Is swearing really that vulgar?

[Mrs.Sidhe]

I would have to say no that it isn't that vulgar. I can be (and have been in the past) quite colorful in my language, but since having my daughter I have toned down my language a lot. I just don't think its stuff she should hear at her young age and so I try my best not to use that language around her. I do intend to teach her when she is older about what language is appropriate for certain times or places and what is not. I'm not going to lie though--if I hurt myself or screw up something in the house or forget to do something a curse word may slip out.

I do not think that swearing shows a lack of intelligence or that a person is stupid for using swear words. That's just ridiculous to say if you ask me.

Personally, while I think that words only have power if you give them power and I think its silly that certain words are taboo, I do think you have to remember what company you are in when you speak. Mainly in the sense of whether or not your swearing will really offend them. For example I would never swear in front of my husband's grandmother, my mother-in-law (even though she uses mild curses like hell or damn), or during a job interview. But if I'm with Sidhe (and our daughter isn't with us) or with my friends and I want to swear I'm going to let loose.

 

[Verv]

Actually, I will be honest, I am a Christian that uses bad words like the 'F' word a lot.

But I do not feel bad about it.

Do you know why?

Because it says for us to not take the Lord's name in vain, and to me that seems like the most important thing ever.

Oh My God! is more offensive to me than an outright curse becacuse we casually toss it around.

Jesus H. Christ and similar things are also more offensive than outright cursing to me.

I am part of a new generation: I follow the Bible as I know it, not as the last generation knew it and made such gross error.

 

[celticfan83]

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?

context context context is the the key and always has been the key

 

[I Just Believe In Me]

So if no one is offended how about someone turns of that swearing filter.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

I don't particularly believe there's anything intrinsically wrong with swearing. Swearing at someone, yes, because it serves to curse them.

And also, depending on the words used, swearing takes a swipe at people who don't deserve it. Like people who have no control over their parents and yet such terms are used in comparisons.

Also, since words have power, I am inclined to think that overuse of them robs them of their meaning. If someone swears all the time, how to distinguish when something of real magnitude has occured? Much like the boy who cries "Wolf!" after a while it comes to mean nothing.

Say if someone just lost an arm. I'd say that is a perfectly reasonable time to swear.

But if we're talking about Jesus, he called some folk children of the Devil and cursed a fig tree so hard it withered. So there's a time and a place for everything.

 

[Maxwell511]

Swearing is the vulgar expression of the lower classes. If the more civilized and educationed classes did not take offence at such mannerisms, in speech, in dress and of course at the table, our beloved aristoractic society would collaspe.

The civilized man must be repulsed by his social inferiors. If not, one day our country clubs and the hearts of our women may be infected by these [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]ing peasants.

 

[Verv]

Swearing is the vulgar expression of the lower classes. If the more civilized and educationed classes did not take offence at such mannerisms, in speech, in dress and of course at the table, our beloved aristoractic society would collaspe.

The civilized man must be repulsed by his social inferiors. If not, one day our country clubs and the hearts of our women may be infected by these [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]ing peasants.

That is kind of true.

The real reason it is looked down upon is because of a lack of class which offends many others. It is social and cultural not so much as it is religious.

 

[Pawbla]

Well... I'm 15, so I do swear. I swear a lot, because I live in an "environment" where swearing is more common than correct language. I usually talk with more people from the lower classes (I'm not rich or anything, my family just has the necessary to live without big problems) and lots of them are very used to swear. I just got used to it. But I can speak properly. It just doesn't feel comfortable for the other person.

 

[spaceddivstud]

It shouldn't really be the words but how they are used. A word that isn't offensive at all (like b*stard) in some contexts, when intended to offend is a swear word. I think its the way people use them that matters....

to a point...

the f' word (which i use far more than I should) is referring to sex which I believe to be one of God's greatest creations that should be treated with respect, The f'word is disrespectful to that as the way it is used in most situations is in a degrading way. I am in the habit of swearing but there are some words which I think people should think about what they mean before using them. Its a respect thing - to others, to God, to the meaning of the words.

I think swearing is a bit crude but it doesn't bother me hugely when not being directed at someone. People get too upset about it but when the older generation isn't used to hearing such words then its kind to them not to upset them.

I suppose its just common sense....

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

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.

I find it intriguing that people think swearing necessarily indicates a poor intelligence level.

A lot of people, myself included, do some quite creative things with swear words. I do think that over-using swear words makes them lose a bit of their meaning, but this can always be helped by suffixing with the odd 'wit' or 'face', or for the more adventurous 'alicious', 'aholic' or 'tastic'.

I think swearing is a fantastic way of expressing onesself. Not only with serious anger or sorrow, but comically too. 'I hate____' as a joke with some shock factor is almost always trumped by '@&!$%!!___^&%"$!!!!'

And the sheer levels of emotion that can be expressed by the C-word, not to mention the attention it commands, makes it one of my favourite words in the English language.

Yay for swearing!!

 

[united4Peace]

Im bad for swearing...my dh gets upset with me as it annoys him...however it doesnt matter to me when one swears as long as its not ever other word out of their mouth...

 

[YDOAPS]

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it my minister grace unto its hearers"-Ephesians 4:29

 

[ReverendDG]

Actually, I will be honest, I am a Christian that uses bad words like the 'F' word a lot.

But I do not feel bad about it.

Do you know why?

Because it says for us to not take the Lord's name in vain, and to me that seems like the most important thing ever.

Oh My God! is more offensive to me than an outright curse becacuse we casually toss it around.

Jesus H. Christ and similar things are also more offensive than outright cursing to me.

I am part of a new generation: I follow the Bible as I know it, not as the last generation knew it and made such gross error.

sooey i know this is OT but, the 3rd commandment isn't about saying "oh my god" or "jesus h christ" its about making pointless oaths and saying things like "god is on my side" when you don't know so
most people don't really get this and it makes for silly problems

 

[Verv]

sooey i know this is OT but, the 3rd commandment isn't about saying "oh my god" or "jesus h christ" its about making pointless oaths and saying things like "god is on my side" when you don't know so
most people don't really get this and it makes for silly problems

Actually, did you know that traditionally Hebrew Priests would stop wherever they were when they were re-writing the Torah, and would go and take a bath whenever they saw the word YHWH in order to purify themselves before writing it?

Saying "Oh My God" or writing out "God," trying to even say the Hebrew name for God is a sin (that is why some even write G-d instead of God). Of course, I do not take it that far and culturally Oh my God is so innocent that it is cute if a child says it to some people.

However, the name of God should only be used in serious contexts and not be used in any casual fashion.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Offensive language is offensive. Not much complexity to that.

Try not to swear, you'll like the results.

 

[TexasSky]

Proper etiquette, good manners, is a sign of education. It indicates the ability to control yourself. It indicates a respect for the feelings and sensitivities of those around you. An awareness of their sensibilities. Good manners are considered an essential part of civilized behavior, as opposed to wild behavior.

Every culture has rules of etiquette.

In our country, swearing, cursing, etc., are considered bad manners. Part of this is because swearing implies a lack of self control. Part of it is because a significant number of people use it as a way of appearing tough and vulgar.

How many of you would stand up in church or say from a stage, "Be right back, have to go take a p**s?" Wouldn't you be more inclined to think, "Excuse me. I will be right back," is proper? Wouldn't you think more highly of the second than the first? The first person wants to offend. They want to call attention to themselves. They want to shock.

If you are at home, and you slam a hammer onto your thumb, and you utter a curse word, odds are, no one other than your grandmother is going to be offended.

If you are at a business meeting, and you slam a desk drawer on your thumb, and you utter a loud curse word, you may end up costing yourself a promotion because your coworkers will view it as a sign of lack of self control.

 

[WatersMoon110]

If you are at a business meeting, and you slam a desk drawer on your thumb, and you utter a loud curse word, you may end up costing yourself a promotion because your coworkers will view it as a sign of lack of self control.

I would think that injuring one's self accidentally would be seen as reason to lose a little control of what one says imminently afterwards. I suppose it really depends on the office environment though. If the people there are cool - they probably don't care about casually cursing when not to customers or vendors (business relations skills should be utilized). If everyone is a bit uptight, or the business feels that it needs a wholesome image, then cursing would probably be looked down upon.

If you work at Disney, don't curse. If you work at Google, I doubt they care (so long as it isn't angry or at an investor). Being able to moderate one's language to a given situation is a good skill to have, but I don't think that everyone sees cursing as a lack of education or control.

 

[Mrs.Sidhe]

but I don't think that everyone sees cursing as a lack of education or control.

Thank you!


Furthermore not everyone who uses curse words is poorly educated or has no self-control. Not everyone who uses curse words has poor manners. I mean that is a really ridiculous leap to make don't you think TexasSky? I'm quite civilized and yes I do curse occasionally so let's not just paint with a broad brush everyone who curses to be an uneducated wild man/woman who has no self-control. I think most people know when and where certain language is appropriate.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

However, the name of God should only be used in serious contexts and not be used in any casual fashion.

And God's name isn't 'God' any more than my father's name is 'Dad' or my GP's name is 'Doctor'. Shouldn't we actually avoid saying 'I am'?

 

[ReverendDG]

Actually, did you know that traditionally Hebrew Priests would stop wherever they were when they were re-writing the Torah, and would go and take a bath whenever they saw the word YHWH in order to purify themselves before writing it?

Saying "Oh My God" or writing out "God," trying to even say the Hebrew name for God is a sin (that is why some even write G-d instead of God). Of course, I do not take it that far and culturally Oh my God is so innocent that it is cute if a child says it to some people.

However, the name of God should only be used in serious contexts and not be used in any casual fashion.

well no you are only half right, "God" is used in place of YHWH, YHWH was too holy for some people to use after some centuries, but the writers of the bible had no problem writing it.
that maybe what some people did after the exile, but it wasn't how it started
saying Yaweh wasn't a sin, people just stopped using it, because it took on superstitious meaning over the centuries
the reason people write G-d is exactly because they have been taught not to use god causally, ie: taught that its breaking the 3rd commandment
as i said, the 3rd commandment was written to keep people from causally taking oaths on gods name, or serious ones.
we still use it if you ever been a juror "will you tell the truth, the whole truth, so help you god?" thats what its talking about
or taking an oath in the service of god, say a knight templer and failing
the so called taking gods name in vain, is just that, using it falsely, we really need a new bible that people can understand better, it seems to confuse people too much