Swear words in online forums

It's situation and person aappropriate - it doesn't shock but sometimes bores: I use them occasionally: but
the words that clearly are sexist are utterly out of order, no goes, and I will always call them out as long as its safe.

Grandmabatty

I never hear the 'c' word used at all. I'm an inveterate swearer but that word is a step too far even for me to use.

I'm an inveterate blasphemer but never say f... or c... good old four letter Anglo Saxon words they might be but not for me.
Americans do use words in a different way my GD nearly made me faint last week when my shoulder bag slipped and the contents fell out. She told me I needed a f....... bag. She has lived in the States and DD explained that the word meant something else, we would say a bum bag.

I question anyone with such a limited vocabulary. I don’t want to hear it, the English Language is beautiful and varied, why use foul language?

Why do you think using a couple of specific words means that you have a limited vocabulary?

I postulate that your perceptions in this matter are somewhat skewed.

Agreed. Swear words are usually additional to a vocabulary, not replacement words.

My swear words are additional and I can't find them in my thesaurus so they will have to do.

I curse under pressure. I’m not offended by the casual use of f or similar but don’t like angry, aggressive swearing. I don’t use c and it, along with bitch is banned in my house.

VioletSky

It's really important that the status quo does not change on swear words.

If the percentage of offended people falls too far, I won't get any satisfaction or catharsis out of dropping the odd swearbomb

That is my objection to wall-to-wall swearing - if you use the strongest words all the time, what do you have left as a real H-bomb of a swear? You'd have to fall back on "Oh how terribly annoying!"

I rather like oh how terribly annoying

Iam64

I rather like oh how terribly annoying

😂

It didn't work when I fell and broke my ankle!
But then neither did f*ck, f*ck, f*ckity f*ck as I couldn't reach the phone nor get to open the door for the paramedic.

I never swore in front of my children. Then one day one of them phoned me in the car and I thought the call was over. As I was cut up by a young gentleman I loudly called him a f**** w****r only to hear “mother” shouted down the phone. Thanks for the laugh Volver, being a bi racial person (half and half English and Scottish) I enjoy the Scottish vernacular hugely.

I do rather like b*llox

As a word, I should add 😁

I worked in a mixed environment but don't remember anyone using a swear word at work.

Everyone uses a swear word at times, I just don’t want to be with people that use it all the time. We are all free to be with friends we feel at ease with and if that’s someone who swears like a trouper that’s up to them, it’s not what I would choose that’s all.

Doodledog

I was brought up to believe all sorts of things that I don't now. I have a mind of my own.

I think that there is a time and a place for swearing - if there weren't, the words would lose any power they have. I'm not interested in shocking people, and wouldn't swear if I thought someone would be upset by it (ditto, and more especially blasphemy). Deliberately causing offence is childish, IMO.

I do swear though, and only c**t offends me. Not the word itself, but the fact that an intimate part of the female body is considered to be the worst insult that can be used. It's even worse when people use it, then apologise and say that extreme circumstances made it ok by exception.

Couldn't agree more Doodledog. If that isn't a sign of holding up the patriarchy, I don't know what is. Our children are born through that part of our body. And yet it's the worst word in the English language? Absolutely not.

Allsorts

I question anyone with such a limited vocabulary. I don’t want to hear it, the English Language is beautiful and varied, why use foul language?

I have a huge and varied vocabulary. I chose the words I wish to use with care and consideration. Sometimes I chose to say f**k (moderated for the pearl clutchers). When I do it is because that best expresses my feelings.
I’m never shocked by words per se it is always the intention that is important.
I worked in a factory where “c*nt” was routinely used with no anger or malice. The best subscription would have been “chap”.

Allsorts

I question anyone with such a limited vocabulary. I don’t want to hear it, the English Language is beautiful and varied, why use foul language?

Shakespeare had a huge range of swearwords. I do a fun lesson at school where I give the students a list of them and challenge them to come up with the worst swear/insult. Winner gets a prize.

Anything good enough for Will is good enough for me. Or Chaucer for that matter. 'For certeyn, old dotard, by your leve, Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve.'

Good grief, such disdain.

What a great topic.
I’m not person who swears BUT if I’m in the company of those who litter their sentences with swearing, I then find my words become swearing. I quickly check and as I’m now aware of this, I avoid when possible those who swear.
I know it seems silly but we are influenced by others whether we admit it or not.
I just don’t like taking the Lords name in a swearing context. We’d never take another faiths name for God in a swearing context.
I’m of the opinion it’s lack of vocabulary and poor education.
I know some on here will say I’m wrong, well if someone who has been given the opportunity of a good education and still swears, my thoughts are they were not well educated.

I think f and s are just rude words and that's that.

Writing them is a step further than using them in speech.
I'd oppose giving up the asterisks - that's giving in to low standards.

Don't read John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, 17th century if you are prone to a fit of the vapours... Heavily censored in the Victorian era. A bit of a lad who died due to complications of syphilis aged just thirty-three.

Swear words don’t really offend me anymore as they are so commonly used. I don’t really swear myself- just the odd milder one in a stressful situation. My upbringing probably. They can be annoying if used in place of a decent vocabulary as they so often are, which is lazy. What does strike me is using the Lord’s name in vain. I think using ‘Jesus Christ’ and the like in that way is more horrible than any ‘f’ or ‘c’ word. I have always pulled my children up on this and always will.

Steven Fry is wonderful on the benefits of swearing 😀

None of my children or my extended family swear, I have never heard any of them even use the ‘s’word,ever. I used to at work after meeting with a difficult client but only amongst other workmates, never in public. Mostly I don’t think it is necessary and if I hear someone swearing a lot I avoid them because I think they are bad tempered and unpleasant.

It’s a bit smug to say people who swear have low intelligence isn’t it? I have a degree and do ditto son and daughter.

However I hate American films in which every other word is fuck this, that, or something else - now that does indicate a scriptwriter short on talent