Profanity? How can a word be "bad"?

Question

And I want more than just "because God says so".
How can saying a word be bad? You can offend someone without using profanity, so why the taboo?

Answer 1

Haven't you ever heard that the pen is mightier than the sword?

Haven't you heard about people sueing each other for libel?

What happens in the middle east when you show a picture of mohammed?

Can you shout fire in a crowded movie theater here in the US and expect not to be prosecuted? (you will be)

Public image matters.

You can't do what you want, when you want how you want and escape the consequences. You don't live on your own planet - you live on a very crowded one and what you do effects others.

Get used to it.

Answer 2

Why "bad"... when kids are little, they don't really understand the complexities of appropriate vs. inappropriate and all that other good stuff, so you put things into 1 of 2 categories "good" and "bad".

Most people don't want their kids growing up screaming profanity, so they explain that the words shouldn't be used. Some things just aren't appropriate. The infamous "4 letter words" have no real purpose other than to offend.

Answer 3

If you use too much profanity then it shows that you have a limited vocabulary. Now having said that...no word is bad. It is the intent when you use certain words considered profanity that can make it "bad". Consider this...the F-word has a thousand and one uses.
Amelia Earhart upon learning that she was lost over the Pacific Ocean could have said..."Where the F**K am I ?
Eve could have said to Adam..."Just eat the F**king apple. Hey, the word has been around a long time.

Answer 4

Words are not bad. Words can be damaging tough. If one claims to be a Christian and one actually reads ones Bible, then it is found in James 3:1-10. How can we curse others created in His image and praise Him with the same mouth? This is not right. There is a difference between "wrong" and "bad." Food goes bad. Profanity is wrong. If Christianity is not your claim then words are the least of your concern. But, keep this in mind, ones character can be weighed by the words one uses.

Answer 5

I'm not sure that "bad" is really the right word. Socially unacceptable may be more appropriate. And, you're right - you can offend someone without using profanity, but that behavior wouldn't be appropriate in a social environment either, right? Now, what you say when you're in your garage and hit your finger with a hammer is a whole other story!

Answer 6

A word or verbal action is 'bad' based on the mental motivation when saying it. So, a profane word is almost always going to be bad since it is used when your minds motivation is destructive.

Answer 7

The words represent our actions F**k(you think of sex and a lot of people are crazy when it comes to this subject.Sh*t,represents what we do in the bathroom,Visually we dont want that to come to our minds,say if were eating.ETC...Not that the word is nothing more than a word.If I call a fat person a pig,I could get a fat lip.Choose your words wisely and with respect to someone you might offend

Answer 8

because i dont know where you come from but here, calling someone an sob is talking about their mother and those are fighting words.

i respect myself, therefore i will not tolerate words that go against god or myself.

thats what is wrong with rap music and the world today.

i am not a hoe. i am not trash. i am not someone to be thrown away.

just keep your mouth clean for a while and pay attention. you just might be surprised.

Answer 9

I believe it is because profanities bring up sertain images to people's imagination.

I acually laught at profanities because I imagine it all, in theorder suggested. And then people don't understand why I'm LMYAO so much.

Answer 10

Yeah. society is the culprit. I have often wondered the same thing. But you know, some "bad" words just don't sound nice either. Like Fu** or cu**. Notice most of them are four letters, too. How very interesting.