Are curse words REALLY all that bad a thing?

[Away 2,077]

It depends. There are times when it's appropriate and times when it's not.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,621]

Curse words are blown entirely out of proportion in my opinion. ANY words can be bad if used in a certain context. Just simply saying 'shit', to me, that has no real bad implication so who cares? Now, if the word is used in a different context, like in an insulting manner, then of course the word becomes not good that instance. However, anything can be that. I can say 'Go cheese yourself!' And boom, I have used the word 'cheese' in a bad manner, technically.

 

I think people that get offended by curse words really need to rethink this, because it seriously is not a big deal.

[Felix 1,363]

I just don't use them regardless. I feel I can respect myself more and others who casually cuss respect me for not using them. Honestly, regardless of context and such, we've been taught they're bad, and more often than not people will take it wrong and not like hearing them from you. So, even though there are a few true facts to consider here, the often response is fright, anger, or shock. So, I just don't and won't say them. The facts won't change how the person you say them to/near reacts.

Edited March 7, 2014 by FeIix

[Fantasma Phantasm 673]

I don't know.... I mean I understand what everyone means by the 'Context its said by' but....Its so confusing......I mean I avoid the words altogether simply to avoid conflict. And they may be harmless, sure -If used right that is- but the vulgarity of how it sounds...how it feels to say, makes one feel uncomfortable.. A specific mindset to be precise. Due to those words being rejected all these years, it psychologically changes the meaning to make it sound horrible. Thus why others get mad. I, in all honesty, don't like using them... And I never do... (Hopefully I didn't offend anypony. But there you go. )

[King Sejong 859]

   No, but I was in the military, profanity was our breakfast, lunch and dinner, at least there was no one telling us to tone it down. We do have a constitution defending free speech in the first amendment, it's also in the Sailor's Creed. " I am am a United States sailor, I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America ...", although civilians say they support the constitution, they are a bigger threat to the constitution than any elected politician or bureaucrat in D.C., average people are more willing than the government to limit freedom, including coarse language that is protected, this is why George Carlin, Bill Hicks and Doug Stanhope made fun of the American people, who just want power and control to tell people what to say, all in the guise of protecting people's feelings, this is the scenario projected by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, in their dystopian novels "Nineteen Eighty Four" and "A Brave New World". I defended my rights, so I have a say in what the constitution is suppose to do, so people may not like vulgar language, they don't have to listen to it, if they have any backbone, they would build an immunity to it and tolerate profanity, no one will take the sacrifice I made for our country, and bend the freedom I and other servicemen have done, if you want to curse go right ahead, and hell I will be happy to join in, oh and watch Peter Capaldi who is the twelfth doctor, before that he was Malcolm Tucker, you might take offence but Malcolm does it with a Scottish accent.

 

http://youtu.be/s9arSotadmY

Edited March 7, 2014 by Emperor Peter

[Fantasma Phantasm 673]

I just don't use them regardless. I feel I can respect myself more and others who casually cuss respect me for not using them. Honestly, regardless of context and such, we've been taught they're bad, and more often than not people will take it wrong and not like hearing them from you. So, even though there are a few true facts to consider here, the often response is fright, anger, or shock. So, I just don't and won't say them. The facts won't change how the person you say them to/near reacts.

You are exactly right! Same feeling right here!

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

"Curse" words are no different than any other word.

 

The broadest definition of "profanity" is "offensive language". Language, however, is not inherently offensive. Ergo, the entire notion of profanity or 'curse words' is utter nonsense.

 

If I call you an asshole, you perceive it to be an insult. Yet if, in my head, 'asshole' carries no insulting intent then it is not an insult. And as a matter of fact, "asshole", "faggot", and "[racism 1]" are all terms I've used regularly to describe friends (note: I've also used all of these terms negatively as well so context is key as always in language). Point is that there are no offensive words, only offensive ideas. If I decide to swap out "idiot" for "f#cking moron", the idea is exactly the same, it's just the impact that changes. But somebody who wouldn't have a problem otherwise might call me on profanity. I'd then have to call them on hypocrisy because frankly, I find their unthinking knee-jerk reaction to harmless language far more offensive than any alleged profanity.

 

And while we're on the topic of profanity: People who say "f-bomb" or "the n word"...Or "fudge"...Or, really, any other stupid "clean" version of these words... These people need to grow up or shut up. We all know what you mean. Either man up and say it or don't say it at all, but don't be a little wuss and do it halfway. Using a euphemism doesn't make what you're saying nicer, it just makes you a coward.

 

I think I have to disagree with you on one point here, though most of it I agree with. Words like 'faggot' and '[racism 1]' are group-specific derogatory in a world where there's still a lot of discrimination... I wouldn't dare use those words at all, they're not in my vernacular. Are they just words? Sure. But I personally feel those words have a connotation that's stronger than other curse words, and should be treated more delicately. I'm not calling you out or anything, you can do what you wish. I just think those words specifically can actually be a problem.

[Koelath 445]

I think I have to disagree with you on one point here, though most of it I agree with. Words like 'faggot' and '[racism 1]' are group-specific derogatory in a world where there's still a lot of discrimination... I wouldn't dare use those words at all, they're not in my vernacular. Are they just words? Sure. But I personally feel those words have a connotation that's stronger than other curse words, and should be treated more delicately. I'm not calling you out or anything, you can do what you wish. I just think those words specifically can actually be a problem.

They're only group-specific because specific groups choose to give them power. "Faggot" used to be a bundle of sticks until (I assume) some gay guy randomly decided to be offended by it once upon a time. I find little value in contributing to that power by making a big deal of the words.

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

They're only group-specific because specific groups choose to give them power. "Faggot" used to be a bundle of sticks until (I assume) some gay guy randomly decided to be offended by it once upon a time. I find little value in contributing to that power by making a big deal of the words.

 

You do have a point there. But those words have power regardless, and have a greater chance to lead down unpleasant roads than other curse words. All the same, I'm not here to argue against the words you use. I just wanted clarification on your thoughts. Thank you.

[Something Floaty 1,334]

To combat the mistaken perception that people who curse have limited intellects or vocabularies, I do my best to use curse words along with words of more complexity. For instance, if I was working with someone who was terrible at their job and therefore made my job more difficult, instead of saying "This guy is fucking stupid" I might say "This guy is the most fucking incompetent person I have ever had the misfortune of working alongside." 

 

It's always funny to observe the varying reactions when I use "shit" and "asshole" in the same sentences as words like "grotesque" and "miasma". 

[Simon 4,557]

For me, I think what matters the most is the intent of the person saying what they're saying.  I mean, I used to get in swearing matches with my brother growing up all the time, and it was always a lot more hurtful for him to say something mean about me that he meant than to say a bunch of random bad words out of frustration.  I'd get really hurt by some things he'd say to me and those really effected me, but I can't say that I have ever been bothered by someone pulling out some random swear word and using it without meaning.  So I don't think it's necessarily wonderful to swear, but I think it's more about whether the person using the words is being hurtful towards someone.  As far as using them in non-offensive ways, like swearing cause you hurt yourself, I could care less.  My brain isn't going to explode cause someone says fuck over hurting their foot, so what does it matter.

 

The only exception I'd make is in the case of using the name of a group of people as an insult, because that's just ignorant and offensive.  What I mean is things like calling people gay or calling a person retarded.  It's just ignorant to take a group of people and degrade them as people by using the very mention of what they are as an insult, and I do get seriously offended when someone does that.

[Sholem Itzhak 84]

(Attention all kids under 13, parental discretion is advised for this post).

 

Well first of all, it’s not necessarily the words themselves that are bad; it’s more so how they are used. Take the word ‘sucks’ for example: It’s perfectly ok to use it like “The vacuum cleaner sucks up the dust”, but it’s a different story when it’s used like “This s*cks.” ‘Gay’ is another example: Aside from today’s use as to say ‘homosexual’ (and I actually don’t like how this inspired people to say “Gay” as if to say something is ridiculous, messed up or no good as I don’t think there is anything wrong with homosexuality), it for a much longer time has meant Happy and/or Jolly (in fact, the phrase “Happy and Gay” used on children’s television, and I do not find “Happy and Gay” iffy at all). Even ‘dick’ is another example: You might have hard the names “Dick Cheney” and “Dick Grayson” or even “Dick Van Dyke”; and that’s not bad at all.

 

So the question now becomes: why don’t people like to hear those words used in such ways? Well, there can be a verity of reasons; some legitimate, some ridiculous; some shared among multiple people, some only held by one person. It all depends on who hears the word being used a way that’s sensitive to him/her, the meaning of the word, and sometimes who’s using it.

 

To me, I generally don’t like to talk the way I have heard people talk on “South Park”, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”, “Adventure Time”, other such places on television, or various icky places online (places where there’s much hate, sadism, disgruntle, and/or negativity; and too little of the opposite); and I find it a little disheartening when people (particularly those I had gone to school with back in the early to mid 2000’s) would take inspiration from that sort of rather negative and/or sadistic media to define and develop how they would socialize. Why it happens, I don’t know (and it’s very likely to vary from person to person); although poor nutrition, lack of sleep, stress, etc. might be a contributing factor.

 

I also don’t like it when people say something is “Gay” or “F---ed Up” as if to say ridiculous or no good, as I find it discriminatory to do that. I already explained “Gay” earlier. Now as far as I’m concerned, since the nasty F word is really slang to refer to having sex, what I so far think (and it wasn’t easy figuring this out) inspired the sense behind saying something is “F---ed Up” to say that it is messed up or no good is a discriminatory conception that people who have been raped or “penetrated” are no longer of any worth or are no good (I’m not certain if this is correct or not, or if it even comes close; but it does make sense). Of course, as I’m certain you’ll all agree, people who have been raped or are not unworthy of this world, they are just as wonderful and capable as they were born to be and need our help and support in their time of need and deserve a lot of respect.

 

In closing, while it is very important that we preserve and protect our right to Freedom of Speech and Expression and try our best to except the way certain people choose to talk, it’s also important that we become more respectful of our sensitivities to foul and/or disheartening language and at the same time encourage ourselves and our you leaders of tomorrow to turn to more positive and happy sources of media for inspiration on how to socialize.