Poll: Profanity: Why?

[johnny appleseed]

I have a philosophical(ish) question. What makes profanity profane? Is it purely the exact meaning of the words, or is it the intent? Or maybe it's just the vulgar association we give them?

First are a set of statements that would hardly offend anyone over the age of twelve:

"I'm gonna kick your butt, you dog!"
"Aww dang, I stepped in dog poop."
"What the heck are you doing?"
"I caught my dog trying to mate with my neighbor's dog."

Now I give you the profane versions:

"I'm gonna kick your ass, you son of a *****!"
"Damn! I stepped in dog shit."
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I caught my dog trying to fuck my neighbor's dog."

Pick apart the meanings of those statements, and you'll find that the dictionary will tell you they mean the same thing, but with a few notes of "vulgar slang" thrown in there. So why is the second set offensive and profane while the first set is not?

So tell us what offends you, and why.

[If you use profanity frequently, and think it's not offensive, please explain why.]

Thanks all.

 

[MR T3D]

because sometimes, its FUCKING worth it.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

I don't see the problem depending on where you use it. Obviously as a Teacher I wouldn't go "No Tommy that's fucking wrong" or use the word "Fuck" every second word in a sentence like some people I know.

 

[Loves2spooge]

I swear like a ************. Except when it's inappropriate, like at a funeral.

 

[Hollock]

people get freaked out when I do it in public, which is weird because I swear all the time. It just must be my face or something.
"Hollock? Oh you mean that guy with the classic 'doesn't swear face'. I owe him a cheeseburger."

 

[Chamale]

I don't, as Loves2Spooge said, swear like a ************, but I consider it perfectly inoffensive. Some people choose to get worked up over swearing, and this behaviour offends me far more than swearing.

 

[sizzle949]

As long as you don't overdo it, it can be a great way to emphasise your point.

I don't know why people don't like it. It is, as I said, just another word.

This more or less. The right swear word in the right situation helps to emphasize both ones point and the emotion behind it. In fact it really helps to better express one's feelings at any particular moment. Of course if you over do it you just sound like a 14 year old kid trying to be cool and become accepted by swearing.

 

[Colour Scientist]

It comes in handy when you really want to emphasise something or when you're angry it feels much better to swear.
Also for this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvUZjEuK6tk

 

[NiceGurl_14]

It can be ok at times but there are times when it's not appropriate. Just know when it's ok to use it and when not to.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Words in their own don't offend me. I only get offended when I ascribe the words certain values.

That goes for all of you too. YOU choose if you want to be offended by what someone is saying. Hence YOU are responsible if you feel offended or violated only because of what someone else is telling you. You don't have to listen or ascribe any value at all to what anyone else is saying really.

 

[David Bray]

I swear quite regularly but very rarely attribute it to being nasty until my voice is raised.
I think it's due to my sister affectionately calling me a shit-head

 

[CloakedOne]

the only thing that makes profanity juicy is the fact that it has been generally decided that these things are vulgar and prohibited by more "sophisticated" or "official" parties. It's only profanity because we say so. There is nothing inherent in any one of those words' meanings. It's offensive because our parents said so. We were taught that they could say such things but we could not. it's a discipline thing. When you get old enough to talk like that, it feels so relieving and privileging in a way. Many people never let go of this, especially the older generation, and they believe such speech to be offensive. Once upon a time "humbug" was a curse. Now it's so archaic it's very laughable to hear someone use that the way it was meant once upon a time. That is all, really.

 

[ribonuge]

I think it is because you need something strong to convey whatever emotion you are feeling. Be it anger, frustration or surprise. At some point the words would have developed and slowly been tagged subconsciously in peoples' minds as wrong, because they convey such strong emotion.

As for "fuck", which is perhaps the most popular (or shit), it associates with things people are often embarrassed about, ie. sex and taking a dump. So when they hear it they flag it as being a derogatory colloquialism for something they aren't comfortable talking about in the first place.

The use and meaning of most swear words is so dynamic now, that it is almost impossible for me to be offended by one. I think only tone of voice or a direct and intended insult would annoy me. They are just words after all, and if used personally, indirectly or as an adjective to a normal word I don't have a problem.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

i'd say the most offensive word, would be from that guy:


DUMBASS !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX2Qc8qjgEY
for more fun...

 

[Destal]

I generally try to censor myself around children under the age of 15-16ish just because I don't know how their parents feel about it. I usually don't have a problem with it, but I try not to swear too much in front of people I'm unfamiliar with. In the professional world it comes across as very tacky and unprofessional and can lead to stereotyping in bad ways.

 

[GreyWolf257]

I cuss all the damn time, and I don't give a flying fuck what people think! But honestly, all they are are words, and if you just say them without intentionally trying to offend someone then it shouldn't matter.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Perhaps we as humans feel the need to deem a number of words forbidden so as to make them all the more fun to use, also giving them a certain power to emphasize intentions to an extent unattainable by normal words. Maybe we do it so as to not get bored of our own language.

Or it could be sheer stupidity. Who knows?

 

[Slash Dementia]

I don't swear at all, I feel like it dumbs down the conversation (at least my say in it), and also because I try to be as respectful as I can to anyone I talk to.

I have no problem with other people swearing, after all, it's just a word. It's just like giving someone the middle finger. Eh, I could care less.

Words in their own don't offend me. I only get offended when I ascribe the words certain values.

That goes for all of you too. YOU choose if you want to be offended by what someone is saying. Hence YOU are responsible if you feel offended or violated only because of what someone else is telling you. You don't have to listen or ascribe any value at all to what anyone else is saying really.

To be lazy, I quote this good sir, because it's exactly how I see it.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

You piece of shietzu! I'll fething swear as much as I gorramn want to! No bosh'tet like you is going to keep me from telling cretins to frak off!