Profanity

[BrutalAB]

I was raised in a house that did not have any cussing (that i can remember) at the moment i dont even remember given a reason why we didnt use certain words, just that we didnt.

Then in college one of my professors (that often disccussed things that seemed unrelated to the subject at hand at first) got off on a tangent about cuss words (and censoring) :

What is offensive about a word? Is it the word itself, the sound, combination of letters? Or is it the meaning of the word? Or the emotion the word carries? Is it the intention that either party (person saying or hearing person perceives) of the word?

If you are offended when someone says (insert any cussword) are you less offended if the person is censored into saying (insert some word that is more "polite") if you knew they had wanted to use the former?



I believe this has been covered by a famous stand up comedian almost this exact stance.


But this bring up the heart of the matter. That expletives can be an attempt to convey emotion.
In person we are given the advantage of body language and voice tone and loudness to convey emotion. In the moment we may be overcome by emotion and use expletives, and describing a situation long after the fact when we are no longer emotionally overcome may wish to stress the emotional aspect of the details by using expetives.

Online (ignoring video and audio mediums) we do not have any non text ways to convey emotion. And the fastest, easiest way to convey just how much that primer scared you when it went off in the tube (made up situation) is to use some words that get changed to stars on this forum. Logically, there is no need to explain it. I think every one of us can imagine just how scary that would be. But we are not 100% emotional or logicall people, and the need to connect on multiple levels is real.


I have not lived long enough to know this, but i suspect our society has been on a path that has pushed emotional thought in front of logical thought. And with the rise of the internet and the limitations that it had early on, i believe this combination really pushed forth the common use of language that is supposed to be reserved for extremely intense moments and emotions. To the point where it no longer has the effect it once did.


I view this board as primarily drivin by facts and logic, and therefor it is quite easy to abide by the no profanity rule. But on occasion i have felt like my tools to convey a thought were significantly reduced.


Perhaps i have figured out on my own why my parents did not use foul language, it would certainly fall in line with how we were taught to value logic over emotion.

I also reject the motion that such language signals a lack of intellegence. I do believe that the levels of use that one can experience in otherwise normal situations signals societal level problems. I do not believe the natural evolution of language can adequately explain its prevalence.

[jonp]

It's easy to be vulgar with people your not looking in the eyes

[.429&H110]

I try to be a Christian and live up to what Jesus said.
Forgive me for preaching and cribbing, here is Mark 7:

4And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Words can hurt.
Don't defile yourself.
Nunc Demittis

[waksupi]

I'm a fan of free speech but if you want to use it carelessly, ya just might get smacked with a can of twisted tea!

I've been seeing a lot of reference to twisted tea lately. What's that all about?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I've been seeing a lot of reference to twisted tea lately. What's that all about?

if you google
"Reports: Viral video of man getting hit with can of Twisted Tea happened at Ohio gas station"
Google's first result will be a article from the Cincinnati Enquirer
I'd post the link, but it contains the actual video with racial slurs ...and I'd prefer not to get an infraction for that link.

[Minerat]

Good job Jon! An example of the proper way to share and unacceptable video or attachment.

[wingspar]

I can’t stand vulgarities in forums either. This thread reminds me of an event years ago. Me and my other half were in Davis, CA where her son was going to school at the U. Of California. We were downtown by the campus. She was driving, he son in the back seat. There were so many bicycles that it became a challenge to make the left turn we wanted to make and she ended up cutting off a bicycle. The guy on the bicycle yelled plenty of “F” bombs. Her son in the back seat said “ You can tell he isn’t an English major”. That comment was priceless and even tho it happened years ago, I still remember it and think about it.

[trebleplink]

It's hard to generalize because someone can always dig up exceptions, but in my experience those who rarely use foul language are either 1) Older or 2) More intelligent.

[semtav]

****can? The software removes **** but leaves the word can. Spell it out and let the software do its job. $hitcan, shi+can, *hitcan as well as any version of any foul word you can think of will earn an infraction lickity split. Just spell it out.

So I learned !!!! Always thought it polite to use the $ sign to replace an S, but found out its not
Oh well, one infraction in ten years, probably wont be my last .

[0verkill]

It's hard to generalize because someone can always dig up exceptions, but in my experience those who rarely use foul language are either 1) Older or 2) More intelligent.

I disagree, I get more foul mouthed the older I get. I always hear talk as if your mother was here, that don't work either. If I talked like my mom I'd get banned from XXX sites. Granny was the second most foul-mouthed person I know and Pap's not far behind. If I weren't so lazy I'd type and say more bad words, but that's just more words to spell.

[abunaitoo]

For some families, it's just the way they talk.
Good example is the Beets family on the TV show Gold Rush.
Every other word is "not allowed"
And the way they speak to each other, it means nothing.
These days, women and kids are just as bad as military people.
To me, we hear it everyday, most of the time, and even we get used to it.
So when we type something, we just put down how we would say it, or what we heard.
Times are changing fast.
Many things that were unacceptable when I was young, are embraced these days.
Unmarried mothers used to be shunned, and an embarrassment to the whole family.
These days, the family celebrate it with a big party.
Might explain why the country is where it is today.
Sad.

[john.k]

I said to someone who has an important position (senior medical specialist)....You are using lot of f words,you never used to say anything like that....He said...I have to watch myself all the time,because I have two teenage daughters who are in an exclusive girls school......the language they use is astounding,and even the female teachers .....Apparently its a sign of a radical feminist.

[waksupi]

You can call someone an absolute door knob, and walk away. This leaves them confused, with the knowledge they have been cursed and insulted, but don't know exactly in what way.

[hoodat]

I have "come back" to God in the last few years, and have realized something about the profanity that was so common in my speech.

For me, it goes beyond just the words coming out of my mouth. When I start speaking profane, my mind also goes into a profane and unacceptable zone. My words and actions can take on a bullying, angry, or sexual nature, which migrates into my mind or state of being.

It can also spread to those around me, dragging them into the same state of mind. Profanity which always seemed harmless to me is far from harmless. And it is simply a stupid and immoral use of language. It's also extremely habitual, and difficult to put behind us. I'm doing pretty well, and feeling better for the improvement. jd

[Three44s]

I farm and ranch and work with my hands away from “sensitive ears”.

My language is quite coarse under those circumstances as I “talk” to my work and machines when things go awry! I never direct that language at people except in the most of extraordinary circumstances. I will talk into the TV now and then in less civilized fashion.

Now on this forum I have crossed into cautioned territory on occasion in political discussions with my irritations directed at leftists as a group. Sometimes there is disagreement with certain forum members of a certain political stripe and where in particular, they are trolling I can take issue. I am training my self to be better at highlighting poor reasoning with logic rather than merely fanning the fire with more emotion as the left is universal for.

Of late I just let things of illogical nature just float off like a puff of smoke in a breeze rather than respond.

I am that way with TV, I just take about so much and trounce off to my man cave and process more of my .223 brass.

Three44s

[popper]

Dad always said if you have to use profanity it's due to your limited vocabulary.

[Char-Gar]

I am fluent in both English and Spanish profanity, but find little use for either. Profanity is just a bad habit and one that seems to be accepted more and more in our society. I was taught, it's use was just a sign or ignorance and quality folks did not use it, perhaps the exception was when the men were behind the barn and out of earshot. At any rate, I agree with the OP that it's use way to rampant in social media and I don't hang out with those who use it. I have tossed many off my FB page for this offense. I have way to many church lady friends who would be deeply offended by the language.

[rockrat]

I have little use for profanity also and was taught just like Char-Gar was, so I seldom use it. Now, if I am in the shop and an piece of hot metal burns thru my sneaker to my foot or elsewhere, or the screwdriver slips and draws blood, I will let loose with a choice word or two('bout my limit!) but in day to day, nope.

[xs11jack]

Thank you all and especially Hickok for your insight. I wouldn't want to be a part of a group of really great people and have to leave it because of the cursing. What a terrible waste that would be. God's blessings on you all.
Ole Jack

[Gator 45/70]

I had a cousin when alive was a rather profound user of cuss words.
It is often said that he would also rather tell you a lie for a dime rather than the truth for a dollar.
But everyone agrees he was a heck of a mechanic.