Rampant profanity

Tayla said:

I am annoyed at the rampant profanity in our culture. People I would otherwise enjoy listening to grate on my moral sensibilities.

Some of them I listen to anyway.

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It get's old ... and isn't necessary .... I just cover my ears ;o) or ... plug in to music ;o)

They're just words.

Tinker Grey said:

They're just words.

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So you think words can't ever be harmful?

Strathos said:

So you think words can't ever be harmful?

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Not in and of themselves. Hurt comes from inferring from someone's usage that they wish you to feel hurt from their use of words.

Tinker Grey said:

Not in and of themselves. Hurt comes from inferring from someone's usage that they wish you to feel hurt from their use of words.

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So if someone inadvertently says something offensive, it's fine as long as they didn't mean it?

Strathos said:

So if someone inadvertently says something offensive, it's fine as long as they didn't mean it?

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Yes. It is fine. Offense is taken, not given.

Tinker Grey said:

Yes. It is fine. Offense is taken, not given.

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So a person would not be expected to apologize in such a scenario?

Strathos said:

So a person would not be expected to apologize in such a scenario?

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Whether a person expects an apology is on them. If one can discern that it was an accident, then one should not expect an apology. Well maybe for causing an awkward situation, but not for the offense itself. But for myself, no apology at all is required.

When my young daughters asked me why it was wring to say bad words I told them it wasn't wrong. There is nothing wrong with a word--words are simply arrangements of the alphabet or the expression of air passed thought the larynx. They asked because they have heard profanity in music and films--I told them that people use profanity in those instances to express tone and to emphasize emotion. There is nothing wrong with those emotions. I also told them that they should consider not using profanity because some people are easily offended and they will judge you. Mature people don't worry about this, I said, It is best to read and learn--to develop a strong vocabulary so that when people argue about words, you will have more than them.

I would reply to this thread, but all my words would get bleeped.

Tayla said:

The words of profanity are ugly. Who wants ugly things rattling around in their mind?

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"Ugly" is subjective.

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Tayla said:

The words of profanity are ugly. Who wants ugly things rattling around in their mind?

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Most words considered profane have their origin in the human body and peoples shame of it. "Bad words" represent defication, sexual acts, the anus, the penis, and a host of body related imagery and allusion. As people feel more comfortable with aspects of the body and they disregard shame, they seem to care less about words which cast suspicion on those parts of the body. It is all highly Victorian and pointless.

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Tayla said:

I think there is more to profanity than people merely sharing that all aspects of our person-hood as humans are equal. They seem to be looking for ways to shock others. They would find new ways to do this once the body is fully accepted as it is.

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Some people use profanity to shock others. Maybe that is bad at times. Most people use it rather casual without any internet to harm or offend. I use it to show emphasis or to elevate someones attention to a point I am making. Or when I stub my toe. If a person doesn't like such words, it is likely that they were taught those that some words were bad or negative; fewer parents care about this nowadays--there is little to worry about in this area. Some think it is a sign of a limited vocabulary; this is an obvious error because highly educated people curse. John MCwhorter curses all the time and he is a brilliant linguists. I see no harm in it.

Curse words change over time. The new curse words are not the ones we were all raised with; profanity is now more likely to be a new politically correct vocabulary which ordains and condemn some words.