Why do people cuss?

mitsur · #1 04-19-2002, 12:44 AM

What's so great about it?

Majic · #2 04-19-2002, 12:49 AM

Whats so damn wrong about it.... Its an expression of voice and gives a feeling of rebelion and gives self confidence by way of allowing yourself to make personal choices that make you at least feel expressed and open. Anyway, um, if you find it insulting maybe the amount could be lowered a little, but well, it just seems to conveye a stronger message and, uh, moral boosters...

Joe the Intern · #3 04-19-2002, 02:05 AM

Well, I suppose cussing lets people express their feelings better. I mean, saying "Darn!" just isn't as effective as saying "Damn!"

Sl'askia · #4 04-19-2002, 09:06 AM

A certain amout of cursing is allowed (heck...I curse a bit when I am upset), but when there are people who curse every other word...you wonder about their intelligence and just how much of the english language they know...

Doug · #5 04-19-2002, 09:43 AM

I find cursing most helpful to blow off steam in stressful situations.

Other times, it helps you be expressive. "Idiot!" doesn't quite say it as well as "F***ing idiot!"

Apart from that, it's pretty much gratuitous cursing, which I try to keep to a minimum.

I personally don't find anything wrong with swear words. I just try not to expose people who care not to be exposed or shouldn't be exposed, like young kids. In my family, the definition of a curse word is "something you don't say in front of grandmother."

Surfacing · #6 04-19-2002, 09:48 AM

We all swear, it's part of the english Vocabulary. But i really start to swear, after i'm have been surronded by a group of people that do swear, i just can't help myself, i have to swear. But i do try to keep a limite on my swearing i don't won't it to become a bad habbit.

Sydney · #7 04-19-2002, 10:08 AM

I've been swearing a little too much lately. Sometimes it just slips into general conversation, which can be embarrassing if you're with the wrong company. Usually I look down on such people, but at least I do it in a well-spoken manner.

This topic has encouraged me to make a conscious effort not to swear.

paramiteabe · #8 04-19-2002, 11:11 AM

I think it is alright to use cussing when you are mad or something like that. I never abuse it like some people. But I know some people who abuse cussing all the time. Like they constantly are saying F***ing this and F***ING that. I tell ya it is so annoying and stupid!

They just use it when they are just talking about something. Like they would say Lets go to the F***ing movies or the F***ing store. Sheesh There a little F word crazy!

mitsur · #9 04-19-2002, 11:43 AM

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Originally posted by Sydney
I've been swearing a little too much lately. Sometimes it just slips into general conversation, which can be embarrassing if you're with the wrong company. Usually I look down on such people, but at least I do it in a well-spoken manner.

This topic has encouraged me to make a conscious effort not to swear.

Thanks

Gluk Schmuck · #10 04-19-2002, 12:33 PM

'Curses' are important for empahsis in certain situations. They shouldn't be used in every sentence every day. I have no objection to curses being used when people are irritated.

I also have no objection to children learning curses either. The only way I would actively keep children from hearing cursing is by not getting into situations where cursing is neccessary because cursing usually equals irritated people. I, of course, woudn't curse in front of children my mum is childminding or I'm babysitting because most parents would object to their children being taught swear words.

:

Originally posted by Doug
I just try not to expose people who care not to be exposed or shouldn't be exposed, like young kids.

Why shouldn't young kids be exposed to swearing?

Doug · #11 04-19-2002, 01:00 PM

:

Originally posted by Gluk Schmuck
Why shouldn't young kids be exposed to swearing?

You said one of the reasons yourself. Most kids' parents object to their kids being taught swear words.

Another reason, and it's really extension of the one above, is that young children haven't learned the discretion necessary to know when you can swear and when you shouldn't. No one wants their kid saying "Gee, teacher, crackers for snack today? That f****g sucks!" (Aside: In my day, "sucks" was a swear, too). If no one in society objected to swears, it wouldn't matter; however, a lot of people are deeply offended by swearing.

As you said yourself, curses shouldn't be used in every sentence every day. If you ride on any junior high school bus in the US, you find out that kids have learned a lot of swear words but they haven't learned how stupid it sounds to have two or three in every sentence.

So for younger children, you have to be absolute about it: Swearing is not appropriate. And then when they catch you swearing, you have to tell them that you were wrong to do it. As they get older, they start to understand that if they smack their thumb with a hammer, a hearty "G*d d**n f******g s**t!!" might make them feel a bit better, and most people won't hold it against them. Hopefully, they also learn that it sounds stupid to say "Hey, f*****g hand me that f*****g hammer, will you?"

morphius · #12 04-19-2002, 01:15 PM

Human beings swear because the words which are considered swears are known as powerful in their society. So to express their anger and emotion they use these words because they think they will express their emotions better, and they feel this to be true.....

Gluk Schmuck · #13 04-19-2002, 06:00 PM

:

Originally posted by Doug
Another reason, and it's really extension of the one above, is that young children haven't learned the discretion necessary to know when you can swear and when you shouldn't. No one wants their kid saying "Gee, teacher, crackers for snack today? That f****g sucks!"

Ah, good point. I should have realised that!

Jacob · #14 04-19-2002, 09:41 PM

I know this kid who swears...well...i try not to know him. But its like 'Ohh, ya F***ing Queer. Go bum a sheep.' And then he'll carry on...with the 'F' word...its HIGHLY un-attractive...well, so is he. He is quite vile...Euk. Oh...and he was bragging about knowing this American lass...and how she liked him and stuff. And i was like 'Ugh...yeh. And how many girlz do i know and hang out with...who have seen me and been with me in person!?" And he goes 'Your Queer though.' And then i go 'And yet substantially better than you.' (That story seemed alot more relevant in my head....hmmmm.)

Yeh, and anyway we curse and swear cos it makes sum peeps feel big...but also releaves stress. The 'F' word makes me feel better if i am stressed. Also...so does bitching...*Relaxed Sigh*

SeaRex · #15 04-19-2002, 09:50 PM

I started cursing to "fit in". How sad. Then I moved into my little punk phase. Now it makes a good little emphasis on certain words. Like everyone's been saying, "Ya jerk" isn't as effective as "You mother f--kn' ass hole!"

I curse way too much now, though...

Abe's son · #16 04-19-2002, 10:03 PM

well i belive saying "you stupid ass mother ****ing basterd!!" is joly good more afectvite than" you stupid bum!" are u geting my point across?

morphius · #17 04-19-2002, 11:53 PM

What is your point?

Majic · #18 04-20-2002, 12:07 AM

He means its more expressive. Let me say this, your the perfect dandidate fore a messenger. Socialy challanged, ignorant, confused, and, um, not very smart? And a whooping 70 posts so far in one day because of your attributes, thats always a bonus

morphius · #19 04-20-2002, 12:11 AM

I was only asking first of all, I was not questioning anything about him, and your opinion has no relevance, you do not comprehend what you face....................And second everything i stated today was proven or backed up, i do not argue but rather discuss.............you need to look over your priorities..................

Statikk HDM · #20 04-20-2002, 12:50 AM

I do curse like a longshoresman at school. i have been cutting down on it though. It gets on your nerves if you got a guy hanging with you who is always f this and f that. You always got to be on the watch for Big Brother if you curse in a school too. My whole family is filled with cursers. Normally it is just sub cursing, like the word friggin'. We use that word more than the friggin' and word. And yeah, I wouldn't want to hang around with a "little lady" who says the word **** more times than the movie scarface.

***Cloverfield*** · #21 04-20-2002, 01:03 AM

I'm always curious as to whether a swear word was not a swear word (i.e. just a normal word), if people would say it as often.

Like when I was growing up as a kid, words like bum and bitch were considered swear words and my parents bought us up never to say them. But now days bum is not even considered offensive in any way, and bitch is commonly used in TV shows.

I also find it amusing that in the Oxford English Dictionary which is used for schools, the "F" word is there. So even if a kid were not exposed to swearing, they could find it in the dictionary!

Abe Babe...

Surfacing · #22 04-20-2002, 01:24 AM

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Originally posted by Abe Babe

I also find it amusing that in the Oxford English Dictionary which is used for schools, the "F" word is there. So even if a kid were not exposed to swearing, they could find it in the dictionary!

Abe Babe...

Oxford has it? My dictinary is a collins and the F word ain't in there, how odd.

Jacob · #23 04-20-2002, 10:36 AM

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I was only asking first of all, I was not questioning anything about him, and your opinion has no relevance, you do not comprehend what you face....................And second everything i stated today was proven or backed up, i do not argue but rather discuss.............you need to look over your priorities..................

Your not liked.

Ahem. Yeh, so anyway. I personally find breaking of wind and Burping (Euk...hate that word.) Far more offensive than swear words. Words are words...what harm can they do unless used in a sufficient manner (As i sometimes do.)

morphius · #24 04-20-2002, 01:44 PM

I advise that you do not judge me becasue it seems you have ome problems of your own......

Jacob · #25 04-20-2002, 02:30 PM

:

I advise that you do not judge me becasue it seems you have ome problems of your own......

Im not judging you cos i have probs of my own. I am judging you cos on the forums you are rapidly becoming hated.

dark_xinos · #26 04-20-2002, 02:41 PM

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Originally posted by mitsur
Why do people cuss?

Simple. They dont got a compleate vocabulary. Or aint smart enough to use it.

Jacob · #27 04-20-2002, 03:09 PM

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Simple. They dont got a compleate vocabulary. Or aint smart enough to use it.

Thats wot my Nan says...its not true though. Only the people who swear constantly is it true of.

***Wil*** · #28 04-20-2002, 03:30 PM

I just checked my Oxford Dictionary, and it doesn't have the F word in there. It was printed in 1964, however, so that might explain that.

But why shouldn't it be in there? It is a word in the Enlish language after all. It most likely has another meaning as well, buried in the mists of modesty (apart from ridiculous medieval definitions, that is). If you don't want a child looking at that word, let it use a children's dictionary.

I agree that consistant cursing does rather diminish your public reputation, even if it boosts your popularity with other such hot-tongued dudes. However, such 'colourful' words can be used by sophisticated people with no trouble. Take Billy Connolly. Every other joke has F in it, but my family recognise him as a hilarious and gentle man. His 'offensive' language is not meant to be offensive, and you recognise that it isn't meant to be.

I personally don't get offended by cursing (unless it's directed directly at me, obviously), but I've also ways avoided it. Except that time when somebody took my shoes from the school sports centre and left me their small worn stinky ones to wear.