Profanity

[Shams al-Ma'rifa]

It has come to my attention that in this day and age, profanity is becoming less and less offensive... No really...

Everyone uses profanity nowadays. In the past, when someone says " you" it usually means you have offended them in some way. Now " you" could mean all sorts of different things.

The F word can be used in a playful manner. For example, if you playfully tease someone and they reply " you" while laughing and smiling, it probably means they're not offended, quite the opposite actually.

If you bump your head into something and yell "!" it's usually just a reaction to the pain, not with the intention of offending someone...

How about words like , ass, cock... They're all synonyms for something, why is it so taboo to say? In fact, why did I get detention in elementary school when the teacher caught me saying these things?

Do you consider profanity offensive in all cases or just some. For example, TWC probably blocked out half my words because they deemed it offensive, are you offended by those words? What are your opinion on profanity? When do you think kids should be allowed to use profanity?

I think that profanity was originally taboo because it was deemed offensive. Nowadays however, people say it so casually it's not even offensive most of the time. Most of the time people just use it for impact.

Similar to the N word really. It was originally a racial slur but somewhere along the line, some guy thought it would be cool to remove the trigger out of the word and nowadays, everyone use it without offending black people (as long as you're cool enough ) In hip hop, it's used to add more impact to the message...

By the same token, I'm offended when people say chink because they usually say it to cause offensive. People are arguably more tolerant of blacks than asians...

[uos_spo6]

Lack of profanity makes for a less colorful world in my eyes.

The same idea that can be conveyed with a profane word can be conveyed with any number of other words not deemed profane, so the word itself has no value only the context in which it is used. In most cases I'd think a much more offensive idea could be communicated with articulate words than with profane words, so whats the difference.

That being said I don't find it acceptable for "cool non black" people to use "" even in the friendly context. In fact most black people who use it do so for lack of articulation/education. I've known people who refer to their 2yr old daughter as "that lil ". Lovingly of course.

[Ó Cathasaigh]

Profanity is the attempt of a lazy and feeble mind to express itself forcefully.


That said, I'm very good at it.

[cottontail]

When you can't come up with something more inventive, profanity is there.

Though I probably use it more than I should

[Hiero of Syracuse]

Well I never use profanity, which sort of makes my speech very akward really, since I have no real way of expressing certain emotions like anger, in a way that can be taken seriously by others, but it's quite an accomplishment to be able to refrain from such tempting langauge.

[Taiji]

Well I never use profanity, which sort of makes my speech very akward really, since I have no real way of expressing certain emotions like anger, in a way that can be taken seriously by others, but it's quite an accomplishment to be able to refrain from such tempting langauge.

In the same way that getting around having removed one of your legs is quite an accomplishment... I'd suggest keeping the leg though.

[Hiero of Syracuse]

In the same way that getting around having removed one of your legs is quite an accomplishment... I'd suggest keeping the leg though.

It's not really like that, you need your legs, but you don't need to know how to cuss someone out, just because you are mad, or it's because you think greeting someone with an F bomb is cool.
It doesn't really add spice to your vocabulary, why? because it becomes a filler where more constructive language can be used, you don't need to be as awkward as, I.

[Tiberius Tosi]

In an informal setting I could care less about curse words unless it is around children (or used to the point where a person thinks they are tough by saying it, that is really annoying as well). In a formal setting, however, there is almost no use for curse words (some of the minor ones can be used sparringly). The reason we try to prevent kids from cursing as long as possible is so that they know, hopefully, not to curse in a formal setting or at the wrong times. Excessive cursing in an informal setting can carry over into a formal setting and thus excessive cursing in an informal setting should be limited to a degree.

Also, in my opinion, it is rude to curse in the presence of those you do not know (say at a restaraunt for example) because that person should not have to put up with your loud mouth (admittedly I am guilty of such things, but I piss myself off when I do it).

[Ænema]

I think profanity is OK in an informal conversation with someone you know and understands that you using profanity is showing your emotion.

I would NEVER say any profanity in front of elders or people younger than me.

[Monarchist]

I would only use profane words in conversation with someone I have known for at least two years. Even then, I wouldn't see the point. I am a very restrained individual; I believe society needs discipline and mores, not moral equivalency. People just shouldn't curse, because it's irritating, infantile, and silly. It may get your point across bluntly, but it makes you look like a childish popinjay.

[CobraStallone]

I heavily use profanities on informal conversations, but that creates the problem of those words loosing their intended strengh.

[Space Wolves]

I mainly use profanity when i feel like it, rarely in other situations unless its like SERIOUS like a fight then I'll cuss like a Dragon. Besides I always use the word and substitute it with Frak. Love you BSG!


I especially use profanity when I'm describing something humorous to a friend, i don't know why..

[Kamos]

When it comes to children such versatile profanity can somewhat inhibit the growth of their vocabulary I think, hence why they don't want kids using it.

As for how I feel on a personal level? I treat them like any other words so long as they aren't overused or misused.

[Space Wolves]

I find it sad/hilarious but mostly sad that kids are swearing at younger and younger ages...

Its so sad its funny...but still..

[gambit]

When it comes to children such versatile profanity can somewhat inhibit the growth of their vocabulary I think, hence why they don't want kids using it.

As for how I feel on a personal level? I treat them like any other words so long as they aren't overused or misused.

Right. You can call yourself more "inventive" or "restrained" but saying darn it instead of damn it is just two sides of the same coin.

[manofarms89]

I freely use profanity in every situation, except when in front of children, my mother, and my grandmothers.

[Ó Cathasaigh]

cowardice, man of arms, simply cowardice.

[manofarms89]

cowardice, man of arms, simply cowardice.

how is that cowardice?

[Dracula]

Whether it is offensive or not depends on the seriousness of the situation and the moral momentous condition of the participants in the conversation. When everyone is serious at the moment, it is bad. When people are relaxed, it is not. However if some people feel always relaxed and careless, this is exactly what profanity is.

[Lysimachus]

When i'm calm, my cusses are quite calculated but when i'm pissed off I pull out **** and ****ing every 3-5 words that come out my mouth just to let out all the steam that's built up. Mixed with threatening gestures it is a sight to behold