Why swear?

Question

I know that there are some occasions where you might stub your toe or get hit by a plywood and you just blurt out a random word, which usually ends up being a profanity, but why swear in other context? I mean, it doesn't really accomplish anything. Take any sentence and with a couple of ****ing swearword, it ****ing becomes a piece of ****.
In my opinion, it gives the speaker a sense of mental incapability, as he or she tries to make a sentence simply longer by adding swear words. I don't see it accomplishing anything, so why swear?

I have no animosity towards those who swear, but I refrain from doing so because I feel as if it gives off the image that I am uncapable of thinking of an actual comment.
I still swear from time to time and wonder why I do it and what purpose it has.

Answer 1

I really think that it's a habit. But then you can change your habits. Then I think juveniles think that swearing makes them look more adult.

Answer 2

I was so happy to see this question. I work in a place where there are all men and the swearing rubs me the wrong way. Its not cute nor masculine, its nasty. It makes the speaker appear like a common street thug. The guys do try to make an honest effort to keep the swearing to a minimum when around me but I have heard female talk the same way. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Answer 3

When you stub your toe or get hit by plywood, it's not a "random" word that gets blurted. Very few people accidentally scream "FUDGENUTTERS!!!!" when that happens. For most, profanity serves as a release.

My question is, why not swear? If you need to express extreme anger or frustration, in which you might substitute "fudgenutters" for another word, doesn't the equality of intent or meaning make "fudgenutters" just as nasty a word?

How's my mental capability holding up?

Answer 4

Swearing can add something to a sentence apart from length. It can make a sentence funny or it can punctuate a phrase in a way not easily achieved in other ways.

I don't swear much and I don't agree with swearing just for the sake of it but every now and again, I just f**king have to.

Answer 5

For me, swearing denotes an extreme in emotion. I think that a random conversation with friends could easily be with out it. But in extreme situations or to show an extreme emotion you need more then the banal vocabulary of the pedestrian day. When you gage the use of your words, they will have more strength. Use it all the time, it has no meaning, use it rarely, then it will carry great weight.
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Answer 6

swearing just adds emphasis to context. Whether you want to stress anger or add a little humor into a conversation. I agree with you though, those people that swear in the wrong context end up looking more like an idiot.

Answer 7

As a counterpoint to all that has been said about the evils of swearing, I would say that swearing serves it's purpose in
being a more visceral form of speech, completely appropriate
in every context, IF it is used correctly.Some of the world's greatest writers and speakers swear consistently in their work.Maybe the ability to intersperse polite,articulate speech with a foul tongue is a clear sign that an individual is capable of using ALL of his/her native language and therefore surpasses his peers in intelligence.

In the final analysis, as long as no one is swearing names at me that may get them my fist in their mouth, I don't ******' give
a shite.;)

Answer 8

Conversation without swearing is much more inviting to engage in. Swearing makes you look like you said a person with a sense of mental incapability. I don't swear. It was never in my home and I learned very quickly my parents would not allow it after hearing them in school.

Answer 9

Swearing is funny. I like to count each swear word see how many times some can say a f*** swear word in their sentence. Its just something people do, no worse then smoking, biting nails, burping, farting, etc. etc. etc. Its habit. Im sure you do something that really annoys people.

Answer 10

Swearing in sentences seems to be more effective in relaying ones message.
Or possibly, because Swearing is rebelling in youth & becomes difficult to break the habit in adulthood. It requires surrounding your self with others who never swear in order for it to become habit.

Answer 11

I agree. Shows a lack of intelligence. However, I do have to admit to being guilty of the occasional d%#@ !t, my husband never swears. He is respected at work, and our circles because of it. People even apologize when they swear around him because he doesn't, and they know it. He sets a higher standard.