Why does everyone have to swear all the time?

[A goat 323]

Fuck if I know, I just fucking hate it when people swear. Those people are such fucking assholes.

[rarity1 461]

For fox sake I only swear when I'm angry!

[Washougal_Otaku 1,020]

I think it's either the result of social morality going down the toilet or from poor education, in some cases a combination of both.

[Shanks 10,816]

its well documented sweaing helps people deal with pain although its more sciency and convoluted than just saying the words

Interestingly enough there was an episode of Mythbusters where they tested that out actually. They inflected different types of physical pain sensations onto all these different test subjects and had them say all these different words while monitoring their brain activity. The people who said the completely innocent words had no effect on their pain, substitute swear words also had no effect but the people that used swear words actually saw less activity in the pain centers of the brain in other words less pain. So swearing helps with pain.

 

 

I am personally annoyed when people overuse any words swear words or not it dosen't matter to me. When people overuse the same words over and over again it demonstrates a lack of vocabulary not whether or not someone swears. The F word is my favorite word of the English language because there are oh so many ways to use it and all the word plays and innuendos you can do with it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store yet it is one of my least commonly used swear words. The reason is because if you use a word too much its looses its pizazz, when I swear I tend to say "god damn it" and "shit" the most often.

 

But there are some situations that are so annoying and unpleasant that sometimes I just cant but let the expletives fly. Which is why the place I swear the most often is at work. I work as a dairy clerk/backup checker at a grocery store and to say I have a tough job is a understatement. I deal with enough BS to start my own fertilizer factory to quote one member here "if you haven't said fuck than you haven't worked retail yet." What can be tough sometimes is keeping the swearing to the backroom and cooler, once I get back there though I will make a drunken sailor on shore leave during happy hour look like a nun and I do it because if I don't let out some of my frustration I will probably end up shoving my fist down so far down either my manager or some idiot customers throat that it will come out the other end.

[Solid 1,327]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-swear/

 

Yep, I swear, but I try to avoid that in public.

[GGG 176]

I think it's either the result of social morality going down the toilet or from poor education, in some cases a combination of both.

 

>implying people in old times didint swear.

 

>implying smart people dont swear

 

>implying this world isnt becoming more obsessed with political correction.

[mars 4,862]

 

 

swearing just shows that you really need to learn more vocabulary,i mean seriously!

 

 

I swear like a sailor, but I rarely swear on this site. Just seems like the polite thing to do. Either way, I like to think that I have quite the large vocabulary, though sometimes when I'm angry I'd rather yell the f-word than say, "I'm extremely aggravated and stressed right now!" So, just because I swear a lot does not undermine my intelligence. I also swear because I like to swear. That's it, plain and simple. It relieves my stress, and sometimes it's the perfect word for a situation.

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

I use it because it has a level of emphasis on something. Like HOLY SH-, you know?

[Celtore 2,770]

There are only two situations where I drop curse words: when I'm severely annoyed or in pain. The only big exception is "bloody" as it's a really useful intensifier and carries out the feeling of frustration very well. I'm also a bit more lenient with "shit" than I am with any of the other curse words because it means the exact same thing as "poop", "scat", "stool", "crap", "dung", etc,  and it's also very versatile as a word.

 

But yeah, people swear for the same reason they speak at all: to communicate. A curse may be used as an intensifier to signify importance, a shout of anguish as a piano is dropped on your big toe, an outcry of frustration and hopelessness or even as a response to something incredibly fortuitous. There are definitely places and times where you shouldn't speak with a more vulgar language, but that really comes down to good judgement and thinking about what comes out of your mouth before saying it.

[Princess Periwinkle 3,775]

Sometimes those words are just the best way to get a point across, that's all. There's nothing inherently "bad" about them besides society's reaction to them. I try to avoid using them around people who would be offended by them, but otherwise they're just sound combinations. You shouldn't worry yourself too much about it.

[Jennabun 1,579]

I [bLEEP]ing love to swear

 

No, for real though - I think people are too quick to harshly judge others who use swear words. Using swear words doesn't automatically make someone less classy, less intelligent, or less worthy of our respect. We should be listening to the speaker's message, not whether the words they're using are meeting arbitrary expectations. Using swear words doesn't negate the importance of what the speaker is saying. In fact, I find swear words can even enhance someone's message or purpose while speaking, depending on what their message is.

 

Swear words have a multitude of linguistic purposes. If they didn't have any purpose, they wouldn't have been integrated into our vocabulary! Swear words can add emphasis. They can convey a casual or friendly tone. They can add a humorous tone to an otherwise bland message. They can let others know when we mean business. And a whole lot more!

 

Yeah, swearing isn't necessary... but a lot of things aren't necessary, but we do them anyway. For example, eating cake isn't necessary, but I'm sure as hell gonna eat some cake during my lifetime, especially if it's my birthday or something! It's the same as swearing. Yeah, I don't have to do it, but if the situation is right and the word serves some sort of purpose, then why not?

 

The only swear words that I discourage are words used to literally insult someone's identity (calling people "fags," "bitches," n-words, etc.)

Edited August 1, 2014 by Jennabun

[Ardhacandra 133]

I have another little something that might help people here...

 

 

This guy explains why "Bad words" are bad. And what function it has in society. And why we CAN'T get rid of bad words.

[TheDeSanta 21]

Being a Christian, I don't like to swear. In fact, I never drop f-bombs, s-bombs, n-bombs, or b-bombs. If I get annoyed with work or if I'm losing in a game, I'll only take words that are "mild language" (that term is used by the ESRB to rate the games in North America). I don't like when people say "Jesus Christ" or "Goddamn," but I'm used to hearing those names in vain because so many people say it everyday. 

[Jennabun 1,579]

@@Ardhacandra, awesome video. I love how he comes at this from a linguistic perspective and even explains the history and philosophy behind curse words. I especially like the reference to Pinker - we read one of his books in a class I took at university; it was super interesting.

[FractalMoon 378]

http://rappers.mdaniels.com.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/

What was that about "needing to learn more vocabulary"? 'Curse' words are used as a form of stress relief. They are words you use to derive power and force from vocabulary. They are not vulgar unless you make them so. Would it be more apropos if I shouted "Female Canis Familiaris!" or "Intercourse!"?

[Ardhacandra 133]

 

 

@Ardhacandra, awesome video. I love how he comes at this from a linguistic perspective and even explains the history and philosophy behind curse words. I especially like the reference to Pinker - we read one of his books in a class I took at university; it was super interesting.

 

I really recommend checking his channel out. He has LOTS of interesting stuff. He doesn't show any sources, but with experience, I can say that his content is decent, at least. He isn't just a random dude rambling about stuff that sounds smart. It's an awesome channel. 

[Hyper Tumble 1,483]

let us conduct a test, shall we? 

 

"you're so dumb!"  "You're so f---ing dumb!"

 

"pick this up!"  "Pick this sh-t up!"

 

Which sentences have more emphasis? Thought so. Curse words give power to phrases that other words can't.

[AveryGamerDude 4,640]

It's one of America's OCDs. Along with the enforcement of the death penalty. Americans give me a bad name... as if I wasn't horrible enough of a human being. -___-

[Celli 4,338]

Honestly it's just a habit. I'm aware of it, though, and I don't swear around children and people that I know are easily offended by it.

[1111 1,284]

i F@#King love swearing i has a time and a place and should be used as so in that matter the f word is my fav its real not as idiotic as you may thing its just people use it to freely its the best way of exspressing sorrow to me

[babymoondust 223]

My opinion on this is pretty much the same as this quote by Stephen Fry ~

 

"Swearing is a really important part of one's life. It would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing... There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who used to say swearing was a sign of a poor vocabulary - such utter nonsense. The people I know who swear the most tend to have the widest vocabularies and the kind of person who says swearing is a sign of a poor vocabulary usually have a pretty poor vocabulary themselves... The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest is just a fucking lunatic... I haven't met anybody who's truly shocked at swearing, really, they're only shocked on behalf of other people. Well, you know, that's preposterous... or they say 'it's not necessary'. As if that should stop one doing it! It's not necessary to have coloured socks, it's not necessary for this cushion to be here, but is anyone going to write in and say 'I was shocked to see that cushion there, it really wasn't necessary'? No, things not being necessary is what makes life interesting - the little extras in life."

 

~ Stephen Fry on the joys of swearing. 

Edited August 8, 2014 by babymoondust

[Guest]

Swearing is a useful tool for adding emphasis to your statements, but it's like salt, a little goes a long way and if you use too much of it you'll just end up with a bad taste in your mouth.

[111111 111]

I think that if you are swearing against another person thats bad,like "f@+k you"or "damn you. "

 

But if you like are using these words in situations where they don't mean anything,then whats the prob. Like "God damn this pie smells good"

 

Infact many swear words has a connection to religion. For example "hell" "satan"(used in swedish much don't know if it's used in english) "god dammit".

 

these words means nothing to because I don't belive in any religion.

 

So with that said have a great f=@king day

[SilverStarApple 849]

"Sentence Enhancers".

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63FDZJod0gs

 

You just sprinkle it over anything you say.

[Justin_Case001 4,892]

@@Jennabun, I was basically going to say the same thing as you.  Well put.  Not really much too add.  But I'll throw in my two cents anyway.

 

They're just words.  Arbitrary words.  The only reason profanity is profane is because we agree it is.  In that respect, it's not entirely dissimilar from the value of money.  I believe that profanity is actually very life enriching.  Like you said, Jenna, it can be used for emphasis, humor, and much more.  I especially like it for the comedic aspect.  But, like all comedy, it requires timing, discretion, and above all, not overusing it.  Jokes obviously get less funny with repetition, and overuse of profanity tends to lessen the effect.  I don't curse in public within earshot of others, but in private or online, I like it for a variety of reasons and situations.  But I also don't overdo it.  Sometimes it can just really enhance something.  For instance, I'm working on a Warframe comic strip right now, and a touch of profanity really makes it funnier.  And it's all the more funny because it's just a touch, not too much.  I'm glad that we have these words that are deemed "bad," because otherwise movies like Bad Santa would lose their effect.

 

I understand that profanity does make some people uncomfortable, but ideally it shouldn't, since they're only arbitrary words.  I think the reason for the discomfort stems from malicious use of profanity intended to hurt others.  If we were all nice to one another, and only used profanity for comedic purposes, or anything not directed at someone else, I believe it wouldn't be a problem.