MOD HAT BRIEFLY ON
Officially: This is a topic worthy of discussion. I know it can be tricky to stay within the CF rules, but please try. Let's remember not to bypass the filter, which is as against the rules as saying the word is. For purposes of citing examples, it would be OK to say something like "a word that rhymes with...." if you have to.
MOD HAT OFF
Now, contributing as a member:
Some substitute words are better than others. I think of that story of the king who was looking to hire a royal chariot driver. Every one he interviewed bragged about how close they could come to the edge of that cliff over there without falling off the edge. Finally a candidate came along who said, "Your majesty, I'm too scared to go anywhere near that cliff." He was hired on the spot. I for one am uncomfortable with them if they cut it a little too close for comfort. I'm thinking specifically of the phrase "God bless America," which I used to use as an interjection until I realized that, like the swear word it substitutes for, it also contains His name. (OK, His title, if you want to get technical.) So I stopped using it in favor of "good gravy Marie," or "good golly Miss Molly," or something similar.
That comfort line divides at different spots for different people. Speaking purely from a standpoint of conditioned response, I would be fine with "cheese and crackers," but "cheesy crust" would make me flinch a little.
I have been rebuked by other (well-meaning, I'm sure) Christians for saying words like "heck" and "darn." They do make the argument that you're thinking the other words in your head, so saying the substitute is just as bad. I disagree. Either I really am thinking "heck," because that's what I've gotten used to saying, or I am trying to change my habit of saying something unseemly. If I do make a last-minute word swap, I don't actually think that's wrong. I think it's a way of reining myself in, practicing self-control.
I enjoy using more unusual, and therefore unexpected substitutes. "Mother goose" is a favorite interjection of mine. I also find myself saying "rats" a lot. Thank Charlie Brown for that one.