Profanity: A necessary evil?

[rbis4rbb]

Do you think that sometimes profanity or "curse words" are ok? Do you think they are over used? Should they be abolished from language altogether?

I think that, in some situations, it is ok to use a curse word. But people, especially in my school, use curse words way too much.

 

[slothman]

I don't use them. IMHO people who use them often don't have much better to say. But people shouldn't be punished for using them. How will we know who to ignore.

 

[MajII]

They're words that express anger, frustration, contempt and/or taboos. In Quebec French, most swear words are in relation to the Church, while in English Canada most swear words have something to do with sex.

They're also used as emphasis, which is where I cuss a mean streak. There are some people I feel comfortable swearing around, only because we have a common understanding that their use is in no way meant to be derogatory and discriminating. Sometimes "very" and "extremely" just don't cut it. In present company and around those who I know or assume to find such language in distaste, I willingly refrain from employing foul language and adapt to my loss in vocabulary by fishing for 'cleaner' and equally succint wording.

 

[rbis4rbb]

^^ Like Bono saying "This is snipbrilliant"

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[Sanaz]

They're words that express anger, frustration, contempt and/or taboos.

Cuss words can be very funny. When used in anger, they sound weird. But then, if they were always used for humor, I guess they would lose all humor. So, I think people should use them in anger so they are funnier when used in humor.

 

[King PJ]

Swearing is never necessary to make point. Most of the time swearing makes you unintelligent. I hardly ever swear. Because I hardly ever swear, when I actually do swear people know I mean business.

 

[Laughing Gull]

the word formerly known as poop is far too interchangeable and descriptive to do without! I say it should be removed from the international bad words list.

 

[Smidlee]

Do you think that sometimes profanity or "curse words" are ok?

no. The best definition of profanity I've read is : the effort of a feeble mind trying to express itself forcefully. Since it mades a person seem foolish and out of control of his/her tongue, I can't see any good reason ever to use profanity.

Do you think they are over used? Should they be abolished from language altogether?

I think that, in some situations, it is ok to use a curse word. But people, especially in my school, use curse words way too much.

Profanity is more than just words but it expresses ones own heart. So profanity really is only the symptom of the problem. The real problem is the human heart. James (in scriptures) wrote about this in James 3. As one of James examples ; just as water is either bitter or sweet so comes out of someone's mouth either blessing or cursing.

 

[Sarevok]

I dont use them much. I reserve them for when im honestly pissed off.

 

[Laughing Gull]

cursing a situation or entity because of its lack of merit ammounts to nothing other than a waste of breath.

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[Tassadar]

no. The best definition of profanity I've read is : the effort of a feeble mind trying to express itself forcefully. Since it mades a person seem foolish and out of control of his/her tongue, I can't see any good reason ever to use profanity.

Profanity is more than just words but it expresses ones own heart. So profanity really is only the symptom of the problem. The real problem is the human heart. James (in scriptures) wrote about this in James 3. As one of James examples ; just as water is either bitter or sweet so comes out of someone's mouth either blessing or cursing.

A more reasonable explanation; i swear a lots but not because of my hearth, but because i was born on a farm and here in quebec, the country cultur swear a lots, my father was swearing ( you know all those catholic thing, like osti de tarbarnac de st ciboire, which mean nothing to most of poeple).


Si i learned to swear at the same time i was begining to speak, so it is just a imitation symptom insteed of a satanic influence on my hearth.

 

[MajII]

no. The best definition of profanity I've read is : the effort of a feeble mind trying to express itself forcefully. Since it mades a person seem foolish and out of control of his/her tongue, I can't see any good reason ever to use profanity.

Force has the advantage of brevity. I could whip out a speech to the guy trying to steal the CD player from my car, or I could tell him to "Get the **** out of my car" in an angry and intimidating manner. The latter is much more effective. I suppose I could edit the four-letter word out of the demand, but as some have mentioned, profanity can serve its purpose of terseness by packaging an essay's worth of feeling into a vocal breath.

 

[Moss]

Do you think that sometimes profanity or "curse words" are ok? Do you think they are over used? Should they be abolished from language altogether?

Yes, on occation a curse word is ok, however I do think they are overused by certain people I know. Curse words to me signify a person who does not take the time or effort to come up with something more kind or intelligent to say. The spraying out of profanities is usually done in a tempered state of mind and it is not a state of mind humans should be in.

But NO, I don't think they should be abolished from language. We have the right of freedom of speech. And swearing does not infringe on that right.

 

[amadeus]

Abolished from the language? You can't control things without controlling people and words are basically things -- the instruments of human communication.

 

[stratego]

Without evil we wouldn't know what good is. Without swear words we wouldn't know what non-swear words are.

 

[Xiahou-Dun]

I have no problem with people using 'swear words'. Just another word to express yourself with, only with a taboo attached to it. Taking certain words and controlling the freedom of expression of others.

In the past had someone decided the word *tree* should be named a 'swear word' (S***), would the word *tree* now be the 'swear word' S*** is? I see it only as a name.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I swear a lot, and I don't see any problem with this. I use curse words in one of two ways:

1) Interjections. As in the common "Oh ****!" and its relatives.

) "Intensifiers". This strengthens a description or idea. For instance, a snip moron is somewhat dumber than simply a moron -- a complete snip moron is even worse.
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[SeleucusNicator]

Yes, on occation a curse word is ok, however I do think they are overused by certain people I know. Curse words to me signify a person who does not take the time or effort to come up with something more kind or intelligent to say. The spraying out of profanities is usually done in a tempered state of mind and it is not a state of mind humans should be in.

Elitist pish-posh.

I would argue that, if anything, use of larger words, euphemistic phrases, and "taking the time or efford to come up with something more kind" is a much better indicator of somebody who is inconfident in his ability to express himself and looking to compensate.

 

[Tassadar]

Elitist pish-posh.

I would argue that, if anything, use of larger words, euphemistic phrases, and "taking the time or efford to come up with something more kind" is a much better indicator of somebody who is inconfident in his ability to express himself and looking to compensate.

Not always, personaly i can have a very philosophical discusion without any swearing with a Phd ( doctor grade), but if i am in a bar with familiar, then i will swear to make me integrate better. Looking to inteligent with common poeple have brought me to much jealousy on me and it usualy piss them off.

 

[Masquerouge]

Cuss words can be very funny. When used in anger, they sound weird. But then, if they were always used for humor, I guess they would lose all humor. So, I think people should use them in anger so they are funnier when used in humor.

I agree 100%