Who gives a @#$% about profanity?

[manekineko]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/28/profan ... index.html

We do seem to be more foul mouthed now than twenty years ago. Swearing is much more common in many areas of society--normal conversations, TV, movies, music, school, the workplace. And whereas in the past the words actually meant something (and were considered much more inflammatory), now they're worked into ordinary speech ("That's F-ing hilarious!", or "Un-F-ing-believable!"). I'll admit I'm one of the 64% who use the F-word on occasion. Curse words flow out of my mouth pretty effortlessly when I'm with a couple of my foul-mouthed friends, but also I can turn it off cold when I have to be very socially appropriate. When I have to I can make Miss Manners very proud.

That being said, I do think the reliance on swear words has made some people into verbal idiots. Every other word is F-this and F-that. (The F-word is so freaking versatile--it's a verb, it's a noun, it's an adjective, it's an adverb, it's an interjection, it's a floor wax, it's a dessert topping! [:D] ) The guy in the article said, "I mean, if I take that out of your vocabulary, you've got nothin'!" I do think some people have stunted the development of their vocabulary because of their reliance on swear words.

But as an occasional interjection for poetic emphasis? It's f*cking brilliant!

I do make a distinction between words that are meant to hurt someone ("b*tch", "c*nt", "n*gger") and words that simply name a body part or bodily function ("c*ck, sh*t, f*ck) or words from the religious arena ("hell", "damn"). The word assh*le is a toss-up (hehe) because even though it is a body part, it is used to insult another person, so I don't use it unless absolutely necessary [:D] (when another motorist nearly collides with me on the highway) . I consider the first group of words to be more offensive than the other two groups. I don't use the words from the first group (unless I'm with my raunchy Long Islander friend, Lisa, and I wink while calling her a "b*tch"), but I do occasionally use the words from the second and third groups, when appropriate ("WTF!" or "WTH!"). The key is knowing when using swear words is appropriate and when it's not appropriate, and shutting it off like a switch. It is not appropriate to swear in the workplace, and absolutely not in front of customers. Nor is it appropriate to swear within earshot of children or anyone who might be offended. But among my friends? Hell yeah.

About the words in the second group (body parts and bodily functions), I guess I have a relaxed attitude. They're just words like any other. Why should "c*ck" be a swear word but not "penis"? Why should "f*ck" be a swear word but not "intercourse"? The only difference is the status we've given these words by putting them up on some pedestal of profanity, with the F-word being "the gold standard of foul words". It's our damned Puritanical upbringing that makes sex and bodily functions naughty and taboo, so we have to have some words that are taboo to reflect our discomfort with the sexual side of our nature.

I'm also not offended by the religious-based curse words ("hell", "damn", "goddamn", "Jesus!"). (And why is "hell" a swear word but not "heaven"???) But my Lutheran upbringing still makes me switch to "darn" or "geez!" when I'm around people who might be "blasphemy-sensitive".

So I guess the bottom line for me is I'm not offended by swearing (unless someone calls me a "b*tch" or c*nt intentionally to hurt me). But there definitely are situations when swearing is not appropriate and people should be able to recognize that and shut it off. And finally, swear words are most effective in conversation when they are used sparingly, for emphasis. Their effect becomes diluted and boring when they are used excessively.

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[eight6]

I swear...it's just part of the world in which I work. I'm not especially proud of it, and I agree, used in moderation it is at times an effective tool for emphasis.

That being said, I can't see manekineko swearing...is there any audio/video proof of these events?[}:)][:D]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/eight.gif"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/number6.gif">

[hutter]

I'm with you on this one, darlin'. Until now, we've politely disagreed on nearly everything. Wow. The apocalypse has truly arrived. And I didn't use "F-N" one time in this post!...oops...

http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/

[MARV]

Yup.

Except for the Lutheran upbringing part and using "darn" or "geez" as a result. With all due respect, I think it's ridiculous to use "fake bad words" because you're still succumbing to the same need to say something "bad" for emphasis. Is'nt the goal to not use such words? And I don't know if those words are any more or less "dictionary" words "damn", "shit", or "heck" being used in place of "hell" for that matter or if they are words taught in school. Honestly, the words "damn" and "hell" are perfectly appropriate substitutes for the word "fuck" (as in "damn it" or "what the hell") around here in New York. It never ceases to amaze me how much these very innocent words freak some people out.

Oh, and try this on for size folks:
http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=125X ... A00WWM7K47

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

[eight6]

[quote][i]Originally posted by hutter[/i]
<br>I'm with you on this one, darlin'...
http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/
[/quote]

Thanks Hutter. I knew we'd agree on something sooner or later.

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[Mechi]

Well.... you all know I avoid those big bad words. But sometimes they come out of my mouth... but I generally don't use them without a bad intention. [;)]

http://sicksadworldwelivein.blogspot.com

[hutter]

[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by hutter[/i]
<br>I'm with you on this one, darlin'...
http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/
[/quote]

Thanks Hutter. I knew we'd agree on something sooner or later.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/eight.gif"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/number6.gif">
[/quote]
Well, I hate to break it to you, but I was agreeing with Manekineko. You just posted quicker than me. As a matter of fact, we agree more often than not. I just keep my flap shut when we do have the same point of view. I hate using "ditto" in posts.

And I would never refer to you as "darlin". You're cute and all, but I don't swing that way. Sorry.

http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/

[manekineko]

Eight-six: Sorry, no video or audio proof. You'll just have to fantasize about me swearing. [:D]

Hutter: Run for cover--the end is near!

Marv: Yeah, I feel silly using the "fake bad words" because they're like "Curse Lite". And from what I remember of my Lutheran upbringing, "darn" and "geez" are still considered offensive. But they fill in at a moment's notice when I need an interjection in a hurry. You said, "I think it's ridiculous to use "fake bad words" because you're still succumbing to the same need to say something "bad" for emphasis. Is'nt the goal to not use such words?" Yes, I suppose sometimes it is a goal, not for myself, but out of concern for others. I use the "fake bad words" in a last minute attempt to soften my speech for someone who might be "blasphemy sensitive", when I'm on a roll and have but a split second to choose the next word to come out of my mouth. But I personally don't see why the "original bad words" should be so offensive in the first place. I know the whole "taking the Lord's name in vain" arguments having been raised Lutheran, but personally, I think it's silly.

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[enzfan]

I have to really watch myself around the kids not to let one slip out especially while driving. Also my wife would drop dead if i uttered a profanity around her parents, i have come close once or twice.

[manekineko]

[quote][i]Originally posted by marvymarv[/i]
<br>Oh, and try this on for size folks:
http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=125X ... A00WWM7K47

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>
[/quote]

Fucking brilliant! [:D]

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[eight6]

[quote][i]Originally posted by hutter[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by hutter[/i]
<br>I'm with you on this one, darlin'...
http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/
[/quote]

Thanks Hutter. I knew we'd agree on something sooner or later.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/eight.gif"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/number6.gif">
[/quote]

And I would never refer to you as "darlin". You're cute and all, but I don't swing that way. Sorry.

http://electricdreams71.blogspot.com/
[/quote]

Fuck!! I was hoping to get all tarted up for ya. Seriously, I knew you meant manekineko.



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[KYYX4ever]

I'm not a fan of swear words and rarely use them myself. (sorry, manekineko, I"m a "fake bad word" user, darnit![;)]). To me, it's just a visceral reaction--I think the words are ugly and unnecessary. They often make me cringe. There are a few songs, for example, in which the profanity used in them actually make me push the stop/ forward button.

But it is an interesting point how the effectiveness of these words today is so diluted. Case in point: my high school students. They're always swearing ! Although not during classtime. Part of it is that they're just teens, rebelling for shock value. But to them, the words are just not that shocking !! A teacher [b]used[/b] to be able to say "Would you want your mother to hear you saying that?/ What would your mother say if she heard you say that?" And the kid would be instantly shamed. But not anymore! Half the time the kids look at you funny and say NO. And it's true, if their own parents swear all the time, too; they hear it in the media, (the FCC allows "ass" to be said now on TV!), music, everywhere. It's out of control. The old argument that those are shocking words NOT to be used as a rational adult doesn't hold much water anymore.[V]

There's another teacher who makes the kid put a quarter into a jar when she hears them swear. She uses the money to buy pens, pencils, stuff like that. It helps cut down on the language.

And lastly, in my rambling post: in Latvian, the language I learned to speak in the Peace Corps, they don't really have "swear words" per se. They use Russian if they wanna swear, and Russian has TONS of really awful swear words! I mean, terrible words. The Russian language is very rich, and that extends to foul language. In Latvian, they use animal names to indicate foul language. The worst thing you could call somebody in Latvian was "goat" or "snake". "This is a real lion's den" would be like their version of "hellhole". Funny, huh ?[:0]

[KYYX4ever]

p.s. I'm also from that generation where parents made kids wash out their mouth with soap if they heard them swearing. My one 8-yr. old trangression with a swear word, and the nasty biting down on soap which ensued, scarred me forever! LOL! [;)]

[manekineko]

KYYX: I was thinking of you when I posted this thread because I know how much you dislike swearing. And about the teacher who charges a student a quarter for swearing, either it cuts down on the swearing, or it keeps the class very well stocked with school supplies! Interesting story about Latvian swearing.

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[KYYX4ever]

yeah, and the teacher who does the swearing jar is an old hippie, too!

But I'm not uppity about the swearing (i.e., correcting people to stop). If I hear it, I either ignore it, kind of shut my ears a little, or just leave. I mean, I'm out in public--what do I expect ? So I act very tolerantly of it. Meanwhile, on the inside, the taste of that soap comes right back...

Interesting: the power of words. The F word just sounds so nasty to me. Strong connotation! But on the other hand, hell is very useful. You're right: I wonder why hell is so bad, while heaven isn't ? (actually, you don't even have to think about that one too much)

My parents swore in German (their 1st language) around us kids if they had to swear, even though we knew what those words were anyway. And then my pop would be all like "you didn't just hear that!"[:D]