How do you feel about profanity? (Cussing, swearing)

[Hope]

The truth is that most people do use swear words in their everyday life. Not in every sentence obviously, but certainly in a wide variety of situations.

You'd be surprised how many people don't use profanity in their everyday life.

I think it would be very dishonest to not make any films with bad language, it would not be an accurate portrayal of most societies.

And yet, I doubt inserting excessive profanity into films and TV is an accurate portrayal either. No one denies that bad language exists, but to "popularize" it by putting excessive amounts in films and other forms of entertainment, which have a huge impact on culture, only propagates and encourages the use of such language. I've heard your argument before, and think it's rather a lame one.

I listen to the youth around me, and marvel at their "dumbed down" speech, full of profanity, which would have shocked the youth of generations past who didn't have the kind of exposure to profanity-laden movies, TV, etc., that we have today. It's one thing to "accurately" portray something, and quite another to "promote" it. What we have in the media today isn't "accurate portrayal"-----it's "promotion."

 

[Starfish]

You'd be surprised how many people don't use profanity in their everyday life.



And yet, I doubt inserting excessive profanity into films and TV is an accurate portrayal either. No one denies that bad language exists, but to "popularize" it by putting excessive amounts in films and other forms of entertainment, which have a huge impact on culture, only propagates and encourages the use of such language. I've heard your argument before, and think it's rather a lame one.

I listen to the youth around me, and marvel at their "dumbed down" speech, full of profanity, which would have shocked the youth of generations past who didn't have the kind of exposure to profanity-laden movies, TV, etc., that we have today. It's one thing to "accurately" portray something, and quite another to "promote" it. What we have in the media today isn't "accurate portrayal"-----it's "promotion."

Thank you! My faith is renewed in RF posters.

 

[Hope]

Thank you! My faith is renewed in RF posters.

Yay. Glad I could help!

 

[doppelganger]

I'm all for it. It steals the power away from them to use them frequently as Lenny Bruce long ago pointed out. Being mastered by words is a sign of spiritual and intellectual weakness.

 

[Papersock]

You'd be surprised how many people don't use profanity in their everyday life.

Maybe,
but the people I know use profanity in everyday life.

And so do I. I use pretty much all profanity, especially when I'm angry.
It's better than violence, I guess.

 

[whereismynotecard]

I love profanity.

 

[Starfish]

Maybe,
but the people I know use profanity in everyday life.

Most, by far, of the people I know, don't. Thank goodness.

 

[whereismynotecard]

It's just words...

 

[Nanda]

I love profanity.

Me too. *flips everyone in this thread off*

 

[whereismynotecard]

Me too. *flips everyone in this thread off*

**** YEAH!! You know it!!

 

[Smoke]

Maybe,
but the people I know use profanity in everyday life.

Me, too. Despite growing up with a grandfather who who used every profanity in the book, though, I didn't use profanity very often till I moved to New York. That's where I really acquired the habit.

 

[ericoh2]

Profanity in itself has no meaning and no value. Most religions state that God and Truth transcend what is deemed appropriate by society. Words and language in general are simply the product of society and in being so is confined to society itself. To simply say a word means nothing but to say a word with harmful intentions can be harmful regardless if it is the word "hat" or the word "damn."

 

[MoonWater]

To me most swear words are just words and like any other word have their own places in language. used appropriately their a great way to enhance how your feeling about a particular situation or what is being said. Now granted I do think that to use swear words in every sentence on a regular basis tends to be indicative of at least a poor vocabulary if not other things(like lack of intelligence). I find this to be especially true of those who consistently use words that are meant purely as insults. Words such as c**t and n***er. These are words I NEVER use and would never welcome under my roof. Also the word b**ch which I only use on VERY rare occasions to describe someone who is actually like that(like those popular girls who are mean to nearly everyone outside their circle and will cry over something as trivial as a broken nail, I'm sorry but people like that have it coming). So as you can already see I do use profanity. I tend to shy away from the harsher words like "f**k" and "s**t" but I do use words like damn and hell on a regular basis though less frequently since I've started incorporating foreign words into my vocabulary. I recently started using the word "nane"(sp?) which isn't even a curse but is Japanese for "what." It started as me using it for it's very meaning but lately has become my personal expression to show my annoyance, frusteration, surprise, or exasperation.I do try to avoid using profanity in public especially around children and parents because I know how sensitive others are towards it however when it's just me and my more "colorful" friends it's a great oppurtunity for me to let loose. And even then I'm my more reserved in my language than they are.

 

[wednesday]

They're just words and are only offensive if you take offence to them. Ive seen shirts with jesus is a c*nt on the back (yes thankyou cradle of filth) and people are outraged, i dont see the point, its just 4 letters.
I swear a lot, particularly at work when i get annoyed, i don't see the point in it, nor the point in trying to restrict what i say, its just noise isn't it

 

[3.14]

profanity is a healthy outlet for anger, ofcourse beating the crap out of stuff is healthy to but people seem to agree that "if the insurence doesn't cover it find a way around it"

though it is sometimes respectless to call someone names, most of the time those people don't deserve your respect

 

[texan1]

A lot of people say "well, they are just words..", but that's how we communicate. With "just words". Language is important in my opinion. Words have meaning. I do think that when people use curse words constantly, in every other sentence - they come across as uneducated or low class, and even rude. I know that may sound harsh, but I think sometimes they do. And I was in a situation once in NY where this homeless man followed me and was screaming at me calling me a "C**T". It was very disturbing. I know he was crazy, but something about that particular word really shocked me and gave me the creeps.

But when used in certain situations curse words can convey things that other words cannot. Extreme frustration, pain, etc. They can also make certain jokes funnier. They often have a humurous quality to me. (Though I do admire comedians and movie makers who are able to make me laugh without using excessive profanity.)

I do not curse in general. In fact I have been laughed at when I have let a curse word out because people who know me never hear me say things like that and have told me I sound ridiculous when I do. BUT SOMETHING COMES OVER ME WHEN I AM DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I don't know what it is, but when I am alone in the car and dealing with traffic I start cursing like a sailor. So before I had my first child, I had to practice substituting curse words with other words. It took a lot of practice, but now if I'm driving and feeling frustrated I say things like "Good NIGHT!", "DOGNABBIT", "MOTHER OF PEARL!" or "PROFANITY! PROFANITY!"

 

[Ciscokid]

(Inspired by the thread on politeness.)

I recently heard a radio commentator say he'd recently been to a baseball game at the Dodgers Stadium. He said they announced before the game, that cussing was not allowed and even gave a phone number for security that the spectators could call if there was a problem. He said the game was the nicest experience he'd had at a sporting event in years.

I personally feel profanity is extremely offensive. IMO it shows the lack of: maturity, self-control and respect for others.

I don't have a problem with cussing SO LONG as you are aware of your audience/environment. If you're with your buddies and they cuss...then go ahead. If you're at a family event with people you don't know....don't do it.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Ah, it's OK. My husband swears quite a bit, and especially much more so after his military tour overseas in the war.

I swear, too, but usually only when I'm enraged or when I'm talking dirty.

 

[Magic Man]

Ah, it's OK. My husband swears quite a bit, and especially much more so after his military tour overseas in the war.

I swear, too, but usually only when I'm enraged or when I'm talking dirty.

It does have more impact when you say it only rarely. My wife almost never cusses, except when watching hockey and in the bedroom, and let me tell you how "effective" that makes it when she does it in the bedroom...

 

[MysticSang'ha]

It does have more impact when you say it only rarely. My wife almost never cusses, except when watching hockey and in the bedroom, and let me tell you how "effective" that makes it when she does it in the bedroom...

It does make an impact, doesn't it? :flirt: