Swearing?

[Mrs. Funk]

On Facebook tonight, my aunt (who is about seven years older than me) posted:

When did it become so socially acceptable to curse wherever and whenever one wants? Are people really so self absorbed that they can't put a filter on especially in the work place? If you're an educated and intelligent person and I hear you curse, my opinion of you will drop........drastically. My dad use to say "cursing is a sign of low intelligence because they can't express themselves with real words."

The response I want to post but have not and likely will not:

Sometimes, a swear word says more than 100 regular words. American jurisprudence recognizes the power of words; the First Amendment protects individuals' right to use words that are offensive and cause impact because of their unpleasant, forceful, or offensive nature. The Supreme Court upheld the right for a person to wear the words "F*** THE DRAFT" on his coat, recognizing he chose that particular word because of its shocking and offensive nature. A less loaded word doesn't convey that same message. Sure, swearing can be excessive, especially in a professional setting, but swear words are powerful and our constitution protects their utterance.

What do you think? Should we ban swearing in the work place? Does it make you a less intelligent person to swear? Some of the most intelligent people I know swear a lot. Swearing has a certain oomph, a ringing exclamation point that mere ordinary language does not. Gratuitous swearing in comedy usually doesn't bother me (see e.g. Mitch Hedberg, Louis C.K., and Eddie Izzard).

Eh?

Note: I "starred-out" the FUCK THE DRAFT because I was posting on Facebook and didn't want to offend relatives. I think casebooks are right to spell it out.

[byu71]

On Facebook tonight, my aunt (who is about seven years older than me) posted:



The response I want to post but have not and likely will not:


What do you think? Should we ban swearing in the work place? Does it make you a less intelligent person to swear? Some of the most intelligent people I know swear a lot. Swearing has a certain oomph, a ringing exclamation point that mere ordinary language does not. Gratuitous swearing in comedy usually doesn't bother me (see e.g. Mitch Hedberg, Louis C.K., and Eddie Izzard).

Eh?

Note: I "starred-out" the FUCK THE DRAFT because I was posting on Facebook and didn't want to offend relatives. I think casebooks are right to spell it out.

I grew up mainly in Utah. However, I played sports, belonged to a fraternity and wasn't what anyone would call a very strict straight arrow. I started my professional career with Price Waterhouse and was absolutely shocked to hear professionals, including the Partners using the F word. I honestly thought only Truck drivers and construction workers used the word.

I didn't think I had been that sheltered.

[pellegrino]

cursing is an art that many dabble in but few master.

[LiveCoug]

I don't think dropping the f-bomb every other word in the work place is appropriate. In no way are they cursing just to "convey a message". I think it is lazy and disrespectful. I understand your "F the draft" example, but in every day speech, no thanks.

[byu71]

cursing is an art that many dabble in but few master.

I asked this question in another thread and did not get any opinions. Perhaps if you are an expert, you could answer this for me.

I really only get offended at the Lord's name being taken in vain. However, yesterday I caught myself after a crappy bunker shot saying "good God in heaven above." Seriously, I think I blurt that out on occasion and haven't thought of it as taking the Lord's name in vain. Am I being hypocritical.

[Commando]

I've never been in any of the armed services, but I do curse like a sailor.... but never where it would be socially inappropriate to do so. Discretion is a virtue.

[Babs]

There certain instances in which only four letter words will suffice, and their use is justified. But for the most part I avoid discourse with those whose vocabularies are so limited that they must resort to profanity to express themselves.

[CardiacCoug]

I asked this question in another thread and did not get any opinions. Perhaps if you are an expert, you could answer this for me.

I really only get offended at the Lord's name being taken in vain. However, yesterday I caught myself after a crappy bunker shot saying "good God in heaven above." Seriously, I think I blurt that out on occasion and haven't thought of it as taking the Lord's name in vain. Am I being hypocritical.

You're saying God is good there so you should be OK -- just get off the course in the event of lightning to be on the safe side.

[byu71]

You're saying God is good there so you should be OK -- just get off the course in the event of lightning to be on the safe side.

I kind of think of it as a prayer. Good God in heaven above please help me not to play so poorly. However, I am now wondering if those around me understand my intent.

[YOhio]

... I avoid discourse with those whose vocabularies are so limited that they must resort to profanity to express themselves.

The cool kids who swear don't want to hang out with you either.

[YOhio]

I get that your aunt doesn't want to hear curses at work and gratuitous swearing can get old pretty quick. No harm there, but her judgment of those practitioners of profanity is a bit harsh.

I'm not a big fan of your response either. Seems a bit too know-it-all look at me I'm in law school for my tastes. Ignoring her is probably the best move at this point.

[Uncle Ted]

Just educate your Aunt how to install things like the profanity filter for firefox.

One of these days when I have a little time I want to modify the filter to change all the swear words to those substitutes you only hear in Utah like "fetch", "flip", or "frak" (for the Battlestar Galactica fans). It will make me feel like I am back at BYU.

[The_Tick]

I only cuss at work and during golf.

And sometimes at church.

If you banned cussing in the workplace you will turn us into a Welfare Nation...oh wait.

[jxncoog]

Ok, I'm in on this conversation.
I work in the construction business. I try my very best not to swear, but nearly everyone I work with (including the women) swear. I've worked for 3 different Bishops, and they all swore...two of them had fierce tempers. I still love and respect them as friends.
It's silly to think we'd ban swearing in the work place. It doesn't make you a less intelligent person to swear.
Swearing to swear is folly, swearing for emphasis can be effective.
Finally, because I don't swear, or rarely swear, I find people I work with apologizing or even toning down their language for my sake. They believe I find it offensive. I don't think I personally find it offensive but I genuinely appreciate their efforts to do better.

[Katy Lied]

For the other end of the spectrum, I work with a guy whose every other word is the F word. I dont think he's expressing himself very well, though. He's a real sweet guy and I dont think he realizes he uses it so much. Every time I talk to him I feel like I'm in Dublin.