Swearing...just something to distract me while I am sick

[Calliecake]

This thread is too funny. When I was younger (up to early 20’s) I actually felt guilty if I swore and rarely swore. . I never even heard the “F” word until I was in 8th grade. Once I hit 25 and heard people constantly swearing at work it didn’t bother me nearly as much when I swore. I swear too frequently now. I hate and won’t say the “C” word. I cringe anytime I hear anyone use it. I don’t considered pissed a swear word and use it when I’m mad often.

I felt bad the first time I said the “F” word while talking to @missy. When I said I felt bad she laughed and said “honey, I am a New Yorker. Do you really think I’m fazed by hearing that word”. We had a good laugh over it. I say the “F” word around close friends or people I’m really comfortable around. If I feel it may offend someone, I won’t use it while in their presence.

My husband and I never swore when around our brothers children until they became adults.

 

[Phoenix]

Odd how swear words relate to poop, pee, sex, and religion.
I wonder whether this is the case in every language.

BTW, anyone know the origin of "bloody" becoming a swear word in the UK?

Actually, "bloody" or rather "blloody hell' is very commonly used in the UK. You of course don't use it when say you're in an meeting, or sitting in a board room or in a church etc....but day to day, it is used quite frequently and is not considered in the same league as the F or S etc words.

 

[lyra]

I never said the F word regularly until I was in my 40's. The first time I really used it effectively was in my last ever conversation with my sister. Now in my 50's, I use it all the time. I don't know why, I guess because it is liberating. I just have to be careful around other people. They might not expect it coming from me.

 

[CJ2008]

I use the F word occasionally. And sometimes I go long periods where I don't use it - or any curse words - at all.

I don't like the word s - it's so ugly. But I do also occasionally use it.

Never use the c word. I don't think I've ever used it.

The p word yes but honestly I never thought of it as curse word. But now that I think of it... pretty ugly word/phrase too. Kind of in the same "family" as the s word.

 

[ringo865]

I think the C word is more commonly used in the UK? Here in the US, it's not used that much, particularly by women. I never use it, but sometimes hear it used as a descriptor of a personality (synonymous with Ahole). More often I hear it being used when describing a measurement of a very small distance/width, usually followed by "hair".

The S word I also use frequently; however some generations include "suck" as that other disallow "S" word and my mom abhors it. I use that one frequently, too.

I do try not to use GD, though I say G all the time.

I don't consider pissed a swear word. Or puss (like wuss). Though I don't ever use it with the y or to describe anatomy.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I can swear in both English and Cantonese. I can write a book on swear words in Cantonese. It is very common for Cantonese people to say "F your mom" when they greet you. It is not an insulting phrase to them just a way of saying hi to you..

 

[Hayley87]

I have a very strict on/off filter for myself, and I keep my language strictly PG around kids, at work, and with those I don’t know well. I was a goody-two-shoes kid and distinctly remember having a near panic-attack the first time I cussed on the playground: I was 12, said “damn” to a friend, and was certain I’d be expelled

Now, around close friends...? I happen to appreciate the grammatical flexibility of the “f word” and firmly believe it can be used as every part of speech

My reflexive mistake word is definitely the “s word”: if I drop something or knock it over, that’s the word that comes out. If pain is involved (e.g., stubbing a toe), then the “f word” happens instead. Funny how my brain separates the two.

I have no problem describing an obnoxious man as a “d word,” but hate the “c word.” Make of that what you will

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I'm from NY, I've spent most of my time for the last 10 years working in Brooklyn, "curse" words are everyday vocabulary for me. One of my favorite skits is George Carlin on the flexibility of the word "f*ck". I'm currently working on cross stitching cours phrases to hang in the house and gift to friends. Curse words themselves are not offensive, it is intent behind them. Someone snottily saying "bless your heart" can be far more offensive than "what's up bitch" because of the intent .

 

[Phoenix]

I think the C word is more commonly used in the UK? Here in the US, it's not used that much, particularly by women. I never use it, but sometimes hear it used as a descriptor of a personality (synonymous with Ahole). More often I hear it being used when describing a measurement of a very small distance/width, usually followed by "hair".

The S word I also use frequently; however some generations include "suck" as that other disallow "S" word and my mom abhors it. I use that one frequently, too.

I do try not to use GD, though I say G all the time.

I don't consider pissed a swear word. Or puss (like wuss). Though I don't ever use it with the y or to describe anatomy.

I don't hear the C word used often, though I do come from the UK. Mind you, the person that I hear use it, albeit occasionally, is English. I'll have to ask them. I really abhor that word, particularly when referred to a female. The usage you've described would be correct.

 

[Phoenix]

I can swear in both English and Cantonese. I can write a book on swear words in Cantonese. It is very common for Cantonese people to say "F your mom" when they greet you. It is not an insulting phrase to them just a way of saying hi to you..

I totally believe you, DF. Cantonese is ..ummm...a very colourful language, or should I say dialect.

 

[Phoenix]

I'm from NY, I've spent most of my time for the last 10 years working in Brooklyn, "curse" words are everyday vocabulary for me. One of my favorite skits is George Carlin on the flexibility of the word "f*ck". I'm currently working on cross stitching cours phrases to hang in the house and gift to friends. Curse words themselves are not offensive, it is intent behind them. Someone snottily saying "bless your heart" can be far more offensive than "what's up bitch" because of the intent .

That is true too. Funny how our langues have evolved.

 

[valeria101]

[QUOTE="Phoenix, post: 4284750, member: 21948"
So, do you?[/QUOTE]

Yes. For a couple of decades, this & church were the only things I used my mother tongue for !

 

[Phoenix]

I only swear around those I know. And on social media mostly to get a rise out of my mother. Also I swear in her presence because she pretends it really offends her but she and I both know I learned every cuss word I know from her when I was little. Once she found me writing down all the “bad words” she’d said when yelling at my brother and me and I guess that really bothered her. But not enough to stop. She was one of those who’d be in the middle of giving you a verbal dress-down rife with expletives and then answer the phone in her super professional, sweet voice, then after she got off the phone she’d get right back to cussing you out.

Yes, we call it “cussing” not “cursing.” Regional thing.

Too funny!

 

[Phoenix]

[QUOTE="Phoenix, post: 4284750, member: 21948"
So, do you?

Yes. For a couple of decades, this & church were the only things I used my mother tongue for ![/QUOTE]

Correct me if I am wrong,@valeria101, don't the French say M*rde very often? I've also heard some French people say "Ta...M..."!!

 

[valeria101]

It is very common for Cantonese people to say "F your mom" when they greet you. It is not an insulting phrase to them just a way of saying hi to you...

... 'guess we have some greeting like that, providing the receiving party with a way back to origin through the relevant anatomy; rarely a greeting, though (not impossible ! - when friendship is so close, both parties would laugh at such a thing & perfectly expect as much).

 

[valeria101]

Correct me if I am wrong,@valeria101, don't the French say M*rde very often? I've also heard some French people say "Ta...M..."!!

So I hear them. It seems so casual, I take it as a neutral figure of speech.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

I joke with my DH about the different cursing nuances.
French seems to be more sexual, while in German it's the s-word, mostly.
I was pretty shocked that the often and quite liberally (noun and also adjectives) used "con" = stupid /idiot /a##hole... is directly derived from the c- word.

In my mother tongue, that word is totally off limits. The S- word is very common though.
Merde is worse than I initially thought...
One tends ro spell it out , even around good acquaintances.
Obviously I am trying not to swear at all around my kids.... this is especially hard when driving.. so I still allow myself"stupid idiot" "stupig cow" (very common in German)...

I'm still immediately told off by my kids

 

[Phoenix]

I joke with my DH about the different cursing nuances.
French seems to be more sexual, while in German it's the s-word, mostly.
I was pretty shocked that the often and quite liberally (noun and also adjectives) used "con" = stupid /idiot /a##hole... is directly derived from the c- word.

In my mother tongue, that word is totally off limits. The S- word is very common though.
Merde is worse than I initially thought...
One tends ro spell it out , even around good acquaintances.
Obviously I am trying not to swear at all around my kids.... this is especially hard when driving.. so I still allow myself"stupid idiot" "stupig cow" (very common in German)...

I'm still immediately told off by my kids

Haha, too funny.

Interesting that about German. I don't speak a word of German. But French yeah, many things, swearing or otherwise, seems to have some kind of sexual connnotation. Even words of phrases, said innocently and grammatically correct, can have a totally different , and sometime sexual meaning, for example Je veux te b*is*!! (literally just means "I want to kiss you"...but nooooo the French take it to the next level!!)... Anyway, I digress...lol

I also say "stupid idiot" and "stupid cow" quite a bit, when some ppl annoy me! lol

 

[House Cat]

I never gave much weight to cursing. My parents are a little rough around the edges and so were their friends. I heard it all.

Of course, in Catholic School I was told that cursing was sinful, but so was allowing my knee high socks to fall to my ankles. Any form of personal expression was wrong in Catholic School. Cursing was the least of our worries on that campus.

When I met my husband, he was really proud of the fact that he never heard his dad curse. I found this bit of information truly insignificant, although I didn’t express that sentiment. To me, this is a group of words and letters mixed together, that aren’t much really to our society. This isn’t a huge testament to character as far as I am concerned. Years have passed and I learned of the TRUE character of my husband’s father, he should have let the f-bomb fly every f*ckin day. Maybe he would have been a better human.

I find the significance attached to cursing interesting because I don’t have it.

 

[Missy]

@House Cat I agree with your above sentiments re cursing. I think we all do it to some extent with many different things. We often judge others based on nonsense IMO. As I got older I realized wow how wrong I was when I was younger about so many things. I would have been that person who judged someone based on them using "foul" language for example. No longer of course because as I got older I guess I did get (a bit) wiser. But we all judge and often it is based on crap. Oops there I went and used my C word haha.

I have taken a long and hard look at certain things and came to the conclusion many many years ago not to judge others based on things that are so superficial. Potty mouth? Who cares. Bad table manners. Big f***ing deal (oops there I go again lol). Sloppy dresser. So? These days I judge (and let's face it we all judge to some extent and without judging society would fall apart...oh wait too late ) based only on traits I consider to be critical to being a decent human being. Kindness, compassion, integrity, generosity, empathy and honesty to name a few character traits I might judge someone on. For better or worse this is how I think now.

 

[Phoenix]

@House Cat I agree with your above sentiments re cursing. I think we all do it to some extent with many different things. We often judge others based on nonsense IMO. As I got older I realized wow how wrong I was when I was younger about so many things. I would have been that person who judged someone based on them using "foul" language for example. No longer of course because as I got older I guess I did get (a bit) wiser. But we all judge and often it is based on crap. Oops there I went and used my C word haha.

I have taken a long and hard look at certain things and came to the conclusion many many years ago not to judge others based on things that are so superficial. Potty mouth? Who cares. Bad table manners. Big f***ing deal (oops there I go again lol). Sloppy dresser. So? These days I judge (and let's face it we all judge to some extent and without judging society would fall apart...oh wait too late ) based only on traits I consider to be critical to being a decent human being. Kindness, compassion, integrity, generosity, empathy and honesty to name a few character traits I might judge someone on. For better or worse this is how I think now.

@missy, wise words indeed!

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

literally just means "I want to kiss you"...but nooooo the French take it to the next level!

At least that's what they LOVE to believe

When I was about 14/15 we had this boy in our class who wanted to be the "rebel"... in hindsight he was just a nasty person with a lot of issues. He dropped the C *** word frequently and got suspended for it. We all didn't exactly know what it meant though.
SO I went home and asked my mom what exactly it meant. She didn't blink and explained it was an incorrect term for the female sexual organ; stupid people try to use it as an insult, but it's just pretty clear that someone like this is not the brightest person and quite possibly frustrated in many ways.

I COOLLY repeated it the next time he said it and that shut him up effectively.

Ever since I've thought of this word as misogynistic and plain stupid.

ETA:
The male counterpart (d*** ) doesn't exist as a swear word in German. So C... Is even more misogynistic

 

[Phoenix]

At least that's what they LOVE to believe

When I was about 14/15 we had this boy in our class who wanted to be the "rebel"... in hindsight he was just a nasty person with a lot of issues. He dropped the C *** word frequently and got suspended for it. We all didn't exactly know what it meant though.
SO I went home and asked my mom what exactly it meant. She didn't blink and explained it was an incorrect term for the female sexual organ; stupid people try to use it as an insult, but it's just pretty clear that someone like this is not the brightest person and quite possibly frustrated in many ways.

I COOLLY repeated it the next time he said it and that shut him up effectively.

Ever since I've thought of this word as misogynistic and plain stupid.

Sooo cool!!!

and I agree.

 

[redwood66]

I never gave much weight to cursing. My parents are a little rough around the edges and so were their friends. I heard it all.

Of course, in Catholic School I was told that cursing was sinful, but so was allowing my knee high socks to fall to my ankles. Any form of personal expression was wrong in Catholic School. Cursing was the least of our worries on that campus.

When I met my husband, he was really proud of the fact that he never heard his dad curse. I found this bit of information truly insignificant, although I didn’t express that sentiment. To me, this is a group of words and letters mixed together, that aren’t much really to our society. This isn’t a huge testament to character as far as I am concerned. Years have passed and I learned of the TRUE character of my husband’s father, he should have let the f-bomb fly every f*ckin day. Maybe he would have been a better human.

I find the significance attached to cursing interesting because I don’t have it.

Ugh. You have no idea how much I agree with all of this.

 

[LLJsmom]

Ive been swearing regularly since I was 10 years old. Strange why I remember that. It was strictly forbidden at school but I have a short fuse and that was the only way I could express my anger at the moment I felt it and that I would feel like I released it. I’m no good at holding things in. My immediate responses are “f***”, “sh!t” and “a**hole”. I use them everywhere, except at Church. My kids hate it when I swear and are always saying “language...” when they hear me, which annoys me even more. Wait. Thank so try to tone it down when I am around other children, not my own. I tone it down at the office too. But swearing is part of my basic vocabulary. Yup. Oh funny. My DH never swore until we had kids.

 

[telephone89]

I swear a lot. I don't think my husband loves it haha. I totally disagree with the notion that people who swear are somehow less credible or less intelligent. I think it's been proven to be the opposite, but I'm sure those people are thinking more of a person sitting on their porch drinking a beer at 10am rather than a CEO lol.
That said, as a general rule I don't use gendered insults. So I dont like b*tch, c*nt, p*ssy, d*ck, etc. Thats just a personal thing.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I've heard that people who curse are more intelligent. Well, I'm okay with being one of the less intelligent then. Although I can't say that I've never cursed, I use these words sparingly, and I don't use the ones listed. The "S" word has slipped out on occasion, and my fave: "A-hole" didn't make it on this list.

 

[House Cat]

When I was in high school, my Geometry teacher told me that indigenous tribes had their own words for curse words. I remember the Mormon kids weren’t allowed to curse, so they said the words backwards. My aunt is a very devout Christian, she would substitute words for curse words. I forget the words she would use, but it would be something like “OH STRAWBERRY!!” My point is, no matter the word that is coming out of your mouth, if your intent is to curse, you are cursing. I’m pretty sure I could use the f-word in a benign way just and someone else could use “strawberry” and make someone cry. It’s all about intent and tone.

I respect holding yourself to a personal standard, as long as you are truly keeping your standards high in other areas too. Back to my previous example of my husband’s father, sure, the man didn’t curse but he wasn’t a good man. So, no one gives a shit about his legacy of a clean vocabulary. Maybe I’ll say at his funeral, “well, he was cruel and heartless to my husband and to his wife, but thank God he never said the word shit.”

 

[mrs-b]

I grew up never swearing at all. Now, in my opinion, I swear too much. I decided just this morning that I was going to stop. Completely. So we'll see how that goes - I hate a foul mouth.

On the other hand, I definitely use - and will continue to use - both f**k and c**t - but not as swearing - as slang. I use them to refer to what they are, not to use as the insults they have become. I HATE that even a slang term for female genitalia has become one of the foulest insults in our language, so I have reclaimed it in (and only in, to be clear) the bedroom and use it appropriately. If, on the other hand, I hear someone use it as an insult, I go non-linear. It is NOT ok that parts of my body are being denigrated - such a chauvinistic thing to do - to take the most private, most desired part of a woman's body and turn it verbally into trash - mostly as one more way to keep a woman in her place.

Not in my bedroom, buddy. Not in my LIFETIME.

C**t to me is a strong, proud, amazonian word that should not, in general, be entrusted to men. In the same way, and for the same reasons, 'pussy' is not. I never - ever - use that term - and never have. Not even once. If you're not grown up enough to use the word 'vagina', you are not old enough to be having sex. It's an attempt to turn the sexuality of women into something cute, something child-like, something passive. To which I say:

Go f**k yourself.

And I mean that literally.