Why do some people find Vulgarity so "revolting"?

[irishScott]

...who hates vulgarity with a passion, even if it's used in a humorous manner. Now granted, vulgarity can be used wrong, overused, and if used in either of the above ways generally makes a person look stupid. It should also never be used in a Professional environment, as it's not serious by nature.

I now seek to discount all arguments against vulgarity:

1. It produces a nasty mental image.

Let's explore this:

Sh!t: Well, in this case we're talking about human feces. Disgusting? To society yes, but it's not like you're seeing a dead body. Hell, you have to look in the toilet to flush it after you take a dump anyways (unless you crane your neck in a really awkward position). It's natural, it's normal, and while it may be disgusting to step in, smell, or touch, I don't have a problem with a brief mental image of it.

Fvck: This produces the image of a guy having sex with (hopefully) a girl. Once again, this is perfectly natural. Besides, we've all had sexual fantasies about something, most of which involve having (ZOMG) SEX! It's not like you haven't pictured it more vividly before. Once again, I'm fine with a momentary, vague, and brief mental image of it.

C0cksucker: This one is used less than most, but it is vulgarity nonetheless. This one conjures up the image of someone blowing a guy (in the vast majority of cases). I can see how women have a problem with this, as it is generally associated with male supremacy; but given that it is almost exclusively used as an insult from guys to other guys, this shouldn't be a problem. And yes, this is a disgusting mental image. It's an INSULT. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DISGUSTING!


1a. It produces mental images of things that should be kept private

Oh come on loosen up. We've all taken a dump at some point in our lives. What's the harm in talking about it? Same story with the sex (for most people, and those who are virgins will probably have sex sooner or later). So we can't make vague references to it?

And if this issue stems from your religion: Grow up. Get modern. We're not in the dark ages anymore. No guy is going to stone a girl for wearing a bikini anymore (in fact, the vast majority (excluding father-daughter relationships) encourage it). Welcome to reality.


2. It's Unprofessional and makes you sound less intelligent.

It's MADE to be unprofessional. It's made for use in jokes, banter, small talk, and occasionally expressing frustration or emotion in the most serious way. This is the reason people haven't been using is professionally. It just has no place in that type to environment. The mood it creates kills the professionality (word invention FTW!).

As for making one sound less intelligent, if used right (ie: cleverly in a joke) in can actually make the user sound MORE intelligent.


3. It's a sign of youthful rebelliousness which is stupid and should be shunned

This is the argument (albeit not in those exact words) of my parents. I've gotten this along with the "you'll understand when your older" bit millions of times. (Parents, please don't tell your kids this. If you have a problem with why they're doing something, and know it's wrong, give a fcking reason). Well, I can't speak for everyone, but my "rebelliousness" has made me a better person (and I can provide very conclusive moral examples) then both of my parents in a lot of ways. I think I'll stick with it for the time being.


4. It's "low-brow" and makes you sound more "blue-collar"

So? Get some fricken humility. I have friends who are "blue-collar". Should I stop hanging out with them so "white-collar" people will look at me better? (Sadly, according to my parents, the answer is yes)

 

[se7en]

My view is if you can name 5 other words to replace the word in question which aren't offensive it's ok with me.

Time and place of course for everything as stated.

 

[Trevelyan]

I don't think you're gonna get very far if you try to "reason" with people with moral convictions by telling them to "Grow up. Get modern. We're not in the dark ages anymore."

From my experience, people who are condescending towards people who swear are on the same level as people who get angry when someone disapproves of their vulgar language. They are both reacting poorly.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan
I don't think you're gonna get very far if you try to "reason" with people with moral convictions by telling them to "Grow up. Get modern. We're not in the dark ages anymore."

From my experience, people who are condescending towards people who swear are on the same level as people who get angry when someone disapproves of their vulgar language. They are both reacting poorly.

I'm not angry, I just don't understand it.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Trevelyan
I don't think you're gonna get very far if you try to "reason" with people with moral convictions by telling them to "Grow up. Get modern. We're not in the dark ages anymore."

From my experience, people who are condescending towards people who swear are on the same level as people who get angry when someone disapproves of their vulgar language. They are both reacting poorly.

I'm not angry, I just don't understand it.

I think the most obvious reason is one that you listed: some things should not be joked about in certain environments, or with certain people, or sometimes at all.

Personally, I think there is a time and place for strong language. And yes, swearing can be humorous. But have you stopped to consider why a simple swear word can be humorous? I think it is because we are so used to the negative and non-humorous meaning of these words...

Also, why do some people take strong offense towards the N-word? Would you say it in public, or to your friends? Would you not understand if someone got upset when you said it around them?

My point is just this: words carry meaning, and when certain words are used over and over again to imply hate, anger, malice or acts that many consider inappropriate and even immoral, they can evoke strong emotions when used. And so a wise move would be to restrain yourself, watch your tongue, and understand that its not just about what you think and say, its also about what people around you hear and think.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Trevelyan
I don't think you're gonna get very far if you try to "reason" with people with moral convictions by telling them to "Grow up. Get modern. We're not in the dark ages anymore."

From my experience, people who are condescending towards people who swear are on the same level as people who get angry when someone disapproves of their vulgar language. They are both reacting poorly.

I'm not angry, I just don't understand it.

I think the most obvious reason is one that you listed: some things should not be joked about in certain environments, or with certain people, or sometimes at all.

Personally, I think there is a time and place for strong language. And yes, swearing can be humorous. But have you stopped to consider why a simple swear word can be humorous? I think it is because we are so used to the negative and non-humorous meaning of these words...

Also, why do some people take strong offense towards the N-word? Would you say it in public, or to your friends? Would you not understand if someone got upset when you said it around them?

My point is just this: words carry meaning, and when certain words are used over and over again to imply hate, anger, malice or acts that many consider inappropriate and even immoral, they can evoke strong emotions when used. And so a wise move would be to restrain yourself, watch your tongue, and understand that its not just about what you think and say, its also about what people around you hear and think.

I wouldn't use it because it's a noun referring to a slave, and was used in the time of Black Slavery. To use it would be to use the same language that slave overseers used, and would be the gravest insult to any black person in the vicinity. Not to mention that slavery was immoral, and any reference to it in a positive context has no place.

As for your second statement, what people around me hear and think (with reference to me) is determined by what I say, and what I say is determined by what I think. Anyone who knows me knows how I think. Beyond that, unless I'm doing public speaking or playing politics, I don't care what other people think.

 

[Compton]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Sh!t: Well, in this case we're talking about human feces. Disgusting? To society yes, but it's not like you're seeing a dead body.

I'd rather see dead bodies than feces.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I don't mind profanity at all...but then again, I don't have an Xbox with a Live! account.

 

[George P Burdell]

The cliffs, man.

 

[Mo0o]

Glad to see you're approaching this with humility :disgust:

For some people, those words tend to be more literal and they dont find envisioning fecal matter particularly pleasing.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Fvck: This produces the image of a guy having sex with (hopefully) a girl. Once again, this is perfectly natural. Besides, we've all had sexual fantasies about something, most of which involve having (ZOMG) SEX! It's not like you haven't pictured it more vividly before. Once again, I'm fine with a momentary, vague, and brief mental image of it.

Now look who's revolted by something. Nice. :roll: And yeah, cliff notes, man. Who's gonna waste their time with this rambling!

 

[sandorski]

Time and place!

Vulgarity is generally overused by many and should be kept for special emphasis and not as sentence filler. This especially true in Public where children are present.