Are you offended by swear words? Updated to add extra options and 2nd question

[luuknam]

Self-explanatory, I think.

[Butter]

I'm not offended by them, but I don't like them, particularly if they are used way too much.  They kind of make me cringe.

[JumpyTheFrog]

I want to say that I think you did a great job listing all the various possible answers for this poll.

[creekland]

This should be an interesting poll - thanks for posting it - and yes, it does seem like you've covered multiple options/opinions!

[marbel]

I'm not offended by them, but I don't like them, particularly if they are used way too much.  They kind of make me cringe.

 

This exactly. 

[Rebel Yell]

I do not use curse words, not really... I used to BIG TIME and after kids I just stopped.  I miss them. But I way overused them, and I'm an all-or-nothing girl. BTW, my family that I was raised in does not swear much- very mild words, very rarely.

 

My kids do not use them, at least not that I have heard.  I beleive the 20yo does in small doses around certain friends. I am OK with that. I prefer the euphemisms "freaking" or "fricking" to "effing"

 

I am more offended by curse words of a religious nature/taking the Lord's name in vain than I am about any word that is merely a body part or bodily function. But I actually depsise the "f" word for passing gas WAAAAAY more than I could ever dislike the "F-Bomb." :ack2:

 

And on a fun note- we love in a city that has a lovely place called Frick Park. It provides us with an endless source of mirth--- "Let's go to the Frickin' Park!"

Where are we going? FRICK!

 

editing to add: I do appreciate it when people who do use plenty o'curse words tone it down in our presence. I don;t require it, and I never correct a visitor/child when they use words we don't. Unless they are directed at (as in name-calling) a person. Then I might comment.

[DesertBlossom]

I am not personally offended by overhearing swear words. But I do find it jarring. I was in line with a couple young adults who were angry about being asked for I.D. and they used the F word every other word. I find it to be in poor taste as well as a indication of poor character.

 

If someone swore AT me, it would bother me most if it's someone whose opinion I actually care about. My potty-mouthed brother has thrown the F word at me a couple times recently and I was very upset about it. He could have gotten his point across without trying being so offensive. At this point I avoid talking to him. He's got a short fuse and apparently doesn't think swearing at people is as big of a deal as I do. 

 

I think swear words are intended to be offensive. It's kind of like passing gas in front of someone and then telling them to "get over it" when they complain. Sure, we all toot on accident sometimes and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. But there's no reason to be spewing our noxious gases in front of others on purpose.

[zoobie]

I don't use them at people and don't want them used at me or mine, but otherwise? In a private setting? Go for it.

[fairfarmhand]

Words that take God's name in vain offend me.

 

When someone I know uses one occasionally, It doesn't bother me.

 

I choose not to be around people who have a constant stream of swear words flowing from their lips. Just not what I prefer for my intimate friends.

 

I was taught that "It's not ladylike to swear." :) That;s just my Southern lady raising showing.

 

I've never said a swear word, but after this weekend, I've thought that swearing would be nice.

[Onceuponatime]

I never use swear words, but I don't think it is morally wrong, unless they are purposefully used to hurt. I tend to be very literal and visual. When I hear certain words there is an automatic internal cringe and I have to pause to think about the intended message, not the literal meaning of the words. That's just the way I'm wired. I rarely use slang either. I think I have a mild case of Amelia Bedelia syndrome. It alternately entertains and annoys my kids.

[IfIOnly]

"I admire people who don't use swear words but can't/won't stop myself from using them at times."

 

 

I grew up with women who swore in casual conversation, practically every conversation. I don't use swear words casually, but when experiencing certain emotions, certain words spill out. I wish they didn't .My husband never swears, and he was raised with parents who didn't. We both grew up in homes with no judgement against it. 

[Mimm]

I do have a problem with swearing in certain contexts. I passed a woman pulling on her four or five year old's arm and telling him to get his "f--king a--" in gear or she was going to "beat him". I found the swearing inappropriate but even without the swearing, I would have thought this woman needed to take a breather.

 

I don't swear around other people's children, and don't use very many around my own. Usually just damn. My 14 year old says damn. I don't have a problem with it. It's not constant, it's something she says when she's very emotional. I think it's helpful to have words that express your feelings.

 

Sorry half the post posted. My 1 year old found some key on my keyboard that does that, apparently. I said "Crap" when it happened. ;)

[Greta]

I think it's not the words that offend me, but the intention behind them. If they're being used to intimidate or insult, then yes they add to the offense. But if they're being used to add emphasis, I don't generally notice or care.

[Dmmetler]

I taught preschool and elementary school music for years. It's pretty much impossible for me to swear because I had it so engrained not to by kids who thought "butt" and "poop" were the height of obscenity and that the "s-word" was "shut up". On the other hand. I can sing Deck the Halls with a group of snickering 6th graders and explain that the thing holding the guitar strings is called a "nut" and totally ignore their blushes and titters.

 

I do make sure my DD knows that "what the...." "Freaking", and so on is filled in by the other word in the mind of most listeners, so if that's not the perception she wants to give, then don't use even the euphemism-and that any interjection, overused, loses it's impact.

[kewb]

No, I am not offended by words. I get to decide how much power the words will have on me.

However, in general I don't care for swearing. I think in most situations it makes you sound stupid. Slamming your thumb with a hammer, well a swear word is very satisfying. Just peppering them throughout a conversation because you can, you sound stupid.

[Onceuponatime]

I taught preschool and elementary school music for years. It's pretty much impossible for me to swear because I had it so engrained not to by kids who thought "butt" and "poop" were the height of obscenity and that the "s-word" was "shut up". On the other hand. I can sing Deck the Halls with a group of snickering 6th graders and explain that the thing holding the guitar strings is called a "nut" and totally ignore their blushes and titters.

 

I do make sure my DD knows that "what the...." "Freaking", and so on is filled in by the other word in the mind of most listeners, so if that's not the perception she wants to give, then don't use even the euphemism-and that any interjection, overused, loses it's impact.

I thought the s- word was "stupid." 😀

[MercyA]

Are we talking only about swear words that don't involve God's name, or are those included?  I'd like an option for "Some swear words are morally wrong."  ;)

[Mrs. Y]

Dh and I were picking up a load of something at a business.  We wound up feeling bad for the guy on the forklift for not being able to select more articulate words to express himself.  His vocabulary was pitifully lacking save for the unrelated cuss words he strung together in every.single.sentence.  It was ghastly.  :crying:

 

I cringe.  I hate when people say bad words.  I have come to expect them, though. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Copy and pasted from the other thread because I don't know which thread this belongs on since there seems to be a lot of overlap in discussion:

 

Swear words that are not directed to someone else to belittle them or verbally abuse them in some other way don't offend me, but I don't want to be around a lot of casual swearing.  The reason I don't want to be around it is that it gets in my head and I start to do it mentally and verbally.  It puts me in a more angry mental place that I do not like to inhabit.  The people swearing casually may or may not be in that mental place but that is what it does for me.  So naturally I avoid it.  

[TranquilMind]

Self-explanatory, I think.

Vulgar and uneducated are the connotations for me.    We just don't do this.  I guess it has to do with upbringing.  

 

I'm impressed by lofty vocabulary, not swear words. 

[luuknam]

Sorry people, ran out of likes (for the first time ever). I was reading some of the thread from the bottom up, so some of the people in the middle didn't get a like - don't take that personally. :)

 

 

I was taught that "It's not ladylike to swear." :) That;s just my Southern lady raising showing.

 

Nah, I don't think anyone believes it's 'ladylike' to swear. Not everybody cares about being a lady though. :)

 

And, to be honest, farmhands are not the first thing that come to my mind when I think of ladies.

[Guest]

In and of themselves they never bother me. I know when I am being insulted or when someone is being a ridiculous aggro regardless of what words they choose to use.

[Carrie12345]

I did grow up in a bar, but I swear way more than my parents and grandparents. (Grandparents owned the bar.)

There is one swear word I absolutely hate to hear and used to swear I'd never use it, but I do find myself using it once or twice a year when the situation calls for it.

 

I do not like when strangers swear in public mixed company.

 

I am probably a hypocrite.

[happi duck]

If dh, our kids or I swear then you *know* the situation or the emotion is very serious/dire. So you won't hear me happily say "this is f-ing great!" but you might hear a panicked me saying "I f-ing can't take this anymore!"

 

I don't think it was a decision...maybe just how we're "wired".

 

Other people swearing doesn't offend me but my body's first reaction is alarm because of how I use swearing, kwim?

 

I agree with a pp that " what the..." or "frickin'" etc. gets filled in by the hearers.

 

I find "what the..." very annoying...not because I'm offended but because just the sound of it and the usual demeanor behind it makes my skin crawl!

[MercyA]

Thanks for adding the religious swear words option, luuknam.  

 

Swearing that involves God's/Jesus' name is very viscerally offensive to me. I also believe some other swear words fall into the prohibited category for me as a Christian based on Ephesians 5:4, "...there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."  Based on that verse and on personal preference, I dislike crude words referring to bodily functions or body parts. I think the use of hell and damn as swear words is sometimes totally justified. ;) I admit to (very rarely) using and not being bothered by fricking. I probably shouldn't do that. 

[BarbecueMom]

I physically cannot swear anymore. Something got switched off after having kids. I wish I could, instead I instinctually blame the closest kid when I stub my toe.

 

That being said, I am so relieved when I am trying to get to know someone and they use a curse word. I went to a rock concert two weeks ago where the lead singer cursed up a storm... and it was an AWESOME show. And I recently finished a book series where the protagonist's use of f-bombs coincided with his inflating ego. I'm not going to have much in common with someone who would avoid those books or type of music because of language. I've been burned by people assuming I'm a stereotypical goody-two-shoes religious homeschool mom, then turning and running when they really get to know me.

[SKL]

OK, I cuss sometimes when I'm under stress.  There are some words I will not ever use - those are words I find way too demeaning to some group of people.  Or just too gross.

 

There have been times in my life when I didn't cuss, and other times when I cussed a lot.  Right now I'm in between.  I may cuss in front of my close family/friends if I am worked up about something.  Or use "close substitutes" that I make up on the spot.  If I'm very scared (like when nearly in a car accident), the F word is likely to fly.

 

I kind of admire people who don't ever swear, because I think it shows they have a lot of self-discipline.

 

I am too old to care what others think of my private habits.

[Guest]

Thanks for adding the religious swear words option, luuknam.

 

Swearing that involves God's/Jesus' name is very viscerally offensive to me. I also believe some other swear words fall into the prohibited category for me as a Christian based on Ephesians 5:4, "...there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." Based on that verse and on personal preference, I dislike crude words referring to bodily functions or body parts. I think the use of hell and damn as swear words is sometimes totally justified. ;) I admit to (very rarely) using and not being bothered by fricking.

Yeah, that's the only one I'd say is categorically morally wrong. But I really dislike all swear words uttered in a context not involving immense physical or emotional duress. If no profanity was uttered outside those situations I'd be thrilled. They're not acceptable substitutes for other adjectives, verbs, or adverbs in this house.

 

I used to swear quite heavily. It was classless and trashy of me, really. I didn't realize how I sounded until I stopped the habit and heard others doing the same thing.

[SKL]

I agree that it is more offensive when people bring God into it when they swear.  Though I admit that there are times when I'm about to blurt out "God dammit" and change it to "God bless America!"

[Closeacademy]

I don't use them.  I ignore them when they are used so they really don't bother me unless there are young children (under 13) present who should not be exposed to them.  I also think it's unladylike to swear and that it looks bad. 

[albeto.]

I don't mind any swear words, but I don't use all swear words. I think calling words like "darn" and "freakin'" "soft swear words" is bizarre. 

 

I do enjoy a rousing string of blasphemous swear words, though. I know, what a shock. It's just that there's so much more creativity in a phrase than in repeating one particular word. 

[ScoutTN]

T  

 

Swearing that involves God's/Jesus' name is very viscerally offensive to me. I also believe some other swear words fall into the prohibited category for me as a Christian based on Ephesians 5:4, "...there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."  Based on that verse and on personal preference, I dislike crude words referring to bodily functions or body parts. I think the use of hell and damn as swear words is sometimes totally justified. ;) 

 

 

This.

[foxbridgeacademy]

I "swear" when appropriate, I try to refrain around people it might offend because I'm polite.  I'd say my feelings about "swear" words is the same, they're just words, what's important is the intent.  My usage has lessened over the years, unintentionally.  

[Night Elf]

Swear words don't usually faze me. I do dislike when someone uses them for every other word. I've heard some teens talk like that. It's like they feel they have the freedom to use them so they overdo it. I've taught my kids that swear words should only be used appropriately and haven't needed to monitor their speech, but they do use them.

[Pawz4me]

In general I'm not bothered by them.

 

I don't use them myself because I think they're trite to the point of boring.  I'd rather be a bit more original and creative when I need to express a strong emotion.

 

I think swearing that involves the use of God or Jesus Christ is simply downright rude.  Even if the person saying it isn't a Christian, enough of the population is that there's just no excuse for it.  It doesn't take any extra effort to be polite and respectful about stuff like that.

[Guest]

I use them infrequently but more often than I used to. There are a few I never utter and don't enjoy seeing or hearing. The constant hard cussing in certain books made me dislike the books. I soft swear quite often, though. I don't care if people use them and don't notice them.

 

I would not be attracted to a book that used a bleeped-out cuss word in the title, although I do see instant humor in the one posted about, "Go the F*ck to sleep." I think every parent has at least said that in his or her head and it does strike me as funny.

 

Oh, and there was that famous coffee mug that quoted a writer and said, "Write like a M*ther f*cker!" I would not buy that mug, but I sort of wish I lived in an alternate reality where I could. I think it's funny.

[73349]

I was not allowed to swear growing up (my siblings are much younger, so by the time I was old enough that mom probably wouldn't have cared--she curses a fair bit herself--there were toddlers and preschoolers around). I took it up in college and got pretty fluent; my friends found it hysterical because I was such a Good Girl otherwise.

 

I dropped it again while teaching school, and I spend so much time within earshot of DS that I've gotten out of the habit.

 

I don't mind when other people do it casually or for effect, except in front of young kids. It doesn't bother me in print. Sometimes it's very funny. This cracks me up.

[mamiof5]

Rarely ever use them, sometimes I do think them, but try not to... I just don't like them, period. Don't know much about them either... the S word is stupid? Not sure if it is or not...have no interest in finding out. Dislike them more than I used to, since I feel it has gotten worse through the years, and now they are terribly overused.

ETA: I have to say my dh and his friends went out of town with it when my son was a toddler, and his tr sound was a very clear f sound...they laughed their hearts out, several times ;)

[DawnM]

Offended may be the wrong word.  I was a public high school teacher, so if I were offended, I would have been up a creek.  The teachers often used swear words too.  

 

It doesn't bother me too much in those contexts.  However, I don't think it is the best way to communicate, and I would walk out if a pastor used a swear word from he pulpit or a politician got up and said the F word.  That person would certainly not get my vote.

 

On a side note, a local pastor did one of those stupid "turn to your neighbor and say X" things (sorry if that is offensive, I hate it when you have to do that)  Anyway, he said, "Turn to your neighbor and say, 'Get the H*ll out of here, and for those of you old fuddy duddies, I mean the literal hell."   

 

Um, that was not for anything other than shock effect and I honestly can't remember the point he was even trying to make in the sermon.

 

 

 

 

[Farrar]

I know it probably makes me a horrible person, but there's something hilarious to me about hearing my kids swear.

 

We're working on helping them understand why they can sometimes and not others. Sigh.

 

I don't have any real objection to swearing. I don't like it when swears are coupled with sexist, racist language though and I feel like somehow some people seem to think that littering their language with swears makes it better... I think it's that they think saying the swears are the vile thing so it's okay to work in a bunch of racism and sexism, which to them seems like no big deal compare to the swears. But I'm not offended by the swears - they're just words. But the other sentiments are entirely unmitigated for me.

[Truscifi]

I believe in the full use of language. That said, I only swear when it is appropriate to the situation and the audience.

[Annie G]

I swear when appropriate- which means not around children and not in public.  Thankfully, my children are all adults so I can swear in my home. 

Dh rarely swears- and I don't think I've ever heard him use the F word. 

 

When the kids were little I had a bad habit of saying 'crap' and they picked it up. We started a swear jar and I think that summer I both broke my habit and funded the purchase of a minivan. 

 

I'm offended when people swear unnecessarily around and to children, and when people in public are just screaming obscenities when it's not necessary.  Have some respect for people who might not like those words, people.

[creekland]

It totally depends upon the word to me.

 

F--k is the worst, because its meaning would have f--- you replaced by rape you.  I see no need for anyone to say that, ever.  It bothers me to hear it every single time and I often wonder if the speaker knows what it means.

 

S--t doesn't bother me at all.  We're on a pony breeding farm and I've been around equines in general since I've been 8 years old.  S--t happens! I've even eaten my share (in dust from cleaning barns or in the "dirt" from falling off horses/ponies or similar). It fully makes sense that many people consider bad things going on the same as cleaning up manure and who cares which word they choose to use?  Single syllable s--t is easier to say - or crap.  Who's to say one word is worse than the other?  That said, because many consider it a swear word, I won't use it at school or around most people I don't know well.

 

D--n doesn't bother me either, but GD does because the latter also has a nasty meaning.

 

For God's sake or for Pete's sake... sake means purpose.  For Pete's purpose???  I guess I find myself amused by people using these and assume most don't know the meaning.  It's rarely used correctly.  I'm not sure it's a swear word/phrase like the others are.

 

St-p-d doesn't bother me as long as it's not someone calling a person it - even themselves.  Sometimes things are s----d.  I see nothing wrong with the word.  At school this is not a swear word (crap isn't either).  Both are used by kids and teachers.

 

I'm probably forgetting some, but that's the gist.

 

I definitely think people who use these words commonly in public conversation are un or under-educated socially (or are kids wanting to pretend to be older) - regardless of how much knowledge they have (different type of intelligence).  It's what I see IRL in every circle I'm in (and only one of those is religious).  It might be regional, but I've lived in five different states, next to Canada (literally), and traveled over a good part of both the US and Canada as well as a couple other countries.  I think most higher (social) intelligence folks who swear are careful about the circles they do so in.  Lower intelligence folks don't give a hoot or feel proud that they say what they want wherever they want.

 

 

[The Girls' Mom]

Some swear words really make me cringe, and their rampant use right now drives me batty (specifically the f-bomb, it just seems extremely crude to me. Why do so many movies have to use it as punctuation?).  I have mixed feelings on the morality of some of them.  I really dislike taking God's name in vain.  The other words? I realize that they are just words.  

 

 

[Audrey]

There are times when I swear like the sailor who raised me (he was, indeed, literally born in a barn, too), but for the most part I see them as just words.  There are times and occasions where they are not appropriate.  I respect the unwritten rule about not swearing in front of anyone's kids or elderly people.   I feel that some people overuse them, and one of my pet peeves is misusing words, including swear words.  I will correct people's swearing grammar.  Either do it correctly or don't do it. ;)

[Suzanne in ABQ]

If I burn my finger or smash my toe, certain words will tumble out of my mouth that don't normally.

 

If I'm extremely angry, certain words will form in my brain, and will sometimes come out under my breath as I walk out of the room.

 

There are a few words that used to bother me a lot more than they do since I have teenagers.  Suck is an example of such a word.  I used to hate that word, but it has become pretty mainstream to me now.

 

 

[SKL]

This thread reminds me of an email I received many years ago - can't find it now, but it had some of the suggestions mentioned here:  [Note:  foul language alert]

 

http://funnyshit.com.au/swearing-at-work.php

 

After all these years, some of them still make me laugh.

[SKL]

And now I am wondering if I am depriving my kids of some of the rich vocabulary I was exposed to as a kid.

 

My mom liked to swear in long strings of cuss words.  Where I might mutter "sh!thead," she would have said "g.d.c.s.m.f.s.o.b'ing.b." (the majority of which my kids have never heard).

[Seeking Squirrels]

I have no problem with swearing and do so a fair bit myself. I don't bite my tongue in front of my kids, either. I do, however, moderate around others if they don't swear or I'm not sure if they do. I may not avoid all swearing completely, but I try to minimize it and avoid the "big" swear words that seem to offend more.

[Elfknitter.#]

It totally depends upon the word to me.

 

F--k is the worst, because its meaning would have f--- you replaced by rape you. I see no need for anyone to say that, ever. It bothers me to hear it every single time and I often wonder if the speaker knows what it means.

 

(Snipped)

 

I have heard of f*** being a slang term for copulate but not seem it as solely a reference to rape. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/e52.html

 

As an aside, those traveling who are offended by the F word should beware of the name of this town: http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/austria.asp