Poll: Swearing and you

[Marter]

I've noticed something that I didn't notice when I was younger. Maybe it was because people would abstain from this practice while I was around, or maybe at a young age I was just unable to comprehend what was happening. The issue I'm talking about is swearing. Swearing is something that we encounter in our lives daily, and is something that our culture has generally become desensitized to.

I'm aware that they are just words, and the emotions behind the words are what makes them "bad", but it seems in our culture that there is rarely any meaning behind them anymore. People go around cursing like it is second nature, and rarely stop to realize what they are saying. To me, someone who swears up a storm appears quite a bit less intelligent than those who do not. They may not be, but them overusing profanity makes me think they have a slightly lower than average vocabulary. As of late, I've tried not swearing, as I wouldn't want anyone thinking less of me because I was using profanity.

Something I've never really understood is why adults tell children that these words are bad, and then go around using the words themselves. When the child asks why they do it, they usually respond with something along the lines of "Because I'm the adult" or "You can when you are older". Some have brought comparisons to buying alcohol or cigarettes, allowing adults to make the choice to do these things. I don't buy this, as alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to the body, while Swearing isn't. In fact, <link=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-we-swear>some studies show that swearing can actually do the body good.

Where do you stand when it comes to swearing?

Some questions for discussion:
1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
3. Are you offended by profanity?

 

[Jamieson 90]

I hardly ever swear anymore, only when I' am very angry.

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not? societies values I guess, we expect children to be innocent, When you are older you have had longer to experience swear words so when you swear its not that big of a deal, however when a 8 year old swears they have only been around for 8 years so its more shocking, also reflects on the parents etc.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them? Depends on the situation and how much they swear, if its literally a swear word every sentence then yeah I do think less of them because there is no point, People who swear to look cool as well, no point so why do it. I think its accaptable in stupid situations where someone really messed up and it has a negative effect on you. For example the Bus driver could clearly see you were running for the bus but decided to be a dick and didn't wait, swearing here would be good in this situation.

3. Are you offended by profanity? Not very often but in some extreme cases yes.

 

[Nemu]

I swear all of the time, because I am an adult and sometimes, when getting my foot driven over a car, "aw shucks!" jsut doesn't cover it.

1: Because most adults are aware of wot they are saying and can understand the consequences of the words they use. (BS answer otherwise I'll be late for work)

2: It's situational. If it's in public, yes. As much as I swear, I don't want to be belted with a barrage of cussing by the white trash who can't keep control of their kids while grocery shopping.

3: Not particularly, but, again, it's situational.

 

[dex-dex]

well if used properly it can be used as something very offensive, a good way to drive home a message, comedic timing or just a thirteen year old just learning about it and think it is cool to say it

ok to answer the questions
1. adults can make their own decision and are responsible for their actions and children are cute and innocent that is why it freaks people out when they say fuck or anything like that it is also off putting of children swear because it shows how the adults in their lives talk to them or to others
2.it does not make me think any less of them if they say it periodically but if it is a pre teen learning about the naughty words they could never say them i smack them upside the head
3. i don't care i mean i don't give a flying fuck about how people use profanity
(see what did there?)

 

[DefunctTheory]

1. Its viewed as disrespectful, and children should never be disrespectful (Or at least people think so)

2. Nope.

3. Good god no.

And I swear. All. The Fucking. Time.

 

[leviathanmisha]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not? Adults sometimes feel like it's a right of passage, and since they view children as "innocent", they freak out by a child swearing.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them? No, that would be hypocritical of me, except for those Freshmen fuckfaces who think cursing is the answer to everything.

3. Are you offended by profanity? No, I was raised in a household where every other word was a swear word. It's just a part of my life these days...

 

[likalaruku]

I make fun of babies who don't swear.

 

[Tartarga]

I swear all the time and no one cares.
1. I don't know maybe they are just trying to prevent them from becoming as messed up as they are.
2. No, swearing is a good way to relieve anger.
3. No, hell without profanity most comedians would probably be out of a job.

 

[Estocavio]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?

Because a lot of parents are hypocritical in that respect. I'm fortunate enough to not have to deal with that sort of thing.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?

No, unless they're some 12-year old who wont shut up.

3. Are you offended by profanity?

No.

 

[lostzombies.com]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?

Same reason as why alcohol and sex is bad until you reach the age of consent, then all of a sudden it is very very good. The reason being society tells you so

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?

Depends on how it is done, swearing is an artform and in the right hands it can be be hilarious, breathtaking, bone shatteringly insulting..it all depends on how it is done

3. Are you offended by profanity?

No, I'm not too keen on the way people swear when they can't think of another word eg instead of going ummm/errrr but that is more the person being slightly dull than the actual words

 

[Jfswift]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
I don't really like it when anyone swears. To answer the question, I think maybe it bothers an adult to see children perform the same bad habit they just were.
2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
If they do it excessively, yes.
3. Are you offended by profanity?
The words are meaningless but the intent and message may be offensive. You 'know' when someone is being a dick.

 

[Regiment]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?

It's frequently not all right for adults to swear. Swearing in polite situations can get you in trouble. It may be because it's awkward to correct adults.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?

When I see someone who swears constantly, who uses profanity like an arbitrary punctuation mark, I do think less of him. It's the sign of a poor vocabulary and a lack of tact at best. Occasional swearing in extreme situations or to accentuate a point is acceptable, as is casual usage of minor profanity. (Example: Yahtzee's profanity establishes his character and adds to the humor [acceptable use]; if I met someone in real life who acted like that, I'd be quite put off [unacceptable use].)

3. Are you offended by profanity?

Yes, when used without regard. I see it as a lack of care, and it makes me feel that I am being slighted. If someone gets hit in the crotch with a baseball and curses, it doesn't bother me- it's appropriate then.

 

[TehCookie]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not? Parents try to teach their kids how to be perfect, when they got older they can make decisions of their own. I also think it's respecting your elders, my parents taught me is never swear in front of your mother, and I still don't. If a little kid walks up and calls you a fucktard, chances are you feel more inclines to drill some respect into them while if a teen says it you think "what an idiot" and if an adult says it, it doesn't matter.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
Depends on the context, one swearword mingled in there doesn't bother me at all, but when you have to ignore the 20 fucks to try to understand the person then yes.

3. Are you offended by profanity?
I'm not offended but more annoyed at people who can't say a single sentence without swearing.

 

[imaloony]

1. It may have something to do with society's need to "ban" something, or to make something of everything evil and bad. Really, they're just words. They can be used in a bad context, but then again, so can every word. More importantly, why is a world like "shit" considered unacceptable, while many less people care about someone saying "crap"? Isn't crap just a filler word for shit, so they mean the same thing, and are used in the same context?

2. Only if they use it as an additional weapon to degrade someone. They can do this with other words, but if I hear someone calling someone a name using a swear just to make the other person feel bad or to make themselves look high and mighty, then yes. If used just in casual conversation as a modifier, I don't see a problem with it.

3. No.

 

[Ham_authority95]

1.Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not? Adults might think that using excessive profanity will make them sound unintelligent(and it indeed does), and besides any religious factors that may be behind it (i.e yelling: Jesus Christ!), I don't really know.

2.When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them? Unless they swear so much that they sound stupid, I don't really care

3. Are you offended by profanity? If its focused on me, then yes. If its just general conversation, then no.

 

[crudus]

Some questions for discussion:
1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
3. Are you offended by profanity?

1. In my view it isn't. However, society looks at a child swearing like a felony whereas an adult doing it like a misdemeanor (to bring legal terms into this to make it easier). I am guessing it is like giving a kid sugar or a loaded gun. They aren't going to know what to do with all that energy or firepower.

2. Not unless they are doing it excessively or non-satirically.

3. fuck no.

 

[The Lawn]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
I honestly don't know, when I have kids I'd let them use swears as long as they used them when appropriate and still respected their elders.
2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
No, because I swear up a storm if I hit the volume up button instead of the channel up button on my remote.
3. Are you offended by profanity?
I would be the worlds biggest hypocrite if I was.

 

[Diet Chaos]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
Well, I believe that adults know when swearing is, for lack of a better term, "appropriate." Oftentimes, children don't know their p's and cues and use such language ad nauseum. Plus, the sight of a child with a sailor mouth just seems to unsettle me, but that's just me.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
In normal conversation, no. I mean, I wish they wouldn't, but it's their choice. Just because someone uses different language than I doesn't make them any less of a person, really. It's the meaning behind their language, however, that truly matters. If someone swears excessively, my general thought will be, "pick up a dictionary or something, cripes."

3. Are you offended by profanity?
Not really. I understand that people have a right to say what they will, and I respect their choice. Sure, I may not agree with it, but it's their mouth/vocal cords, not mine. I'm only offended by excessive swearing, as said before. Even I curse here and there, but only if I'm truly frustrated.

 

[Angelcraft]

I avoid cursing only until it seems appropriate. The only probelm is that lately it has become more appropriate than usual... humph...

 

[Scabadus]

1. Why is it generally alright for adults to use profanity, yet children are told they should not?
Swearing has its uses. If used cleverly it can vastly emphasise a point you're making (even if the point is only "My thumb that I just hammered really, REALLY hurts!"). Of course, this can't work if you swear every sentance. Children can't seem to grasp the 'not every sentance' bit however, so they're not allowed to swear at all. Serves them right.

2. When you see someone who swears, do you think any less of them?
It depends. Are they making or emphasising a point? Did they also swear last sentance? Are they alone or in the middle of a high street? Are they wearing a baseball cap the wrong way round while reving their car down the road?

Actually the last one makes me think less of them no matter what they say.

3. Are you offended by profanity?
No. Never. If the best somebody can do is hurl swear words at me I'll spend the time thinking of a witty reply and when they pause for breath (sorry, if they pause for breath) I'll say that back. It you wait while people are busy shouting you can actually come up with some really good ones.