There are many posts here that employ profanity.

[guillaumeb]

And I see this as a reflection of anger, and passion. Plus, DU is a safe space.

But in the real world, how many here use obscenities regularly in conversation?

A personal story follows.

One day, I was moving landscaping timbers and dropped one on my left hand. (My nail on the little finger soon turned black.)

My young daughters were "helping" me and witnessed the drop.

My wife, who does use profane language at times, asked my daughters if I swore when it happened. They said I did not.

Finally, I make no judgement about those who do use them. It is not really a big deal either way.

[rownesheck]

1. Profanity

is just words. Profanity is fun. Use them if you want. I know I fucking use those god damn words all the fucking time. Some people may think I'm an ignorant piece of shit. My sorry ass is fine with it. Fuck trump, and God bless America.

[guillaumeb]

8. I will put you in the "I use them rarely" column.

[dewsgirl]

29. I think you may appreciate this.

[teach1st]

2. In general, salty language doesn't bother me

I don't use it much, mostly because I'm a primary teacher and I don't want that stuff to leak out when I'm with the my students. When I use profanities, it's deliberate and usually thought out. I also like using more specific language, but that's secondary.

That said, fuck Trump! (There are some specific and appropriate uses for profane language.)

[IADEMO2004]

3. Precious angel dropped the f-bomb here after first school bus ride. Shared with his younger brother.

A hospital chaplain now.

[guillaumeb]

9. The first ride?

A quick learner.

[IADEMO2004]

14. #1

[IADEMO2004]

18. My statement is completely invalid. I can no longer be a credible source of information.

His first ride was to school.

His second ride was home again.

This information is on the internet now.

I will now retire from public life.

[jberryhill]

52. You were wrong on the internet?

And you think you’re just going to walk away?

[Croney]

4. Depends on the setting, of course. If with only my husband,

I'll say fuck or shit. If the grandkids are around, I won't. But they might say those words themselves, and then I feel compelled to admonish them.

I don't like to hear fuck on the street, but I'm not going to turn my head and acknowledge that I heard it.

Whatever floats your boat.

[guillaumeb]

10. True.

It is a matter of choice. In a work setting might be different.

[lynintenn]

5. I usually will not open a post laced with profanity

The body of the message is usually irrelevant.

[My Pet Orangutan]

6. Oh

Just joined. Not so good to know.

[guillaumeb]

11. Welcome to DU.

And after some time here, you will see a wide range of styles.

[My Pet Orangutan]

22. If I'm in serious pain. I don't censor myself.

I go out of my way to be civil, but there’s a reason profanity wells up at those times - It signals an emergency, which is an excellent reason to avoid it at others.

The first time I ever heard my Dad swear was when George W announced the war in Iraq. ‘He’s an evil sh*t’ he saidI. I never forgotten it. It told me a lot about who my father is - a man who abhors the death of innocents.

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Similar Story

Unlike me, my dad didn't use cuss words. Darn, or doggone was his style.
When my sister got married, (I was 32) he's looking at the groom's family. (Italian descent, like us, but were cartoonishly old school)
He looks at me and says, "Fucking Italian hillbillies!"
First time I ever heard him drop the f bomb, and he was 25 when I was born!

[Polly Hennessey]

7. Just words used to express feelings.

Profane words get right to the point.

[guillaumeb]

12. Yes, they can.

And they can relieve stress.

[Adsos Letter]

13. "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." --Mark Twain--

[badhair77]

15. I'm pretty good about watching my words. I taught

for 36 years and I needed my job. Now that I’m retired maybe I should go rouge and see if I could do it. 😀

[guillaumeb]

16. And your students learned the words anyway. eom

[unblock]

17. Being British, mrs. Unblock once said

That she would feel a failure as a mother if mini-unblock grew up without being able to properly use the c-word.

As in:

See
You
Next
Tuesday

[guillaumeb]

20. Very clever.

My compliments to Mrs. U.

[Wounded Bear]

34. For us it was...

Civilians Using Naval Tools

[guillaumeb]

36. My father came down and enlisted in the US Navy in 1943.

He never talked about that acronym.

[Wounded Bear]

47. I served in the '70's....

It started out as Civilians Under Naval Training in A school at NAS Memphis.

When we got to the squadrons it switched to "using Naval tools."

It may very well post date his service.

[sprinkleeninow]

56. Besides all else--

😍 you more, mon frère dans l'humanité.

Both our dads USN! Mine '43-'45. USS Cebu.

[guillaumeb]

64. Mine served on the Hornet.

1943-45. A farm boy from small town Canada seeing the world.

[GeorgeGist]

19. Oh for fucks sake.

[guillaumeb]

21. I will place you in the "I use them occasionally" column. eom

[dewsgirl]

30. LoL😂

[LakeArenal]

23. I don't much care who swears

I care about when someone swears.

Everything in moderation.

[Newest Reality]

24. Would this help?

Is the remedy to use more sacred words to balance out or cancel the profane ones? That's a tricky dichotomy there.

What about vulgarity? Are we vulgar, (the commoners) in speaking a certain way that is not like that of the aristocracy who do not speak like us vulgar peasants? Should we strive to speak more upper-class and emulate them?

What about curse words? Should we stop throwing Satan's words around that cast spells and conjure demons? Cursing must be very bad in that sense.

Words are, essentially, symbols and we associate the values and meanings to them, so who offends whom? Is it the associations in the minds of the offended that are at issue as well as the intentions of the one profane one who swears, curses in all manner of vulgar ways? Do you fill in the obvious word when it is bleeped in a show? Who's fault is that?

I swear, what's next?

[OriginalGeek]

25. I never heard my Grandma or Grandpa swear...

but I damn sure heard my mom and dad and, later, my step-asshole swear.

The CEO of our company retired years ago but going to his meetings was the best. He was never afraid to drop an F-bomb and shits were pretty regular (as they should be). I miss that fucking guy.

I dial it back when out in public among strangers (for the most part) but family and work friends pretty much get full, un-filtered OG. I did well enough in Freshman comp and English lit classes that I'm not terribly worried about my vocabulary describing my intelligence. If others would judge me for it, fuck 'em.

One of my favorite swearing memories was when my granddaughter turned to me at the Slayer concert and screamed "MOTHERFUCKIN SLAYERRRRRRRRR!!!!" and gave me a big hug. I'm the cool grandpa.

[quickesst]

26. I love profanity....

.... especially when it comes from the likes of Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, George Carlin etc. How funny would their stand-up be without it?

[red dog 1]

83. and Richard Pryor, of course.

[quickesst]

86. Of course....

.....dammit!

[TruckFump]

27. How does one speak of the Trump Administration and not swear?

At times, certain words are required.

[MontanaMama]

28. My dad, who paid for my college education,

used to say that I had the mouth of a well educated sailor. Funny because I learned to swear from him! My job in college was at a local hardware store...I was one of two women in an otherwise male staff and it seemed that they all swore too. Most of my friends have been men in my adult life...it’s generalizing to say men swear more than women but in my social circle it seems the do. My degree is in English with a Latin minor so I should know better, damn it.

[mitch96]

31. Being the son of a sailor and waitress I got an education early

Working in Catholic hospitals tempered my tongue. When I'm mad all bets are off...
I must admit salty language can paint a wonderful picture when used artfully...
m

[Mersky]

32. I have an internal switch

For most of my elders, people I’ve just met, and some professional settings the swearing switch remains in the off position. That is unless, I’m with those I’m especially close to, and there’s a comedic moment or need to break the tension over something that’s effing wrongness. Bullshit is an indispensable word (BS is enough to make Granny giggle), and crap nearly always flies just fine in this circle. There are assholes in the world, and it just needs to be stated at times. I have more fingers than the number of times the f-bomb has slipped by in this group.

My peers? I’ll let anything fly. Doesn’t fucking matter, I say shit all the time.

Minors? They might hear a dang, darn, butthead, or crap once they’re old enough and reading well enough to not over do it.

DU? Dunno, am still figuring out my standards. I have decided I don’t want to cuss in subject lines of serious threads. Really, tho, just depends on my mood.

Crushed finger? Jerkface cuts me off when I’m driving? Those slips don’t count as they don’t happen very often, but might get a, ‘pardon my French.’

Am fairly pleased with my switch. Is something that’s been with me since I can’t remember when it wasn’t, and I swear about as much as I damn well please.

But, ya know, to each their own.

[Wounded Bear]

33. It certainly varies with the situation and company I'm in...

Here, I'm often in the "with the guys" mode. I know it bothers some, and I'm sorta sorry, but I'm also in "reality sucks and my language reflects that" mode on line.

Currently, off-line IRL I'm in a situation where profanity is unwelcome and unprofitable. Will explain later, possible tomorrow.

[EmeraldCoaster]

35. Best word in the English language. ( I Think )

FUCK

[Generic Brad]

37. I only curse at home

When I'm feeling the urge at work or in public I emphatically say "Oh, crust!".

But when I am in my car or at home the bad words flow unimpeded.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

92. The evolution of profanity at work is interesting.

When I first entered the bidness word in the late '80s, you might have heard the occasional "damn" in my office, but anything harsher was uncouth. Now, the f bomb can be dropped casually, provided it's in hushed tones and no one too "important" hears it.

At home my wife and I swear so much I don't even notice it anymore.

[Wawannabe]

38. This is the second post today I have read on this topic

Sounds to me if “we” are being admonished by some holier than thou members. I personally don’t care for the tactic and if people have a new year resolution to better themselves via vocabulary then more power to ya but don’t push your righteous shit on me. I ain't buyin!

To those who have “implied” that swearing is a sign of stupidity-here’s some science.

https://www.sciencealert.com/swearing-is-a-sign-of-more-intelligence-not-less-say-scientists

Fuck the actual fuck?

[Kaleva]

39. Nobody is forcing you to do or accept anything.

Instead of letting others push your buttons and control you, why not become your own master? My guess is that you'll live a much happier life if you do.

Just a suggestion.

[Wawannabe]

42. My buttons not pushed

I had an opinion and shared it. You spin my response as anger. Never stated I was angry. Mayhap you read too much into it.

Felt both OPs were sharing the opine that there’s too much profanity here and that “we” should curb it. Also, read the responses of the stupidity of the use of this vocabulary. I shared my own opinion and a article.

[cwydro]

48. You sounded angry to me too.

Or at least offended.

No point in taking things to heart here.

Curse all you want; no one will care.

[Wawannabe]

49. Well fuck

Now I am a little angry because two persons have decided to analyze me in this thread for posting my opinion.

Who the fuck asked you?

[Aristus]

40. Funny story. This was in the conservative 1950's in conservative Texas.

My mother won a beauty pageant and she and the runner up were to be escorted to the awards dinner by a couple of young officers from the nearby air force base.

At the dinner, the young air force guys were using all sorts of profanity and the runner up young lady said: "You've done nothing but curse since we got here!"

According to my mother, these were their replies:

"That's a hell of a thing to say!"

"Yeah, it's a damned lie!"

[LuckyCharms]

41. I instantly lose respect for the person

if they swear in front of me.

There are better ways to express yourself.

Please people. Show a little class. How hard can it be to do that?

Fuckers.

[Wawannabe]

43. Lol!

[Kali]

54. ya scared me for a second

[red dog 1]

87. Lol

[UniteFightBack]

44. I do and I corrupt others and they like it. nt

[Wolf Frankula]

45. Some of my Afrikaner friends are religious.

They NEVER use damn or hell or God or Jesus. But they use fuck and shit, (fok en kak) all the time. Why? Those are just indelicate terms. They aren't blasphemous.

Wolf

[UTUSN]

46. Am repulsed by gratuitous ("kewl") F-word/profanity especially here with fellow members

using the F-word where trading honest communication might do.

I'm old but not a fogey (maybe quaint), but I would never fling F-word or most other profanities *GRATUITOUSLY* at others, especially not at fellow DU members, not even at the ones who *do* and who *FLAME* despicably.

Am not being holier-than-thou, just am repulsed by it.

OTOH, probably my way of dealing is repellent to others: 1) I never want to have anything to do with you forever, or, .1) I declare you and I to be *DEAD* to each other, at least in MY book!1

I know people who have divorced or otherwise split whichever way, and STILL hang out or even LIVE TOGETHER! M(e, if "we" are irreconcilable, antipathetic, animus to each other, *NO* continuance of any kind is possible/desirable/feasible/NOTHING.

(I think I've gone off topic, so nite/all!1)

[Wawannabe]

50. Fuck all the perfect people!

https://m.

[LuckyCharms]

61. +++++Beautiful! You should make an OP of this.

[Wawannabe]

70. I did!

Music appreciation group. ...and added it as a response to a couple OPs. 😁

[guillaumeb]

65. Nice.

But when I do rise to perfection, I will be offended.

[David__77]

51. My husband prefers I not use profanity.

And, generally, I do not. I don’t find it conduce to being satisfied and well!

[guillaumeb]

66. Keeping emotionally calm?

Agreed. I try to stay calm, and that is one reason I rarely listen to Trump speaking.

[Skittles]

53. I sure as fuck do

every fucking day

[guillaumeb]

67. I will write you in as a definite, strong maybe.

[sprinkleeninow]

55. 🎶"Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't...

Almond Joy has nuts, Mounds dont."🎶

I read somewhere that it's healthy to mildly cuss at times. 😇

[ProfessorGAC]

58. I Use The Words Very Readily

However, I've always been aware of my surroundings.
Comes in handy now that, in retirement, I substitute teach. Obviously, I have to be very sure to maintain decorum around the kids!

[guillaumeb]

68. At a concert, Kinky Friedman once said,

I never use the word fuck in front of a c h i l d. Sounding each letter out.

Now that was funny.

[ProfessorGAC]

72. It made me laugh

[Evergreen Emerald]

59. "slobodan milosevic" I use in place of swearing

It feels like I am swearing, allowing me to vent that burst of anger without swearing in front of my child.

Say it out loud as if you are swearing. It works!

[OriginalGeek]

63. My friend and I find that

"Mocha Frappa!" Substitutes right in very well.


Especially funny (to us) at coffee shops.

[kairos12]

82. I will borrow this. Thank you!

[red dog 1]

91. When my kids were small, I'd use

"Fordfrickin floorflusher!"

[Evergreen Emerald]

95. that is hysterical!

I am going to try to say that five times fast!

[3catwoman3]

60. One of the things that first...

...attracted me to DU was the members’ free and unfettered use of colorful language when expressing strong opinions. Working in health care, specifically pediatrics, I must be polite at all. times, even if a parent or patient is being rude, disrespectful or demanding. That is usually an easy thing for me, although after 43 years of doing it, I have more moments when I find it challenging. Retirement beckons in the next 1-2 years.

It is fun, and therapeutic to come here and just “let it fly.” A good pressure release valve.

[guillaumeb]

69. Understood.

We all need methods to release tension. I like to work out, or work in the garden or in the woodshop.

[Fla Dem]

62. Generally use profanity when I'm driving and some imbecile is going 30 in a 45 mph street.

Or they cut me off. That goes back to my days commuting in and out of Boston. Had to swear at a lot of crazy, inconsiderate drivers to let off steam or by the time I got to work I'd be a ticking time bomb.

Generally though, a lot of things don't really get under my skin enough to get me to use profanity. It's not part of my regular speech pattern. Did not grow up around swearing adults, at least not in the presence of us kids. My friends and later my co-workers were not prone to extreme swearing, so it just hasn't been something that has been part of my life style. Do I use profanity? Sure. But can go weeks without using one swear word. Favorites though, Hell and Fu&k. Again usually when I'm driving.

[guillaumeb]

71. I was that imbecile driving 30.

In my defense, I was:

eating
putting on makeup
texting
changing the CD
playing with my pet
seat dancing
looking at my passenger while talking
steering with my elbows,

or another idiotic action while driving a vehicle on a public street.

[Fla Dem]

75. Lol. If you were doing that and I was behind you,

you would definitely get my full treatment.

[DEbluedude]

79. I know what you mean about driving.

Usually, everyone behind me is a fuckin' asshole and everyone ahead of me is a fuckin' idiot!

[sammythecat]

90. +1000

Two minutes behind the wheel and I want to kill.

[lunatica]

73. I like your attitude

And you’re right too.

[guillaumeb]

74. How can I argue with a reply like that?

Thank you.

[Kurt V.]

76. in the *real world* its rare. prove me wrong.

[Alpeduez21]

77. This fucking thread is bullshit.

[guillaumeb]

80. So you are saying that you never use profanity.

Excellent.

[red dog 1]

84. lol

[Wolf Frankula]

78. So like my High School Baseball Coach you're saying

"You guys have got to stop your God Damn swearing."

Wolf

[guillaumeb]

81. Exactly.

A wise coach indeed.

[Wounded Bear]

85. I speak two languages...English and profanity...nt

[guillaumeb]

89. Which is your first language?

And which is your preferred language?

[sl8]

88. 100% employment in 2020! We can do it!

I have faith in the Lounge.

[Marthe48]

93. My husband rarely swore

He was driving to work with his car pool one day, and someone almost ran him off the road. He said, "F'n idiot." His rider said, "Robbie, you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Another time, he was across the street helping the neighbor. Her teenage grandson was there, trying to move some limbs from a tree that had fallen. He paused and said, "Geez Grandma, these are f'n heavy."

John told me both stories and couldn't stop snickering.

One of my earliest memories is my Mom searching for something in a kitchen cupboard and swearing a blue streak. So I do use profanity.

[guillaumeb]

94. It is always good to honor your mother.

And it sounds as if you are honoring her memory.

[Marthe48]

96. Channeling her :)

She never said the f word, because it was really bad. lol