Is Swearing a Vice?

[oddlots]

Growing up, my language was usually squeeky clean, as my Mom and Step-dad were very conservative, fundamental types, and a slip-up of the linguistic type would have been very, very bad.

Now, I strive to have as full, diverse, and unincumbered of a vocabulary as possible...so of course I can't limit myself by excluding four-letter words. I control (to a degree) where and when I swear, but for the most part I have no problem peppering occasional choice words, and when things REALLY hit the fan I can let loose with the best of them. That being said, I still try (even as an adult) to never swear in front of my mother or others I know would be offended. Heck, I just started cussing in front of my dad, and he's been dropping obscenities in my presence since I was a little kid!

 

[Copper]

To paraphrase Ralphie in A Christmas Story, I can work in profanity they way artists work in oils.

A favourite quote from a favourite movie.

Overdone, cursing can diminish any message or messenger.

Done well, it can truly be an art.

Somewhat on this topic, I saw this link to a Craigslist posting yesterday that descrbes an brief spew of profanity as "utterly delicious".

 

[John in Covina]

When I want them to remember it I give it to them Loud & Dirty!

Some swearing as everyday language can be overused and then is without meaning. If used judiciously at the right time in the right audience it provides an emphesis that is hard to convey at other times.

It is not a substitute when there is a lack of vocabulary.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I like to think of my language as "picturesque"!

But I must say I'm able to moderate it substantially dependant on the time/place/company. There's nothing worse than being out with someone who can't moderate their speach and who keeps dropping the old 'f' bomb in mixed company!

-dixon cannon

 

[Twitch]

That's why we have The @&^#&! Thread. Everyone needs to let loose now and again. Some more than others.

 

[MK]

.

When I was younger I used profanity...but I grew up and learned to express myself better. Now I have no need of it.

 

[Mustang]

When I was younger I used profanity...but I grew up and learned to express myself better. Now I have no need of it.

Exactly :eusa_clap

 

[patrick1987]

All of my friends my age swear but I don't. They don't wear fedoras, either.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

There isn't anything sillier than an adult who still "swears" like a child. I hear guys who swear they don't swear so they still use childish curses like poo, and darn, and fiddle-sticks! I mean, JEEPERS!... if you're swearing in your heart, just say the words! Other adults will understand! CRIPES!!

-dixon cannon

 

[Diamondback]

Awww Dix, but it's so much more fun to zing it past people by using four syllables instead of four letters...

 

[Rhofal]

Creativity

I found that "regular swear mode" makes me look less intelligent than I really am, so I usually vent my frustration or anger in lengthy, witty utterances.

It is very gratifying to call the other driver the offspring of a canine of the female persuasion instead of using the standard phrase.

When verbally challenged, I always resort to wit. It's very satisfying seeing the other party nonplussed at working out whether I just paid them a genuine compliment or said something really bad about them. ("You know, on careful reflection, what you just said may very well be not even half a dumb as it sounds"). When I add my Angel Face (TM) look to it, only the intelligent people in the crowd seem to be able to catch up. It seems as if the less intelligent ones can't keep track of sentences with more than a few words in and generally try to distill the train of thought by judging the non-verbal signals instead.

I'd also like to paraphrase my favourite author, Terry Pratchett on the subject of blasphemy. "Blaspheming can be a great relief of tension. It takes a very strong-headed atheist to pound on his thumb with a five-pound hammer and then shout out "random fluctuations in the space-time continuum", or "outmoded belief system on a crutch". And the gods don't mind anyway... "

 

[Sarge]

Honestly, I swear a little bit more than I should. In my line of work I hear foul language almost non stop and sometimes I just get caught up in it but I usually try to keep it to a minimum. Usually, my language becomes a bit salty the more angry I become.

The quote I always remember about the use of profanity is:

“When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty. It may not sound nice to some bunch of little old ladies at an afternoon tea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember. You can’t run an army without profanity; and it has to be eloquent profanity. … Sometimes I just, by God, get carried away with my own eloquence.” - Gen. George Patton

 

[cooncatbob]

I have a co-worker who swears up a storm in Hungarian.lol I haven't a clue what he's saying but I know I soon a he switches languages nothing good coming out of his mouth.*yucky*
As for the original question I would say swearing is not a vice but a short coming.
Bob

 

[TheSacredFemme]

I'm desperately trying to cut out the swearing. Not because of the effect it has on others, but one finds that when a single sentence includes three f-bombs...swearing in real situations doesn't quite pack the same punch.

 

[SSuperDave]

"Profanity is the linguistic crutch of an inarticulate em effer"

 

[GHT]

A catholic priest, of all people, once told me that the 'F' word was an acronym. Back in medieval times, adultery was against the law. Those guilty of this henious crime were known to be: Found Under Carnal Knowledge.
Whether that definition is true or not, I've no idea, couldn't be ***** to look it up.
Whilst the odd profanity has been known to slip out of my mouth, I much prefer put downs. By memorising a few, you can make it look as though your response was instantaneous. This one never fails:
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."

 

[F. J.]

Mark Twain on Profanity

Mr. Clemens had an interesting take on the subject:

"Under certain circumstances, [...] profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."

 

[gear-guy]

If you don't swear you stand out far more in a crowd than those who do.

 

[HudsonHawk]

A catholic priest, of all people, once told me that the 'F' word was an acronym. Back in medieval times, adultery was against the law. Those guilty of this henious crime were known to be: Found Under Carnal Knowledge.
Whether that definition is true or not, I've no idea, couldn't be ***** to look it up.

It's not true. It comes, like many English words, as a corruption of old German or Dutch words with similar meaning. The acronym theory makes a good story, though.

 

[Renault]

Only if the individual is not well versed at it. Otherwise, it's an art form.