What are the rules of swearing?

Question

For a school project I am doing research on swearing, the history and uses of. I want to know what everyone thinks the rules are, especially in these areas:

1) How old should you be in order for swearing to be okay?
2) What contexts are okay to swear in
3) What context is it not okay to swear in
4) Are there gender differences in the acceptance of swearing?
5) Is swearing okay in everyday langauge?
6) What are the true uses of swearing

finally, since everyone loves to share their opinions, why do you think that people swear today?

Thanks for all of your help :)

Answer 1

swearing can be fun and creative, theres something for everyone really. however, if i really want to offend i prefer to do it by means of innuendo. sometimes its more fun when "they" dont "get it".

Answer 2

Rules or personal opinions? I'll do both

1) How old should you be in order for swearing to be okay?
Depends on what level of swearing you mean but it seems like 18ish it becomes acceptable no matter what. My opinion: swearing really isn't OK but if I had to put an age, it'd be around 18.
2) What contexts are okay to swear in
Society says: social situations, non-professional situations. Public.
Me: In bed with your lover talking dirty and that's about it.

3) What context is it not okay to swear in

Church/religious establishment. Work place, particularly offices.

4) Are there gender differences in the acceptance of swearing?
Yes, swearing is accepted more from men than women. A man can swear the same or more than a woman and people won't think less of him. If a woman did the same amount/type of swearing she's trash.

5) Is swearing okay in everyday langauge?

It shouldn't be but seems to be more and more.
6) What are the true uses of swearing
Not sure what this question means. Sorry.

Answer 3

Okay. Dragon help for school. Dragon will even answer like a normal person. Everybody else close your eyes.

1) How old should you be in order for swearing to be okay? -I think it depends on which swear words you are referring to. Hell and damn, I'm more lenient about. The other ones I wouldn't want to hear out of a kid's mouth. So, probably somewhere between 16 and 18.
2) What contexts are okay to swear in? Extreme circumstances, like getting a leg cut off.
3) What context is it not okay to swear in? Anything that is not extreme.
4) Are there gender differences in the acceptance of swearing? Probably.
5) Is swearing okay in everyday langauge? No. And I can say that, but I'm still guilty of swearing on occasion in non-extreme occasions.
6) What are the true uses of swearing? Extreme words for extreme situations.

I got nothing on why people swear today. Some do probably because they've grown so accustomed to using those words. Some because it's a rebellious thing to do. It varies person to person.

Now Dragon will go back to being Dragon again.

Answer 4

1) How old should you be in order for swearing to be okay? teenager (16-17)
2) What contexts are okay to swear in (extreme ones)
3) What context is it not okay to swear in (everyday conversation)
4) Are there gender differences in the acceptance of swearing? (what does gender have to do with anything? The difference would be class. Upper class people feel offened by excessive swearing...I know from experience-my mom and her side of the family are very upper class and don't swear)
5) Is swearing okay in everyday langauge?(do you mean in everyday conversation? no)
6) What are the true uses of swearing (to emphesize a point. ex. in a situation of extreme fustration, anger or hurt.)

nice survey, interesting

Answer 5

1. when u enter high school- so about 14 years old
2. conversations around your friends (mostly teens)
3. funerals and swearing in front of your parents
4. no because anyone can swear if they feel like it and to me, it doesn't sound any more different if a guy or girl swears.
5. yes
6. when you r frustrated at someone (mostly)
7. i think people r pressured 2 do it or maybe it's a popularity thing. some people. Lastly, maybe, people have done it over the years and it's been continuosly passed on each generation.

Answer 6

1. 10 or older,lets face it every1 almost swears from ayoung age nowdays

4. casual, jokes etc

3. in business, work related or public speaking

4. there shouldnt be. im female and swear causally but ppl are shocked. y??

5. hell yes!!!

6. i think swearing is an expression wheather it be frustration, anger even happiness and exitement so casual swearing is ok


im all for casual swearing

good luck with ur project

Answer 7

I don't think that it is okay and shouldn't be acceptable no matter what the situation is. People swear out of a learned habit that they probably grew up with.

Answer 8

1) 18 as long as its not in front of grand parents or in a crowd of mixed company

2) usually to express frustration or grandeur

3) professional speaking or public speaking

4) "most" men who swear forget to watch their mouths in public (unexceptable)

5) It would be better practice to use educated words than slang or profanity

6) "F" word or "D" word = to gain power
"SH" word or "SOB" = express loss of control
"MF" = to express struggle for power

I don't know why its true for some - I would rather not (been trying to quit for 12 years - but someone either pisses me off (oops!) or I'm in a situations where there is no time to chose words

Answer 9

I dunno... I swear!