is cursing offensive or just a case of the p.c brigade gone fookin' crazy?

Question

All joking aside is it acceptable to curse if you haven't a problem with it, i feel it is important not to encourage it around kids(under say 14 as after that age they have probably heard worse). i cannot agree with some people that say it only shows a persons lack of intelligence or their ignorance as there only words- please dicuss!

Answer 1

The idea that cursing shows a persons lack of intelligence or ignorance is a specious idea at best--at worst it is bullshit. Language is dynamic and changes all the time. The 'F' word was originally just another word meaning to engage in sexual intercourse, but as the lower classes in England started to use it more frequently, it became taboo. What is happening with curse words is the same that that happened with clothing. Clothing has become much more casual, which is why every generation thinks their children's clothing is unacceptable. Likewise, langauge is become more casual as well. We have different levels of discourse (i.e. the way you talk to your mother is different than the way you talk around your friends) and the language people use in those discourses is not as regulated as in the past. I recomend renting the T.V. show "Penn and Teller Bullshit!" and watch the episode about curse words.

Answer 2

Both.

Cursing/swearing can be offensive, sure, depending on context, audience, how heavily laden with curses the speech/writing is, etc. Mostly I think it's pretty sad, because we've taken to using those words so much, for everything. A person can be highly intelligent and curse like a sailor, sure, but in my experience most people who swear a *lot* don't exactly have an appreciation for (much less skill with) subtlety and nuance in language. In the end it's just plain lazy to use a particular curseword to mean such a variety of things instead of thinking of a better, more accurate, and at bottom much more interesting word to use. Don't get me wrong, I swear, more than I think I should, but between the role of swearing in speech and the infiltration of text messaging and IMs into written communication, we're pretty clearly killing the art of language, and at the very least seriously reducing our vocabularies.

Answer 3

Not just the PC brigade! Also yahoo, the media and all the anally retentive ignorant religious maniacs who defile this site with their puerile filth and nonsense. Maybe they should have to sit an IQ test before they get allowed to use the internet.
Let's start with '****': it's a good anglo-saxon onomatopoeic word- I believe the verb is 'focken' or 'ficken' in OE. Has been used by many distinguished writers and intellectuals.
Now take '****': originally derived for a word meaning wedge-shaped or traingular. Used by our national poet Rabbie Burns in his poem 'Green grow the rashes O!' (anyone like to accuse Burns of ignorance or lack of wit/intelligence??)
'Bugger' and its derivative 'buggery' is an accepted legal term used eg in the trial of Oscar Wilde
And as for 'bastard', well you know who you are!
Could I request that we do not get ill-informed 'morons' (a clinical term in diagnosis of mental deficiency) to attempt a reply. It does you no credit and merely serves to establish your status.
If this seems hard, please accept that I hold no personal animosity towards morons, cretins or idiots, it's just that their interests are best served in other forums than this; Care in the community isn't working!
Incidentally, when logic fails to persuade,I find a size 11 boot up the **** (used by the tutor of the youngJamesIV I believe, when being scolded for his harsh tautological practices, as in to a lady of the court, 'I have skelped his majesty's erse for failing to apprehend his Latin- you may kiss it if you wish!' ) often succeeds in making the required impression.

Answer 4

I think cursing at times can be acceptable when you are really mad, banged your big toe on the table leg, or just making a humourous comment. I just hate it when people use it lots of times in one sentance. Cursing is supposed to be a dramatic way of expressing yourself, but it loses its effect when used too often in a few sentances. I also hate it when children curse, it looks so ugly.

Answer 5

I don't think swearing is offensive, unless the vocabulary used is particulary vulgar or aggressive. At the end of the day they're only words and I think that they are sometimes necessary to convey the way I am feeling!

Answer 6

That would be a big discussion. Do you mean cursing or swearing, the utterance of oaths.Or perhaps you are interested in whether it is done for emphasis, or as of old, to invoke the aid of a deity? Fcuk me! What a mess!

Answer 7

Its all about context. If I stub my toe I think I can swear. In a pub with your mates telling a story and wanting emphasis. ok. But every other f*****g word is totally unnecessary. And I hate hearing young children swear. Bring back fairy liquid mouth washes.

Answer 8

It can offend some people, it would probably just be best to make sure whoever you're around doesn't mind. If they don't appreciate that type of language try to refrain, if they don't care go right ahead.

Answer 9

I agree with you. Never around kids, and yes they've just gone fookin' crazy.

Answer 10

I do believe the term is "swearing" my good man. As in "odd's bodkins, I've burned the sausage and kidneys!" or somesuch. "Cursing" is more like what witches do to innocent young gals, the evil swines!