What makes a bad word bad?

Answer 1

the meaning of this word and where and how you use it

Answer 2

People decide and are taught that it is bad. In English we decided that words about sex and body functions are used to express anger and strong emphasis. Not to mention things that most people wouldn't do sexually, like calling someone mother f-r. Other languages use animals like calling someone a donkey. Why do some words have good meanings or bad meanings? Why can you call an the same Olsen twin "slim" (which is good) or "skinny" (which is bad)? We learn what to use to get a reaction or to express the meaning.

The word itself isn't bad. We choose to make it unacceptable. Think about the word n--r for black people. It didn't used to be a bad word, but know it's often bleeped on on TV. We just decided that word is unacceptable.

Answer 3

Society. The way I see it, the meaning and how a person says it should make it a bad word, but on TV they can say "*****", because it technically means "female dog", but the way they use the word, is not used in that sense and should be considered bad. I think words that replace bad words should still be considered bad words because they mean the same thing. "What the heck" is technically the same thing as "What the hell" and "Ef you!" or "Freak you!" is used in the same manner as "**** you!" so should thereby be considered just as bad. So if I can say "You're an ******", then I should be allowed to say "You're an ***-hole". And if I can't say "***-hole", then I shouldn't be allowed to say "******". It's like training words for the real thing. The act of cursing should be bad. Not the word itself.

Answer 4

There are no bad words in any language ---
Only the meaning and application of them (words).

We (society) create and define our words - to express abstract concepts. We then 'teach' our offspring how to define and apply these sounds to realities in this physical plane.

Example: the word 'the' - think hard on the actual 'letters' of this word. Do they in reality, mean something??? Can this word ever have a negative or positive connotation (be a good or bad word)? Try all day to make it be either - good luck.

Answer 5

How it's used... For example a dog breeder will refer to the female dog as a ***** with no ill thought... It is the correct term in this context and is not a bad word... when the same word is used to describe a woman, the intent is to hurt or demean so it is a bad word in that context....

Note: I didn't type asterisks above. I guess Yahoo's software cannot tell the difference....

Answer 6

No words are "bad" ... they are just words. Words that are considered "bad" are that way because of our perceptions about them. If we perceive that something is derogatory, then choose to use that word in a necessarily detrimental way, then the recipient will perceive that. We could literally turn almost any word into a curse, or a "bad" word, just by changing perception and intent.
Good question!

Answer 7

The meaning of the word, the context in which one uses the word and the way one uses the word... There are a lot of words which if used carelessly can be offensive.. choice of words should be made carefully so that you dont offend anyone.

Answer 8

Words derive their meaning from the people using them. It's the people who decide that words are "bad."

Answer 9

If it offends someone it is a bad word.

Answer 10

the tone of your voice when you say it, and the expression on your face too. Try saying a curse word when you smile and in a gentle tone, it wouldn't sound bad or offensive so much...