Swear words in online forums

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

I have to admit that I too "admire" (is that the right word?) some of the swear words used on MN. Cockwomble is a good one as is Cocklodger (used to describe a male partner who doesn't contribute financially or emotionally. I also snigger at the word wankpuffin although I don't know what it means. I am rather childish really.

I once tried using the 'f' word to express anger or frustration or something, but it didn't help, so I haven't bothered since.

The Germans have a few words which are really beyond the pale but they don't get the concept of wear words being unacceptable in certain circumstances. I once told a colleague of DH ( an English teacher!) that f* would be bleeped out on YouTube and American TV and radio. He had no idea!

I'm known to use the odd cuss, but I do find that overuse does lessen the impact. I have to remind one of my grown sons to take it easy, he has become too easy with sprinkling in swear words in everyday conversation, even when children are around.

I think there's a time and place. I remember when my DH went from a workshop environment to working in the hospital he had to change his ways. I do find that 'shop talk' is often sprinkled liberally with swearing, and some people find it harder than others to turn it off for a different environment.

I think swearing, with some discretion, is perfectly fine. On GN, I'd be inclined to use the asterisks, just to avoid offending anyone. The most intelligent person I know uses a generous peppering of the f word in everyday speech, as emphasis - unless small children are present.

Lixy
At a quick glance I thought your favourite swear word was the same as mine but then I saw it wasn’t enough letters 🤣

I do like the mumsnet favourite 'goadyf*cker', it usually seems so apt.

But when the f*ck replaces 'um' or 'err' in a conversation it gets very boring.

Sometimes only a swear word will do - b*****r being my one of choice. most recently when I put milk in my mum's warm squash drink instead of my coffee.

I think comedians over-use swearwords and I don't really understand why they do - the shock value has long gone.

On forums, which the OP was talking about, there is time to consider language used, so I guess swearing indicates a strong feeling about something. I understand the sentiment but prefer the use of asterisks rather than the complete word just because I'm a bit of a prude I suppose.

c**t t**t and motherf*****r are complete no-goes for me and I walk away from conversations where they are in use.

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 agree Chestnut, I hate the 'C' word, it makes me flinch and the casual use of mother***** is appalling, the odd F doesn't bother me , if in context, and I have been known to use it myself, generally in private, often when watching Question Time

It's even worse when people use it, then apologise and say that extreme circumstances made it ok by exception.

I used to work in a very male organisation. One colleague in particular, younger than me, used to use the f-word then apologise to me. I guess he thought I would melt into a puddle with shock at hearing such a word, but wanted to use it anyway.

Things changed the day I told him to get tae f***.

There are regional differences in levels of acceptable swearing but it's only the middle classes who judge people for it

I dislike the c word too, even though it's a very fitting word for some people

I can cope with the occasional F word when necessary but hate to hear it sprinkled casually in conversation. I really love Gervais but just hate his frequent use of the c word. Grrrr!

Also my big NO NO is mother******. Absolutely horrible, and Americans seem to use it a lot in their movies, and very casually. What is going on there? Why would anyone except scumbags and drug dealers want to use that word?

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.

I do swear occasionally not f or c (well Ok sometimes the former on a golf course but only the bunker and I can hear it) but I just don't like the sound of it in general use it is unpleasant and harsh and for me it spoils some really good TV and films. Nothing to be done about it I suppose.

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

I must move in different circles to you Oldwoman as I don’t hear or see the c word - nor do I want to.
We have so many words to express ourselves with and I hope that word does not become commonplace.

There are times when only a good swear word will do! And having worked with words my entire life, I'd like to think I have a larger vocabulary than many...

Isn't the problem that the use of swear words has become so common place that you hear people using the "f" word in every sentence and it is no longer used just to release stress or because someone has a sudden pain. In order to achieve the same "effectiveness" people are using much worse words - how often do we now see and hear the word c**t!

I don't think there's many who haven't used a swear word or three when things go wrong but I think they lose their power if sprinkled liberally in general conversation.