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Swearing

(107 Posts)
Tiley Sat 06-Jul-24 12:13:02

I did a short stint on Mumsnet and was so shocked at the bad language used. In our day we would have had a good slap if we used any sort of bad language. Sad that the younger generation resort to speaking like this.

Bumface Sun 07-Jul-24 11:51:12

lemsip

Bumface

In some situations no other word will do.shock

I know of course that your name is a book title but how can you suggest that your face looks like that!

Congenital, cleft chin looks like a tiny bum.

I have not heard of the book, I must look it up as I am always on the lookout for something to read. Thanks lemsip:smile

watermeadow Mon 08-Jul-24 09:52:50

How many things are the same today as they were when we were young? Thank God, not many.
I hate tattoos and piercings but don’t much care about swearing.

Maggiemaybe Mon 08-Jul-24 10:31:06

Grammaretto

A lot of the swearing I hear on the bus is degrading to women.
Isn't it odd that even women can be heard calling someone a C**t or a Tw** . Do you suppose they know what these words mean?

I was taught not to swear and hardly ever do. My DC don't either at least I haven't heard them 😅

Yes. I recently shared a bus journey with a very young couple, him giving it the great “I am” with a constant stream of C, T and F words, her listening and smiling politely, occasionally adding a fond comment with not a swear word to be heard. I really wanted to tell her that she deserved so much better.

TiggyW Mon 08-Jul-24 11:14:00

I hate swearing with a passion. Can’t see any need for it, under any circumstances, because it causes offence. Individuals are called out for being homophobic, sexist, racist, etc., but they can swear offensively as much as they like.🤔 Even on television…

TiggyW Mon 08-Jul-24 11:22:18

Petra - Kenneth Tynan’s Mum must have been bursting with pride!! 🙄

Doodledog Mon 08-Jul-24 11:24:29

Maggiemaybe

Grammaretto

A lot of the swearing I hear on the bus is degrading to women.
Isn't it odd that even women can be heard calling someone a C**t or a Tw** . Do you suppose they know what these words mean?

I was taught not to swear and hardly ever do. My DC don't either at least I haven't heard them 😅

Yes. I recently shared a bus journey with a very young couple, him giving it the great “I am” with a constant stream of C, T and F words, her listening and smiling politely, occasionally adding a fond comment with not a swear word to be heard. I really wanted to tell her that she deserved so much better.

I don't like 'ladybits' being used as insults either. I'm an equal opportunities swearer grin.

I particularly don't like it when someone uses a sexist word then says that they don't use it normally, but in this case it's the only word that will do. That just reinforces the idea that the most offensive word in the English language is the one for women's genitals.

AGAA4 Mon 08-Jul-24 11:43:14

I only swear when I've hurt myself. Recently I broke my toe and I was glad I was on my own as some of those words don't usually come from my mouth. I don't use the female body parts words though as they are disgusting and an insult to women.

NannaFirework Mon 08-Jul-24 11:45:42

Swearing is all over the television and life!
When I was younger I hardly swore - niw I’m 60+ I swear in the comfort of my own home if the conversation calls for it or with friends (female) IF the sentence calls for it in my opinion - I think I swear now as I have more freedom - just stopped working with little children and would NEVER swear in my working hours !
I don’t like to hear youngsters (teens) swear…

LJP1 Mon 08-Jul-24 11:46:24

Swearing demonstrates a limited vocabulary. It is sad to think children are being raised by those parents, without the benefit of more articulate examples of adult understanding and interests.

mabon1 Mon 08-Jul-24 11:57:29

There is absolutely no need for swearing. I find swearing offensive, some of my friends swear, two of my grandsons swear, I just don't like hearing them but don't have the face to tell them. I have never heard my sons swear but that is not saying that they don't, but not in my presence.

rockgran Mon 08-Jul-24 12:06:02

Swearing should be reserved for when you've stubbed your toe or dropped a crucial ingredient (just did that!) so that you feel some relief. If you swear all the time it loses its value. hmm

Doodledog Mon 08-Jul-24 12:10:55

Swear words are used in addition to the user’s vocabulary, not necessarily to replace it. I am not aware of any research that suggests that swearing limits vocabulary and would be interested in links to any that does so.

Yes, there are those with limited vocabulary who swear, but correlation is not causation, and there are also those with extensive vocabulary whose language is ripe. Boris Johnson is a case in point.

What I think parents should do is teach their children about context. Swearing is not always appropriate and those who don’t realise that are at a disadvantage.

Philippa111 Mon 08-Jul-24 12:13:11

I enjoy swearing when something is very annoying. But I don’t do it as a habitual way of expressing myself..
I find people who use the f word too much very irritating. I abhor the c word although feminists have tried to reclaim it and make it something positive. To me it’s a degrading way of describing someone male or female. And, slightly off the subject, I detest the saying that a man is behaving like an old woman/wifey Another derogatory put down of women.

nanna8 Mon 08-Jul-24 12:18:49

When I was working swearing was used after we had had difficult clients. Never in front of them, of course. It helped. I don’t like it just continuously as part of someone’s vocabulary. I think it is rough .

HeavenLeigh Mon 08-Jul-24 12:19:35

Well I swear my husband swears my 4 adult children who in 40,s I’ve never heard swear not in front of us anyway. It really does not bother me.if there’s a situation that comes up and I feel the need to swear then we will. I make no apologies. We don’t swear a lot I don’t like hearing some people swear In most sentences though, it’s the world we live in enough to make a parson swear

Romola Mon 08-Jul-24 12:27:54

If I hear swearing in the street, I turn round and say, "Please mind my earshot."
Sometimes I get an earful in exchange. More often, I get a mumbled, "Sorry miss." They must hear my teacher's voice.

I still find swearing offensive. But I know it's become commonplace.

Bluesmum Mon 08-Jul-24 12:28:48

My lovely, strong, kind, courageous niece has just been given the all clear after enduring nearly two years of gruelling cancer treatment. I have just bought her a silver bracelet that spells out “Fuck Cancer” in morse code, very appropriate I thought, and she will be even more thrilled with it, as it is the last word she would ever expect me to use, but I kniw it will appeal to her!

Junoesque Mon 08-Jul-24 12:29:54

Oh dear here we go again! whatever the topic there is always ‘A lot of research’ being done to refute a generally held opinion. Whilst I agree swearing can indeed give vent to frustration though never in the presence of children that’s one lesson that doesn’t need to be taught for any reason.
However I find that most foul swear words are used by people who have a need to draw attention to themselves for one reason or another. Either because it makes them look big or tough or that they have a need to be noticed. Either way it’s pretty pathetic. Whatever the psychologists say, people who use such words frequently whatever the context only succeed in looking ignorant with limited vocabulary and without dignity. Or to put it another way of low class and thick (grin) There now I’ve ‘lit the blue touch paper’ now stand well back (grin grin)

LisaAN Mon 08-Jul-24 12:33:40

I don’t swear often, only when I really mean it - say when I stub my toe on a doorframe or something goes drastically wrong. DD2 will not swear in front of me, but every time DD1 drives the car on a slightly longer journey I learn a couple of interesting new words!

Doodledog Mon 08-Jul-24 12:33:49

I linked to one item. I could equally say that whenever anyone shows evidence that someone else could be wrong, there are 'oh, experts! what do they know?' comments.

Carry on - believe that you know why others do what they do with absolutely no basis on which to base your opinion. It's no skin off my nose.

cookiemonster66 Mon 08-Jul-24 12:34:59

The only time I swear is when I am driving! (at the idiots on the road risking my life) when I was at school our headmistress used to say "people who swear are illiterate, there are enough words in the English language without the need to resort to using profanities" I personally really hate swearing, I have walked out of live theatre shows etc if the host is constantly swearing, it is not funny or entertaining. My ex was very old fashioned and if anyone swore near me he would say excuse me there is a lady present watch your language! It is such a shame that it is becoming the norm to throw these words around just for impact.

petra Mon 08-Jul-24 12:35:36

LJP1

Swearing demonstrates a limited vocabulary. It is sad to think children are being raised by those parents, without the benefit of more articulate examples of adult understanding and interests.

Let me introduce you to Kenneth Tynan. He was known for his very ripe language.
He was also the first person to use the F word on tv.
I think you might agree that his vocabulary is not lacking.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq2PXK_Dew8

Polwal Mon 08-Jul-24 12:36:15

Took my 93 year old dad to hospital. Whilst waiting for our car to come to the entrance a group of (prob over 30's) men were loudly "effin" in normal conversation I was ashamed and embarrassed for my dad - I'm over 60 and I wasn't comfortable with it. I'm sure my kids are not saints but would not be like that in public.

yogitree Mon 08-Jul-24 12:37:09

I never swear in 'public', but do at home or with close friends if I'm feisty about something, or if I hurt myself. My DH swears like a trooper (despite me continually asking him not to) and 'f'ing' peppers his sentences. He is even worse if with someone else who swears! It really, REALLY annoys me as we have both been well educated. I also can't abide hearing youngsters swear or parents doing so in front of their children.

biglouis Mon 08-Jul-24 12:37:14

My father worked on the Liverpool docks but I never heard him say f**k or c**t. But he did use bloody and bugger quite a lot.

My mother never swore.

In secondary school I had a friend who had a mind like a sewer and I learned various words from her. One day (aged 11) I remarked to my mother that Philby and McLean had f****d off to Russia. She was horrified and asked me if I knew the meaning of the world. I told her (truthfully) that I thought it meant they "ran" off. She told me "Thats a filthy word and dont ever let your father hear you say it."

I have to admit that I picked up a lot of swearing when I came to live on an underclass estate during my student days.