TU4AR said:
Well mate, I work in a club here in Canberra, and I can tell you that despite what you may think, there are plenty of people who find swearing very offensive. And fuck, what's with this website and "conservatives"? Maybe they just have fucking manners. I know I don't, but I'll respect those who do.
Can everyone stop acting like I'm not Australian, Christ
OKAY FAGGOTS LISTEN UP
I'm fairly sure this was the website that got it's panties in a twist over using the words "gay" and "******" as general derogatory terms, yet you're having a good old whinge about this. So which is it? Should we have our words controlled or not? Make up your minds, hippy fuckers.
How old are these people? Over 35? And if not, who were they bought up by? I say conservative because even teachers at my school (A private school where swearing is strictly against the rules) won't punish students (well most of them won't, there are some who are regarded as overly-strict by everyone [including other teachers]) if they swear when in pain or something. Many will tell them off if they call other people bitches (pays $240) or fags (pays $240), but there are still some who let it slide. Therefore, my observations living here in Vic, almost every reasonable person under the age of 40 that I know of finds swearing from pain inoffensive, and most find casual swearing inoffensive. It is when it is used in a derogatory context that it becomes offensive.
If you say there is something wrong with those younger generations because they don't mind swearing as much, there is not. We are the ones who will be living in the country, and who will be living with swearing when we grow up. Teaching kids that 'Fuck' (pays $240, wow, I'm almost broke) and 'Shit' (pays $240) are not horrible words to be avoided at all costs is in many ways a good thing. Not only is the entire appeal in saying the word because of the fact that its bad, but allowing them to say it on occasion (not obsessively, every second word [and I mean a semi-literal every second word, I.E; around every 3 or 4 words is unacceptable, but a few times a conversation is alright]) may actually have the effect on them that it has had on us: the words lose meaning. They are just another way of saying 'oh gosh', but not as stupid sounding.
I, and most others I know, find these words inoffensive because they lack meaning. If they carry meaning, then we find it offensive, but when they lack it, there is no point in being offended.
Just to bring up something someone else said, would you rather I:
a) Said 'Fuck' (Hope I haven't put my wallet away yet) when I stubbed my toe
b) Punched the nearest person in the face when I stubbed my toe to relieve my stress and anger
c) Pent up my stress and anger at the pain inside myself, and allowed it build until I snapped and did something very irrational.
I am considered by the majority to be conservative, I swear nowhere near as much as they do (unless I am in a bad mood), and I find that there is seriously no problem with swearing. There is a girl I know that is more conservative than me, she dislikes any swear words, however, she is not offended by it, she will merely ask the person who swore not to swear, and, on occasion, she herself will swear because she was not consciously thinking 'don't swear'. I seriously lack the understanding of what some peoples problem with it is.
