NationStates Jolt Archive

The reasoning many schools use to ban swearing is that some may be offended. To see how valid this reason is I am searching the no doubt completely representative community of nationstates as to who among you objects to the pariahs of the english language and on what grounds.

They don't offend me any more than normal words. I really don't see what the big shit over all of it is.

They are wannabe pseudo authoritarian dictatorships.

If they are used in a debate against someone, laughably childish. So in that case I tend to ignore the curser.
If used in a general humorous way or to express anger about a general situation they're no problem. So, in that case I read them as part of the post and don't think twice about them.

I don't get offended by them, but to me, I use them as special words, for when I'm really emotive or offended by something in itself. Their original intent, really.
If people held them in reserve and made them a true insult as opposed to "every second word" words, then I might be offended/worried by them, as they'd indicate that someone has taken real issue with me.

i have always thought that the idea that certian words were worse then others, and that they would inexplicably corrupt children was dumb. i also think its wrong for someone who does think they are wrong tell me that I cant say them. they can be as clean as they'd like, but why bother telling me i cant say certian words.

sex, fuck.. i really dont see a difference there.

Those who swear drop in my regard, and I don't mean those who swear occasionally, when swearing is warranted, but those who seem to think that swearing is an acceptable form of everyday expression even outside of their closest circle.

It doesn't offend me. It disappoints me.

I think they are just words

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A female police officer arrests a man for drunk driving.
The female officer tells the man, "Sir, you have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held against you..."


The drunk replies; "Tits."

If they are used in a debate against someone, laughably childish. So in that case I tend to ignore the curser.
If used in a general humorous way or to express anger about a general situation they're no problem. So, in that case I read them as part of the post and don't think twice about them.

So they actually are helpful in understanding the psychology/culture of the user?

That settles it. No ban on swearing. Morley Hegstrom is going down.

The reasoning many schools use to ban swearing is that some may be offended. To see how valid this reason is I am searching the no doubt completely representative community of nationstates as to who among you objects to the pariahs of the english language and on what grounds.
Swearing is indicative of a deficient vocabulary. :)

A female police officer arrests a man for drunk driving.
The female officer tells the man, "Sir, you have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held against you..."


The drunk replies; "Tits."

hahahaha

Swearing is indicative of a deficient vocabulary. :)

If you're using more different words and more accurate, aesthetically pleasing words, how is that indicative of a deficient vocabulary?

I think banning swear words because they could offend is a valid reason. Also, if someone can't express themselves without profanity, it's a sign of ignorance.

In the real world, you have to be able to express yourself without profanity. Otherwise, it's going to hold you back. However, if you use it sparingly and only when it's warranted, different story.

What do swear words do to you?

At first my brain begins to liquify. About the time it begins to drip out of my nose and ears, my hair falls out, and, just before it hits the ground, vaporizes in a hiss leaving an acrid scent in the air. Of course, I'm not paying attention to that - because my skin is starting to peel off. Starting at my fingertips, the skin curls backwards and rolls along the arms and from there moves upwards and downwards until it is a crumpled heap before my red raw feet, fresh blood oozing from every orifice. Then my bones come alive. I feel them kicking, screaming silently to be free from the clinging embrace of my flesh. They start to pop out, the smaller ones at first, then the larger ones, wriggling free and turning into snakes before flying off into the horizon. Finally my ribs manage to find a seam and make a break for it; bursting free with a sickening squelchy pop, pulling my lungs with them as they go. They turn into a flock of sparrows. Of course, my skull is still left. Content to make it's home in my rotting remains, it hides in wait for passing shrews, then bites their heads off. It then makes necklaces from the heads and sells them to tourists.

So yeh. Swearing is NOT NICE. :(

I think banning swear words because they could offend is a valid reason. Also, if someone can't express themselves without profanity, it's a sign of ignorance.

In the real world, you have to be able to express yourself without profanity. Otherwise, it's going to hold you back. However, if you use it sparingly and only when it's warranted, different story.

My issue with the whole: "It might offend someone" thing is what it entails. How can something like swearing cause the same kind of damage as that anti-jew post that someone was complaining about earlier. One of the purposes of this thread is to see if anyone is actually hurt by swearing to that kind of degree.

Also, in many parts of the "real world" it is necessary to be able to express yourself with profanity as much as in other places people expect you to refrain.

Swearing is indicative of a deficient vocabulary. :)You, sir, are a floccinaucinihilipilificator. By what logic does pulling from a broader choice of words indicate "a deficient vocabulary?"

http://www.cusscontrol.com

I think banning swear words because they could offend is a valid reason. Also, if someone can't express themselves without profanity, it's a sign of ignorance.

In the real world, you have to be able to express yourself without profanity. Otherwise, it's going to hold you back. However, if you use it sparingly and only when it's warranted, different story.

My issue with the whole: "It might offend someone" thing is what it entails. How can something like swearing cause the same kind of damage as that anti-jew post that someone was complaining about earlier. One of the purposes of this thread is to see if anyone is actually hurt by swearing to that kind of degree.

Also, in many parts of the "real world" it is necessary to be able to express yourself with profanity as much as in other places people expect you to refrain.

Curse words serve no purpose what so ever. Most people i know who use them are idiots.

Words I find offensive are not really understandable to most people. Anyway words shouldnt hurt anybody's feelings, or as much as a light wound.

http://www.cusscontrol.com

Ye gods, and people believe this shit? It's like that foundation for a better life thing without the respect for the third world!

Seriously, that's a really funny site. Top quality parody.

Curse words serve no purpose what so ever. Most people i know who use them are idiots.

Words I find offensive are not really understandable to most people. Anyway words shouldnt hurt anybody's feelings, or as much as a light wound.

Okay, I'll respond to the first part of that, as I agree with the second:

Why can't you use swear words just like you use any other variation in English, to shade your meaning and make what you say more aesthetically pleasing? I agree that some people don't understand how to do this and overswear for their competence level, but in my experience they are in the minority, and usually under 12.

Ye gods, and people believe this shit? It's like that foundation for a better life thing without the respect for the third world!

Seriously, that's a really funny site. Top quality parody.

When I originally saw it, I thought it was for real, but now I think it's parody.

The concept of swear words is really... unusual. They're just words that somehow developed into what one might see today - the essence of profanity. However, when it comes to some schools (especially middle schools) in America, it can be very unusual. I, personally, think that anyone who thinks that swearing is "cool" or anything like that is a complete jerk. To say that a standard of profanity should be used on a regular basis just to make a statement to others is like saying, "Hey, I'm a slob! I'm trying to proclaim myself to be the coolest of cools when in reality I'm just a loser!"

It's really pathetic.

To me, swear words leave an impact. I don't go up to something and say, "Hey, what the !@#$'s up?" When someone swears at me, I might flinch, but most likely I'll walk away. Unless it's by a friend as a statement of, say, something incredible and it's acceptable in one way or another, I get the idea of that person to be what I stated in my first paragraph - a loser.

I use swear words in my every day vocabulary. I KNOW I'm intelligent, in fact I'm more intelligent than most adults I know. I don't feel the need to justify my intellectual capacity to someone who most likely can't keep up with me. I swear because they are words that are easily accessed by the human brain quickly and can be utilized to express extreme ranges of emotional states with more accuracy and efficiency than words within a normal vocabulary.

I do believe however within a professional setting cursing is NOT appropriate, however with your friends or within a normal everyday discusssion cursing is just a relaxed form of communication. I also speak "correctly" when I'm around people who have sticks up their asses and complain like little bitches whenever they hear the word "ass".

A word of advice for some people: Never judge a book by it's cover because in the end they could be WAY smarter and capable than you ever could hope to be.

Okay, I'll respond to the first part of that, as I agree with the second:

Why can't you use swear words just like you use any other variation in English, to shade your meaning and make what you say more aesthetically pleasing? I agree that some people don't understand how to do this and overswear for their competence level, but in my experience they are in the minority, and usually under 12.

At least twice in five minutes I hear some form of profanity and after a few seconds it gets annoying. I am in a high school, 9-12.

Swear, curse or cuss words depending how you were taught to classify them serve no purpose what so ever. I can make up my own word shuch as laket or use a preexisting word such as lake to insult a person. Should you take offense, most people wouldn't because no one knows what a laket is and calling some one a lake makes no sense, thats like using curse words to insult people, it makes no sense. The most annoying thing is when people say things such as:
wtf
f*ck face
Shut the f*ck up
and so on.
I mean in kindergarten words such as poopie head were used to insult people but as you get older, it is more of a make yourself look like an idiot and become the new laughing stock. Any insult wares off after time, getting less offensive as people use it, primarily adolesence and teenagers

See I can be smart :p

I use swear words in my every day vocabulary. I KNOW I'm intelligent, in fact I'm more intelligent than most adults I know. I don't feel the need to justify my intellectual capacity to someone who most likely can't keep up with me. I swear because they are words that are easily accessed by the human brain quickly and can be utilized to express extreme ranges of emotional states with more accuracy and efficiency than words within a normal vocabulary.

I do believe however within a professional setting cursing is NOT appropriate, however with your friends or within a normal everyday discusssion cursing is just a relaxed form of communication. I also speak "correctly" when I'm around people who have sticks up their asses and complain like little bitches whenever they hear the word "ass".

A word of advice for some people: Never judge a book by it's cover because in the end they could be WAY smarter and capable than you ever could hope to be.

Couldn't have said it any better myself, damnit.

"Obscenity is the crutch of the inarticulate motherfucker."

"Obscenity is the crutch of the inarticulate motherfucker."

:D

The reasoning many schools use to ban swearing is that some may be offended. To see how valid this reason is I am searching the no doubt completely representative community of nationstates as to who among you objects to the pariahs of the english language and on what grounds.

My belief is that they're just words in the language we speak, and if your offended by that word's connotation or a definition of it, that's too bad for you.

My belief is that they're just words in the language we speak, and if your offended by that word's connotation or a definition of it, that's too bad for you.

Damn right, shitbags. :D

:D

I'll second that shit, motherfuckers.

Couldn't have said it any better myself, damnit.

Why thank you, you motherfucking good fuckin friend of mine! :D

Dont fuckin' curse! Its a sin dammit!

Why thank you, you motherfucking good fuckin friend of mine! :D

You're fucking welcome, you god-damn son of a bitch. You're a real, dirty bastard, ya fucking rotter!

The concept of swear words is really... unusual. They're just words that somehow developed into what one might see today - the essence of profanity. However, when it comes to some schools (especially middle schools) in America, it can be very unusual. I, personally, think that anyone who thinks that swearing is "cool" or anything like that is a complete jerk. To say that a standard of profanity should be used on a regular basis just to make a statement to others is like saying, "Hey, I'm a slob! I'm trying to proclaim myself to be the coolest of cools when in reality I'm just a loser!"

It's really pathetic.

To me, swear words leave an impact. I don't go up to something and say, "Hey, what the !@#$'s up?" When someone swears at me, I might flinch, but most likely I'll walk away. Unless it's by a friend as a statement of, say, something incredible and it's acceptable in one way or another, I get the idea of that person to be what I stated in my first paragraph - a loser.

I am a lot smarter then a lot of people think. I hardly ever curse or even talk unless I am talking to a friend, debating or annoyed. Talking is useless to complete idiots such as most people I know who are idiots and constantly used in cursing. For example today I heard a conversation that was about ninth graders having sex :eek: . They are about as intelligent as lets see what is about as stupid as them. Thinking. Thinking. Well lets say this, they are less intelligent then an ant.

At least twice in five minutes I hear some form of profanity and after a few seconds it gets annoying. I am in a high school, 9-12.

Swear, curse or cuss words depending how you were taught to classify them serve no purpose what so ever. I can make up my own word shuch as laket or use a preexisting word such as lake to insult a person. Should you take offense, most people wouldn't because no one knows what a laket is and calling some one a lake makes no sense, thats like using curse words to insult people, it makes no sense. The most annoying thing is when people say things such as:
wtf
f*ck face
Shut the f*ck up
and so on.
I mean in kindergarten words such as poopie head were used to insult people but as you get older, it is more of a make yourself look like an idiot and become the new laughing stock. Any insult wares off after time, getting less offensive as people use it, primarily adolesence and teenagers

See I can be smart :p


The reason this sort of thing happens is because kids don't get enough practice with swear words to understand how to use them in an aesthetically pleasing and accurate way. The same thing happens when people in a low level foreign language class are forced to speak it: they use it in stupid ways because they don't have enough practice to recognize when it truly works. I use swear words for the same reasons I sometimes switch to French in midsentance: it better expresses what I'm trying to say and is more aesthetically pleasing.

I'll second that shit, motherfuckers.
Fuck ya! :D

Your fucking welcome, you god-damn son of a bitch. You're a real, dirty bastard, ya fucking rotter!

Well fuck a ho and call me a cocksucker, you cussed up a fucking storm! That's not motherfucking nice you shitfaced cockmaster.

I laugh whenever someone sticks uo their middle finger (SUV's on the highway are notorious) at me or anyone. I mean, what the hell does that mean? Hand gestures don't mean anything, so I don't care.

Swear words don't mean anything, but they do make some situations hilarious: "PC load letter! What the fuck does that mean?" (Office Space :cool: )

I laugh whenever someone sticks uo their middle finger (SUV's on the highway are notorious) at me or anyone. I mean, what the hell does that mean? Hand gestures don't mean anything, so I don't care.

Swear words don't mean anything, but they do make some situations hilarious: "PC load letter! What the fuck does that mean?" (Office Space :cool: )

Actually, the middle finger salute originally represented an erect penis, as a gesture of superiority sexually over the reciever. However, it has lost all meaning nowadays.

I am a lot smarter then a lot of people think. I hardly ever curse or even talk unless I am talking to a friend, debating or annoyed. Talking is useless to complete idiots such as most people I know who are idiots and constantly used in cursing. For example today I heard a conversation that was about ninth graders having sex :eek: . They are about as intelligent as lets see what is about as stupid as them. Thinking. Thinking. Well lets say this, they are less intelligent then an ant.

Ninth graders having sex is hardly :eek: , but I get your meaning: you know a lot of people who don't know how to swear well. Point taken. Why, when there are so many other misuses of english, must we focus on these specific ones?

Swear words don't mean anything, but they do make some situations hilarious: "PC load letter! What the fuck does that mean?" (Office Space :cool: )

Fuckin' 'A' Man.

Well fuck a ho and call me a cocksucker, you cussed up a fucking storm! That's not motherfucking nice you shitfaced cockmaster.

Not many fucking ways I can top that shit, know what I mean?

Cockmaster? Fucking gold, man!

Actually, the middle finger salute originally represented an erect penis, as a gesture of superiority sexually over the reciever. However, it has lost all meaning nowadays.

Wrong fool.

The middle finger originally appeared when the french at one battle of the hundred years war threatened to chop off the middle finger of the british longbowman which was an important finger for the bowman. The british in defiance insulted the french by sticking it up meaning yeah well try to come and take it off.

Actually, the middle finger salute originally represented an erect penis, as a gesture of superiority sexually over the reciever. However, it has lost all meaning nowadays.

Same with the thumb between theindex and middle finger?

Also:
Seeing that many of the people who do it on the highway are women (at least in Cleveland?) this is even more hilarious. :D

Ninth graders having sex is hardly :eek: , but I get your meaning: you know a lot of people who don't know how to swear well. Point taken. Why, when there are so many other misuses of english, must we focus on these specific ones?

One was talking about how many partners the other had and the other made fun of the first for not having it. I think that that is worth an :eek:

Fuckin' 'A' Man.

I hereby sentence you, Michael Bolton and Samir Nuný..Naddajabad to a term of no less than 4 years in a federal pound me in the ass prison.

Swearing is indicative of a deficient vocabulary. :)

I concur. A truly creative person can tear one to shreds without having to resort to mere profanity.

Not many fucking ways I can top that shit, know what I mean?

Cockmaster? Fucking gold, man!

I surely can top it *clears throat*

There's a sine tippity in the classati, she's a cold toni! I'm a tine cappy my damie, wah duh tah!

I hereby sentence you, Michael Bolton and Samir Nuný..Naddajabad to a term of no less than 4 years in a federal pound me in the ass prison.

Back up in yo' ass with the Resurrection...

I concur. A truly creative person can tear one to shreds without having to resort to mere profanity.

Let me try. This will be aimed at an imaginary figure named Jimmy

Jimmy thou art as smart as a flutterby that hath expired for more then a milliard years while slowly being devoured by a fly whose intelligence is more then three hundred thirty eight times more than thee after thine IQ is taken to one, which is already an unknown number higher then the current IQ thou hath.

My head hurts

I concur. A truly creative person can tear one to shreds without having to resort to mere profanity.

Just like a truly creative person can use swearing in a formal, professional, environment. In both cases it's simply less aesthetically effective.

One was talking about how many partners the other had and the other made fun of the first for not having it. I think that that is worth an :eek:

Come to think of it, my friends last year were rather weird...perhaps I'm not the best judge of this sort of thing.

I dont think anyone could be offened by a curse word but those who use it in every sentence (espicially the people I know who only have a 5 word sentence as their all time high) are complete idiots.

I concur. A truly creative person can tear one to shreds without having to resort to mere profanity.

Yes, it is imperative for the refined debator to retain a sense of civil propriety during the course of their dialectic. Upon completion of this command, one can abandon their pedantic erudition and revert to a more colloquial form of common language unimpeded by the abstruse terminology of intellectual dialectics.

Did you all like my insult? Did you, I am paranoid and i think that you think that I am an idiot like the people in Guillivers Travels before they were shown the proof

Originally posted by Vegas-Rex
The reasoning many schools use to ban swearing is that some may be offended. To see how valid this reason is I am searching the no doubt completely representative community of nationstates as to who among you objects to the pariahs of the english language and on what grounds.
I honestly am never offended when someone uses profanity. However, I am not goint to try to argue why I should be able to use any language with any person. Profanity would offend my grandparents. I wouldn't use it. Profanity would not offend my old college buddies. I would use it if it was warrented (not unnecessarily, though).

Basically, why demand to be able to use particular words if you are learned enough to know their equivalents.

Originally posted by Jordaxia
I don't get offended by them, but to me, I use them as special words, for when I'm really emotive or offended by something in itself. Their original intent, really.
This is also how I use them (or in comedic senses every once in awhile). If I use them flippantly, making them as equal in my vocabulary as any other word, then there is no word left for me to use that will convey my extreme emotion should it arise.

Originally posted by Sumamba Buwhan
A female police officer arrests a man for drunk driving.
The female officer tells the man, "Sir, you have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held against you..."


The drunk replies; "Tits."
Ahem . . .
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Originally posted by Sarzonia
I think banning swear words because they could offend is a valid reason. Also, if someone can't express themselves without profanity, it's a sign of ignorance.
I agree with the last part. There should be no necessity for swearing in many cases. If it is intentional in order to get a point across, then grand. If it is because that is the first word that comes to mind, then I would try broadening my vocabulary.

In the real world, you have to be able to express yourself without profanity. Otherwise, it's going to hold you back. However, if you use it sparingly and only when it's warranted, different story.
Again, I agree (I still think this is weird coming from a person from my belief system.). There are times when avoiding profanity is a must in the real world, even when you become irate over something.

If I recall, Paul (yes, the Apostle) used the word "skubalon" in Philippians 3. Greek word with an English translation: "shit."

Eh, Christians don't like that, though. ;)

Originally posted by Vegas-Rex
Also, in many parts of the "real world" it is necessary to be able to express yourself with profanity as much as in other places people expect you to refrain.
When has it ever been necessary to use profanity when expressing one's self in the "real world?"

I agree that some people don't understand how to do this and overswear for their competence level, but in my experience they are in the minority, and usually under 12.
I would contest that I know some adults, even old enough to be grandparents, that use profanity without even realizing it.

To demonstrate, I will use an illustration from way back in high school (yes, I know, it's high school):

I played on the local HS football team and our coaches had head sets (I'm not that old, and this proves it! :rolleyes: ). Our head coach was asking for a play in the headphone and he apparently wasn't getting it. He asked, over and over again, "What's the play? Tell me the play!"

Finally he yelled into the head set, "What's the fuckin' play?!?!"

A flag went up and we were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The head coach asked why and the referee responded in saying that someone screamed the "'F' word." He began turning around and asking who did it, when an assistant coach told him, "It was you, Keith!"

Swearing, when intentional and deliberate, can be effective. However, when it becomes so much of one's vocabulary that one says it without even knowing it, then it is a sign of speaking before you think, which is never a good policy.

Here, let's see if I offend anyone . . .

Damn, fucking, shithead, ******-ass bitch!

All are derrogatory. I know, I know. I used the dreaded 'N' word! I don't use it exclusively with any particular skin color. I am an equal opportunity profaner. ;)

Actually, I try not to call anyone names anyway.

Vetalia, Cleveland? You are a stone's throw away from my old church!

Why can't you use swear words just like you use any other variation in English, to shade your meaning and make what you say more aesthetically pleasing?

But that's exactly why swear words *are* insulting, and offend people. You use them to shade your meaning.
And, let's face it, you use swear words to shade your meaning in negative terms. Very rarely to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

I am very much against swear words, not because I'm that insulted, they're just a word. In fact, it's because I'm *not* insulted by them. People overuse them. And, really, they're intended to be used as insults. If you say "that tubby bitch" you're actually insulting the person. It's funny in Mallrats. In reality, you're saying something negative about the person, even if it's in a joking way. And, if said right, it can be amusing. In Mallrats, I found it funny, and not insulting in the least.

In reality, I find people that refer to other people as "bitches" to be insulting. It's entirely justified in certain cases, and that's fine. When it's overused, it just lowers my opinion of the swearer. It shows a lack of respect for other people.

I have much less problem with someone saying "What the hell is going on here?" Because that's not directed to anyone, it's not showing disrespect to anyone. I don't want people to particularly overuse swearing exclamations (and I know that was a mild one), because they loose their impact. They loose the subtler shading of meaning.

Aside from the respect issue, people can and do get offended by swear words. Regardless of their reasons, a polite, nice person will take other peoples feelings into account as much as possible. I don't mention the nazi regime to my jewish friends. I don't mention perl harbor to my american friends. I don't mention the turkish occupation of cyprus to my cypriot friends, and so on. Well, ok, I lie. I've mentioned all of those things, but I've mentioned then when *discussing the relevant topic* for a *relevant reason*. Most of them were not upset by the topics, and as such, I could have casually mentioned those topics. I don't casually swear in front of people who could be offended. If I have a reason, if I want to express a particularly strong emotion, then I may. Rarely, but I do swear.

There's a comic, called Penny Arcade, which I find hilarious. With a well placed swear word, they can have me laughing. It's great. I highly recommend it.

I'm not against swearing at all, I'm just in favor of using it for what swear words are intended, to shade meaning with emotive, negative meaning.

I honestly am never offended when someone uses profanity. However, I am not goint to try to argue why I should be able to use any language with any person. Profanity would offend my grandparents. I wouldn't use it. Profanity would not offend my old college buddies. I would use it if it was warrented (not unnecessarily, though).

Basically, why demand to be able to use particular words if you are learned enough to know their equivalents.


This is also how I use them (or in comedic senses every once in awhile). If I use them flippantly, making them as equal in my vocabulary as any other word, then there is no word left for me to use that will convey my extreme emotion should it arise.


Ahem . . .
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


I agree with the last part. There should be no necessity for swearing in many cases. If it is intentional in order to get a point across, then grand. If it is because that is the first word that comes to mind, then I would try broadening my vocabulary.


Again, I agree (I still think this is weird coming from a person from my belief system.). There are times when avoiding profanity is a must in the real world, even when you become irate over something.

If I recall, Paul (yes, the Apostle) used the word "skubalon" in Philippians 3. Greek word with an English translation: "shit."

Eh, Christians don't like that, though. ;)


When has it ever been necessary to use profanity when expressing one's self in the "real world?"


I would contest that I know some adults, even old enough to be grandparents, that use profanity without even realizing it.

To demonstrate, I will use an illustration from way back in high school (yes, I know, it's high school):

I played on the local HS football team and our coaches had head sets (I'm not that old, and this proves it! :rolleyes: ). Our head coach was asking for a play in the headphone and he apparently wasn't getting it. He asked, over and over again, "What's the play? Tell me the play!"

Finally he yelled into the head set, "What's the fuckin' play?!?!"

A flag went up and we were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The head coach asked why and the referee responded in saying that someone screamed the "'F' word." He began turning around and asking who did it, when an assistant coach told him, "It was you, Keith!"

Swearing, when intentional and deliberate, can be effective. However, when it becomes so much of one's vocabulary that one says it without even knowing it, then it is a sign of speaking before you think, which is never a good policy.

Here, let's see if I offend anyone . . .

Damn, fucking, shithead, ******-ass bitch!

All are derrogatory. I know, I know. I used the dreaded 'N' word! I don't use it exclusively with any particular skin color. I am an equal opportunity profaner. ;)

Actually, I try not to call anyone names anyway.

Vetalia, Cleveland? You are a stone's throw away from my old church!

There is only one forbidden N word in this forum. Ill give you its numbers but you should turn the numbers to letters and i better not get reported

12
1
26
9

So did anyone like my insult. As i told you I am paranoid. I dont think anyone understood it :(

Wrong fool.

The middle finger originally appeared when the french at one battle of the hundred years war threatened to chop off the middle finger of the british longbowman which was an important finger for the bowman. The british in defiance insulted the french by sticking it up meaning yeah well try to come and take it off.
Same with the thumb between theindex and middle finger?

Also:
Seeing that many of the people who do it on the highway are women (at least in Cleveland?) this is even more hilarious. :D
Sorry, I heard mine on a show about human sexuality, and it does make some sense. Longest finger, after all. And to the second, that's why I say it's lost all original meaning, as everyone uses it.
Edit: and also to poster one, I bet it was in use long before that, for various other meanings, including mine. That was probably the first use of it for defiance, however.

Wrong fool.

The middle finger originally appeared when the french at one battle of the hundred years war threatened to chop off the middle finger of the british longbowman which was an important finger for the bowman. The british in defiance insulted the french by sticking it up meaning yeah well try to come and take it off.

Actually, the upraised middle finger first originated in Roman times, if I recall my random Bathroom Reader trivia correctly, as representing phallic aggressiveness. Over time the meaning has shifted with other societal/cultural influences, but it's not really a huge jump from "phallic aggressiveness" to "Fuck off/Fuck you!"

On the subject of this thread, cursing doesn't phase me much. There is a time and a place for it, and sadly, many people have a very poor concept of when and where such words are used to their best effect. For instance, an exclamation of "Holy shit, what the fuck was that?!" is not really appropriate when a bee or something buzzes right by your ear and startles you. However, it much better captures the scale of the surprise when crouched in your doorway in pitch darkness after a major earthquake. (Personal experiance there. And even with the power out and everything, my mom still scolded me for language ;) ) Or a simple "Whoa!" will generally suffice on the freeway when somebody cuts you off. A much more explosive "What the fuck are you doing, you asshole?!" is more in line when you get run off an unlit two-lane road on a rainy night. (also personal experiance!)

Some of it has to do with the way people are raised. My younger sister and I were both exposed to cursing when we were little, but Mom made certain to make it very clear to us both that kids were not to use those words. She said we could curse at 18 years of age, and if we were responsible enough, she'd consider lifting that ban at 16 ;) Like a lot of things, I think, cursing too much has to do with poor parenting. You can't shelter kids from these words, and really, sheltering them is going to hurt them in the long run and leave them unprepared to actually deal with the real world. There's a happy medium between sheltering and too much exposure. Kids will find these words- if not on TV, then on the Internet, or more likely, on school playgrounds from peers who's parents do not properly instruct them in the usage of curse words.

On another hand, what exactly is a bad word? What is obscene? The definitions vary by culture and language. Things deemed suitable for younger audiences on Japanese or European television, for instance, would probably disgust regulators in the United States. (A fact easily seen in Japanese cartoon shows brought over and dubbed for daytime US television. You can ask just about any anime fanatic about it and likely hear a lament about companies such as Saban, 4Kids Entertainment, Disney, or Fox.)

Sorry if this is a bit disjointed- it's just my opinions, and I'm kinda braindead from a cold. (Plus I'm stuck in class right now.) So there's my US$0.02

its been said before but I'll say it again: Profanity is a sign of a limited vocabulary and an inability to express oneself in intelligent terms.

my mother told me one day that i swear worse than a sailor on leave. so. i should really sow my mouth shut. ^_^ but yeah, i understand how swearing is disrespectful. i only swear around the people who i know dont care. personally i think its only ok to swear if your sure you wont offend anyone by your vocabulary.

Swearing is not good. I especially don't think it has a place in the the workplace.

However, that being said, I have sworn before. Sometimes a whole lot. Which doesn't make it right. But I wanted to qualify myself so as not to be too much of a hypocrite.

its been said before but I'll say it again: Profanity is a sign of a limited vocabulary and an inability to express oneself in intelligent terms.Because calling someone the "misbegotten son of a syphillitic whore" is so much less elegant than the swear-free equivalent, "Yo momma."

Sometimes, scansion just requires a certain form of word, and it's nice to know something that fits both context and meter. Use your vocabulary to the fullest.

Because calling someone the "misbegotten son of a syphillitic whore" is so much less elegant than the swear-free equivalent, "Yo momma."

Sometimes, scansion just requires a certain form of word, and it's nice to know something that fits both context and meter. Use your vocabulary to the fullest.

Technically whore could be considered a swear. And syphillis is pretty nasty too, I think it could be kind of insulting, almost swear-like.

What about Syphilis Whore?

Wrong fool.

The middle finger originally appeared when the french at one battle of the hundred years war threatened to chop off the middle finger of the british longbowman which was an important finger for the bowman. The british in defiance insulted the french by sticking it up meaning yeah well try to come and take it off.

Incorrect.
The middle finger does indeed date from Roman times and represented the erect phallus.

What you are thinking of is the two finger salute -- index and middle, in a backward V-for-Victory -- because those were the fingers the Normans cut off from the Anglo-Saxon longbowman. You needed both to draw a bowstring.

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle....look at that.

Technically whore could be considered a swear.Yes. I'm saying the former, which contains a swear, is more elegant than the latter, which doesn't. I'm arguing against the quoted statement that a swear word ("whore") is proof that the person is incapable of expressing themselves intelligently.

It's called "satire." You might have heard of it before, now you've just seen it in action.

I don't see how words can be considered 'bad' especially when you're not using them to insult anyone. I didn't really mind on the old forums when they had the auto censor for fuck, shit, **** and goatse (it would automatically change them to 'f---', 's---', c---', 'g0at' etc. I never really saw the point in censors like that as everyone knows what the word is (like the person earlier who censored 'dick' by writting 'd1ck').

Bob: Ever hear of Tourette's syndrome? Involuntarily shouting out profanities?
Leo Marvin: It's exceptionally rare.
Bob: Shit-eating son-of-a-bitch. Bastard, douch-bag, twat, numb-nuts, dickhead!

- "What About Bob?"

i only swear around the people who i know dont care. personally i think its only ok to swear if your sure you wont offend anyone by your vocabulary.

I started that way and then I would slip up here and there. Eventually I got to the point that I didn't even realize when I was swearing. I would say things and people would be looking at me weird and I would have to ask what I said. I stopped swearing (almost), it's easier than trying to figure out when and where its appropriate. I still slip once in a while, its inevitable when you were cursing as much as I was, but I have attempted to watch my language, especially around the ladies.
Peace

The reasoning many schools use to ban swearing is that some may be offended. To see how valid this reason is I am searching the no doubt completely representative community of nationstates as to who among you objects to the pariahs of the english language and on what grounds.

Sometimes it makes me cringe or even flinch but usually i just ignore it even if i don't like it... not that i can talk anyway...

I prefer the following swear words: poop-head, doo doo brain, chicken butt and crap face. I know....I should have been a sailor.

I use fuck and **** (actually the dutch translation of ****) all the time

I use fuck and **** (actually the dutch translation of ****) all the time

Wow...youre such a doo doo brain.

Wow...youre such a doo doo brain.
At least I don't have an anal obsession :p

At least I don't have an anal obsession :p

Ha! You werent complaining about that last night......erm....I mean...

Ha! You werent complaining about that last night......erm....I mean...
And it still hurts.... :(


Anyway. I was talking to this german guy and he thought it was funny that most Dutch swearing is with genitals, whereas German swearing is with butts.

Swearing does offend me sometimes, especially if its used too much and another would be when a person thinks they are of power the more swearing they do. Of course I swear sometimes, when I am very upset........but most of the time, since I have children, we use 'make up' swear words. We actually don't even allow the words 'shut up' in our house as they are harsh words. Yea we are weird, but...........
EDIT: although I can handle it if I am in the presence of swearing, if its not too much it doesn't bother me a bit, as long as a child isn't present.

i dont no what the fucking shit about all this is im 13 yrs old and go 2 willunga high and no 1 really cares. (my mum is a teacher) :eek:

Schools are banning swearing?!

So much for freedom of speech.

Let me think about German swearing...

It depends on the region I think. I mean, there's "Arsch" and its variants. But then there are things like "Zipflklatscher" or "Wapler".

Swear at me and I swear back

fuck shit ass bitch ........ uhhhh i likes them?

The third time was the best

fuck shit ass bitch ........ uhhhh i likes them?
Why don't you make like a tree, and get the fuck out!


(Kidding, not flaming :D )

They are just words and there is a time and a place for everything. School isnt the time or place. I curse, but not terribly often, usually when making a severe point and its the final word. I often hear people where curses have become a common part of their everyday speech, woven into nearly everything they say. This certainly reflects on their mentality. Its part of the erosion of culture. When used often, curses lose their intended effect, they become common.
There are people that fart out loud in the company of others. Sure-its a natural bodily function, but there is a time and a place for it.

P*ss me off lol!

To respond directly to the thread title: fuck all.

I swear casually (rarely directed at someone) in my daily speech. I mean, why would I want to limit my vocabulary.

Though it isn't the best when I'm at work and a pizza is stuck in the oven and say... customers with small children are waiting at the counter...

To respond directly to the thread title: fuck all.

Huh....I though swear words were censored....

Huh....I though swear words were censored....
Nope. One of the things I like about these boards. :)

It's rather stupid to censor something when everyone knows what's been said in the first place.

Nope. One of the things I like about these boards. :)

It's rather stupid to censor something when everyone knows what's been said in the first place.

Ooh, shows how long I have been away, still essentially following NS forum rules, not jolt forum rules.

I find swearing offensive but certainly understandable on occasison. It really annoys me when every second word someone uses is an expletive as in my opinion it shows a real lack of creativity and desensetization (I do't know if thats a real word). I do agree that censoring doesn't really make much difference though. If the first and the last letter are there, the rest will follow soon enough.

:rolleyes: I don't swear much but I don't find swearing offensive. What exactly is the point of cens*ring things? It doesn't make a difference! :rolleyes:

I swear casually (rarely directed at someone) in my daily speech. I mean, why would I want to limit my vocabulary.


If you're angry, the odds are you'll say something about it, and by resorting to swear words you limit your choices.
Frankly, they don't offend me, but I had a freind tell me once that all they do is show that whoever used them wasn't creative enough or intelligent enough to express himself without them. I thought about that, and then looked at the people I know who use them with regularity (i.e. almost every time they open their mouth) and I realized that they were (on the whole, with exceptions) dumber than most people. Poorly educated, as well.
Therefore, when possible I avoid using them, because I think it shows just a little bit more class, and a little more creativity, if you can express yourself without them.