Profanity

Surprised this topic doesn't exist, I did a search for it as best I could, but if it does, again sorry about a repeat.

Profanity, swearing, cursing, cussing, colorful metaphors... it goes by many names.

It seems like when I was younger it was still fairly taboo, especially for children, but now it seems like it is common to swear no matter your age.

I used to be an innocent child. I never swore once until about the time I got into high school. Now unfortunately I swear like a sailor. I try to keep it within reason on the internet, but even then my personality gets through and I'll swear excessively on the net as well.

What came about this new generation though? It seems like everyone swears now. I'd hesitate to call it taboo anymore. Is it just a cultural "thing" now, or something else?

I think that making anything a taboo just makes it more desirable to people, if we want something to die down, we can't let it be "bad". So, as the generations got more daring, and the parents got more apathetic, cursing became more mainstream.

I think people wised up and figured out that words don't really matter. Besides, there are many things in this world that deserve much more attention than F-bombs.

I got the 'swear every other word' syndrome outta my system early in my life. Now I'm controlled with it. I only swear in a lot of excitement [anger/joy].

Too much profanity in my opinion make one sound infantile. You might have a 'colorful vocabulary', but sound like a douche.

I'd agree... I don't think the words people use matter as much as the way they use them. A person can be rude and disrespectful without the use of profanity, while another person can be kind and considerate even while using language some would balk at.

Swear words tend to just be part of my vocabulary, especially while among friends - but that doesn't mean anything. Its all about how they are used.

I've always felt like swear words were just like any other words; there are places to use them and places you shouldn't. I don't see any word as being inherently "bad," just not always appropriate.
The only thing that really makes them bad words is the fact that are considered to be bad words. If we don't think of them as bad anymore, it doesn't degrade the language, it just puts them into more acceptable use.

Truely, I'm somewhat apalled that such language is being spoken to such a degree by those 8-13 on games, mostly containing of "fag, suck cock, homo, fuck". Almost every other word and/or sentence. If I had a kid that talked that way, he/she wouldn't be very happy. Respect and arguements without anger/swearing, that's how I do things.

A lesson in proper usage and etiquette

Profanity has gotten to the point where it dulls the language. The internet has helped it along being anonymous. Sure use it every so often may make your point. Use it every 3-5 words in your sentences really makes you sound stupid. Lowers your intelligence, shows lack of vocabulary, and lack of elegance. Show some restraint would be nice. Make you a better person.

Oh I especially hate it when teenagers that are given the responsibility of a mature person swears loudly and constantly in their speech to 4-10 year old. You're setting a fine example for the children to follow, douchebag.

I used to swear in every sentence. But now I limit to the time and place that I use the profanities.

I'm really sick and tired of seeing people on the internet try to get their point across using swear words. As Bentoss said, if you use it 3-4 times in a sentence, all it does is make look like a retard who hasn't finished high school (or even elementary school).

It's easier to respect someone even if you're arguing with them when they're not swearing at you with the same tired old "fuck" or "bitch" or "cocksucker".

"What the dicks man, what the dicks."

I remember as a kid how I would listen to my parents let one slip now and then, and wonder what it was about the word that made it so age restricted.
I never swore, the worst word I even knew most of my youth was 'butthead', and that was hardcore.
Heh, needless to say my ability to add profanity to my sentences has increased dramatically. However, as most people, I limit myself when there is a need to(at work, with grandparents) or if there is simply no point to(like now).

I agree, over use of any word only makes you look dumb or uncreative. Rarely does it help ones cause.
However, you really are seeing it a lot more often. Even people you would least expect.
I think this is watering down its meaning, which only means people need to say it more often to get the same reaction, thus making a slippery slope effect.

Then again, they are only words. Words mean nothing... their only what people make of them.

Profanity doesn't dull the language - rather, it is a part of the language. Profanity serves a purpose in communication (especially when you are mad for example), and I don't think you can limit it really. Even if you force people to stop using certain words, other words will come to have the same meaning. Thats the evolution of language for you.

I can hold an intelligent discussion, debate, or argument with the best of them, and yet I also know that swear words have their place. Its the semantics of what someone says that matters, not the words themselves. People will sound stupid if they are stupid, and people will sound smart if they are smart, not because they did or didn't say a certain word.

I don't really mind that people younger and younger are using profanity but it does annoy me when I pass some kids on the street or something and pretty much the only thing I hear out of their mouths are swears or insipid comments.

Well thankfully I keep the racial, and most of the derogatory terms out of my mouth except for the one women really hate. Although I've never actually used that word in a woman's presence, just to myself when I'm very angry about something.

Usually is limited to when I'm angry, but I have a couple of friends where unfortunately we're still immature and just toss it into our conversations randomly when we are talking to each other.

I think social status of the school and profanity go hand in hand. The bully + lackeys are the most likely offenders. "I'm rebel, adults don't control me blah blah blah". Its all about setting dominance, peer pressure. "I'm cool because I swear lots". (Kinda like kids imitating smokers) And if its not allowed, I'm gonna do it more.

It's gotten out of hand, can't think of something? use a swear. Trying to be more descriptive? use a swear. Can't find your perfect noun? use a swear. It "totally" solves all.

I'd imagine if I were to type up the typical conversation of typical teenagers on the bus and removes the swears and improper uses of "like". I'd get about 60% the words remaining and the core material would still come across.

I view it as a very passionate way of expressing yourself. There are certain situations where only the word "fuck" can show everyone how angry or in pain you are. Despite this my mother still hits me in the head every time I say it.

Like every other form of verbal expression, profanity thrives on intelligent and creative use of language, a skill which NOBODY EXCEPT FOR ME few enough people possess.

I have no qualms with coarseness. When in private, I speak as coarsely as a Whig and swear like a sailor, but none the less, I don't habitually use profanity in excess. I am coarse because in private I feel I have the right to call things by their name.

Excessive profanity doesn't bother me because it's profanity. It bothers me because it's excessive, like a verbal tic. Like someone ending every sentence in "you know what I'm saying?". It's fucking grating because it's repetitive as balls, god-damn trite and bloody boring, you know what I'm saying?

Profanity can be an efficient way to add emphasis, or humour. But profanity alone does not equal humour, and if you constantly emphasize every second word, the emphasis is lost.

But, I'd much rather speak with someone whose every second word is "fuck", as long as their IQ is above room temperature, than talking to an elegant and refined dullard.

In closing, I'm not sure whether it's a matter of generations. Perhaps it is for you anglo-americans. But for what it is worth, the most foul-mouthed person I have ever met, was my grand-mother. None of us teens could have even only dreamt to compete with the never-ending stream of military-grade expletives shooting forth from her mouth.

Well it isn't like it's a new fad in the United States or anything, but it does seem like it has grown exponentially the last like ten years are so. Maybe it's just where I grew up, but I don't remember hardly any young kids swearing, and if they did they were reprimanded. Yet, when I was in high school and would go back to my elementary school to see an old teacher or help out, it was nothing to hear little six, seven, eight year old kids swearing. Kids swearing just as much compared to what I heard in high school, and teachers just looked the other way nine times out of ten.

I remember back in middle school I was apparently woefully ignorant of terms like "masturbate" or "pencil" or "tool" and whatever word had a sexual connotation added to it. I use to curse a lot as well, but it's more toned down than before, and I use in appropriate settings. You don't curse in front of the professor or your superior.

But it's true that with each younger generation the curse words are getting used more often. Playing Left 4 Dead made me realize that when kids ages 10-14 were playing and you could tell through their girlish voices and their mic spam and cursing. It's what I attribute the degradation of society, but specifically we're entering the "Internet generation", which I think explains the increasing lack of netiquette and common sense displayed here at FAKKU! and everywhere else on the net.