Why is it some folks feel the need to use profanity in their e-mails or forum posts? There are so many other words one can use — so what’s with the cussing/swearing? By doing so, I believe, it speaks volumes about the speaker/writer. For me, it doesn't add urgency or strength of emotion, etc. Instead, I have an aversion to its use and feel it demonstrates a lack of self-control, decorum, propriety, and dignity. To me, it is a failure in using good taste and it expresses a lack of etiquette, good protocol and respectability.

I know, the first amendment gives you the right to use profanity, but I still find it shows a lack of good taste.

What means or is "profanity". Sorry I am a Spaniard and my english is not very fluent

Diego,

You're English is a lot better than my Spanish! but profanity is swear words such as lenguaje soez (low language), maldiciones (curse words), malas palabras (bad words), insultos (insults), vulgaridades (vulgarities), juramentos (oaths — swearing)

Personally, I find the F word very useful at times.

In hunting, I sometimes talk about an animal having the F**k factor. If a PH sees an animal and the first word out of his mouth is f**k, it means it's really special, has the aforementioned factor and the client should get his rifle ready to go ASAP.

quote:

Originally posted by Red C.:
Why is it some folks feel the need to use profanity in their e-mails or forum posts? There are so many other words one can use — so what’s with the cussing/swearing? By doing so, I believe, it speaks volumes about the speaker/writer. For me, it doesn't add urgency or strength of emotion, etc. Instead, I have an aversion to its use and feel it demonstrates a lack of self-control, decorum, propriety, and dignity. To me, it is a failure in using good taste and it expresses a lack of etiquette, good protocol and respectability.

I know, the first amendment gives you the right to use profanity, but I still find it shows a lack of good taste.

Red,
I fully agree. Keep the language civil and the discussions are actually pretty good.

For years I worked in an environment where the language used would make a sailor blush (no slight to sailors intended). At work I used the same language and minced profane words with the best of them. But I always considered profanity the language of work and the accepted form of communication only in that environment. I don't believe in bringing that language home and I don't use it elsewhere.

Unfortunately, just like hip-hop music and belts with metal studs around them, foul language has become fashionable and "cool". A consequence of using foul language is that it has made it fashionable to complain about everything - the food, the weather, actions of others, the job, the garden, and virtually anything encountered in daily life.

And so we come to the forums. Some people think that swearing and making belittling verbal attacks reaffirms their false belief that they are better than those they attack. They are like the nerd trying to emulate the virile movie character. Their profanity and angst serves as a facade to hide the low esteem they hold for themselves. Pervasive use of profanity is a crutch for those who cannot better articulate what they are trying to say. It only shows that they lack self restraint, common consideration for others, wit, manners, and good taste. Decorum is not in their vocabulary.

I wish more forum posters would follow the example of Infosponge. I do not share his political views but I do enjoy his participation in the discussions. Other posters argue with him and many punctuate their retorts with profanity and call him nasty names. But his replies are well thought out and show he is a man of intellect. He has made over 17,000 posts but in only one did he write the F-word. His vocabulary is sufficient to carry his point of view, and carry it well I might add, without vulgarities. I respect that.

I guess it's largely about the culture one is bought up in and let's not forget (for example) that your culture isn't any better than mine or anyone elses. It may be different but not necessarily better and if one culture uses any particular word more than your does, the sensible answer is not to use it yourself but not inflict your culture on any other culture.

Technically speaking (if that's the right term), the f word is perhaps one of the most interesting and versatile words in the English language.

It's the only word which can describe pain, pleasure, hate, and love. The word falls into many grammatical categories. It can be used as a verb, both transitive (John f****d Mary) and intransitive (Mary was f****d by John). It can be an active verb (John really gives a f**k) or a passive verb (Mary really doesn’t give a f**k), an adverb (Mary is f*****g interested in John), and a noun (Mary is a fine f**k). It can also be used as an adjective (Mary is f*****g beautiful).

There are not many words in the English language with the versatility of the F word so it's understandable why some cultures use it more than perhaps your own.

BTW, the stars were inserted to save the sensitivities of certain parties who might otherwise be offended.

For those that missed it, that was an example of f*****g dry English humour!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I guess it's largely about the culture one is bought up in and let's not forget (for example) that your culture is any better than mine or anyone elses. It may be different but not necessarily better and if one culture uses any particular word more than your does, the sensible answer is not to use it yourself but not inflict your culture on any other culture.

Technically speaking (if that's the right term), the f word is perhaps one of the most interesting and versatile words in the English language.

It's the only word which can describe pain, pleasure, hate, and love. The word falls into many grammatical categories. It can be used as a verb, both transitive (John f****d Mary) and intransitive (Mary was f****d by John). It can be an active verb (John really gives a f**k) or a passive verb (Mary really doesn’t give a f**k), an adverb (Mary is f*****g interested in John), and a noun (Mary is a fine f**k). It can also be used as an adjective (Mary is f*****g beautiful).

There are not many words in the English language with the versatility of the F word so it's understandable why some cultures use it more than perhaps your own.

BTW, the stars were inserted to save the sensitivities of certain parties who might otherwise be offended.

For those that missed it, that was an example of f*****g dry English humour!

shakari,

Good natured reply. Of course you are correct and cultures are different. No one culture is any better than another, though those brought up in some cultures would disagree.

Your examples of the magnificent usefulness of the F-word only proves my point that it is used by those who cannot better articulate what they are trying to say. You can say the same thing about the versatility of the word damn. For example, "really gives a damn", "really doesn't give a damn", "Mary was damned", "damn beautiful", "damned interested in", etc. You could use other words the same way but using one single word as a substitute for several words says less than would be said if other language was used. It dumbs down what is said.

Grenadier,

Joking aside, I see your point and don't entirely disagree with you but somehow, the word damned just doesn't have the same ring to it and actually, in some cultures, esp deeply religous ones, might be considered even more offensive than the f word!

To better illustrate my point of how using one nondescript and overused word dumbs down what is said, here are two extremes of how to say someone is beautiful. I wouldn't resort to either extreme but I would choose verbiage somewhere between the two.

Example 1 says little about her:
"She's F-ing beautiful."


Example 2 conveys a clearer message:
"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing; what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks.
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!"

Again, I don't disagree with you but one must admit that the latter quote from the Bard, just might attract the odd sideways glance from your buddies when a pretty girl walks past you in the pub!

Steve,
I find the "f" word offensive. It is a crude and vulgar description of the sexual intercourse. I find the use of that word to describe anything offensive.

The example about the girl being beautiful would sound less lustfull and more admiration oriented by saying - "she is very lovely". Leave out the "F" word and you at least sound educated and having a modicum of class and education.

Pussies.....

PS I left out the fn

And WTF does this have to do with the intent of this forum?

George

George.......I just soiled myself!

Thanks Shakari! our use of spanish is absolutely F.....G awesome

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
Thanks Shakari! our use of spanish is absolutely F.....G awesome

If you don't f*****g like it. don't read it.

quote:

I guess it's largely about the culture one is bought up in and let's not forget (for example) that your culture isn't any better than mine or anyone elses.

Fuck that!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

I guess it's largely about the culture one is bought up in and let's not forget (for example) that your culture isn't any better than mine or anyone elses.

Fuck that!

When I was younger (long long ago) it seemed to be the 'cool' way to speak and I was as foul mouthed as anyone else. I did ateampt to curtail its use in front of ladies and children though untill I realised that I was using it without intent so made the decission not to use any language I would not be prepared to have anyone hear. It also made responses more thoughtfull, so hasty, regretfull remarks were also far less common. Dont get me wrong, I still have the full spectrum of our language at my command but the use of it is now deliberate and seems all the more powerfull for its rarer ocourance. It does annoy me that many now will use it in general conversation in mixed company with no idea or concern that it may be offensive. I have had a few laughs at Shakari's all ancompassing use the most commonly used "F" word to illustrate a point though.

Von Gruff.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Grenadier,

Joking aside, I see your point and don't entirely disagree with you but somehow, the word damned just doesn't have the same ring to it and actually, in some cultures, esp deeply religous ones, might be considered even more offensive than the f word!

Tell me ! - A relatively long while back in the days when I played rugby, I found myself red-carded by the referee in the game (St. Mary's v Rift Valley Academy) for having uttered the word "Damn" - I was totally f..k struck - a day I will never forget!

When in Rome we do as the Romans do.....

This is an international forum (thanks Saeed) and as far as I know there is no standard of language. We do what we want.....

To Saeed's credit, I don't ever remember his use of profanity.....and in his honor we should emulate that example.....and yes....I, too, have used "off key" language here.....the political forum will do that to you.....

One (in my world) is justified by expressing himself appropriately with using "appropriate" language.....it's in the common vernacular of American discussions.....

However if the user enters my house and can't say a five word statement without using the "F" word four times....I'll ask him to leave!

There are extremes and normalcies.....since Saeed has only asked us to be polite we come here and take it as it comes.....don't like it?.....hit the ignore button!

Moved to 'Miscellaneous Topics'.

George

I think holier than thou attempts to twist a large number of folks around to a very narrow mind set is pretty rude. If you were to set up a poll with choices of 1. Never use any form of profanity, it makes me cry, 2. Don't use it but it doesn't bother me, 3. Properly used, profanity can generate dynamics to a narrative, and 4. Use it all the time, the respondents choosing 2 and 3 would blow your little complaint out of the water. In fact, I'd be surprised if #4 didn't come out ahead of #1.

If you don't like profanity, don't use it. That's pretty simple. If you scan a thread and it contains a swear word, immediately close that thread and go to another. Too bad you'll lose a lot of good information. Or, like most single issue folks, you can insist Don set up a program to mask any bad words --you get to pick 'em of course. Or you can go over to 24Hr and see how well that works. "phuck" is apparently acceptable but "fuck" isn't. And when someone writes: "f**k", or, "phuck", or even "WTF", everyone knows what is meant. All it does is cause a break in the continuity --flow-- of the sentence.

Two stories:

One of the most abiding stories to circulate in Vietnam was the one about the soldier/marine who does his tour, extends six months, and gets a thirty day leave home. He times it to be there for Thanksgiving. All the family are gathered 'round the table, enjoying this young man's return. A few minutes into the meal he says "can I have some of those f---ing mashed potatoes?". The room goes dead silent. His mother, though mortified tells them "our son has been at war the past year, and his language suffers a bit." Thing return to normal, and a couple minutes later he says "can I have some of that f---ki' gravy?" Again, stunned silence. He explains, using about the same words as his mother, and everyone sighs and goes back to eating. A few minutes later he says "can I have another slice of... (room gets silent)Turkey, please?". He looks around, smiles, and says "Y'all thought I was going to say "that f--king Turkey, didn't you?"

So, is the profanity necessary to the point of the story?

Another one: I am out in the shop making some pvc 2" pipe takedown target frames. THE baby daughter(age four) is assisting me. I am tapping pieces together with a hammer and whack myself on the thumb. I drop the hammer and pipe and go "Damn, owww, owww, damn" The kid looks at me doing my own version of river dancing and says "Pop, we don't say 'damn' we say mercy sakes!"

I would opine that there is a tremendous gap between gratuitous profanity/vulgarity and as an expression of deep disgust with someone's boorish behavior.

Rich

I was a sailor back before the fully integrated navy and profanity was just built in. Of course my son that was just home on leave from the navy swears at least as much as I did so maybe it has nothing to do with or says something about the women in the Navy. Anyway my mouth still has to be watched in polite company and it's not as if it really means anything other than what society has allowed it to become. There are a lot of perfectly good words that will get you completely banned from some forums that had no negative conotation 30 years ago.

Whenever I work with a new tracker in Tanzania Who's English is none too good. I always teach then that the the Swahili phrase of a- ma-kin-beer or wa-ma-kin-beer which actually means he/they ran away, truly translates to 'he/they fucked off.

The expression on the face of a new client when they first hear my trackers say, "he/they fucked off" is always worth the client's weight in gold!

I've also taught the regulars that as they climb out of the truck to clear a tree that the elephants have pushed across the road to say "fuckin' tembo, burn the bastards!"

Ya can't beat a good laugh!