Swears: Are we bothered by the right(wrong?) ones?

[Backroads]

This thought was inspired by another thread of an entirely different topic.

Two uses of the "f" word, and one use of "J". Took my 12 yr. old for her b-day!

My thoughts...

While not to defend any swear word, I found myself wondering which of these would bother me most? Would I be bothered more/differently if idahommie's 12-year-old daughter were in my care?

To continue with this example, I jolt more at the "F" because I find it vulgar and all we "Christmas Story" viewers know of its possible consequences.

However, when considering my reaction, I also think about how "J" usually has no impact on me. Then I wonder why this one doesn't bother me... while I believe it should bother me the most.

[annewandering]

Anymore they are getting so common. I hate that it isnt even all that shocking any more. Both are sacrilegious. One mocks Jesus directly and one demeans a sacred act.

[skippy740]

BBC television still filters out the 'f' word... but Gordon Ramsey's mouth still bothers me.

[Dravin]

However, when considering my reaction, I also think about how "J" usually has no impact on me. Then I wonder why this one doesn't bother me... while I believe it should bother me the most.

Exposure is pretty much what it comes down to, while one can maintain intellectual offense at a word that is used extremely commonly, emotional offense becomes increasingly harder. To maintain the emotional response would become increasingly draining, it'd be like having a good crying session every time you hear something sad, that's a lot of emotional energy. Now I'm not limiting this to movies but life in general. Also this is advocating not to be bothered by various curses, just explaining why with one of my professors dropping 'mild' curses left and right to make the class giggle and even going so far as to tell, in a joking manner, one student to, "Oh, shut the "f" up." and dropping the "f-bomb" in general once or twice a class it gets less and less of an emotional reaction from me. I can still muster up intellectual objection, but I think at this point it'd take him directing the word at me like he did the one student to get much of an emotional response.

[Wingnut]

For me, it depends on the medium. I have a hard time seeing swear words in print. There's one email newsletter I subscribe to, where the author brands herself as very "real" and just down to earth. It's not uncommon to see the f word in her newsletters from time to time, and even on a survey she sent out. In my opinion, it's unprofessional, and risky, with having an audience in the tens of thousands. When I come across the word in print, I suddenly become very distracted, and I have a hard time focusing on anything else, unfortunately. It's like the word jumps out at me in 22 pt font, and I can't see anything around it. If I hear the same word in a movie, however, I hear it and move on. Maybe it's that I'm desensitized, but it just doesn't both me. Well, I guess that's not entirely true. If it's contextually appropriate (which some people might argue it never is), it doesn't both me. If it's gratuitous or otherwise out of context (such as in a period film), it bugs me, but it's more of an intellectual reaction, as Dravin suggested.

[SanctitasDeo]

For some reason the word: "swears" bothers me. "Swear words" is fine, but "swears" just makes me shudder. I don't know why.

[NightSG]

It seems that, fairly often these days, I can't even go to a restaurant without an F-bomb or ten. Sometimes, it's more like an F-Dresden.

I seriously considered a rather violent solution to one potty-mouth who couldn't seem to get through any sentence without multiple obscenities, even when talking to his ~5 year old son. (That was the part that bothered me most; having worked factory security for years, I can filter a lot unconsciously, but acting like that in front of a small child burns me up.) It wasn't a heated discussion or anything, he just used variations of f and s in place of indefinite pronouns, "uh," etc. The waitresses had commented on it a couple of times already, and just when I was at the point of having to either confront him or give up on my meal and leave, the owner finally came out flanked by a couple of large cooks and showed him to the door.

I was raised to understand that those words, like everything else, lose effect when overused. They're handy when you drop a brick on your toe, or need to explain your opinion of a child molester, but when you blast every conversation full of them, they get tuned out and weakened.

[Backroads]

I have a friend who is active LDS, and yet she seems to have no problem taking the Lord's name in vain, yet will get after her husband for his much more severe cursing.

Should that word not be held in respect? I hate to say her husband is in the right for all of his words, but shouldn't "J" or "G" be kept holy?

[pam]

It's kind of interesting the history of where the "f" word came from.

[Just_A_Guy]

It's kind of interesting the history of where the "f" word came from.

Isn't it an abbreviation of the common explanatory caption that would accompany fornicators who were put in the stocks during colonial times?

[idahommie]

I think I'm more offended by the use of JC or GD than most other swear words. I went from a military contracting job to working in a predominantly Mormon ran department at Micron years ago, swearing was something that would get you sent on your way(other reasons would be found). I ended up going to work with another military contractor after years there. I missed being in the environment where every fifth word was not offensive.

[Dravin]

Isn't it an abbreviation of the common explanatory caption that would accompany fornicators who were put in the stocks during colonial times?

If you're trying to reference the idea that it stems from turning For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge into an acronym, Snopes says no. I'll forgo linking to the article for obvious reasons but it takes a crack at the etymology of the word, it's mostly likely of Germanic origin. If you have access to an OED that's better than Snopes, but I lack access.

Edited March 3, 2013 by Dravin

[Praetorian_Brow]

Take care that your offense and your request for what you consider proper speech does not escalate the situation farther than simply ignoring the words would.

I have been a prolific user of said colourful words and occasionally I do utter them out frustration, but its becoming an ever more rare circumstance. At work, we used to have four shifts and I noticed that over time my shift swore less and less than the other shifts. Comparing shifts was like comparing cats in heat to pandas.

I can't give myself too much credit, but people do learn by example more quickly than if they were confronted and if its their idea, they will adopt new speech patterns.

[Still_Small_Voice]

I do not like curse words but others who take the LORD's name in vain really bother me. Our Mediator and our Heavenly Father's names are sacred to me.

I do not use curse words but I still really need to work on my mouth. Murmuring is a sin I am guilty of not infrequently.