Expletive Education

[Fanta Grape]

You know it, I know it and the whole damn world knows it. 10 year olds are using bad words. While I don't think it's too much of a problem in general, just some sort of stress release, I despise it when profanity is used in colloquial language for no other reason than to sound more mature. Sure, faeces synonyms aren't really going to offend anyone (and in many cases, the F word), but the N word and the C word are offensive. Not because of the words themselves, but with the connotations that have gone with it. Hundreds of years of repression and discrimination are held in this sort of language and to casually use it is infuriating.

While many parents may not like it, I think there should come a time where we have to explain to kids WHY they're offensive. A slap on the bottom isn't going to make them smarter but exposure to some sort of intelligent discussion will. The major downside is that kids might start using the words because they're "taboo" (which is generally what's already happening) and the earlier exposure might make them more likely to use it. But then it really comes down to the decision of the child themselves, not some bigoted ignorance brought on from a lack of understanding.

So are you sick of hearing kids on Xbox live swearing like there's no tomorrow? Well what could be some possible solutions and is it that much of a problem at all? Is it even solvable to a significant extent?

 

[Colour Scientist]

Hundreds of years of repression and discrimination are held in this sort of language and to casually use it is infuriating.

I think this is the point though. when you use a swear word casually you take the power away from it. Words like n****r (see I'm not even comfortable with typing it out) are still so loaded with historical connotations that most outside the black community will not say it aloud. Many within the African-American community, however, will use it as a term of endearment so that, rather than the slur of the oppressors, it becomes their word with their meaning and the harm implyed by it is somewhat diffused. The same goes for ***** etc... They can still be offensive but not nearly to the extent of, say, fifty years ago.

Words like fuck and shit are just fun to say sometimes. There's no real reason for them to be taboo anymore and they're mostly just used as terms of exagerration. Words only have power when you're afraid to use them so fuck, shit, bollox, ****... etc... ad nauseum...

 

[Thaluikhain]

I think this is the point though. when you use a swear word casually you take the power away from it. Words like n****r (see I'm not even comfortable with typing it out) are still so loaded with historical connotations that most outside the black community will not say it aloud. Many within the African-American community, however, will use it as a term of endearment so that, rather than the slur of the oppressors, it becomes their word with their meaning and the harm implyed by it is somewhat diffused. The same goes for ***** etc... They can still be offensive but not nearly to the extent of, say, fifty years ago.

They can use them "safely" because those words were to be used against them, not by them.

...

I'd also say that it's much more than historical connotations. Racism is still a massively serious problem. It's diminished somewhat, but that doesn't mean it can be dismissed.

 

[legion431]

Whatever happened to sticks and stones. I'm sick of hearing people ***** and whine about how bad swearing is as much as I am sick of the overuse of it in prepubescent boys. Words are just letters put together to give a meaning and I only get pissed at the kids on xbox live because they use it too much to sound , as you said, more mature.

The only way to get rid of a bad thing is to stop talking abut how bad it is. Do you really think these kids swear too much for any other reason but because they think it pisses people off...well there you go.

 

[Colour Scientist]

They can use them "safely" because those words were to be used against them, not by them.

...

I'd also say that it's much more than historical connotations. Racism is still a massively serious problem. It's diminished somewhat, but that doesn't mean it can be dismissed.

The most important thing about a word is what you mean when you say them, not the word itself. At no point did I dismiss the issue of racism but there is a certain amount of power in taking a slur that has been used against you and making it your own.

I can't comment on how certain races feel about particular words because I haven't experienced it but I can comment on slurs against women and everything depends on context.

 

[Thaluikhain]

The most important thing about a word is what you mean when you say them, not the word itself. At no point did I dismiss the issue of racism but there is a certain amount of power in taking a slur that has been used against you and making it your own.

I disagree.

It's all very well saying "I didn't mean to be racist", but that's rarely been much comfort by people on the receiving end. Also, even if you mean to use the word in a certain way, if society at large uses it to mean that a race is less than, it's going to be awkward.

I'm also not that keen on "reclaiming" words. The idea sounds reasonable, but in reality it's not usually met with much in the way of success, at least for words with weight behind them.

 

[necromanzer52]

I find it ridiculous that some words are considered "bad".

I guess if I have to explain it to my kids, the speech will go something like this:

"Basically, there are quite a few assholes in this world, who, for some unfathomable reason, consider specific groups of phonemes to be bad, and shouldn't be used. While this is complete bullshit, unfortunately a lot of your teachers, and other people with power over you will have this fucking stupid attitude, so it will probably make your life easier, if you refrain from using these words, when in close proximity to these morons."

Whatever happened to sticks and stones. I'm sick of hearing people ***** and whine about how bad swearing is as much as I am sick of the overuse of it in prepubescent boys. Words are just letters put together to give a meaning and I only get pissed at the kids on xbox live because they use it too much to sound , as you said, more mature.

The only way to get rid of a bad thing is to stop talking abut how bad it is. Do you really think these kids swear too much for any other reason but because they think it pisses people off...well there you go.

Yeah. What he said.

 

[Fanta Grape]

I find it ridiculous that some words are considered "bad".

I guess if I have to explain it to my kids, the speech will go something like this:

"Basically, there are quite a few assholes in this world, who, for some unfathomable reason, consider specific groups of phonemes to be bad, and shouldn't be used. While this is complete bullshit, unfortunately a lot of your teachers, and other people with power over you will have this fucking stupid attitude, so it will probably make your life easier, if you refrain from using these words, when in close proximity to these morons."

Whatever happened to sticks and stones. I'm sick of hearing people ***** and whine about how bad swearing is as much as I am sick of the overuse of it in prepubescent boys. Words are just letters put together to give a meaning and I only get pissed at the kids on xbox live because they use it too much to sound , as you said, more mature.

The only way to get rid of a bad thing is to stop talking abut how bad it is. Do you really think these kids swear too much for any other reason but because they think it pisses people off...well there you go.

Yeah. What he said.

Speaking as a multiplayer game, I can tell you that people love to use the word rape. I really hate it. And I can understand why someone would use it. They mean it with no ill intent. But when that word is said, I think of the absolute worst act one human could do to another. Now I'm not going to try and regulate anyone's usage on the word, but it makes me really uncomfortable when I'm having fun gaming and then the mental image of a person being abused and violated comes to mind. Not a fictional character, not a fictional event, but something that's been happening since humans existed. I can EASILY imagine how some people might be offended by a supposedly "sexist" or "racist" word. The words aren't bad, the intention might not even be bad, but the connotation that goes with it can be downright traumatising. Don't you dare try to belittle something that can and DOES make people feel terrible.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Speaking as a multiplayer game, I can tell you that people love to use the word rape. I really hate it. And I can understand why someone would use it. They mean it with no ill intent. But when that word is said, I think of the absolute worst act one human could do to another. Now I'm not going to try and regulate anyone's usage on the word, but it makes me really uncomfortable when I'm having fun gaming and then the mental image of a person being abused and violated comes to mind. Not a fictional character, not a fictional event, but something that's been happening since humans existed. I can EASILY imagine how some people might be offended by a supposedly "sexist" or "racist" word. The words aren't bad, the intention might not even be bad, but the connotation that goes with it can be downright traumatising. Don't you dare try to belittle something that can and DOES make people feel terrible.

"I think the word raped gets thrown around far too casually. You ever listen to a bunch of guys playing video games with each other online? It's like, 'Ah man you shot me in the back dude. You raped me dude!' I'm pretty sure if I talked to a woman who's been through that horrific situation and I said, 'What was it like, you know, being raped?' she's not gonna look at me and go, 'Have you ever played Halo?'"?Dane Cook,

I think he's summed it up nicely.

 

[Engarde]

I don't know, I read of a study the other day which basically if memory serves said that swearing fires up the same part of the brain as crying, indicating a lack of means to properly communicate what is being felt? So long as words are found offensive (like the above person speaks about the word rape) then words can be overused and everyone can have lack of means to properly communicate with brain firing up everywhere.

So....I don't know, teach all the children a big, flashy vocabulary? Beyond me how to fix it.

 

[Loonyyy]

People will do what people will do. Punishing them will not help stop them from swearing: expletive release is something MORE likely when someone hits you, not less. Who cares? It's just a bunch of syllables. If someones offended, they can reply in kind. And eventually, you learn that using offensive language gets you nowhere, since using it cuts off rational and polite conversation.

 

[MassiveGeek]

I don't give a fuck how much anyone swears, to be honest. But I do think that it, in ALL situations, is important to know what the hell you're saying. If you don't know what a word means, look it up before you throw it around.

Though, I must admit that I absolutely despise the whole deal with how it's alright for certain groups to use certain words. Exclusivity, in all situations again, does nothing for anyone in the end, except for the people in the VIP section which is never and never will be the majority.
Calm the hell down, for fucks sake. If someone uses the word "******", and it's not meant to be offensive, no need to get your panties in a twist. If you find it severely offensive, JUST TELL THEM, and don't flip the fuck out.
In the end, it's not a big deal. Seriously.

 

[Puddleknock]

My problem with the swearing is just how lazy it is. The English language has a plenitude of words that could be used to verbalise any given situation. But swearing seems to be an easy option which is a shame as it can limit a conversation.

Also the common usage of swearing diminishes the impact of that particular word. I'm not against swearing, I will and have sworn many times, but I do try to swear when it will have an actual impact rather than being another word. There is a strength in words and a power in language that could be better utilised by some. But then that is just my view, the relative power of language depends on the person.

 

[repeating integers]

I find it ridiculous that some words are considered "bad".

I guess if I have to explain it to my kids, the speech will go something like this:

"Basically, there are quite a few assholes in this world, who, for some unfathomable reason, consider specific groups of phonemes to be bad, and shouldn't be used. While this is complete bullshit, unfortunately a lot of your teachers, and other people with power over you will have this fucking stupid attitude, so it will probably make your life easier, if you refrain from using these words, when in close proximity to these morons."

Whatever happened to sticks and stones. I'm sick of hearing people ***** and whine about how bad swearing is as much as I am sick of the overuse of it in prepubescent boys. Words are just letters put together to give a meaning and I only get pissed at the kids on xbox live because they use it too much to sound , as you said, more mature.

The only way to get rid of a bad thing is to stop talking abut how bad it is. Do you really think these kids swear too much for any other reason but because they think it pisses people off...well there you go.

Yeah. What he said.

Speaking as a multiplayer game, I can tell you that people love to use the word rape. I really hate it. And I can understand why someone would use it. They mean it with no ill intent. But when that word is said, I think of the absolute worst act one human could do to another. Now I'm not going to try and regulate anyone's usage on the word, but it makes me really uncomfortable when I'm having fun gaming and then the mental image of a person being abused and violated comes to mind.

I need to ask: are you also offended when they use words like "butcher", "slaughter", "tear apart" etc. instead of rape?

OT: I still have no idea why fuck, shit etc. are considered naughty words. It's so totally arbitrary, and yet I still have a mental taboo against using them in real life. It irritates me.

Words like "******" and "*****", though, I can definitely understand people getting upset over - especially the former.

 

[Marter]

Explaining to kids why words are offensive will likely yield one of two results:

1) They listen to you and continue to use the words regardless.

2) They listen to you and are now targeting certain groups to use the words against because that's ever more taboo.

Or maybe I just have little belief that a ten-year-old is going to care about offending people when swearing is going on all around him/her.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

SNIP

Leaving that up to parenting. Kids should by that age care how their actions hurt others for the most part. I know I did anyway...

Don't know about the N word or the C word but fuck, shit, asshole were words I picked up before I turned ten. I've always been a good boy but I knew how to swear with the best of the playground if I wanted to. I can only assume it has gotten worse.

Throughout Highschool the words lost all power and meaning as they were used all the time but I really didn't feel comfortable using them anyway. Maybe I'm an exception seeing as I still reserve them for moments of fury and pain for the most part.