Ask Me Help Desk - Dirty words

To each their own... no doubt about that.

But this does go a little beyond that... it's not just what one thinks he or she should say in certain company. It's also extends to what people think should be said around them.

Eventually, it gets to the age old discussion of where free speech ends and offensiveness begins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakester

If a Christian, your mother, whoever, wants to teach his child that it is not appropriate to swear indiscriminately in front of others, is there really something wrong with that, excon?

Hello again, j:

See, here's the thing. I don't think it's WRONG, and I haven't used that word. I think it's DIFFERENT. Different isn't wrong. Different is cool. I just want to know WHY people are different. I'm a curious bugger.

excon

Its different because god said so

I've never heard God say anything about the F word.

And I have never seen a Bible that mentions the F word or what God thinks about the F word.

I just threw out a immature reply

Fishing for another

Ahha! Wish I had known... I hope I didn't scare away any potential bites for you.

I guess it's kind of unfortunate how easy it is to assume that someone would really use that to justify their beliefs :D heh

Justifing my beleifs wasn't on the program

Right.. I gathered that with the whole 'fishing' comment.

The god comment was this.

There's always going to be some form of censourship.
Be it the environment,the company or just the day of the week
There's always going to be a controlling factor to speech

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tokugawa

I don't find the f word offensive in any way, it's just that I find the over use of it to be vulgar and unimaginative. It's really just used as an exclamation after all. What's the difference between an "idiot" and a "f-ing idiot"?. It would seem that one is more of an idiot than the other. Even using the "censored" f-ing, instead of just typing the word itself seems quite absurd. It spells the same thing after all. The only reason I don't is that I realise that some people may take offence to it.

Just loved this answer! :D and agree :p

For those who believe swear words aren't, or shouldn't be, offensive... would the following scenarios make any difference? Is there a time and place for such language, or does anything go?:

Would you want your child's teacher using them in the classroom? What about at the elementary/primary school level?

Would it make a difference if the words were directed at your child regardless of the child's age?

Does hearing your partner tell you that they love you mean anything to you? Does it invoke any feeling in response? Or are they just words?

Have you ever felt anger or hurt if someone called you by one of the names? Is it different when it is in conversation as opposed to being directed at you?

I have found it ironic that the f word is often used in such derogatory ways when the act is one of such enjoyment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

F

I have found it ironic that the f word is often used in such derogatory ways when the act is one of such enjoyment.

Exactly what I said...

Is saying "I want to make love to you" to your spouse offensive?

How about if it's said in a church? An elementary school? A kid's birthday party?

There isn't a SINGLE word in that sentence that could be considered offensive in and of itself---it's the CONTEXT of the words, and the LOCATION that they are said.

Same for ALL words. I'm not going to say "f**k" when I visit a friend's church or by an elementary school---and in return, I ask that "God" and "Jesus" not be brought up at public schools and in the average workplace.

There is a time and place for EVERY type of word that might offend SOMEBODY.

Hello synn:

Virtual **greenie**

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

For those who believe swear words aren't, or shouldn't be, offensive....would the following scenarios make any difference? Is there a time and place for such language, or does anything go?

There is always a time and a place for everything. "Swear words" or not, not all conversations are appropriate for any time of the day or in any situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Would you want your child's teacher using them in the classroom? What about at the elementary/primary school level?

I have actually had teachers that used swear words quite impactfully.

When used to serve a specific teaching purpose, I think it can be perfectly fine. Again, at an appropriate level when the students are old enough (or should be old enough) to understand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Would it make a difference if the words were directed at your child regardless of the child's age?

I am not sure what you mean by "directed at your child" but if you mean to say that such words were meant as an attack on my child, yes, of course it would. So would calling a child stupid for not knowing an answer or calling him/her a baby for getting upset or ANY kind of attack on my child. What do swear words have to do with that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Does hearing your partner tell you that they love you mean anything to you? Does it invoke any feeling in response? Or are they just words?

Yes, the words are JUST words. It is not the words that invoke feelings. What if I told you that I loved you right now? I don't think the words would invoke the same feelings you are talking about... right?

Obviously there is more to communication that just the words that we utter from our mouths. Seems to be the underlying theme to this thread...

[QUOTE=DoulaLC;1897237]Have you ever felt anger or hurt if someone called you by one of the names? Is it different when it is in conversation as opposed to being directed at you?

Yes & yes. I think we have all tried to make the point of intention here. Anger, hurt, fear, etc can be caused by the use of those words or the use of HUNDREDS of other words. Why isn't any insulting word a swear word then? What good ever comes from the word "stupid", "hate", "gross", etc. These are perfectly accepted words but really serve no other purpose that to insult.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

I have found it ironic that the f word is often used in such derogatory ways when the act is one of such enjoyment.

Very true. But again, the same can be said of other words. "Love"... what better thing is there in this life? But what about the nonreciprocating love that when expressed to the loved one elicits the response "you don't even know what love is" or maybe "I could never love you" or even a completely sarcastic "oh yeah, I love you, too" (said while they are laughing.

The thing is that we have this beautifully colorful language at our disposal. So many words to say so few things... each adding its own nuance to what we want to express. Why limit that? Why try to smother out words that, for SOME unknown reason, have been deemed by "higher society" as inappropriate?

Worse than that... I find it insane that people live their ENTIRE lives never asking, "why?" So many people get brainwashed by what the way things were where the world prior to them left off. How could we ever grow, mature, and evolve as a society if everyone lived their lives this way? If we never sought to improve the life that was given to us, we would still be living in caves.

I try not to swear just because I think it's a good indicator of a very weak vocabulary. Same is someone saying "like" all the time, or ending every sentence with "and stuff" or "and s***" as it were. But I do swear, of course, I just usually try to express myself better than that.

Personally it doesn't offend me. But I know a lot of people are so I try to avoid it as much as possible. I actually used to cuss a lot when I was younger (and a lot cockier) and got yelled at on more than one occasion to "watch my mouth" or something similar. So I think that, more often than not, people are offended by it.

Hello again,

DrJ is right on.

I find it interesting that so many of you miss what I'm asking... I'm not talking ABOUT swearing, in that do you, or don't you, and I'm not asking whether it's offensive or not... THAT stuff, I know.

I'm talking about WHY some word is offensive. Is it because someone TOLD you to be offended, or does the word actually grate on your ears when you hear it...

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello again,

DrJ is right on.

I find it interesting that so many of you miss what I'm asking... I'm not talking ABOUT swearing, in that do you, or don't you, and I'm not asking whether it's offensive or not.... THAT stuff, I know.

I'm talking about WHY some word is offensive. Is it because someone TOLD you to be offended, or does the word actually grate on your ears when you hear it...

excon

I think you have a point here. We probably judge words by our pre-conditioning. What we heard, or did not hear at home in our formative years. I remember saying a phrase I heard a fellow first grader say, and mom heard me. Mistake! It did impress me though!

Actually, probably the single most offensive thing to me is to use "Jesus Christ" as an expletive. He is my best friend, and I resent that use of His Name.

That is NOT the result of conditioning in my formative years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by galveston

I think you have a point here. We probably judge words by our pre-conditioning. What we heard, or did not hear at home in our formative years. I remember saying a phrase I heard a fellow first grader say, and mom heard me. Mistake! It did impress me though!

Actually, probably the single most offensive thing to me is to use "Jesus Christ" as an expletive. He is my best friend, and I resent that use of His Name.

That is NOT the result of conditioning in my formative years.

Another excellent example. The words "Jesus" & "Christ" alone (or together) are not offensive words. But when used improperly can be quite offensive... whether that improper use is as an expletive or, for some, as a belief that is being taught out of turn.

Another example along those lines.. "damn it" by itself is not really considered a swear word (I understand that some may thing otherwise.. but by itself, it is pretty borderline, right?). But when the word "God" is placed before it, it becomes a whole new beast. The funny thing is that they both have the Same meaning! When you say "damn it", you are telling (asking?) God to damn something to Hell. Whether you use His name in the sentence or not, He is still the only One that can damn anything to Hell, right?