Is cussing always bad?

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XndrK

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Let me make something clear: I am not talking about blasphemy. Using the name of the Lord in vain is obviously defacing the name of the Lord, which is why it’s bad, which is why I don’t do that.

What I’m talking about is more “mundane” cuss words, which I’m obviously not listing here. My stance (right now) is that they are usually bad, but not always, because their power to offend comes from the context in which you are having the conversation and the offense per se is the sin, not the use of the word itself. So if I typed one long blue streak at the end of this paragraph that would be sinful (and would probably get me banned from the CA Forums to boot) because the effect would be to cause offense because I would be violating the rules of this space.

However, I have engaged in conversations where words traditionally regarded as cuss words are used with regard to their offensive quality in more normal conversation, but aren’t offensive per se within the terms of the conversation I’m having and instead are treated as objects of comedy (due to the conversation’s parameters draining them of any power to offend). I’ve tried looking up “reasons cussing is bad” and all of them depend on their offensive quality, which (again) is drained in (some) conversations I have.

But I’m worried I’m post hoc justifying, which is why I brought this up.

So my question is this: Under what circumstances, if any, are words traditionally regarded as cuss words morally permissible to use and why?

Also, was what I just wrote comprehensible? (It makes sense to me, but that might just be because I typed it. Also I’m a nerd.)
 
Yes. There’s always a better choice.
Most “cuss” words (which is a whitewashed way of saying CURSE words) are used in anger.
Not great.

Find some other exclamatory phrases and see if people don’t respect you a tad more.
 
Are all things used only in anger necessarily bad? And from my personal experience, using cuss words usually signifies a kinship or close friendship between me and the person I’m talking to, rather than an intent to cause offense or the effect thereof (which a curse does, so I’m going to stick to “cuss” for now).

Being intentionally offensive for its own sake is a bad thing to do, and cuss words can’t just be thrown around willy-nilly. We agree on that. But that can be done with cleverly-arranged non-cuss words, and cuss words do not necessarily cause offense.
 
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If you don’t think they are offensive, try it in the workplace.
Try it around more mature people.
Try it with older relatives.
No bueno.
Peace.
 
Again, context. I don’t cuss at work, I don’t cuss around older relatives, but I do cuss around some close peers, because people aren’t offended when i use them in these restricted contexts.

Right now the conversation looks like this:

“Is cussing okay in certain contexts?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“[list of contexts where we both agree it isn’t]”

I agree that they are usually offensive (which is, for the fourth time now, why I only use them in restricted contexts), but usually is not necessarily always, and I have given examples of places where they do not cause offense.

Are they okay there?
 
You don’t see it as disrespectful t your friends?
Like it’s harmless fun?
Wow.
I’ve said a lot of bad words in anger. But I always regret it. I think its bad, YMMV
 
I don’t see why an adult can’t say the f word every once in a while, as long as no children are around. Very versatile word.
 
Versatile, vile, disgusting, rude, juvenile, yeah, it’s a lot of things.
What is happening to CAF???

You know Mother Theresa didn’t condone cussing right? :roll_eyes:
 
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Not sure on the exact answer “Is cussing always bad?” That term “always” is usually an indicator for an absolute and often runs into complexities.

I think of it this way, not saying cuss words is always good!

Blessings!
 
I think it is a generational thing.
My mother & grandmother (70 & 91) despise swearing in “mixed company”.

My grandfather’s & uncle’s on the other hand were masters of crude language.

I can have quite the mouth. It is something I only do when with people I know it won’t offend. The “f-bomb” can be free flowing on a Friday night card game.

As with everything, it is a matter if context. Would I use that language in a meeting, no. Do my bestie & I drop f-bombs when we are together, absolutely!
Context, people. Context.
 
My mother, who was quietly, soft internal light, devoutly Lutheran lived by: ”Never be impolite unless neccessary.”

Her example was, there’s a difference between
”Who has taken my bike?” (Query)
”Who the hell has taken my bike?” (Theft, call the police)

I don’t cuss in either language unless circumstances really, truly, emergency merit it, which is next to never. And I taught my kids the same. No cussing in my hearing is the ground rule.
 
Lol. In some worlds it’s different.

In mine - the military - it can be very different. It has its place where it’s not regarded as the worst thing.

Said in anger while directed at someone? Absolutely NOT.

Casually? I have plenty of friends it doesn’t offend. You have to know your audience and the situation. I’ve heard generals drop a few dimes in my day. I have a couple of friends who are colonels who let their guard down when the doors are closed. They send people out to carry out missions they may not return from. What they say is their business, not mine.

Is it clever? Certainly not. Appropriate? Usually not. For me to judge or scold? Nope, unless it’s my troop in the wrong arena. People commit far worse offenses than language.
 
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Yeah…even military persons are going to not cuss and control their tounges in certain situations. They are not going to cuss in front of a high-ranking superior. They are not going to cuss with civilians around. They are not going to cuss around children. Most would say that it’s unbecoming of an officer. Perhaps enlisted have a different standard they are held to, but again, never around anyone they could offend.

I’ve found most military to be decent men and women who would be annoyed by verbal diarrhea. Heck, even some rather vitriolic jodies only hint at cuss words these days.

And that’s the crux. It’s not around people they could offend. Having cigars and shooting the breeze and being general idiots? Whatever. But not in civilized daily life.
 
casp said:
I don’t see why an adult can’t say the f word every once in a while, as long as no children are around. Very versatile word.
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That comment with the picture of Mother Theresa next to it… the incongruity is stark.
 
Colossians 3:8 “But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”

James 3:10 “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.”


If you’ve ever heard or seen real videos or audio tapes or even read transcripts of exorcisms, the person is always swearing an awful lot, words that are used often in daily conversation even and may be seen as normal. But imagine your sweet innocent grandmother using them, or a saint you look up to. We ought not be like the devils.
 
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When aimed at someone, no. In some limited circumstances, for deliberate emphasis where the audience is mature, yes in certain instances.
Never around children
Never among people who don’t use such language.
At Mass, never
Banging you finger with a hammer, stubbing your toe in a dark room in the middle of the night while half asleep,understandable and forgivable.
 
You’d be amazed at what gets thrown around in the presence of the higher ranking in certain situations when it’s only the ranking and the doors are closed.
It depends on the conversation and the stakes. Words aren’t always metered no matter who’s around.

What I meant was more along the lines of a junior enlisted mouthing off to a senior officer. Or in front of patients.

We’re a bit freer among our own than most civilians.
 
Pup7 said:
You’d be amazed at what gets thrown around in the presence of the higher ranking in certain situations when it’s only the ranking and the doors are closed.
It depends on the conversation and the stakes. Words aren’t always metered no matter who’s around.

What I meant was more along the lines of a junior enlisted mouthing off to a senior officer. Or in front of patients.

We’re a bit freer among our own than most civilians.
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No, I wouldn’t be surprised. However, given that things are recorded these days things change. Most things are not closed-door meetings or going off to war. Yes, foul language is used in life-and-death war situations but time and place.

An enlisted mouthing off to an officer would be in a world of hurt.

But when it comes to civi you’re just proving my point. Military, no matter what the situation don’t swear carte blance. Its still very much a private thing and in general seen as behavior unbecoming of an officer.

While it happens Article 134 lays out the very serious consequences.
 
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