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Context is critical hen considering conversational profanity. When the articulate do occasionally cuss, it’s more startling and enjoyable. For example, this recent Channel 4 (UK) promo.

George Carlin did a great sketch (his best) about “Words you are not allowed to say on TV” He wondered why these words were hurtful to some people. No one ever was offended by someone yelling “TOPOGRAPHY!!!” so why should they be offended by someone yelling “SHIT!!!” He was only looking for the words that are completely unacceptable in any context. The words that are only swear words half the time don’t count (i.e. ass or bitch). He came up with a short, concise list of seven words, which he recited many times over at a rapid speed. Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. Those are the seven words that humanity, for some reason, has chosen to be an absolute no-no, and if they should for whatever reason come up on our holy glowing box, they must be censored with that ever familiar, yet somehow comical, *bleep*. He pointed out that all of these words were closely related to the body, or the activities that the body will partake in.

Anyway, he goes on and speculates for a while, and it’s really quite hilarious, but also just kinda saying the exact same thing over and over again in different, humorous, ways.

Yes, I remember the good ol’ days when I was quite shocked when someone would openly use the “F” word. I can actually remember the night when I first heard the word and learned it’s meaning, and also the enormity of it’s taboo. My cousin was kind enough to share it with me, and tell me that it was the king. I think the most pain that the word caused me was dealt by my Dad, who began to use the word in front of me fairly frequently, long before I was actually comfortable with it.

And now? Fuck it! Who gives a fuck? Why don’t you go outside and play “hide and go fuck yourself!!!” Now it goes said without the slightest twang of emotion inside of me. I hear it maybe 50 times a day, and yet no unwanted feelings are stirred in my soul. I prefer to think of it by it’s original meaning, which of course was “to strike” rather than the sexual meaning it is currently associated with.

What the fuck, Jackie, I can say whatever the fucking hell I want to.

I still remember when my Mom told me never to use the word “damn”! Whenever I have to use it, I would say “darn”.

People can say what they want to say. That’s freedom of speech. But everyone else has the freedom to take you seriously or give you the respect you deserve… or not.

I guess I’m a little bit conservative on that part. Someone said something like “A gentleman is measured by his words.”. I should agree.

The constant use of these awful words is just an indication of society’s moral decay.

perhaps teens use these words only because they are so taboo… maybe it’s yet another way for them to defy authority.

I’m not sure where you guys live but I live in the UK and some people from outside jolly old England find it shocking when we swear because of stereotypes saying we don’t.

I can tell you though that we do. Rampant swearing is just as much a problem here as it probably is in most Western countries now. Now I’m almost 17 and I disagree with profanities every other sentence. It just degenerates our sophisticated language that has taken many centuries to develop.

In the last couple of decades, media has become Worldwide and widespread and in an effort to get in touch with reality, TV for example will now air most things. Media exposes children to things they are perhaps too young for. It is causing kids to grow up too quickly and not understand the meaning of things properly. After all, you can’t stop them watching post-watershed television when most of them have a TV in their own bedroom!

I do feel that there is a problem with other teenagers especially going over the top with their use of ‘swear’ words but I do get the impression that it is far worse elsewhere. When I play on Xbox Live, I constantly get matched up with Americans to play with. It shocks me as to the constant deluge of unfriendly words that stream out of their mouths and down the microphone.

You run away to avoid dying: “Come here bitch!”
You kill them: “Cocksucker”
You’re beating them: “Yo’ mom’s a _____”
Etc…

I’m just using that as the best example I know to me. Even when playing games that are supposed to be fun, adults say offensive things constantly to sound more shocking and competitive. Even more frightening is how in order to seem ‘on top of the game’, kids (who shouldn’t be on Live anyway really) start regurgitating all of this.

So really, what I’m saying is that perhaps society has gone a little too far with its use of these single syllable words and that adults should set a better example to younger ones because that is the only way to curve it’s usage. The words are losing their meaning and shock factor so maybe we should either just stop using them at all or simply add them to the dictionary and remove their stigma.

Dude, fuck that, swearing is just a way for people to express themselves, by breaking a social taboo it gives people attention that they crave, by creating a good enough diversion from their own failing lives.
- /.er for life

The words are arbitrary; the fact that displaying the lone middle finger will offend people or that these words are offensive isn’t really that puzzling though. They’re simple ways to make others feel uncomfortable because society’s outlawed them. The Swastika is a few lines. Letters are squiggles. Money is paper and metal. They’re all meaningless, but we gave them meaning because we felt it necessary.

Overuse of these words is no different than overusing any other word; it indicates a limited vocabulary which in turn suggests poor education and so on.

We may toss these words around casually, but if used correctly they can still shake us up. If I were to say something jokingly offensive to a friend and he took actual offense in it, looked me straight in the eyes with no expression and said “fuck you”, I’d know that what I said was taken seriously. I’d say the shock of hearing this response would be more powerful than some verbose explanation of his disapproval of my comment. They’re tools like any other words.

I personally think that there shouldn’t be any “cuss” words… I mean, why did god give us a mouth if he doesn’t want us saying some words dammit? I mean, if it is against your religion to curse, then that is different (oh dang, I forgot, I’m christian), but even if you call someone a curse word, it can hurt the same amount as calling people somthing like “freak” or somthing. It still can hurt, but why isn’t it a curse word? As the old saying goes: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” There is some truth in that, curse words are man-made… What bonehead decided to make up words that we aren’t allowed to use? Again, people shouldn’t take it personally when other people call them names, I know a couple that say the “eff” word every two sentences for no reason. It’s like a period to him. And about the whole middle finger thing… wow, it’s a finger people =)

Well, there goes my two cents. It is all worthless drivel but if you are bored, be happy to read it.

The cuss words are as essential as words like “love” and “peace”. They convey opposite emotions, and English (and language) is solely for communicating feelings and ideas. If you feel angry enough, swearing lets everyone know. Those who overuse them are left with fewer options when they need to express themselves…

In response to l33t above:

I agree, it is a form of expression. But, a mighty big but, I feel it’s a form of expression because those who use the language do not have the intellect to actually use intelligent language. I believe that people who know the English language, or any language for that matter, well enough, could find a better word to use.

I feel when I hear cussing or of the sort, it lowers my view of them because it shows me that they aren’t very smart. They haven’t grown up enough to actually find something that they will make them sound smart to me. Yeah, maybe people don’t care about what I think of then. Then so be it, don’t care what I think and continue to cuss. But if you did care and you actually wanted to sound at least semi-smart, you probably wouldn’t be using profane language. Profanity simply makes people sound stupid and ignorant.

ok, i just have to say this… ur hillarious! even when u pretend to be serius. i mean, just look at the tittle, toooo funny. *sigh* i know… im esily amused… sry bought my spelling. oh, and to stay on topic… i only cuse when i need to. not when i want to like so many of my peers. OMG, a spell check button!!!!!!!

Here is a prime example of someone that needs to go back to school to learn how to spell correctly. I mean seriously, language is everything in today’s age. If you can’t speak properly or present yourself in a proper fashion, you’re lost and you look ridiculous.

I feel when I hear cussing or of the sort, it lowers my view of them because it shows me that they aren’t very smart. They haven’t grown up enough to actually find something that they will make them sound smart to me.

I do not mind swearing. It doesn’t lower my view of a person or make me think they’re stupid. Except, uncontrolled cursing or cursing in front of people other than your peers or close relations.

I feel that peers or close relations understand people and understand why they chose to use curses, because they know the person and they know that there’s more to the person than that. But when you are around people who are not your peers or close relations they look upon you as being immature and perhaps a “stupid teenager” because that’s all they have to judge you upon thus fitting into the stereotype that all teenagers steal things, are jerks, and have terrible judgment.

You know what? I understood mandy perfectly. It didn’t matter that she spelled every other word “wrong” because words are arbitrary. I never had to think twice about what she could mean when saying “bought,” it was obviously derived from the word about. As far as I’m concerned, if you can get your point across, who gives a fuck if you can do it with “correct” grammar?

Of course, it is impressive sometimes when you encounter someone with an exceptionally large vocabulary, and knowledge of the way of speaking known as “eeng-glisch.” It sometimes makes you think “wow, this guy must be really smart!” and yet other times it makes you think “I wonder how this guy finds so much free time to study the dictionary,” and other times still it makes you think, “Why is it taking him six times as long to get his point across than it would a sane person?”

And then there’s always this:

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t
mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

You’re on quite the dumb-streak tonight, aren’t you Nella?

The only thing that matters is that you get your point across? It that what the world is coming to? No need to show respect, no need to think things through? Just as long as your point gets across, everything is ay-okay. When someone cuts corners on their English, especially online, it’s a turnoff. For me, at least. I can take an occasional mistake, I just want to see that you’re trying. I hate those lazy ass fuckers who think they’re l33t for tlkin lik dis.

That little quip at the end has been around for an age. I fail to see how its relevant in this conversation. It just demonstrates that brains are capable of pnisrag fkcued up elgnsih. Just because you can, doesn’t make it right.

Do you really think we’d be better off if no one gave a hoot for spelling and grammar? Misunderstanding would flourish as dialects grew. Take Ebonics for example. Sure, it’s possible to understand, but what does it really gain us?

Hmmm…Ms. Charlip isn’t letting us curse in our English essays at all this year! She seems to think that it’s completely inappropriate in this context. She acknowledges that almost all of us in the class use that kind of language outside of her classroom with our friends and maybe even in our other classrooms, but it will be completely prohibited in hers. However, she had a good way to put it into perspective. She asked us how we would feel if she suddenly started using foul language when she was teaching us, and everyone had to admit that it would be completely unacceptable behavior. So why should it be acceptable for us?

I dunno, I’ve always felt that a little cursing never hurts if it’s applied in the right way. And I’m gonna make sure there aren’t any in any of the books we’re assigned to read, because I feel that if we’re studying writers who use these words, we should be able to, also. I mean, if they’re good enough for J. D. Salinger…

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