate emotion, if you refer to someone by swearing, it communicates a negative emotion stronger than acheivable without swearing, and in general use it works as a strong intensifier.

Swearing doesn't decrease worldsuck, but it doesn't explicitly increase it either.

Personally, I think in the end it's down to the individual, if you don't like swearing, don't do it, if you don't like others swearing, don't be around people who swear, or if they're friends, ask them not to because it makes you uncomfortable, friends will understand.

[patch]

Ah! Memes!

A vulgarity of some words ebbs and flows. A word we use to substitute a curse word today may itself become a new curse word. The combination of consonants and vowels we utter to convey strong negative feelings will be, in some manner, a swear word.

I observed the words "frak" and "smeghead", both nonsense words used in on scifi shows (Battlestar Galatica and Red Dwarf respectively) that took on a form of their own. As both words were used in place of vulgarity, some fans (particularly those with children) regard them as being vulgar. They wince when their children use the words. Although the parents come down on the children if they use a widely recognized swear, they still become uncomfortable enough with the substitutions to discourage their children from saying the words too often or outside of the house.

I makes me wonder if the origins of a word is what makes it vulgar? Or the use and the frequency of that how it is used? If "frak" replaced "awesome" as an affirming expression, we wouldn't take offense. But the made-up word replaced "f*ck" and so it means "f*ck" and, assuming widespread use, we learn to take offense to "frak" as well.

Perhaps that is a bit anecdotal.

.

I think the matter of choosing which words become swear starts off rather arbitrary and ambiguous. The word becomes a popular vulgar-expression that most people recognize, the consensus is that the expression is offensive and is therefore a swear.

As for how I feel about it:

As for a politeness and manners, I like to think I am friendly and respectful. I think being polite is respecting other humans for being also-humans. Part of being showing that respect means avoiding what I know to be widely accepted as "vulgar" for the comfort of those around me.

But boy, do I love to swear!

"Balls!" is currently my favorite expression of frustration. Particular when something is my own fault.

"What a dick!" is what I accuse cantankerous technology of being.

"F*ckyeah!!!" is the strongest affirmation in my vernacular.

I find these expression cathartic - they release frustration and, at the same time, are just silly things to say and therefore amuse me. It is hard to stay angry after yelling "Balls!" or blaming a car for being a dick.

Although, I realize not everyone swears out of frustration or enthusiasm.

 Personally, I feel MORE comfortable at someone's home or in a new workplace when I hear other people swearing over disagreeable appliances or errors or use "f*ck" or "sh*t" because they are excited about something. Just a few f-words sprinkled throughout the day reminds me that I am in a candid setting, I need not mind my p's and q's. I am among other clumsy, familiar, humans.

(I also think it's weird that I bothered to censor the curse words I used, since you all already know what they are and had to think of the word anyway.)

[Jennifer Hartley]

yeah but at least you ment well :)

[Jennifer Hartley]

I really like the points you made! Personaly I haven't sworn since I was 5 and even then I only said "D**m" (which I consider a swear) so I think what bothers me is when other refuse to respect my beliefs or pause to understand.

I believe that it is possible to comunicate with our fellow renters-of-this-planet without swearing. sure you may have to scrape through your brain tissue for a larger vocabulary but it make you sound more in control or your thoughts and it make you sound smart.

it is possible that one reason why I refuse to swear is because I am proud of my ability and goals to control my mind, body and thoughts. I am in control and I have the power over my actions, therefor, if I fail at anything it may not  be my fault.

I also am discusted by the language I encounter in my school hallways. now I know that most of my classmates will grow out of it by the time they have kids, but once again it's about mutual respect and realization. If we all said whatever came to mind we would have offended half the population of the globe. than you would have 3 billion people after you. and you would be after 3 billion people.it is our ability to hold our tongue that allows us to even know what peace means.

I express my anger, fustration and enthusiasm as well, but in words suck as "crap" "flip" "gosh" and "frick", which I don't belive are swears yet.

what intrests me is peole who don't think that some swears "count". it is amazing that what was a swear 5 years ago is suddenly just a rude word. I am talking about our Sh's, F's, Bch's, Bst's and A(add on some s's)'s

these and there previous forms have ALWAYS been swears or oaths since they were created.

 

I wish we could learn to communicate without these to hinder our meanings, make us seem stupid and create more negativity in the world.

[patch]

Every language will have unsavory words. If vulgarity is something that can be communicated than whatever means by which we communicate it risks becoming a vulgar act itself. Some parents feel words like "crap" and "frick" are just as bad as "f*ck."

PS: As a kid "fricking" was a word I could not say. To you, it is not a swear word and is a safe expression that falls within what you find acceptable, respectable, peaceful, disciplined, etc. But my family would have considered you crude and possibly a bad influence. Despite this term being, to you, a respectful substitute that demonstrates restraint and consideration, it would have offended my grandmother just the same as if you said "f*ck."

I can agree, in less familiar company even I do not appreciate the use of "f*ck" after every other word, as if no other qualifier can exist. It seems unimaginative. As if the individual is impressed with themselves for using the word excessively and without provocation. But I think I would be just as annoyed if the only qualifier used was "fricking" instead. Using aggressive and/or repetitive language is irritating at the least. And to do so around unfamiliar company is disrespectful-or rude at best.

But I hold no prejudice against moderate swearing in general. With respect to the time and place, of course.

I don't think substituting curse words for fake curse words really rids the world of curse words. We only end up with a whole set of new ones, as the fake replace the original curses and hold all the same offense as the originals.

What you would have to ask, then, is that people should refrain from expressing unpleasant thoughts and feelings or frustration - whatever utterance that gains popularity will become a swear.

Another thing that contributes to peace, aside from the ability of self restraint, is some (not too much) tolerance of other people's quirks and offense to your sensibilities. Humans are imperfect and vulgar -  we like to pretend we are more dignified and, for that, I applaud the effort and admire the accomplishments.

But I also give them breadth to be the messy primates they still are, deep down. I don't think there is a culture on this planet in which some, if not most, of the people never said a bad word or laughed at a fart. Even the scholarly, sophisticated greeks and romans of antiquity scratched poop jokes on the walls by their toilets. The stuffy Victorian era is well known for it's raunchy stories and poems. Even some Old English poetry is nothing more than dirty jokes and curse words and offenses we no longer recognize. It may be childish and disgusting, but it this playful sort of crudeness is a very human thing that has carried on through time and across the world. I can't help but appreciate that.

(Come to think of it, I heard a rumor that chimps, who knew sign language, took to calling things they did not like "dirty toilet". I am skeptical if the chimps invented this term on their own and understood it to be insulting or if they took cues from their handlers.)

[Jennifer Hartley]

I totaly get you points, I think that people have thier own right to swear, but it gets out of hand when they stop thinking about who can hear them. that is the gist I think, so far that we all agree on.

[Maddi]

I totally agree with you and respect your opinion, however I do believe that people are often oversensitive nowadays - if you hear someone on the street drop an f-bomb, that's their choice and so long as they're not using it maliciously to hurt or insult or degrade someone else, I don't think that people have the right to be 'offended' by it or ask them to stop. Of course, derogatory words that are also swear words are an exception from this rule as they are designed to harm someone's feelings, etc.

[David N]

I don't think that people have the right to be 'offended' by it or ask them to stop.

They have the right to do both. However, the person they confront has the right to completely ignore this, and not care about the offense he/she caused.

[Maddi]

Agreed, but wouldn't it be easier to cut out the middle man in that equation and just say "hey, they're saying words that I wouldn't say myself, oh well, let's not make an issue out of their choice"?

[David N]

Yes, I agree fully, and the guy you just described above is myself. I am very reluctant to confront people about much of anything, unless it begins to border on harassment or becomes physical in nature. I think the world would be a better place if it was made up of the type of person you described above (don't take that as self-praise.) However, I'm just establishing that anyone who chooses to pull a jerk move and tell someone off for swearing is perfectly within their rights. Fortunately, so is the dirty-mouthed gentleman who continues on his way.

[Maddi]

Hahahaha love the gif! :) Well said

[Hannah]

I really agree with this.  I appreciate when someone respects me and my values enough to refrain from being profane around me.