Swearing: Social advantage or disadvantage?

Question

I grew up in an environment where swearing is considered extremely inadequate and disapproved of under any circumstances. However in the real world I can see that swearing is often associated with being "cool" and at times even key to earning the respect of peers and superiors. So I'd like to ask: Is there a social advantage to swearing? Could politeness become a social disadvantage and hinder a person's long term personal and professional success? Thanks.

Answer 1

Being "cool" and professional success are very differenet things first of all. You may get in "good" with your friends for swearing but you will never get a job by cursing during the interview.
Cursing has always been around in some form or another, and always will be. It is generally more common now, however it isn't generaly more accepted when it comes down to it. People do not want to put up with it. Multiple sites on the internet will ban you for cursing, you will be punished in school or other institutions for the language, asked to leave or stop in many public places, and it won't help you get a job or into a good college.

If someone won't be your friend because you have morals and won't curse then what kind of friend is the person?? They should like you for who you are. And while in general public it is accepted more often, just because everyone else is doing it doesn't nessecarily mean it's good. Back to th old saying, if everyone else jumped off a bridge would you also?

Personally I think swearing makes you look horrible.
1. You look like you have a short temper/no self control. I mean its not hard to avoid swearing. It makes you look like a big jerk.
and 2. You look stupid. There are many ways you can express your feelings without saying words that are insults to someone or sexual references. Pick up the dictionary and expand your vocabulary I say.

Answer 2

Firstly i think you got to see the level of acceptance people have towards swearing, (ie their attitudes and opinions of listening to others spilling vulgarities). People represent the general public view taken with many considerations like cultural values, moral philosophy etc. Because I really think that you cannot see any advantages or disadvantages in a social vacuum.

Take this for an example: when you (in fact, almost everyone else) were young and less mature, swearing seem to be 'cool' and people do that so that they can be accepted by their peers. But as you (we) grow older, we consider the moral values and get influenced by others around us. So I think if the society you grow up in doesn't accept this, then I guess that's that.

Because I don't think you can get any social advantage(s) out of swearing if the general society doesn't accept it.

Answer 3

The use of foul language is not OK. Granted, there are times when these words can be found, O, quite useful. But im not saying that we should use these words when we run into a wall, slam our finger in a car door, etc. But what I am saying is that if we keep using language like this, just imagine what our society will be like 10 even 15-20 years from now. Swearing seems to have become a major part of life today. But it does need to be stopped before it completely takes over.

Answer 4

Bad language is usually a filler for the appropriate words.
Learning to be articulate is always an advantage. If you listen to people who can converse well, you will usually find that they have the respect of their peers, and those that they work with.
Some people often drop a swear word if they are wanting attention, but by-and-large, people need to have the conversation to hold the story together.
Additionally, it would be better to be remembered for politeness, than rudeness.

Answer 5

I think there is an advantage to swearing. It is a habit for some people, and it also makes you more human when you swear on accident in a social situation like a talk show. It can be funny. Politeness is something we would all like to strive for, but in some situations it may be very hard to keep it together.

I wonder if Martha Stewart swears...

Answer 6

Swearing is definitely a disadvantage as some see it as a sign of no self control. Also depending on the circumstances you could be labeled as an angry person.

Answer 7

I would say that swearing is inappropriate in many situations but certainly not ALL situations. I find that swearing can sometimes be an effective way to add emphasis or emotion while communicating. Can other words be substituted? Sure, but they don't seem to have the same effect...

Answer 8

Call me old fashioned, but there are far more creative words to use besides the few hurtful and demeaning ones people chose to use over and over and over. Let's hope respect for others feelings and intelligence doesn't go out the window any time soon.

Answer 9

No.... in the long run it takes from the respect that you earn. A person's name is the sweetest sound in the world to them... using it in a friendly way and often will get you far.

Answer 10

i don't think that politeness will ever go out of style. swearing is a sign of rudeness. and rude behavior can only bring you so far.