What the *****?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AServantofGod
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
To answer this question, you have to put it in cultural perspective. Go to Spain (or most European countries) and you’ll see that everybody, their mother, and all the priests (including the conservative ones I spent alot of time with) swear like sailors. Does this make it right? Of course not. But it could point out that the idea that swearing is somehow sinful stems from our culture…in this case, our predominently Protestant culture (this is a much, much bigger sin in the Prot world).

That said, I think swearing can be sinful (or at least some low level of scandal) if such words are used in the wrong society. I think swearing in any public situation is tasteless at best and sinful at worse. On the other hand, swearing in private may be entirely appropriate…ie, with a group of intimate friends.

Another problem with swearing is if it habitually done. If so, this is plainly and simply lazy language.

Lastly, swearing, as someone else remarked, often indicates a possibly sinful emotion/passion.
 
The tongue is a potential weapon of mass destruction that can alienate a friend, a family or it can heal through a selection properly assembled words. Therefore, we all need to be careful what comes out of our “traps”!
 
I’m guilty, and I think it is a sin, namely anger. At least with me it is–I’m continually getting angry at gravity, the space-time continuum etc. like when I drop something or make a mess…it can’t be good.

Strangely, the problem seemed to get worse after I became a Catholic! As if I knew the ol’ “G-D” combo was especially bad now so I subconciously focused on that one. Maybe because I felt like a fraud, not a “real” Catholic after a life of sin up to that point.

Trying to deal with it. 😦
 
I find cussing unappealing and, when done by women, unladylike. I knew a girl in high school and every other word out of her mouth was 4 letters. Even in high school, I found it very unappealing. —KCT
 
I used to have such a potty mouth I could rival any sailor in history…being that I’m female that really wasn’t/isn’t attractive.

I actually curbed my language in the professional atmosphere, but I also learned that when the kids I was dealing with dropped the f-bomber it made my blood pressure rise and raised the stress in the situation…then I resolved to change. Over time I mostly stopped cussing, then as I came more into the Church, I stopped swearing…taking God’s name in vain.

I have my moments and my potty words, as I suspect everyone does. I remember once when I did happen to drop the f-word and everyone actually stopped what they were doing and stared at me. One friend cracked up and told me through her chuckles that the word did not sound right coming from Me! I didn’t realize until that point how drastically I’d changed my own behavior.

Even now, if I “go off” or use a cuss word, my co-workers or friends, what have you…area shocked.

Last fall I was venting about a fraudulent customer to my boss, and he made some kind of comment about the inconsistency in the guy’s story. I blurted out at full volume, “RIGHT! BECAUSE HE’S FULL OF s***!”

I immediately clapped my hand over my mouth, prepared to be chastized for my indiscretion…only to find my boss choking in laughter on his snack, and another co-worker nearly falling out of her chair…I guess I was the LAST person they expected such an outburst out of!

I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes well-timed words, if they do not take our Lord’s name in vain, can be very effective…or great comic relief! And the reality is that for some people, if you do not use those words, speaking in their vernacular/attitude, you simply won’t get the message across. It’s weird.
 
I believe it’s OK to swear with many words. But no blasphemy. It depends on who hears the cuss. If it’s a child, then watch your tongue. or if you suspect the person/s might be offended, then hold your tongue.
Perhaps thats why so many monks have taken vows of silence. Because what you say can result in damnation.
But I’m no monk. So I follow these rules. And if I hear blasphemy, I always make 3 acts of silent reparation to atone for it. Thats a little habit I have developed.
 
Maybe this is old fashioned but I have a manager (in his mid 40’s) that was will use some of the most foul language in the presence of women. When I first encountered it just stunned me. I still remind him to watch his mouth everytime he does it. I’ve worked with teenage guys that won’t even swear like that.
 
40.png
AServantofGod:
What is your opinion about cussing? Is it a serious sin? I know of someone who won’t even allow substitute words for cussing such and dar n, shoot, heck, phooey, etc. I think that there needs to be some way to express the feelings that go along with these words. There have to be some substitute words.
Click to expand...
Bollards, fart, fuchsias e.t.c
 
40.png
BRC:
I’m getting better at not swearing. My 7 year old lets me know when I do…and often repeats what I say. This is a problem since I like to watch the Badgers and Packers, and at times lose my temper.

However, I use “nutcakes”, rat farts, and my favorite from a tv commercial “great googly moogly”…

Bri
Click to expand...
Rat Farts 😃 :rotfl:
 
I think cussing makes a person seem very low-class and uneducated. Now that I have children I never use four-letter words in their presence, but I might let fly with one if I am alone or with an old friend at an appropriate moment.

Some people are pathological about cussing and swearing. I remember being at a party when I was in my twenties and this guy was talking about his duck hunting and it sounded something like this…

“Fing A man, I shot that Fing duck, and it (f-word) into the water. I couldn’t (f-word) believe it.”

It seems that some people must punctuate their sentences with a constant run of profanity. Now that I am older and hanging with the PTA crowd and married couples I don’t run into this unless I happen to rent a stand-up comedian DVD.
 
I consider vulgar language to be low-class. Oh, I’ve certainly used my share, but I Am Reformed… The most colorful language I use now is “OH BEANS!” and very occasionally I’ll say “OH cee-arr-aay-pee” (only I actually say the word, not spelled out – this forum edited it! LOL!). If I’m really frustrated by something I’ll say, “RAZZAFRAZZA.”

My husband has been in the military for a couple of decades and is a prison guard to boot, and he does not use even the mildest expletives – something I greatly admire in him.

'thann
 
40.png
thann:
I consider vulgar language to be low-class. Oh, I’ve certainly used my share, but I Am Reformed… The most colorful language I use now is “OH BEANS!” and very occasionally I’ll say “OH ****!” If I’m really frustrated by something I’ll say, “RAZZAFRAZZA.”

My husband has been in the military for a couple of decades and is a prison guard to boot, and he does not use even the mildest expletives – something I greatly admire in him.

'thann
Click to expand...
so does your level of class fluctuate on those very occasional times when you say “OH ****!” :confused:

peace! 👍
 
My mother said “Swearing and nasty words are proof of a very limited and poor vocabulary”. She’s been gone 13 years but when I slip, I always think, “Gee, I hope Mom didn’t hear that!” 😃
 
40.png
catsrus:
My mother said “Swearing and nasty words are proof of a very limited and poor vocabulary”. She’s been gone 13 years but when I slip, I always think, “Gee, I hope Mom didn’t hear that!” 😃
Click to expand...
Very wise Mom! What did your Mom say were appropriate substitutes or other ways to express the emotions that prompt cursing?
 
What did your Mom say were appropriate substitutes or other ways to express the emotions that prompt cursing?
Click to expand...
She didn’t. Anger was an unacceptable display of emoton in children. (And **THAT’**s a whole 'nother thread!)
I recall my Dad getting angry and saying"shhhhh"; to which Mom would say, “Dick!, the children!” Daddy would finish, “shhhhaaawww!” We still laugh about “shaw!”
 
40.png
catsrus:
It’s sad that we even know these words because they are too easy to use. I think it goes to “what goes in must come out”.

My youngest son was in a terrible accident when he was 11. He was taken from the accident scene already in a coma. In the emergency room, he spoke words I didn’t even know he knew, but had obviously heard. After 2 weeks in the coma, he came out of it and I never heard those words from his mouth again - but they were in his mind! It was a lesson to me about how we speak.
Click to expand...
I saw one of those Harpers Magazine statistics a few years ago.

Average number of cuss words the average parent of a four year old thinks the child knows: 3.

Number of cuss words the average four year old actually knows: 27

Whoops. I am sure my kids have heard every single possible cuss word a thousand times. It’s unavoidable. I simply try to make sure they know what’s appropriate for polite conversation, especially around Grandma. I do admit to cracking up at the following conversation with my four year old one day:

PP: Eat your cereal.

4YO. Don’t wanna.

PP: Why not?

4YO: Because it tastes like s—.

It was definitely a teachable moment. Too bad I was busy giggling.
 
Penny Plain:
Average number of cuss words the average parent of a four year old thinks the child knows: 3.

Number of cuss words the average four year old actually knows: 27
Click to expand...
Can you imagine how many you know then at the beginning of elementary school, end of elementary school, Junior High, High School?

I remember my brother-in-law telling us about the time he sat down with his 3rd grader to discuss cuss words. He wanted to help his son understand why cuss words were used so he asked him which ones he knew. “Well Dad, there’s the “a” word” to which Dad nodded & discussed this word with son. “And then there are the 2 “b” words” , son continued. This continued! Then when they got to the 5 “d” words, the 2 “j” words, the 4 “q” words, etc. my brother-in-law was stunned. He thought he knew all the cuss words out there.

I guess there are new cuss words all the time. I really dislike it when a formerly common every day harmless word takes on an obscene meaning to the point which you can’t even use it in normal conversation any more without blushing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top