I'll have to take your word for it, Lucky :)
Why do people swear so much?
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15148
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
- LuckyR
- Moderator
- Posts: 7987
- Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Well think about it, Swear words (from the perspective of your own mind) don't have magical powers of tension release, unless you give it that power. You could just as easily give that power to "darn", it is up to you. As to the perspective of other people, say your enemies, sure you could cuss them out, but let's face it, a middle school simpleton can as well. Not much of an attack if you ask me. OTOH, if you can mortally embarrass a work enemy in from of their superiors without using a swear word, while appearing to actually be nice to them... now that is owning them.
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15148
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Next time something excruciatingly problematic suddenly comes up, thwarting months of toil and effort, may I suggest that you politely say "oh bother".
Do you think it would have even a hundredth of the cathartic power of a good expletive? Old people don't recondition overnight. To lose the power of the swear word would take years of watching oneself carefully and retraining to gain catharsis from other words.
All I can say is fibblyboo that for a joke, Reverend! :P
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
For emphasis. They are intensifiers. It expresses emotion. If you overuse them, I think it detracts from their usefulness. Where the sweet spot is in the number of uses is a taste issue. As is the issue in general.Lark_Truth wrote: ↑April 4th, 2017, 10:09 am So, dear fellow philosophers, I am coming to you with this burning question: Why do people swear so much?
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Sure...in general. But it might work best for some, or many, to use those words.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
The way you frame it above, I think, is misleading. I certainly didn't choose, say, to give the F word power. I found that it had the power of tension release. It felt that way. Probably with a dash of the satisfying sound of it, but also given how I had been exposed to it. When it arose, how it sounded when it arose and so on. The use of the word I was exposed to. Just like most of the other words I learned via osmosis, sucking up language as child and youth language user.LuckyR wrote: ↑January 17th, 2018, 12:28 pmWell think about it, Swear words (from the perspective of your own mind) don't have magical powers of tension release, unless you give it that power. You could just as easily give that power to "darn", it is up to you. As to the perspective of other people, say your enemies, sure you could cuss them out, but let's face it, a middle school simpleton can as well. Not much of an attack if you ask me. OTOH, if you can mortally embarrass a work enemy in from of their superiors without using a swear word, while appearing to actually be nice to them... now that is owning them.
I'd need a good reason to give up the use of the word. I don't use it often, but it releases tension just peachy for me.
And I'd rather have it hurled at me than all sorts of passive aggressive, condescending, indirect zingers and acts of implication. Though I probably deserve these on occasion also.
-
- Posts: 67
- Joined: March 1st, 2015, 9:33 pm
- Favorite Philosopher: Pooh
Re: Why do people swear so much?
While societal association explains what I do, I still fall back on my early teaching that uneducated people use swear words because they simply don't know how to express an emotion without swearing.
When I was growing up there were comedians who told funny joke and never uttered an epithet. Of course those comedians were on television and heavily regulated. Then society changed and gave them license to cuss for effect. I still appreciate Red Skelton and Bob Hope as I knew them.
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15148
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Agreed. If you, say, stub your toe, no words are as effective an outlet as the forbidden ones. Really, the whole concept of words being considered naughty and offensive is pretty primitive and juvenile - especially so, given that they all pertain to excreta, genitals and sex. Ooh waa, those are naughty words! There is no reason for mature adults to care about such words, one way or another.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Though here's the odd paradox. If they weren't taboo, I think, they wouldn't work so well. So, maybe we need the judgmental people to give those words the edge. And honestly I can't tell how serious I am with this thought.Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 6:59 pmAgreed. If you, say, stub your toe, no words are as effective an outlet as the forbidden ones. Really, the whole concept of words being considered naughty and offensive is pretty primitive and juvenile - especially so, given that they all pertain to excreta, genitals and sex. Ooh waa, those are naughty words! There is no reason for mature adults to care about such words, one way or another.
I do think arguments against their use in general lack a foundation.
- Sy Borg
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15148
- Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
Yes, we are adults (theoretically). None of it should be a big deal. Then again, "adult" is a funny word these days. "Adult" content is generally absurdly immature while content for kids is usually based on hobbies, which tend to be vastly more sophisticated and mature than so-called "adult" content.Moreno wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 7:07 pmThough here's the odd paradox. If they weren't taboo, I think, they wouldn't work so well. So, maybe we need the judgmental people to give those words the edge. And honestly I can't tell how serious I am with this thought.Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 6:59 pmAgreed. If you, say, stub your toe, no words are as effective an outlet as the forbidden ones. Really, the whole concept of words being considered naughty and offensive is pretty primitive and juvenile - especially so, given that they all pertain to excreta, genitals and sex. Ooh waa, those are naughty words! There is no reason for mature adults to care about such words, one way or another.
I do think arguments against their use in general lack a foundation.
I see no cause for optimism, though, as people are increasingly looking for chances to instigate social media witch hunts. Further, with rising populations come increased regulatory controls, plus more informal restrictions.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
For me it is sad that the Left is running wild with witch hunts. Not being a spring chicken, I remember when the Right has the monopoly on political correctness in monstrous fashion and the Left, at least as I experienced them, were more open to diversity of ideas, personalities, eccentricities and, well, race, sexuality and gender roles and so on. Now both sides are armed to the teeth with judgment and with us or against us attitudes. Both think there are two teams, choose now and if you choose wrong (or seem to and any even mere questioning can make you seem to) you are THE enemy.Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 7:38 pmYes, we are adults (theoretically). None of it should be a big deal. Then again, "adult" is a funny word these days. "Adult" content is generally absurdly immature while content for kids is usually based on hobbies, which tend to be vastly more sophisticated and mature than so-called "adult" content.Moreno wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 7:07 pmThough here's the odd paradox. If they weren't taboo, I think, they wouldn't work so well. So, maybe we need the judgmental people to give those words the edge. And honestly I can't tell how serious I am with this thought.Sy Borg wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 6:59 pmAgreed. If you, say, stub your toe, no words are as effective an outlet as the forbidden ones. Really, the whole concept of words being considered naughty and offensive is pretty primitive and juvenile - especially so, given that they all pertain to excreta, genitals and sex. Ooh waa, those are naughty words! There is no reason for mature adults to care about such words, one way or another.
I do think arguments against their use in general lack a foundation.
I see no cause for optimism, though, as people are increasingly looking for chances to instigate social media witch hunts. Further, with rising populations come increased regulatory controls, plus more informal restrictions.
- LuckyR
- Moderator
- Posts: 7987
- Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am
Re: Why do people swear so much?
I agree that it is easier and simpler. Which is fine, though to some of your audience, you will lose ground. Most in the heat of the moment don't care. Some after they cool down do care and regret it. Personally I like to win and I don't like to lose, so I am not drawn to vocabulary associated with losers.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
I was thinking more along the lines of metaphorically innocent until proven guilty and don't fix what's not broken than ease.
This is true and I don't toss it out in many stranger and work situations. And generally I am not out to offend. I am not saying it is wrong to use it around others who dislike those words as a rule, but I do have practical guidelines around their use.Which is fine, though to some of your audience,
I can't think of a time I regretted the works. I have overreadted to what was happening, but it's the overreaction that I have regretted or my misunderstanding or dumping.Most in the heat of the moment don't care. Some after they cool down do care and regret it.
Wow. You implying others are losers is something you might regret? While at the same time keeping the judgment as possibly not yours but some unnamed other people's judgment?Personally I like to win and I don't like to lose, so I am not drawn to vocabulary associated with losers.
I'd much rather have someone in the heat of the moment say F U to me than have them say something like...
Your behavior is associated with losers.
I see no reason to value the kinds of insults used in the upper classes or at court over direct expression of anger.
- LuckyR
- Moderator
- Posts: 7987
- Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am
Re: Why do people swear so much?
I don't see our two postings as inconsistent with one another. We agree that swear words have cultural power as tension relievers and insulters. My main point, which you didn't contradict, is that both can be accomplished without the use of swear words.Moreno wrote: ↑December 6th, 2022, 4:00 amThe way you frame it above, I think, is misleading. I certainly didn't choose, say, to give the F word power. I found that it had the power of tension release. It felt that way. Probably with a dash of the satisfying sound of it, but also given how I had been exposed to it. When it arose, how it sounded when it arose and so on. The use of the word I was exposed to. Just like most of the other words I learned via osmosis, sucking up language as child and youth language user.LuckyR wrote: ↑January 17th, 2018, 12:28 pmWell think about it, Swear words (from the perspective of your own mind) don't have magical powers of tension release, unless you give it that power. You could just as easily give that power to "darn", it is up to you. As to the perspective of other people, say your enemies, sure you could cuss them out, but let's face it, a middle school simpleton can as well. Not much of an attack if you ask me. OTOH, if you can mortally embarrass a work enemy in from of their superiors without using a swear word, while appearing to actually be nice to them... now that is owning them.
I'd need a good reason to give up the use of the word. I don't use it often, but it releases tension just peachy for me.
And I'd rather have it hurled at me than all sorts of passive aggressive, condescending, indirect zingers and acts of implication. Though I probably deserve these on occasion also.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Re: Why do people swear so much?
And also without implying that someone is a loser.
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023