Why are curse words so well-accepted in today’s society? I’m troubled by the rise in available curse words. Those obscene, vulgar, profane, expletives do not, in my opinion belong in polite conversation. Cussing used to be saved for the ship yards and water front workers. Now, you can hear swear words coming from the mouths of children as well as from the television, radio and computers.
Obscenities are just words, but it is the way that people use words that makes them unacceptable in public. Have we become so blasé that we no longer think of cuss words in a negative way? I think the idea that my children use cuss words in everyday conversation lowers the standard of society to that level of coarseness.
“Most of the time, I don’t find swearing offensive. I just feel that it makes a person appear to be less intelligent. If someone can’t express their opinions or feelings without using swear words, it doesn’t say very much for their intellect.” ~Biranna Swisher
Swearing, in my opinion, shows disrespect toward those people to whom you are speaking. It seems like society is coming closer and closer to saying that showing respect is a thing of the past.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s there were regulations on television and radio that prohibited certain coarser words to be aired. I thought it was a good idea. I’m not sure when those regulations disappeared, but I miss them.
James Lileks, a Star-Tribune columnist*, discusses the recent use of the F-bomb in a commercial for Aguas Frescas. And he asks, (as well as I do) Why? The commercial says Aguas Frescas is refreshing as . . (insert swear word here). I’m thinking, that swear word, in no way is refreshing. It is as far from refreshing as can be. So, again, Why?
Minute Maid is the parent company for Aguas Frescas. I’m wondering why such a wholesome, and long-lived company would set themselves up to lose customers because of a crass, unwholesome ad campaign. Perhaps vulgarity is a new way to champion beverages. Who knows?
At a recent poetry convention, that same swear word was being tossed about in conversation and in poetry being read. So, I begged the question. In fact, I read a poem I had written to challenge the assertion that poets need to use obscenities to get their point across. Maybe my poem wasn’t completely against the use of obscenities. I do understand that a person my need to use coarse, blasphemous or impolite speech in order to express high anger or strong emotion. Yet, seriously, is everyone really that intesnsely angry?I have noticed for several years, that poetry includes more profanity than in years past.
I think poets, of all people, should be able to come up with different adverbs and adjectives to get their poetry written, without stooping to crass, obnoxious words. They, who are experts in language manipulation, should be able to use words that are in a higher order than swear words.
“In my opinion, it is better to have an eloquent command of language so that any thought can be expressed with color and vibrancy.” (Kent Miller article)
What has happened to our society that curse words are so acceptable ? Are there generational differences that lead younger people to being less offended by vulgar words? It seems that younger generations are more concerned about the increase in racist, sexist and homophobic remarks than about the social acceptability of the words they use. Isn’t there room to champion general politeness as well?
Brianna Swisher shares that swearing “helped foster solidarity among employees and express frustration, stress or other feelings.” I get it. Co-workers want to feel a little more intimately familiar with each other than with the boss. I hope that might involve greater sharing of family information, greater knowledge of each other. Yet, does it really need to include profanity?
“Hey! How the F-bomb are you?” is a greeting I hear, sometimes. Young folks ask why I care about such a small act of vulgarity. People swear. I have to agree. Because, yes, I also swear once in a while. I’m human. Yet, I don’t think obscenities are needed in all the many and varied ways they are being used in today’s society.
Timothy Jay, a psychologist at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, has studied swearing for more than 30 years. Here is some of his findings:
- There are over 70 different common taboo swear words in English but 10 words account for 80 percent of the usage. (You could probably name about seven of them).
- Swearing accounts for about 0.5 percent of daily speech.
- Swearing takes off between ages 3 and 4, and becomes adult-like by 11 or 12.
- Young adults report that they learned swear words from parents, peers and siblings, not the mass media.
- The Fox broadcast network showed the greatest per-hour increase in use of profanity from 2005 to 2010, with an increase of 269 percent.
- We swear in reaction to something painful or unpleasant but it also reduces pain. Cursing is said to double the time that a hand can be held in freezing water.
- In over 10,000 episodes of public swearing by children and adults, rarely did the researchers see negative consequences. Many public taboo words can produce positive effects (e.g. humor, camaraderie, stress management, a substitute for physical aggression and facilitation of joking or storytelling.*( taken from Kent Miller article)
I grew up thinking of cuss words as a socially offensive. It was deemed impolite, rude, indecent, or culturally offensive to cuss in public. Swearing was not used in mixed company, especially around ladies. Even so, profanities are part of the generally-learned vocabulary. And I think there IS a time and place for them. But, people, let’s dial it back a little.
My mother used to say, “People who use swear words have a limited vocabulary.” I think she’s right. Obscenities show others how little vocabulary you really know. I prefer to be like the Irish who, it’s been said, “can tell you to go to Hell, so’s you’ll look forward to the trip.” I don’t think they use the F-bomb when issuing the invitation.
Resources:
James Lileks, a Star-Tribune columnist, Monday May 9, 2022, Star Tribune.
Profanity is on the rise by Kent Miller, TLH Blogger for the Tallahassee Democrate, Aug. 15, 2014 at: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/2014/08/15/profanity-rise/14111017/
Swearing shows a lack of creativity, disrespect by Brianna Swisher, Oct. 19, 2007, WVU’s Student Newspaper, at: https://www.thedaonline.com/swearing-shows-lack-of-creativity-disrespect/article_480547ce-e8da-519d-aa6f-e4a5a7776e0e.html