Substitute Explitives - Is it still swearing?

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Jo_s_Dad

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While reading through the responses to the poll “What the H*ll”, it reminded me of something I taught our daughter (and actually my nephews as well) during those rough teenager years.

My daughter picked up the phrase “Shizz” from a convert to our church who was trying to kick the swearing habit.

I explained to my daughter that merely substituting one word for another does not change the context of the exclaimation, it’s still an explitive. You may be saying “Friggin” with your voice, but your still saying the real thing in your heart.

While I understand that substitution can be a thereputic step for those who are trying to clean up their language, should we stop at this step? or continue on to the attempt to clean up the context of our language as well?

What is your opinion?

God Bless.
 
Jo's_Dad:
I explained to my daughter that merely substituting one word for another does not change the context of the exclaimation, it’s still an explitive. You may be saying “Friggin” with your voice, but your still saying the real thing in your heart.
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I agree. The last few years I have picked up a fairly course mouth, but I typically use the authentic words. 😛

Using substitute words is for cowards, who then get the worst of both worlds. They don’t get the satisfaction of the real thing, and the substitute words don’t buy them any innocence.

If we’re going to cuss, let’s be honest with ourselves and do it right or we’re just engaging in masturbatory cursing.

Actually I could make the case that substitute words can be worse, if they are premeditated. For example, sht slips out, revealing of course what is in your heart, but quickly. Alternate scenario, sht is about to slip out but they think a second and exclaim “shoot” instead. “Shoot” then becomes premeditated; why didn’t we use that time to get control of our emotions and just say something useful like, “honey, would you please get me a towel to wipe up this spill?” Then again, spills are usually easier to clean up if you curse at them first. 😉

Alan
 
I understand what you’re saying, but wait a second guys. Doesn’t there need to be some outlet? Substitutions seem to be a better choice.
 
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AlanFromWichita:
If we’re going to cuss, let’s be honest with ourselves and do it right or we’re just engaging in masturbatory cursing.

Actually I could make the case that substitute words can be worse, if they are premeditated. For example, sht slips out, revealing of course what is in your heart, but quickly. Alternate scenario, sht is about to slip out but they think a second and exclaim “shoot” instead. “Shoot” then becomes premeditated; why didn’t we use that time to get control of our emotions and just say something useful like, “honey, would you please get me a towel to wipe up this spill?” Then again, spills are usually easier to clean up if you curse at them first.
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:rotfl:
 
I think if we are honest about it we all will swear at times. 😦 That being said, I have tried to find other ways of expressing myself. Most of what I hear in my workplace is because the other people don’t know our language well enough to express themselves any other way.:banghead: When the younger staff comments on my $100 words I tell them to go look them up in a dictionary. Using the proper word for your feelings without swearing can be done.:yup:
 
Well, we can always just roar instead. It’s natural, so it shouldn’t be in violation of the natural law. 😃
 
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AServantofGod:
I understand what you’re saying, but wait a second guys. Doesn’t there need to be some outlet? Substitutions seem to be a better choice.
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Certainly, substitutions are less socially problematic in certain settings, so they carry a smaller or negligible temporal effect.

There is a great outlet, and that is to not take life “seriously” in that your happiness at any given moment does not depend on things going right. Then you don’t have to wait until “someday” to experience the humor of the situation because you have deprogrammed yourself from the societally trained response that you’re supposed to get angry every time one of your false self energy centers appears threatened.

The false self, which I like to think of as the bushel we keep over our inner light, is our emotional infrastructure. It is programmable, but once programmed it acts autonomously to attach feelings and attitudes to words and events, based on any number of associations your memory has stored. It is powered by three energy centers, which are part of our design ever since original sin and then usurped by society to control you with those energy centers. They are 1) esteem/affection, 2) power/control, or 3) security/comfort.

If you can get your faith up to the point that you have no worries at all in those areas, then you can begin to live moment by moment and not worry about tomorrow, and accept the surprises that life throws at you without having to be angry at them.

Alan
 
My old pastor went so far as to say that we shouldn’t ever use words like shoot, or dang. The only problem is that I personally have never had a problem with swearing. It’s just never been my thing. So when I say things like shoot or dang there is no attempt at substitution.

We all need phrases to express surprise, or shock.
 
I didn’t mean to say that we should completly eliminate phrases of surprise, shock or even frustration. My apologies for the confusion there.

My daughter would use phrases like “WHOA!” and “MAN!” or (if she was really frustrated) “GRRR!”.

Mainly I meant the litteral substitution of a swear word with something else whereby they really mean the swear word. 🙂
 
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deb1:
My old pastor went so far as to say that we shouldn’t ever use words like shoot, or dang. The only problem is that I personally have never had a problem with swearing. It’s just never been my thing. So when I say things like shoot or dang there is no attempt at substitution.

We all need phrases to express surprise, or shock.
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I like this post and I tend to agree. I am not inclined to swear. But I do have my moments of surprise - which are usually highlighted by DRATS or ARRRGGGG. That is usually how I show frustration also. OK- so I am a pirate at heart. :rolleyes:
 
I would much rather hear or say the substitute words or phrases that its more vulgar counter part.

We need some sort of release for our emotions, we are often surprised or shocked, and I would much rather hear another sound other than the swear words or our Lord’s name abused.

I mean, goollllly geeee !!!

what’s a fellow to say if they stub their toe heading to the jon late at night…
wc
 
I guess it depends on intent. When I was a younger teenager, i.e., 13-14, I had a pretty bad mouth whenever my parents weren’t present. When they were around, I was the soul of pleasant conversation. When they weren’t, I turned the air green with the usual words and then some. Fortunately, I found a way to get around this. I now invent my own insults.

The last time I felt like cussing someone out (it was a classmate who was slacking off big time on a group project) I called him a scumbrained slime mold that would gag a maggot to chew on. He got my point, I didn’t cuss, and the audience was rolling on the floor laughing. (At the time, I meant it, too!)

Plus, it’s a good creative outlet. :o
 
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deb1:
My old pastor went so far as to say that we shouldn’t ever use words like shoot, or dang. The only problem is that I personally have never had a problem with swearing. It’s just never been my thing. So when I say things like shoot or dang there is no attempt at substitution.

We all need phrases to express surprise, or shock.
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For a long time I did not swear, although it didn’t offend me when someone else did. Depending on the context it may have startled me when astereotypical. Now I swear myself.

If you say shoot or dang without any substitution because that’s what naturally comes, then I think that’s great.

What I’m saying is that if your heart has a sudden urge to purge and you consciously or semi-consciously intercept it and place a less effective substitute, then it just doesn’t get the job done. When the ejaculation is artificially inhibited, it really doesn’t give the same completeness to the natural purgation originally sought out by the natural birthing of the original term once first conceived in the heart. It’s in effect, being dishonest with one’s self.

Of course, it may also save one’s job – to use artificial means of preventing the potentially offensive seeds from being planted when a substitute will not take root. That is partly due to the fact that we have been desensitized to the point that we cannot always discern between an innocuous term used in its own right (such as by deb1) and the same term when actually used to convey a much harsher spiritual message. Like for example if you work at the counter in a ticket line, you can probably get away with lots of passive-aggressive remarks as long as you mask them with the right flowery words.

Alan
 
This may sound ridiculous, but I think I finally decided to assent to adopting Church teachings on contraception. :ehh:

I wrote that last post with mischievous intent, but somehow in the process of drawing the analogy using terms common to biology and verbal communication, I am starting to see some higher abstractions that may help me buy into Church teachings. :whacky: I guess that means I will be tested soon. :bigyikes:

Huh. Wow. Shoot! :confused:

Such is my life. It only gets better every day. 👍

I’m feeling pretty good these days. 🙂 Maybe it’s about time for me to go find a paying job. :eek:

Alan

P.S. moderators, i thought my post 13 was dumb, and if you delete it then it won’t hurt my feelings. :o
 
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AlanFromWichita:
Code: 
They are 1) esteem/affection, 2) power/control, or 3) security/comfort.
If you can get your faith up to the point that you have no worries at all in those areas, then you can begin to live moment by moment and not worry about tomorrow, and accept the surprises that life throws at you without having to be angry at them.

Alan
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Alan-
I totally get what you are saying here. I’ve found that when I’m at my closest with the Lord through careful and conscious reception of the sacraments and have a good daily prayer life keeping every moment on Him, this “detachment” comes easily and I’m at such peace. Unfortunately with life the way it is now, 2 kids under 2, that detachment and focus slips easily. 😦
 
People like myself use “asterisks” because using the language that a great many Americans use daily on these forums will get you a nice little vacation from postin, even when they are innoffensive words like h*ll or d**n. Personally, I don’t find anything wrong with either swear words or euphemisms and/or substitutions for said expressions.

Peace.
 
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AlanFromWichita:
I agree. The last few years I have picked up a fairly course mouth, but I typically use the authentic words. 😛

Using substitute words is for cowards, who then get the worst of both worlds. They don’t get the satisfaction of the real thing, and the substitute words don’t buy them any innocence.

If we’re going to cuss, let’s be honest with ourselves and do it right or we’re just engaging in masturbatory cursing.

Actually I could make the case that substitute words can be worse, if they are premeditated. For example, sht slips out, revealing of course what is in your heart, but quickly. Alternate scenario, sht is about to slip out but they think a second and exclaim “shoot” instead. “Shoot” then becomes premeditated; why didn’t we use that time to get control of our emotions and just say something useful like, “honey, would you please get me a towel to wipe up this spill?” Then again, spills are usually easier to clean up if you curse at them first. 😉

Alan
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I recently said Sh*t one time over the phone with a freind who is now in California, and she even later sent me an email admonishing me for it. PURITINISM???
 
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wcknight:
what’s a fellow to say if they stub their toe heading to the jon late at night…
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Perhaps they will pray in a loud voice, such that everybody from here to God knows exactly what they had planned to do other than stubbing their toe. Only one word is necessary for that, lest we divulge too much information. In order to make sure is is blessed, the person should precede the prayer by the exclamation “HOLY!”

Therefore they have prayed for successful completion of their mission, and asked for blessing thereupon.

Alan
 
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misericordie:
I recently said Sh*t one time over the phone with a freind who is now in California, and she even later sent me an email admonishing me for it. PURITINISM???
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Overreacting a bit, yes, I’d say so. I think your friend has engaged in wishful thinking by moving away, as I personally have been to California and I know that word can be uttered there, too!

Alan
 
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chevalier:
Well, we can always just roar instead. It’s natural, so it shouldn’t be in violation of the natural law. 😃
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LOL we live out in the country and I have been known to do a few ROARS.😃 It can feel quite refreshing.😉

Then I usually go and pray for whatever or whomever I feel the need to scream at.:gopray2:
 
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