Couple more optional questions
- Did the decision bring any change to your life ?
- Do you feel the decision stopped you from expressing something at some point ?
Two reasons:
- I live in Utah, where the Mormons are, and they get very offended by swearing. Although there are some ways in which I will definitely not accommodate their religious beliefs, I also think it’s healthy to meet other people at their comfort level (if it’s reasonable to do so). On the one hand, I understand the idea that we shouldn’t have to change who we are in order to make other people comfortable. On the other hand, I do think that if you take that idea too far, it can be a kind of antisocial behavior. When in Rome, as they say.
- It has more impact if you don’t do it often. Think about a Quentin Tarantino movie. By the time Samuel L. Jackson has said “fuck” for the 157th time, you’re just used to it. The word doesn’t even stand out anymore. But now consider the end of The Princess Bride, which has one swear word in the entire movie: “I want my father back you son of a bitch.” WHA-BAM! Hits like a freight train every time!
For the follow-up questions, kind of the same answer to both of them. I feel like not swearing – or, swearing less – requires me to be more precise when I’m criticizing something. Instead of just saying that something was “like shit”, I have to give a more specific criticism. So that’s the change that it has made, and no, it hasn’t stopped me from expressing something.
I like your second point, I had never thought of it this way. It’s like when your parents call you by your full name. You know you are in trouble.
I hear what I say and it feels unpleasant.
Also, I don’t like adding senseless* words in my speech.* Unless it’s funny or sth.
Just never started.
I haven’t started it in English yet.
I have made a conscious effort to reduce swearing, which has brought my swearing down to near zero, both online and in real life conversation.
I have found that it streamlines the ability to make a point. A lot of swearing is simply thrown in out of habit, and if you remove it, all you do is make your point more clear without losing anything of substance.
I think for many people swearing is a “filler word” in the same way that “umm” can be. I have also worked hard to reduce my other filler word use. My goal with both of these is better articulation.
The next effect is that swearing is normally combated as an extreme use of language for an extreme situation, and when you don’t constantly swear the times that you do actually convey how notable the situation is.
Fuck that bullshit.
Delightful.
What word in that comment is a filler word?
I don’t recall saying every use of a swear is a filler word.
Fuck yeah dude
See, @[email protected]?
In the comment I’m replying to, the fuck is a filler because it could easily just say ‘Yeah dude’ but the tone would be different.
Then it isn’t a filler. I never said I don’t swear, but have greatly reduced it. One effect is that when used, it retains more punch.
I’m not sure why you’re so invested in debating that people who habitually swear won’t insert swears into unrelated thoughts, but the only support I offer is to listen to someone who habitually swears speak. I don’t want to sound like that, so I make the effort not to.
My choice on how I speak and type doesn’t impose anything on you.
Will Smith famously limits his swearing and doesn’t swear while rapping and next thing you know he’s bitch-slapping Chris Rock.
Trying to self-improve in a method that, regardless of its objective effectiveness, makes you feel satisfied and has no discernable effect on those around you?
Not if I can help it!
I’m glad we could collaborate on this effort and teach people some shit 🤝
I wish I could stop. I bannished a lot of words from my language because they are insults which come from oppressive language sucheas words to insult sex workers or homosexuals. Of course, most of people don’t use them with homophobic motives but the fact that they are insults is really bad imo.
I had a phase as a teen when I was constantly swearing. My parents told me that, it can’t be that bad and it’s really annoying.
And it’s mostly an impulse reaction and we’re kind of above that.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t express pain or anger. You’re just not insulting people’s ears if you scream “Aaaaah” when you bang your toe against a table leg or something. And your environment really doesn’t deserve it. Most people are somewhat compassionate and you’re just swearing while they try to help… that’s not a pleasant environment for them to be in. It makes it harder to help you.
No to both questions. I just made a change and that was it. And it has never stopped me from expressing anything.
If anything, it lends more weight to the regular words.
A _______ criminal? Or a criminal?
You can still put the same emotion into the words, they’re just not swear words. :)
And your environment really doesn’t deserve it. Most people are somewhat compassionate and you’re just swearing while they try to help… that’s not a pleasant environment for them to be in. It makes it harder to help you.
What are you trying to say here? Your environment doesn’t deserve to hear swearing? Yeah my coffee table and my cat really care when they hear me say fuck lol.
What kind of help are you talking about? What is this scenario you’re imaging here? I’m beyond confused, this shit makes absolutely no sense. In what world does hearing a swear word make it harder to do anything, unless you’re a Mormon (or some other dumbass religion) and hearing words like that cause you to actually collapse and writhe on the floor like a possessed banshee?
This whole take comes across as some out of touch boomer nonsense.
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I was told people who swear sounded less intelligent. It made me not want to do it. I swear rarely, usually if I’m quoting someone. I swear a little more liberally in text, but not very often.
I enjoy the exercise of trying to think ahead of the words coming out of my mouth so I can speak more concisely and clearly. It’s the same reason I do calligraphy.
If you can do calligraphy ahead of the words coming out of your mouth then I am thoroughly impressed.
No calligraphy is for writing slowly and deliberately. It has helped me immeasurably
motherfucker would look great in some nice calligraphy
So I do still swear and curse…
But now I do it literally.
I had children. In my opinion, I had no choice. I was swearing so much that I thought it made me sound dumb but I couldn’t stop until I felt I had to. There are moments where I really miss it but only in intense frustration. Overall, I’m able to articulate better and think I’m better received.
I use them when warranted, which isn’t very often. I don’t think the avoidance of using swears is a religious thing, it’s a language/cultural thing. For some reason they’re just deemed “bad words”. They exist in almost all languages and cultures as far as I know.
A good friend of mine swears a lot unless kids are around. I don’t mind it, but he’s sort of “that guy” because of it. If he was someone I just met, I’d think he’s just a bit lowbrow and that’s about it. I wouldn’t think poorly of anyone because of it as long as their attitude is good.
The place where religion comes into it is using religious figures as swear words.
I don’t really use those words unless I’m in a state my brain cannot better articulate my thoughts and feelings. They are a crude tool.
Reminds me of:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/08/29/substitute-damn/
…there is one thing I wish you would do when you sit down to write news stories, and that is: Never use the word, “very.” It is the weakest word in the English language; doesn’t mean anything. If you feel the urge of “very” coming on, just write the word, “damn,” in the place of “very.” The editor will strike out the word, “damn,” and you will have a good sentence.
unless I’m in a state my brain cannot better articulate my thoughts and feelings.
You mean like drunk? Or tired?
Both. And when I’m hurt, or when I’m extremely frustrated by something mechanical.
I try to avoid it because it dilutes your actual point. They’re filler words, that are sometimes used for actual emphasis, but mostly just said out of habit and really don’t mean anything at all.
Besides, if you rarely swear, it makes it even more powerful when you actually fucking mean it.
Fuck no, they are powerful words that can convey emotion better than regular words, to the point where mods will ban you for hurting their feelings.
Damn right! Damn hell ass right!
When used sparingly, a concisely uttered tactical fuck can he used to lay waste to your enemies and their entire extended family.
But, like, if you fucking just use it all the fucking time to punctuate your words without and fucking rhyme or reason, people will just think you’ve got nothing to actually fucking say.
This is it right here. Concerningly large swaths of people talk about swearing like this distinction–which is the whole discussion–doesn’t exist.
Used to swear a lot, still swear but much less frequently.
The effect of swearing is fairly diluted, they’re used so often they don’t really carry any weight when you use them. I find that there are typically better ways to emphasize a point, and using them more sparingly makes them more effective.
I choose to swear because sometimes words aren’t enough otherwise. When faced with the horrors of this world, sometimes a good “fucking” paired with whatever garbage is just appropriate. As in, “this fucking society.”
