Four letter words

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I’m just curious about the “four-letter word” usage amongst fellow forum readers.

Myself, I don’t use four-letter words. not because of any great moral backbone or anything, I was just “undersocialized” at the age when kids start using those words, and so I never developed the habit.

My spouse, on the other hand, uses such language as part of normal vocabulary, it doesn’t really bother me unless our daughter is present.
 
I use the “four letter words” all the time…I know I shouldn’t but it’s a habit I picked up in elementary/secondary school that just won’t go away. My mom hates it so I try not to use them around her, and I definetly don’t use them around children at all. My fiance is the same way, he swears all the time, but when I say the Lord’s name in vain (by accident usually) he corrects me everytime he hears it, which used to be a lot, but now I never say it.
 
It’s a nasty little habit that I picked up during my few years at a large state university (sorority girls are NOT ladylike when among their own kind).

I’ve gotten a lot better, but am still prone to slip up when angry and if I do something like stand up too fast, smash my shoulder into the sharp edge of the laundry room counter top, and end up with a 1-inch gash (happened on Monday night) I am still likely to yell “Oh, s***!”

I think I’d better keep working on it so I don’t slip up in front of my future children. We all know how much two-year-olds love to say bad words. 😉
 
Yes, the little ones learn the bad words very easily. My most common one is the “s” word, which I tried (apparently unsuccessfully) not to use in front of my daughter. One day, when she was about 3 or 4, we were grocery shopping with my mother, who asked her to get a bag of rolls from the bakery shelf. The twist-tie was not secure, and when she pulled the bag off the shelf, the rolls went everywhere. In perfect imitation of my inflection, she said, “Oh, s***!” Relatives have been laughing at this story for many years now, and I blush every time.

Betsy
 
Before converting they were a part of my everyday language. Now that I am older and somewhat wiser and a much better Christian and person, I try not to use them but they slip out when I am angry or upset and occasionally in ‘guy’ talk. I now see that they are the vocabulary of someone who can’t express themselves using proper terms. I say terms because even though they are not four letters my wife objects when her brothers or I use them in Italian.
 
I’ve been swearing more than I should, and I’ve been trying to cut down in the past few years. Recently I got to the point of trying to avoid the occasion altogether–really, is saying “heck” or “oh, shoot” that much better than using the bad alternatives? When I can’t help but make an exclaimation I try to use “oh, for crying out loud”, because I don’t think that one is too bad, really. Silence is sometimes the better part of valour, and it’s definately a hard one to do. I’ve been thinking about looking up some ancient curses and insults and using those – something like “May you be destitute of beef and claret!”, or “Thou jarring fat-kidneyed pigeon-egg!” —at least they are creative.
 
My wife complains that I use too many 4 letter words at her…like COOK, IRON, WASH…
 
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dhgray:
My wife complains that I use too many 4 letter words at her…like COOK, IRON, WASH…
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HEHEHE! I never use the “naughty” words, but I hear " wash dishes" and other chores too…“Make your bed”-actually that’s my sister…😃
 
I used to have a lot of behavior flaws, but using bad language wasn’t one of them.

Now it is.

Gosh, I learned it from my wife and subsequently my kids, so I feel right at home using it around them. :o

I once told my pastor that I have seen two types of faults in my children – the kind they get from their mother, and the kind that just come from nowhere! :rolleyes:

Alan
 
I use them occasionally, used to use them more. Try and be careful around the kids, but I think one slips out occasionally, such as when I drop a cast iron pan on my barefoot, or break my favorite mug.

They are useful words if not overused, and used for emphasis, not to insult someone. I use them when I goof up, cut my finger or break something, etc… The ‘F’ word is saved for very rare mishaps… :o

As far as kids, nothing like the old ‘wash your mouth out with soap’ routine. It’s a nice old fashioned remedy that only has to be used once!!! 😃
 
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Almeria:
really, is saying “heck” or “oh, shoot” that much better than using the bad alternatives?
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I had a friend whose mom called those “by-words” (because they were close-by the bad words?) and he would get in trouble for using them.

Having said that, I think that yes, those are that much better then the “real” bad words, for the sole reason that they’re not the bad words. But that’s just me.

My personal exclamation is “dang.”
 
Cursing is not one of my more attractive traits, but I admit I do it from time to time. The most frequent occurrences come when I burn myself taking something out of the oven, and when someone cuts me off in traffic. Otherwise, I’m pretty docile. 🙂
 
I’ve gone from not using 4-letter words as a young child, to using 4-letter words as a teen and college-aged young adult to “fit in”, back to not using them at all. Once in a great while I have to bite my tongue as a word may pop up in a certain situation.

For those of you who never use 4-letter words, do you ever notice how family, friends, & co-workers suddenly clean up their language when they are around you? Or when they use a 4-letter word, they apologize to you before or after using it?
 
Jason Hurd:
Cursing is not one of my more attractive traits, but I admit I do it from time to time. The most frequent occurrences come when I burn myself taking something out of the oven, and when someone cuts me off in traffic. Otherwise, I’m pretty docile. 🙂
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Wait a minute! You didn’t mention anything about using “those” words while driving. I mean, I do pretty good – until I get into traffic. What with the way those other people drive… Kinda’ reminds me of the time my wife called me while I was on the turnpike. She warned me of a driver who was driving on the wrong side of the road. I said, “My dear you’re wrong; they’re all driving on the wrong side of the road!”

:rotfl: Keivn
 
I find I use four letter words when my pc starts to drive me crazy :whacky: or when cut off in traffic, although, getting much better at that.

What I can’t stand, and my family is most guilty of this around me, is when the take the name of my Lord in vain. When I was an atheist, I had no problem doing that, but now, as a person on fire with the love of God and Holy Mother Church, it sickens me.
 
We should distinguish between “vulgar” (excrementary/biological words) and profane (words disrespectful of God).

I suppose the vulgar words should be avoided because they occupy the same mouth that receives Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, but somehow it isn’t as bad as shouting our Lord’s name as if it were a curse.

My personal candidate for the worst 4-letter word?

D-E-B-T
 
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mercygate:
My personal candidate for the worst 4-letter word?

D-E-B-T
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Yeah, but somehow “debting motherdebtor” just doesn’t pack the punch of another phrase I could mention…🙂
 
It’s a bad habit and sometimes, when I’m angry, it slips. :o

Then, there’s the word “work.” :shudders:
 
I could not find a category. I usually reserve such language for work (although I seldom use it) and then seldom in anger. Agree or not, it is sometimes part of my job. When I do let go at home, **that **is in anger, usually followed by a need for confession.
 
A story from a friend of mine:
MOM! Andy just called me the “S” word!
He called you what?
Yes! He called me stupid!!

The worst thing about foul language is that it is stored in a different way in your brain… in the part you use without thinking. When I was thinking about becoming a physical therapist, I worked with stroke patients who couldn’t make the words they wanted to say come out of their mouths (they would get random syllables), but the ones they used without thinking came out as clear as crystal!

I tell my boys there are ways of talking that you don’t use because they upset other people, and once those words get into your head, they come out of your mouth even when you don’t want them to. (Keeping it under your breath isn’t going to save you!)
 
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