Cussing: For or against?

I do swear sometimes, but most of the time I try to keep it to a minimum. I am completely against excessive use of cussing because it shows that you really don't care and you are trying to look cool.

 

I don't cuss too much, but I don't care if others are doing it. I mean, if it helps them express themselves more, then why not. It's better though if they don't overdo it because just like what Sachi said, it's like they're just trying to be cool.

 

I cuss a lot, and I like to do it! However, sometimes I think I cuss to much. I've been trying to stop, but its just one of those things where I keep doing it. I'm sure there have been a few times where I've cussed in the shoutbox or on a post, and I kind of hate to do that, though other times I don't care. I try to use it to express myself, but I don't want to overdo it. Eh, hard to explain I guess!

 

I do swear from time to time but I really try to avoid it most of the time, because I think swearing is really rude when you overdo it.

 

When I was growing up, I literally thought "stupid" was a cuss word until about the 5th grade. I was raised with very high morals established by my parents. While I may not entirely agree with all of them, cussing has always been a natural thing I've always avoided. I have never sworn before, nor have I ever felt the need to. I just don't see any relevance in cussing and a majority of the time, when others cuss I feel a bit uncomfortable since I'm not used to that kind of language. I keep myself away from people who use excessive foul language to avoid the awkwardness. Don't get me wrong, I'm ok with people who cuss occasionally because they can't control it, but to those who do it purposefully or excessively, they really do offend me. I also get really annoyed when people ask me to cuss when my morals are against it. So yeah, you'll never see me swear, but I would never force my morals onto someone else for my own sake. Its someone's own freedom of speech to us cuss words or not, just be aware of how others will feel about it if its done inappropriately and it wont be too much of an issue. However, if someone directly cusses at someone, or calls them a cuss word, its on an entirely different level and should really not be accepted. I understand that it is sometimes used with humor, but foul language should never be a substitute to describe a person. Cuss words are foul because they are derogatory, and if they are used as adjectives, they are extremely offensive not only to those that are being described, but to those who hear it as well. Overall, I'm ok with moderate cussing, but if its directed at someone or is used excessively, I will be a very sad person.

 

Given that I am for cussing/swearing, I do it on the internet and I don't see a problem with what I do on dA and Steam.

Would I be offended by it? Probably not, because I don't mind it though.

 

From time to time, I do, when I really get riled up. (Although sometimes I try to hold it in to prevent myself from spouting profanities.) I too try to keep it to a minimum, if not at all. Despite the perception that swear words are rude, I got kind of used to it, it doesn't really give me the perception of "*gasp* BAD WORD!". I can bear with swear words, though I rather not have to hear people on a tirade full of profanities.

However, aside it being rude, it just shows that swear words are kind of like made up words to spout in your anger rather than using proper words in phrasing your anger properly.

 

I don't really understand swear words. Why are there even swear words? They are just different synonyms for words and they mean the same thing. I just don't know why they are swear words in the first place.

 

Personally, I feel uncomfortable around cuss words because I associate them with anger and other negative stuff, mostly because my parents swear a lot when they fight. I think there are plenty of alternatives to cussing, but I never really say anything against it to people who do cuss. Sometimes when I am very angry I type the word shitty when I am in a private conversation with somebody, but I have never said any other swear words and I have never sworn in real life.

 

I'm not against cussing, mainly because I do it so often in real life when I'm by myself. I don't mind when I'm reading the forums or in a casual conversation if there are a few cussed, but I'll raise an eyebrow if I read/hear something just filled with them. I'll tone myself down when I'm out in public, but I never seems like I can talk to myself without cussing every fifth word.

.... Now that I think about it, I'm starting to wonder if I should be more worried that I'm always cussing (usually) myself out, or that I talk to myself.

 

Yes, I swear quite a bit, and I don't see the problem with it. I mainly use it when I'm angry, to express the fact that I really mean it. An important thing is that I know when to swear and when not. I know which people can and cannot stand curse words, so I only use it when I know I can. I think about it before I swear, I don't just throw curse words around like it's nothing. I wouldn't mind doing it though, but I know that other people can have a problem with it.

 

I'm honestly against swear words. I do have my fair share of words here and there but nothing like a sailor. I try to be more genuine with my wording at sort of scold others who use inappropriate words around me. Plus I love to be a great example for my niece because she lives with he mother who does swear like a sailor in front of her.

 

Cursing is an interesting topic because of the meanings of the words. Who decided the definitions? Who thought of these particular words? If it hadn't been for the first definition, the word "fuck" could have meant a particular type of book or a calculator or a lamp or just about anything else as long it made sense. The word "fuck" can mean many things, but I think that the most profanity-like definition is of the definition to procreate. But first, why is the word to have an intimate moment with someone else so censored? Is it perhaps because people don't want to discuss something that nearly everyone does, whether for birth conception or recreation? But I digress.

Curse words are used for emphasis. If I say "Can you be quiet?", people understand what I mean but might not comply. If I say "shut the fuck up", it does have more of a negative and aggressive connotation, which can influence more people to comply with your demands. It's not a bad thing to have emphasis upon your words. However, words can have different meanings behind them and people can be offended by them, which is why you or anyone else should always comply with someone else's request for you to stop cursing. A lot of people are uncomfortable with cursing and that should be respected no matter what. If you detract from another's comfortability just for "freedom of speech", then you're abusing that right and you're a jerk.

Edit: I just realized that I didn't even mention an important topic, so I'll do it really quickly here.

Let's say that you want to use a particular f-word pertaining to non-heterosexual individuals. DO NOT. It is an offensive slur to people of non-heterosexuality. "Retarded", while not essentially a curse word, is still offensive as well. Using terms that derive from negative connotations from different populations is never okay, no matter the situation. There will never be a time when anyone should use those kinds of words and censorship of those kind of hate-filled words is proper. Freedom of speech does not matter in the face of oppression of one's sexuality, gender, culture, etc.

Second Edit: Good, I see that the f-word referencing the imagined negative nature of non-heterosexual individuals is censored on this site. That's pretty cool and fantastic for a lot of people.

 

Lovely! I'm glad to see that this debate is getting pretty active! I'll (try) to chip in my two cents.

In certain circles, I get why excessive cursing would be frowned upon. You're doing yourself no favours, using such lowly words, dispensing with manners and social etiquette in talk in 'gutter-trash' like tones. Cussing is an unsavoury form of spoken English, that I cannot deny, but consider the opposite; what if you where in a country where cussing was par for the course? What would that country's local inhabitants make of you if you declined to pepper your words with blue streaks every so often? Would they think that you're trying to 'look cool' by keeping your mouth expletive-free? Who can really say.

I'd like to see some more engagement from you two. What side of the fence are you on? Do you condone cussing? Are you fervently against it? Do you perhaps regret cursing as frequently as you do? Tell all!

Hey Bloom. That's a nice argument you put forward here! If it's all right with you, I picked out a few points I'd like to give my view on.

I, too, was raised with high morals, not that I was born into wealth or anything, no, nothing as fairytale-like as that. I was simply reared in a middle mass family, which, as it happens rests on the fringes of the...shall we say, less economically well-off regions of my city. Taught never to curse, I held firm to the belief that to curse would warrant a harsh verbal reprimand (a very real possibility, being the youngest in the family). I admire that you strive to never curse; please, hold on tightly to that view.

If you were asked to curse, I get that that would be cause for offence. But what would you think of cussing people, who hail from regions where a salty tongue is accepted? Expanding on what I said before, one has to consider if cursing, in their community, family, area or the like, is not so much thought of as a bad, filthy habit as it is simply a cultural aspect. "Different strokes for different folks" and all that. It could be common for them to lace their verbal discussions with curses, oblivious tot he fact that it would offend those who hail from other reaches of the wide world. Why? Simply because they weren't taught any better.

Another excellent argument here! And, like previously, I hope you don't mind me giving my view on one or two of your own points?

If I had to decide, I think that curse words should only be used for emphasis. They would act like that little something added into an angrily said remark to illustrate to an acquaintance or college just how livid they are at that present moment in time. I'd like to think that this was the sole reason behind the inception of cussing, but after spending a bit of time looking around, certain common curse words such as 'shit and 'fuck' appear to have Germanic derivation, whilst profanity itself seemed to take its cues (at least in part) from blasphemy. Now, I'm hugely against "cursing god", even though I'm no saint when it comes to cursing or even believing in a creed, so if a person were to deliberately go out of their way to speak ill of a higher power, that's where I'd draw the line when it came to cursing in public.

Sorry, drifted a bit. Back to your point about various interpretations of language. This was inevitable, given how widespread some languages like English and Spanish is on this slice of rock and dirt in space, and, taking the example of English, for those whom English is a second language, think of how that could be influenced by their own culture and society. How derogatory words like 'beor' and 'fit' that you will not easily find in a pocket dictionary are either conceived in one dialect of English or, in a certain context, take on an all-together different meaning. I guess this is where cussing clashes with slang; words that so easily roll off the tongue as flirtatious complements or sneering jibes, depending upon who such talk is directed at and the environment it is spoken in. Words that could cause extreme offence in certain company.

This leads me to my last point (I'll stop rambling after this, I swear!). If I'm thinking correctly about that 'unmentionable' word....what would you say when, as it happens, it is used (especially here) as another word for a cigarette? Would you accept that it can take on a meaning that is potentially not as defamatory?

I guess the one point that I'm trying to make is, in addition to being mindful of another person's stance on the unsavoury form of expression that is cursing, one must also be mindful of those who come from a country where cursing is simply a facet of daily life. You mightn't like that, but it happens.

Let me close out by presenting a question to you all; given the frequently of cursing these days, compared to a generation ago, do you think that parents and family members are to blame for some children cursing at a very young age? We're humans, we're hypocritical by design, but rather than complain about the amount of cursing in society these days, should we rather evaluable our conduct around youngsters? In particular, how our (for those it applies to) frequent profaning may imprint upon such young minds, who'll go on to conclude that, unlike before, 'cussing is okay'?

 

Well like I said I do cuss from time to time, but I try to avoid it. I think a little bit of cussing should be allowed, but if you do it too much, you're just a rude person. So yeah I'm against cussing and try to avoid it, but doing it from time to time is fine with me. As long as you don't go around cussing all day long. (I feel like this post is way too repetitive xD)

 

You know, Reckless, there are a couple things to consider before I can say that saying a word that has a normally negative connotation with a different definition. Does saying the word with the different meaning erase the first, more commonly used definition? For all it's supposed harmlessness, you have to remember that these words are still harmful, no matter how, when, or why you say the word. Things that I often hear people saying is that exact word. They don't mean it in that way, but I remember a time when those words were actually directed towards me. It was quite harmful to my feelings; no wonder I tried to commit suicide in seventh grade.

I'll just quote you for reference here:

I'd never accept that word as anything BUT a harmful word. Though it may be used for something else and in sometimes as a joke ("Haha, you're such a f-----!"), it is never okay because it has a general meaning behind it. Do you know what kind of feelings are invoked whenever I hear that word? When I hear it being used so flippantly and so openly, I can't help but feel angry and yet helpless. Whenever I question people about their clear ignorance, they always push it off as a joke. (I suppose that's what comes off from being of a fairly affluent and mostly white community, right? Just to dispel any misconceptions, I am neither white nor am I straight, though I have changed my bisexual identity to being basically asexual. It's sort of complicated, so I won't clarify so that I can just get on with the rest of my statement.)

Anyway, what I'm trying to show is that offensive language is offensive. Earlier, my application for the position of writer was rejected for an admittedly good reason. I was attacking others on their statuses, and I will admit that I was attacking them. However, at the time, it was a little bit of a personal thing. As I'm a part of a mostly white population, most people are pretty ignorant about things. Though teachers have made it a policy to not curse in general, people always talk trash whenever they think the teachers can't hear. A lot of things that people say are rooted in internalized sexism, misogyny, ableism, racism, homophobia, and a lot of other current problems in society. A good example is when people say things like "You're so crazy!" or "I'm not like most girls!" Though I may not be able to identify with these kind of problems (or even experience them), I try to bring awareness. It is admittedly in a less than friendly manner, but how is it going to ever get through? People still use that particular f-word all the time and call it off as a joke.

It was never a joke, it is never a joke, and it never will be a joke. I cannot stress this enough. Though there are admittedly some words that don't really have the potential to be harmful unless there has been some kind of incident in the past and only can be uncomfortable or annoying, it is never okay to use words that come from harmful roots. Another good example of such a word is the word pertaining to people of color which originated from the slave era. Using that n-word if you are not of that particular race is never okay. People, white people in particular, always say things like "My friend lets me say it!", but that doesn't change its connotations. It will never change its connotations, and people can't seem to realize that.

Alright, rant over. What I'm trying to say is, some words are words that must be erased from history and their definition must be done away with as they have no true meaning in life. I mean, at least, that's the way it should be. Throughout the nation (and throughout the world as well), these kinds of words are being used in such a manner that they always keep the definition of the word alive and strong. It is never okay to use these words. Even with a different definition, it's still offensive and it's not a cool thing to say, ever. When is it okay to say those words? Never. Is it okay to say curse words in general? Though it depends on the atmosphere, the person that one is talking to, and comfortability of the person in question for cursing, emphasis is generally the only thing that one should use curse words for. If I say to someone that they are dumb (which is basically an ableist term, by the way), that doesn't have as much emphasis as calling someone a "fucking idiot". Though calling someone an idiot for any reason is generally not recommended for any reason, it's important to consider that there isn't oppression behind that particular phrase. In fact, I think that the only reason that "fuck" in general is considered a curse word is because it can refer to the act of procreation. (I think that's a dumb reason, but that's a debate for a completely different time.) All in all, words must be taken into consideration even if they aren't necessarily considered curse words because they can be curse words to specific populations or even just specific people.

Thank you for your time, everyone.

 

I'm for it, I do it myself. It's an emphasis thing and can sometimes add humor. (For example, since we're on the topic, I've heard the other word for cigarette standing for Former Action Guy, which, with the right people, can make some people laugh.) Though, I probably care less if people get offended than most other people. In the end, though, for me, it comes down to who I'm around at the moment and where I am.

 

I'm for swearing 100%, not having swears is oppressing emotions in my opinion. I could talk for a long time about this but I really don't feel like that's necessary since people don't need to share my point of view