Is swearing really that vulgar?

[stan1980]

I've always found it strange how someone can be offended by simply a word. I've never been one to swear a lot, but i do now and again enjoy the odd expletive. Some people say the only people who swear are the people who can't express themselves properly, but i find swearing can be a fantastic way of expressing myself at times.

I notice that swearing is filtered out on this forum, which i'm not surprised with this being a Christian site, but is anyone really that offended by reading a swear word?

 

[WatersMoon110]

I don't think that swearing is offensive. I think it's very silly for anyone to give so much power to a few little words. And almost all of them are about very natural things (urine, feces, sex, sexual organs).

I do swear, on occasion. But I don't care if people around me do or not, so long as they aren't swearing angrily at me.

 

[selfinflikted]

"Words are very unnecessary. They can only do harm."

-Depeche Mode

Enjoy the Silence

 

[jayem]

I don't consider myself a prude, but excessively or gratuitously obscene speech offends me personally. Especially in the media. Movie dialogue, or comedy routines with a lot of swear words are just not entertaining or funny. But this is just my personal taste. And it's a very subjective judgement about what and how much is excessive or gratuitous. As they say, I know it when I hear it.

 

[keith99]

Of course it is, but few it seems know what vulgar means:

Main Entry: vul·gar javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?vulgar01.wav=vulgar') Pronunciation: \ˈvəl-gər\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin vulgaris of the mob, vulgar, from volgus, vulgus mob, common people Date: 14th century 1 a: generally used, applied, or accepted b: understood in or having the ordinary sense [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]ey reject the vulgar conception of miracle — W. R. Inge>2: vernacular [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]e vulgar name of a plant>3 a: of or relating to the common people : plebeian b: generally current : public [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]e vulgar opinion of that time> c: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind4 a: lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : coarse b: morally crude, undeveloped, or unregenerate : gross c: ostentatious or excessive in expenditure or display : pretentious5 a: offensive in language : earthy b: lewdly or profanely indecent synonyms see common, coarse

— vul·gar·ly adverb

 

[Wednesday]

I don't mind swearing, I do swear, however it does depend on where you are and who you are with. You wouldn't swear on your job interview, while speaking to your boss, teacher or someone senior. Coarse language is really for the close company. Speaking from experience.

 

[Corey]

Swear words need to be used creatively...overuse while not vulgar is insipid.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Not vulgar. Incredibly stupid but not vulgar.

You'll insult someone by using a word they don't understand then you do with short curses.

 

[Sitswithamouse]

I swear when I get really angry or hurt myself. I don't mind others swearing as long as it is not too excessive.

Where I don't like it is when parents swear at their (small) children it really annoys me.

 

[gwenmead]

I'm with George Carlin on this one: I find it really odd that we'd find certain words taboo or "dirty" or undesirable. Words can help or harm, but is that because words actually have power, or because we give words power? I don't know...

There are definitely times when nothing but an F-bomb will do. Landed just the right way, at just the right moment, it's perfect.

 

[flicka]

Swear words, like all words, have their uses. I'm no more offended by their use than I am the overuse of words like "awesome" and "hella".

 

[Domenico]

I dont mind swearing so long as it isnt directed at someone. I actually think the f-word is the most flexible and useful word in the English language.

 

[godismyabba]

I used to use the F-word about every other word. I did cuss, mostly for the shock value of hearing a pretty little girl say a dirty little word. True, when I became a Christian, I did try to curb it. I meet people who cuss like I did, and they seem uneducated (I know, don't put everyone in the same box).. so I try and see myself and ask "Did I look that stupid?". Probably yes. I do utter a cuss word every now and then, and then wish I had more control of my tongue.

To answer your question, I don't think God will necessarily punish someone because they cuss, (IMO) I just think it shows a lack of manners.. you have to think of the company you are in. I said sh** yesterday (not on purpose) and I think the co-worker I was with was really taken aback. She doesn't cuss at all, so of course I apologized. My goal is not to offend anyone, if it had been someone that I knew did not mind, I wouldn't have thought to apologize.

 

[WatersMoon110]

Really I only swear when I need to make a point or while playing video games and losing. Some people do it habitually, really without thinking about it, and so sometimes in the wrong company.

I don't understand why people get offended by swear words. I think that we should consider racial (and homosexual) slurs far more offensive!

 

[gwenmead]

I have a friend in the Navy. When he has his drinking buddies over, I tend to let loose more freely with the colorful metaphors.

It's funny to see sailors blush and scatter.

 

[LittleNipper]

I've always found it strange how someone can be offended by simply a word. I've never been one to swear a lot, but i do now and again enjoy the odd expletive. Some people say the only people who swear are the people who can't express themselves properly, but i find swearing can be a fantastic way of expressing myself at times.

I notice that swearing is filtered out on this forum, which i'm not surprised with this being a Christian site, but is anyone really that offended by reading a swear word?

Yes, swearing is vulgar because a person of intelligence should be able to express his feelings without incorporating demeaning slang terms. The reality is that sometimes something may slip out. That is never correct; however, if someone is trying for an attention grabber, then the person who nerver uses foul terms will certainly make his point. The people who speak that way at every turn are simply seen as ignorant.

 

[cantata]

One thing I find interesting is that words for the female genitals are considered far worse than words for the male genitals. What's supposed to be the crudest word in the English language? The one that begins with C and ends with T. There are no words for the male genitals that are even close to being considered as rude as that. Words for a promiscuous woman (sl*t, wh*re) are also considered far more offensive than words for a promiscuous man (stud, ladies' man) - so much so that I'm required to censor the former to get them through the CF filter.

Anyway, sorry, way off-topic. I just find this stuff interesting.

 

[Yusuf Evans]

The occasional word is okay and fine. Letting it come out as every other word, doesn't speak well about someone's intelligence level either.

 

[Dahlia1]

Someone saying it occassionally doesn't bother me at all, but if they overuse those words it's just as annoying to me as someone saying "like" several ungrammatical times per sentence. I remember when, to keep myself paying attention to this girl's 4- minute speech on cognitive abilities, I counted the number of times she said 'like' & 'um'. The answer? 142 times. Granted, she talked fast...
The other times when swearing annoys me usually occurs when someone uses them to try to look 'cool' or 'gangsta'. You are a middle class white boy! And you don't live in 'da hood'! Deal with it!

 

[Steezie]

I usually swear in other languages so no one knows what Im saying anyways