Swearing

[CrazyLazy]

So why is swearing not acceptable in polite society? I can understand why insulting/saying mean things to peoples face is obviously looked down upon, because it's just a mean thing to do. But why is saying certain words, not in an insulting manner, considered unacceptable? What about words that are synonymous in certain contexts, consider "fuck" and "intercourse", one is rude, and the other mature. So how the fuck did we come up with swear words?

 

[JohnCU]

fuck ass shit bitch bastard

 

[spidey07]

A curse word is a word of curse. If you keep saying them you bring about the curse.

The knights will ascend upon yee who say the words of curse.

 

[olds]

Nobody gives a shit.

 

[BoomerD]

Because it fucking sounds like shit...

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Nobody gives a shit.

some really uptight people give a shit, but after a few times, they stop. the manager at my dad's place was really uptight. she gasped the first time i said "shit" in front of her

as long as i dont get excessive, i can say anything now and she doesnt even react.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Any word that is a descriptor of private or embarrassing human function will carry some degree of social impropriety. Even flinging around the word "intercourse" with wild abandon will get you some strange looks. Also our curse words probably didn't always mean exactly what they do now, nor are they exactly analagous to their acceptable counterparts now. For instance "fucking jews" doesn't mean jews having sex, it means simply "jews", but with a decidedly derogatory slant.

 

[JS80]

SOUTH PARK DID IT

 

[Dirigible]

If "fuck" "shit" or other curse words were acceptable, I'd stop using them and start using words that were not acceptable. Their unacceptability is what makes those words strong and useful in certain situations.

 

[ed21x]

it's vulgar and annoying. it's like mooning people. Not necessarily illegal, but just stupid and reflects a lack of class and public decency.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: ed21x
it's vulgar and annoying. it's like mooning people. Not necessarily illegal, but just stupid and reflects a lack of class and public decency.

I think the op is aware of that. The question is "Why"? It can't "just be that way". There has to be a reason. What is it?

 

[Baked]

Everybody swears, especially highly educated people.

 

[funkymatt]

some of the conversations that go on in my lab could make a sailor blush.

 

[waffleironhead]

not swearing is just a way for the "upper" class to try to distinguish themselves from the "lower" class. Fuck those uppity bastards I say.

 

[QueBert]

I swear, not excessively, but I have my moments. I have a tee-shirt that says "HOW FUCKING DARE I CUSS IN FRONT OF YOUR MOTHER FUCKING CHILDREN!" people frown when I wear it lol. I try not to cuss unless I have to, CS:S at times though transforms me into a sailor

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Dirigible
If "fuck" "shit" or other curse words were acceptable, I'd stop using them and start using words that were not acceptable. Their unacceptability is what makes those words strong and useful in certain situations.

yeah! give the man that finger, man!

what gives them their 'unacceptability' is the fact that they are given a 'meaning' by those that use it. that, and the fact that they have no roots in natural language, and have no proper-language recognition. That will never change.
Every language has their own words, completely different in nature but the usage results in the same meaning. Whereas accepted words have a defined meaning with universal roots.

Reading that over, I find I pretty much make no sense of that myself. But I'm sticking to it dammit.

 

[Newbian]

So who the fuck gives a damn unless they say it on Sesame Street.

One ..... two ..... four .... shit I mean three apples.

 

[BrokenVisage]

World FUCKING Champions!

 

[alfa147x]

 

[rasczak]

i don't know, care to enlighten us?

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: waffleironhead
not swearing is just a way for the "upper" class to try to distinguish themselves from the "lower" class. Fuck those uppity bastards I say.

:thumbsup:

 

[JulesMaximus]

What is this "polite society" of which ye speak?

 

[hiromizu]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
What is this "polite society" of which ye speak?

I think cursing is a way to admit you've run out of clever things to say or think. Otherwise it still feels fucking good to fucking curse at fucking people while they're fuckin, fucking around. Fuck.

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: Dirigible
If "fuck" "shit" or other curse words were acceptable, I'd stop using them and start using words that were not acceptable. Their unacceptability is what makes those words strong and useful in certain situations.

This. There has to be certain language "on reserve" for special situations. If you're angry at something, you might say "aw man, come on!" and that conveys a certain level of dismay. But if you're really ticked off, just steaming, that previous sentence isn't sufficient. You need something to convey just how mad you really are. You're so mad, in fact, that you'll use a taboo word to express it: "FUCK!" Now there's no mistaking to anyone in earshot that you're just about as angry as you can be.

That's why it's a shame when people overuse foul language-it kills its meaning and purpose.

 

[eelw]

Yeah, but now it's norm to hear people curse every third word.