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Cursing is an art, and adds color to otherwise bland sentences and communication. Curse words emphasize tone, inflection, emotion.
If you’re not very good at cursing, maybe you should fuckin’ practice more.
In what way does it add emotion? I've heard people say "f you" to mean all different kinds of emotions. I find it hard to believe that saying "I'm f-ing sad" is more emotional than taking time to think it though and get something such as this "I think losing a family member would hurt less than what I'm feeling right now."
"I haven't eaten in 4 hours and 41 minutes and now long for a sandwich with cheese, tomatoes and lettuce" also gets more info across than saying "I'm hungry", yet people keep using the latter.
Yea, because it's easy; just as saying f you is nothing more than a brainless task, lacking any depth.
Scientific studies have shown that curse words relieve physical pain better than any alternatives.
So there are some situations where anything else is an objectively worse option.
ETA: I'm willing to bet the reason this is being downvoted is due to the holier-than-thou attitude you're copping, OP. It's also something of a classist-coded cliché to claim that people who curse lack vocabulary, intelligence, education, or creativity. This is, of course counter to the fact that studies have shown that people with higher intelligence are more likely to use salty language.
I guess don't know how to break it to you that saying "f you" is not creative without being on a high horse then.
Also, speaking of cope. To say that a person using curse words instead of a witty remark is somehow smart cause smart people use curse words doesn't sound right but I don't how else to interpret the ETA you made.
Much of the time communication isn't about being creative or coming off smart. It's about effectively conveying meaning with the tools you have. Sometimes that means simple, crude language is more effective at conveying something than all the wit in the world.
So when I'm in a situation that calls for its use, I don't care that "fuck off" is a dime-a-dozen phrase that doesn't make sense. It's never misunderstood, it's cathartic to say, and I don't need to think on the spot to figure out something more eloquent - my mind is on, y'know, who or what needs to fuck off instead.
Ok, I understand what you're saying, saying "f you" is faster & easier.
2 (now 3) points I want to make:
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I getting this sense that instead of speaking to someone, it's to let off steam. As you put it, "it's cathartic to say." I find that telling of a weak character to need to blow off steam because of a conversation they're having.
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Since cursing usally indicates aggression, I can't help but think if you are short on time then making people feel aggression is not the smart thing to-do.
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Cursing is just as impercise as using wit. I don't know how it helps other than maybe show rage in a spit-second responce, but people have said "f you" in different kinds of context for different kinds of affects. At that point intead of "f you", you can say "leave if you going to say such trash." You could be more direct than using some vague swear word.
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why is letting off steam indicative of a weak character? I think that when under stress, it's actually indicative of someone being emotionally intelligent to recognize they need to let some stress out and find an avenue for it. I can't explain exactly why, but swearing has always been a pretty effective way for me to let out some stress mid conversation while staying focused on a problem.
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some contexts call for aggression. i.e. If someone's making me or someone I care about uncomfortable in public, it can be pretty useful to bare my teeth back. A simple "fuck off" doesn't require me to engage with any of their bullshit at all, gets the point across, and carries it with a mild aggression that actually does make people fuck off much of the time.
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it is imprecise, but in many contexts it's precise enough to convey displeasure and dismay enough to get the point across. In fact the power of "fuck you" is in how concise yet universally applicable and understandable in so many situations.
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I guess don't know how to break it to you that saying "f you" is not creative without being on a high horse then.
I give you a decent counterargument with some bonus alliteration and all you can muster is a strawman?
Also, speaking of cope. To say that a person using curse words instead of a witty remark is somehow smart cause smart people use curse words doesn't sound right but I don't how else to interpret the ETA you made.
You've reversed cause and effect here. I didn't say that all people who curse are smart. I said smart people curse.
You've argued from a cliché and from a strawman misrepresentation of my original point. I hope someday you look back and cringe at your small-minded pretentiousness in this thread.
For the 1st point, all I read is that smart people curse, & I'm on a high-horse for pointing out cursing isn't that creative.
You don't seem to refute that cursing isn't super creative, so I fail to see the counter argument here.
And if you going to say that I'm condescending for what was stated, then guilty as charge, I guess.
For the sencond point, read again what you wrote me. I see "smart people are more likely to use curse words."
That doesn't state when nor to what degree do they curse.
Also my point is that there's better words to use then swear words, I fail to see how it's suppose to matter that smart people use swear words.
Again I ask, does it make the swear word more intellient because someone smart says it as oppose to a witty remark?
The best speakers tend to not use them if we're going to bring who says what in this.
3rd point, clichés exist for a reason. I hope that after you let out the steam (probably by cursing), you can see how - even in your rage - you thought of insults instead of cursing. Would hate to think it would show you as lacking brain power than the smart people cursing away somewhere.
Then, to curse is to show that you're a wimp.
Anti-cursing for the win, baby.
/s
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I agree that cursing is often used as a replacement for "um". But you ever really appreciate someone who knows how and when to curse, with intention and as an infliction? It's a joy to behold.
Maybe? I find more joy in a clever remark then a person saying the same 7 or so words in a - what seems to be random - order.
You're talking about a different issue. It just happens to feature a lot of cursing. But cursing itself does not make a remark less clever.
Maybe I miswrote it. I mean that choosing from a wheel the 1 out of 7 words to use, isn't as clever as thinking of an insult that stings. I agree that cursing doesn't take away, it just isn't needed.
Are you saying there's never a time where a curse word is appropriate, mr_no_swearing?
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I agree to an extent. If overused, cursing can be "edgy" and offputting. However, sometimes you just need to emphasize the emotion of a given statement that mere "polite" words cannot express.
Quite frankly, I do not trust people that do not curse. I feel that they are not emotionally genuine. Conversely, I feel that people that curse too much are emotionally immature and do not know how to express themselves properly. Cursing is an art. It's a linguistic balancing act where one must take the audience and message into consideration.
I disagree with "polite" words having no emotion. Tell me you don't get anything from this sentence "Go to hell, you subhuman pest."
I think the tone & emphasis matters more than selecting some curse word. When I wrote the sentence, I was thinking the "subhuman pest" part was biting since it would be said in a sharp snapping tone & conveys more info than a swear word.
It's entirely possible to get your feelings across without ever using curse words. I commend people for having the emotional maturity and the vocabulary to do so. However, I feel it is emotionally disingenuous to censor yourself with "polite" versions of curse words, for example saying "shoot" instead of "shit" or "fudge" instead of "fuck".
I can understand if your surroundings aren't conducive to curses, like being around children or in polite company such as a work or religious environment, but if you're in a position where it is socially acceptable to curse but instead choose to censor yourself, I find you to be emotionally disingenuous or at least emotionally immature. If you choose to never ever curse, that's cool too. Again, I think it's commendable to never have to resort to curses. But if you have to use a curse word to get your point across, just use it if the environment is appropriate. Doubly so if it's in a written medium.
I know what you're trying to say when you type "f**k". You've done nothing but demonstrate to me that you would like to seem "proper" while still resorting to using offensive language. Emotionally disingenuous, or at best emotionally immature. If you feel like you must censor yourself, then just don't curse at all.
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What I'm seeing here is someone who REALLY likes witty quips, but is very upset that nobody else appreciates them.
I'm with you, buddy. None of my snappy responses ever convinced a bully that I was worthy of respect, but his constant repetition of movie quotes always got a chuckle from his cronies.
Smart people know big words, but smarter people know when to use them. Making an impression on others isn't about proving that you have higher value than someone else, it's about proving that you are one of them. Reminding people that you're different from them pushes you away.
Or, I might just be projecting shit I've been through. Maybe it's useful to someone.
Swears are a sledge hammer. Many tasks don't require a sledgehammer. But sometimes you need a sledgehammer.
Fuck.
What are you? 13? Just let people use whatever words they want. You might think that there is a "better alternative for any situstion" but sometimes nothing like a good "fuck you" drives the point home. It expresses hate in such a simple way without trying to be performative or witty. Also you can say fuck, we aren't in the middle school courtyard for god's sake
If cursing makes you feel more adult then be my guest.
To me it's more immature to curse than to point out that cursing won't hold the weight of a good insult.
Not true. Nothing quite gets the point across quite like "shits fucked."
Shidders fucked
I always felt people who are concerned with this are compensating for something.
Fuck u no
If I hit my little toe against the bed's leg, the right word is "fuck".
When I was but a youth, my mother used to regale me with this bit of wisdom: "Profanity is the result of a weak mind attempting to express itself forcefully."
Sometimes I'll reflect on this and think, "God damn, that bitch was a dumb fuckin' cunt if I ever met one!"
aside from your opinions on cursing, mocking people for being fat is not cool.
just like people are born with different hair color, people's bodies look different. You can't tell based on somebody's body type whether they're living as healthy as they can.
Some people could have illnesses that make them fatter. Some people are just fat and healthy. In all cases, you should not mock people for being fat.
Fuck that lol. Curse all you want, but curse to people. Not at them
Ugh. There's a book about how to be a better boss, and one of the things it says is that adding a mild curse to otherwise normal speech will convince people you are being sincere. My boss read it.
"Well, this damn job isn't going to build itself!"
"Aw shit! Lunch is over! Back to work!"
It was so awful.
You've my sencerest condolences.
That sounds as if a punch-line that an alien trying to learn how to be human would have in a comedy.
He was the worst! Zuckerberg levels of pseudo-humanity. Of course, he got promoted up and away.
This is so far from unpopular.
The general social mores are against cursing. While that has been slowly changing, it hasn't reached a tipping point yet.
It's also not a new opinion. There's a lot of sayings related to it, my favorite being "cursing just gives people permission to ignore you".
The rest of your post? Flawed examples. But that's just my opinion, you do you.
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this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2024
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