Gosh darn it, I didn't even swear.

I just wanted to point out that we used to avoid the word, "pregnant" when describing a woman's condition, even though we now regularly congratulate couples for getting pregnant. The words that had to be used to describe pregnancy were varied and showed a more sophisticated vocabulary, and yet I'm pretty sure that most people here would see it as an improvement that we no longer use terms like "with child."

Well Napalm -- Perhaps they are just "words" in an uncivilized world. But I was raised to respect man/womankind and would like to think that, by and large, we are a civilized people.
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With the proliferation of this disrespect that is being forced upon the general populace by a small minority of hoodlums in the name of "my rights", merely undermines the rights and respect of our civilized people.

"I swear and I don't give a hoot who likes it or not". That states the problem succinctly. Now the question is, how do we get people to "give a hoot" again? Or do we have to benignly accept the selfishness that belies such an attitude and the degrading effect it has on future generations?

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but curse words won't offend me. - Spunkmeyer

I swear altho I try really hard not to. It is a really hard habit to break once you start it. I also think swearing is becoming too common. Take for example the new movie called *Kick A$$* But it doesn't use the dollar sign. So what do kids think when they see movies being made with swear words? That it's ok?

Sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it . That being said I swear and I don't give a hoot who like's it or not...but there are inapproriate times and places for it !

I'm sure he meant it in a socially general way.

copperguy -
"Cursing is but one symptom of the hypocivility that is today's accepted norm."
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With all due respect, it is NOT an accepted norm for THIS poster!!
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(Got the caps idea from John Eyster) <grin>
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Enjoy!!

Good timing to have this piece and Greg Peck's about "Lack of Civil Discourse" on the same day. They go hand-in-hand. Is it any wonder that we hear such outrageous stories as a girl who was bullied to suicide, when we are teaching our kids that civility is no longer essential?

Politicians swear and yell in the wells of the Senate and House. legislators' listeneing sessions have devolved to public pillory for opposing views. Newspaper forums provide a means for folks to anonymously and viciously attack others.

Find an article about a traffic crash, and you will see an endless string of rants about other people's driving habits. Watch a roadway and you will inevitably hear the horns and see the fingers of rage. Watch reality TV shows and you will see police officers resorting to the verbal and physical rage of those they are trying to control.

Cursing is but one symptom of the hypocivility that is today's accepted norm.

My ears were burning so I had to find out why.

Here's an appropriate Mark Twain quote that came to my mind after reading Gazettefan's last post. "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." If you're going to rattle cages Gazettefan, I suggest you proofread before you post for maximum effect and to keep the rest of us from having that doubt of what Mark Twain mentions removed.
"What'll"? Didn't you mean "Wait'll?

Did you notice in JimPl's Mark Twain quote that Twain acknowledges the relief that one can get from prayer? That profanity can provide even more relief, even if it is of the inferior self-serving kind, is also true. But then that's the root of the problem that we have with unbridled profanity in our culture today, that it's so self-gratifying. And I too find myself in agreement with PaulBahr about the lack of respect and that it is indeed prevalent in our culture. That and our inherent callousness, even joy in inflicting pain on one another which is the purpose of directing profanities at one another. That brings about yet another Mark Twain quote, "Of all the creatures that were made, man is the most detestable. Of the entire brood he is the only one--the solitary one--that possesses malice. That is the basest of all instincts, passions, vices--the most hateful. He is the only creature that has pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. Also--in all the list he is the only creature that has a nasty mind."

paulbahr - BINGO!! You hit the nail right on the head.
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We do not use or condone profanity in our household. Our kids have been encouraged to follow the same rule elsewhere which I am sure is difficult given the fact they are bombarded with "language" daily at school and on television/movie/internet/media.
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Unfortunately, you see a severe degradation of respect more and more today in nearly everything.

What'll billnewbie reads that!!!

"Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." Mark Twain

Exactly, it comes down to respect. I respect myself and those around me too much to use crude language. I teach my kids to treat others with respect and they shouldn't have to be exposed to swear words in a park or grocery store. If you wouldn't say it to your grandma or your teacher, then don't say it in public places!

paulbahr, You are absolutely right. How many times do you hear about someone being "dissed." When I first heard this term, my then-teenagers informed me that it was short for being disrespected. What so many people don't seem to understand is that, like everything else worthwhile in life, respect is earned, not demanded.

It's a reflection of one person's respect for another. Anymore, people just don't care if you like what they're saying or how they say it. They're going to take their (misguided) 1st Amendment Right to the limits and claim a free speech infraction if you correct them or say anything about the way they're talking.

Actually, IMO, most of the day-to-day problems in this world (theft, destruction, abuse, etc.) are reflections of society's position on respect. If kids were raised to respect other people's property as if it was their own, would they paint graffiti on it? Would they want it stolen? Would they want their bodies abused?

It's all about respect, or in religious vernacular, "The Golden Rule".

Curse words, any word, loses its shock value if used repeatedly. I don't like hearing the "F" word, but I'm guessing that we are not, as a society, going downhill too far, and I'm not too worried about it. I think a good historian could share stories of GREAT men of history with potty-mouths. The difference? When Lincoln or Washington said something off-color the whole world didn't know it and debate it. Of course, people have always used curse words - or we wouldn't remember stories of our parents sitting with bars of soap in their mouths, and we wouldn't need a Commandment regulating which word is a sin to exclaim in anger and which words are just impolite. Yeah, Polite Society frowns on colorful, sailor language - and parents should probably help their children learn the difference between acceptable words and words that will get you sent to the principal - but at the end of the day - the only curse words that really upset me are racial slurs. Those, I cannot tolerate.

What Carlin didn't understand is that swear words have value, but they only have value if they aren't used all the time.

His problem with the prohibition of using swear words in certain situations and certain venues marked the beginning of the unfunny period in his career.

Early, when he did goofy characters was when he was at his funniest. His problem with swearing-period coupled with his fixation on contradictory terms such as "jumbo shrimp" was not funny and unfortunately dominated most of his career.

Actually gary, it's Board Room talk, too.

Plant talk.

I cite the proliferation of media and the loss of central control over it. This is not necessarily the freedom of speech that is the basis for all the freedoms that we still enjoy in this country. It is a ploy for attention, an attempt to communicate on an equal level with the less refined members of society, or a defiant gesture (sometimes literally) to an oppressive class. My wife has always referred to it as GM language. I don't know why. ;-)

Who were the word police that decided letters arranged in a certain order and pronounced a certain way became offensive?

I can't stand to hear swearing and sometimes when my kids are with me, I'll ask people to watch their language. I'm not even talking about people using swear words out of anger, they just use them as a part of a conversation! It is really crude and shows a lack of respect for those around them.

And comedians... Why do some rely on using curse words to get a laugh? The really funny ones don't need to rely on profanity to get a laugh. Just look at the master- Bill Cosby. We saw him in Madcity years ago and he can leave you rolling in the aisles without resorting to "Shock Comedy".

Biggirl, That's right. My grandmother differentiated between the two. Taking the Lord's name in vain was swearing. "Ugly" words were cussing. We also didn't say "darn, dang, gosh, golly, or heck, as they were all derivatives of swear words (the Lord's Name, or other forbidden words). My how times have changed!

talkingmonkey"frogger, it might help you to go see if you can help that person. Maybe that swearing is a cry for help..."

Doubt it.

My grandmother would get far more upset if I used the Lord's name in vain than if I dropped the f-bomb (although she didn't like that). I don't think many people get upset about saying, "God" today.

http://soundbible.com/838-Censor-Beep.ht...

I have a great vocabulary. Sometimes I swear (strategically) for emphasis. That's what swearing is really for.

I also believe that some people's ability to express themselves is far out-weighed by their lack of vocabulary or a healthy method for expressing themselves, quite possibly due to childhood environmental influences (or lack thereof).

"...and therefore CREATE a more positive attitude"

frogger, it might help you to go see if you can help that person. Maybe that swearing is a cry for help...

I think that diminished impact currently is a compounding factor in the level of expressionism. But the level of anger in society seems staggeringly higher than what it was in the past. Maybe we're just more aware of it these days due to evolution of the mind and a deeper understanding of how our minds work, but I think that there is less stigma attached to expressing oneself as accurately as possible these days. Less concern of others self-righteous attitudes can mitigate many self-conscious feelings and therefore a more positive attitude towards life.

I am very irritated when I am shopping and I hear people in their "outside voice" cursing. F-bomb usually. I have heard this come out of teens to adults mouths.I am also speaking of just general conversation. For example the f-bomb as an adjective,verb, or a noun. These people talking while walking in the store and not angry. Maybe they are just angry inside all the time. I have had customers use it in front of me. I think it is how you are raised. I think it is very disrespectful. I think it also shows a lack of intelligence to do this around people you don't know.

It also seems if you work with people who do this often it rubs off on you a bit.
Yes I will swear too. I try to do it only when REALLY angry then people know I am REALLY angry. Yes I shouldn't. I also wouldn't do it in public, around children, in front of customers, or around family. So that leaves me with hubby and a couple co- workers I guess.

I also think it is used to much on TV and this is a problem.

A s#$% once in a while isn't so bad but f-bomb all the time in normal converation is just dumb!!

I was raised not to swear especially in public. I didn't hear the F word used casually until I was in my 20's and had a friend that used it. I think the frequent use of swear words, expecially the F bomb has diminished the impact that it once had when it was used. Therefor I think TALKING_MONKEY's theory/reasoning is no longer accurate because these words have now been relegated to the darns! and shoots! of yesteryear.

But I DO have to say that sometimes, getting physical is better, in a safe, controlled environment. I try to respond to someone's anger with empathy. Man, that can be hard sometimes, but I feel better in the end, and usually, so does the other person.

I think we (as humans, in general) are just getting in touch with our anger and being able to express it without fear of repercussion more than we have been able to in the past. I feel that expressing emotion without actual physical violence is a good start to the healing.
If I were not allowed to express myself, I would likely snap so it is a good thing I have the First Amendment to back me up. I also think it is a loss when all information gets canned in favor of "ear protection". Sounds alot like throwing the baby out with the dirty wash-water.

People who use curse words generally are exemplifying the type of atmosphere they reside in. (Kids especially.)

Maybe you don't have the stress in your lives that makes for a good f bomb explosion. Some of us do.

Cardtrader:Why is dumb, dumb?

Why are beans beans? why is red red? they are just words get over it.

linda, I couldn't agree with you more! I also think it is laziness and lack of imagination. You have to be creative when you don't cuss. Like you, I tend to doubt the intelligence, or, at the very least, the common sense of anyone who laces their sentences with f-bombs. As my eighty-year-old Alabama mama would say, "My, my! How it cheapens them."

Steve, that is company you do not wish to keep. Stay out of the shallow end of the pool.

Cursing is a sign of a limited vocabulary. There are other ways for a person to express feelings. When I hear swearing, I immediately discount anything else that person may have to say.