Bad language from children (and adults!) - reprise.?

Question

Well I can't add anything to my original question according to Yahoo

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmkBFLqM.npcEADqAsQA1Ld87hR.?qid=20070614211217AAOVqmu

so I do here.
First of all those who complain I "repeat" - well I post in "parenting","gradeschool" etc. because I have grandsons 8,7 and 3.
To the subject - I *don't* believe in this "mouthsoaping" for hygeine and health reasons
and the "punishment to fit the crime" for me is rather a good smacked bottom.For me obscene language *is* violence and should be paid for in kind - and deterred.
Those younger people who eschew profane laguage - well done!
I will challenge teenagers if they are swearing on the street especially if I have my grandsons with me.
I only hope that others may do the same and stop this cycle of *violent* language before it becomes acceptable - is actual violence to be "just the modern way of "kids""? - not in my book it isn't!

Answer 1

can I just tell you that I love you ..........
I have 2 children aged 6, 13maths and number 3 on the way and I have often been accused of being "old fashioned" in the way I/we bring up the children
In our family we say "lavatory talk stays in the lavatory" (bodily fluids etc) and I have never heard my daughter utter a swear word she has walked past people on the street saying bad words and I openly and sometimes loudly tell her that the word that boy used is a very bad word and only ill mannered people use words like that. When we go out for lunch or dinner she is now saying things like "mummy that boy over there has bad table manners elbows on the table, talking with food in his mouth" or whatever the offence might be - OK the mother does not always approve but my daughter knows right from wrong.... It has been hard work each time she did things like that she was asked to remember what she did wrong and correct it(I believe that children want to be good so letting them do their own thinking helps) at the same time sometimes at dinner my elbows sneak up on the table for a laugh and she lifts her finger and pretends to be reminding me but she has fun....

Answer 2

I agree that the profanity being used by younger children and adults these days is a lot higher than it used to be. Even at 25, I have noticed a significant change in many behaviors over the past 10 years.

It's also become a lot more 'acceptable' in the media which annoys me to a fairly high degree.

Even growing up in New York City however, I was raised in a very strict home and using such language would have been considered the ultimate 'taboo'.

There really is no need for it to be used and it shows a level of disregard and disrespect in my opinion. I tend to look at someone who uses foul language as uneducated, and low-class.

I try to associate myself with people who contribute good things to this world and have a positive outlook.

I am hoping that once my daughter is born (anytime now), my husband and I can teach her some good basic etiquette and principles.

I do feel that school, community and family play a very important role in the moral upbringing of children. As for television - I plan on keeping my daughter away from it as long as possible.

Answer 3

I agree that children swearing is intolerable. Where I disagree is in the comment about smacking them for doing so. I am not anti-smacking per se, but I believe that "smacking" should be no more than a tap on the back of a toddler's hand to emphasise a point. I believe that by the age of three upwards, there are far more effective punishments, and children can be reasoned with as they have the faculties to understand. My son is eight, and my daughter seven. I don't smack them and have never felt the need to - if my son misbehaves, he is not allowed on his Playstation (which, to him, is by FAR the worst thing that can happen to him). My daughter's punishments vary - usually a ban on her activities such as horseriding. My children don't swear, and I can honestly say that I don't think they have any awareness of swearing, but that is largely because currently, we live in a small expat environment where all the children come from educated families and aren't exposed to the same factors. I do worry how they will cope when we return to the UK, although I enjoy the fact that they can stay younger for longer here. I think you need to be very careful challenging people on the street, by the way - you may feel you are teaching them a lesson, but I doubt whether your actions will do anything other than aggravate them, and it's certainly better to walk away with your grandchildren than it is to have them see you being abused in the street. Your grandchildren will ultimately find this rather embarrassing too.

Answer 4

You're not alone either. I'm 13 and my friend started swearing ever since she was 9. I think she learned all of those swear words from her older friend (who is 2 years older than her) or from the media. I don't swear most of the time. But I only swear when I'm seriously angry. It's a bad habit. I seriously don't think there is anything to do about this. There's no law saying that "we can't swear" or anything. But maybe if parents teach their kids about not swearing or cussing, the world can be a better place. But not all parents are hard on their kids. But it's a possibility.

Answer 5

I remember as a teenager going to a friend's house and being appalled at the bad language that was being thrown around as if it were confetti at a wedding.
My honest opinion was that they were unintelligent people.

Now aged 57 I found myself swearing like trooper at a maintenance man who has been lying to me for the past four months about what he was doing( or rather not doing) around the house.

I had tried everything else and seeing the look of shock on his face was the sweetest revenge!

Generally however i think it has no place in my or my kids lives!

Answer 6

I agree -- kids will say a lot more in the presence of kids than they did when I was a kid and I'm only 31. We had a fear of adults. They don't anymore. My kids know better. to be fair, I curb it (most of the time) in front of them too. There are consequences when they do though. I threatened my daughter with soap in her mouth. I wouldn't actually do it, but she doesn't know that and it scared her. If I am in public and kids are swearing, I don't hesitate to tell them I find it disrespectful and that I don't appreciate it -- especially in front of my kids.

Answer 7

I feel people use bad language when they cannot express themselfs fully and hence their frustration kicks. Unfortunately
it then becomes a habit and rubs off on young children.
It's use is not covered by the Ten Commandments so I suggest the first step would be to get media people to stop its use in 'entertainment'.

Answer 8

Well I know what I got when I was younger and I sure as heck don't do it now. My kids are raised the same way I was. I got daddy's belt when i misbehaved and lemme tell ya that wasn't often after i got the first one. That is what's missing today. We all needed to grow up as our parents did.

Answer 9

depends on your culture and how it is looked upon, and how wellyou teach your children. In denmark, where i live , you will hear children curse all the time. no one raises an eyebrow. the parents say it, say it to them as well as the elderly you will hear cursing. youalso hear it on interviews, newspapers, commercials etc....its just our society. but our children are well behaved and are way more respectful then american children. we have no out of control teens to the extent in america and we are one of the safest countries to live in in the world. so it seems to me it is culture and what you teach your children aboutlife. if you make it out to be a bad thing, then it becomes bad. otherwise it is just a jpart of life.

Answer 10

Modern days kid are just love to use foul language especially teenager or primary kids...even in my school kinder garden kiddo love to use foul language! its not the kiddo fault but it is the Community and bad influence of the Society from adult or from their own parents who everyday talking with foul language on phone or in the daily conversation! i agree with you we should stop this! but how? ;)