Too much swearing

[Daradon]

Ahhhh true, they people do 'do it', but often that word is used in a completely different context then describing that act.

I can see what he's saying. I for one don't mind swearing at all, but I myself swear very very little to almost everyone I know in comparison. There are better words to use most of the time. It makes you sound more intelligent or gets your point by better. Swearing is also frowned upon in pleanty of situations or around certain people. You wouldn't be gratuitous with your swearing when meeting your fiancee's parents for the first time or during a job interview would you?

If that (or any swear word) is the best word to use in a situation, I have no problem using it, but I think there are often better words. Everyone loses their cool too and has prattled off a list of swears in anger or pain or whatever. Fine. But I can see where it's justkinda bringing our communication down. Like I said, I don't mind it. I've hung out with lots of people who 'swear like truckers' but I don't find I have the need to, not even close.

[Five-hole]

There's nothing wrong with swearing in a job interview. Just ask Oiler fans how they feel about Robbie Schremp.

Fotze brought up the Carlin quote where he says it's wrong to say the word but it's okay to do the deed. There's another completely hypocritical aspect to swearing in addition to that: words that mean the exact same thing are perfectly fine to say (even for a 3-year old), but the arbitrarily chosen "swear word" is taboo.

Example:

Poop. Poop is a pretty innocent word.

sh*t, however, while meaning the exact same thing, is frowned upon. There are no uses of the word 'sh*t' that couldn't be replaced with the word 'poop' that change the meaning (that I can think of; or very few), so they are functionally identical. So why the difference?

I submit this for your consideration: I think we need swear words. I think it's important for us to be able to vent our frustrations by saying something that's socially unacceptable, or at least socially unpleasant. Kids do it to feel rebellious -- something I think they _need_ an outlet for. Adults do it around adults because "oh, poop" just doesn't carry much rhetorical weight, while "oh sh*t" sounds like the person is in a far more significant bind. By saying something that's considered unpleasant, we instantly convey an attitude: that my situation is such that I want to (or inadvertently) offend conventions. Someone who swears quite often conveys less emotion when swearing because these conventions obviously mean little to them, while someone who rarely swears conveys a great deal with a simple "sh*t!".

[Daradon]

Originally posted by Five-hole@Oct 28 2004, 08:57 PM
Someone who swears quite often conveys less emotion when swearing because these conventions obviously mean little to them, while someone who rarely swears conveys a great deal with a simple "sh*t!".

Exactly, that's my point right there. Used TOO often it doesn't make any sense. Swear words should be SWEAR words. Once people are TOO comfortable with them, they lose their power, or 'conveyed emotion', as you put it.

A last resort word. Or a surprise word. But not a word in regualar rotation. Which is what I think this guy means. It sounds juvinille to hear one use words like that all the time and they do lose their meaning.

[CaramonLS]

Well if its any consulation to him, I would have called him a ######tard 2 years ago, but now I think hes just an uptight ######bag. Better?

[Moderator]

This thread is closed.